To Survive

Reader x Orca!Eclipse

Commission Info

The lovely @crazedauthor requested some good ol' hurt/comfort with a orca!reader with orca!Eclipse. You lost your entire pod but ever since Eclipse found you, you haven't been alone. Your grief, however, comes in waves, but Eclipse will hold you through them.

Content Warnings: Mentions of death and blood.

———

The white-blue ice of the continental shelf juts out into the dark gray waters with jagged edges like the upper teeth of a great maw. You bob slowly along the surface, swishing your tail, treading water idly. 

You are not unlike an orca in pattern, strong black and white markings painting you as an apex predator, but you are little without your pod. As unassuming as a lone seal caught in waters far from shore. The colors tipping your fins and flukes are soft and cool against the otherwise bleak waterscape but those too seem to have dulled as you drift without purpose.

These waters have never been so empty. Without Eclipse, you sink back into a cold, numb shell-like rime coating the ground. 

The hollowness within you yawns. You have no energy to escape the whirlpool-like drawl of the abyssal grief within you, and so, you are sucked down into the churning depths. 

Thank you! They're very fun to write and explore!

I've heard of that before! I'm not super knowledgeable about it, but I know of it! There's an ask that's very close to this one but minus the different species. It would, however, make sense for Y/N's pod to be different and then stumble upon Eclipse after he's been alone for so long! I think that would be nice. I also adore the thought of Y/N swimming over that invisible rule of not mingling with others to bring Eclipse to their pod and help him adjust to others like himself.

You're so sweet, augh, thank you!! ;-;

It would be very natural for you and him to come together. Orca sirens don't do well alone, and while they can survive, it's difficult. An Orca Y/N who just lost their pod would bond easily with Eclipse, and though he would mourn what they lost, he would comfort and support them, and of course, court them at a moment's notice. This is probably the most seamless of the Y/Ns because Y/N would want to be with Eclipse after all that occurred, and he proves to be a doting and strong mate.

This is just peaked panic for Y/N to get snatched up by a greedy siren, turned into one, and left stranded in the ocean with a very unwanted mate. But a silver lining arises when an orca siren stumbles upon you, a proverbial fish out of water (human off of land?). He sees how frightened you are and clearly trying to escape this suitor. How could he not help you get away? Eclipse becomes your savior.

He takes you far away from the siren. He knows your teeth are too blunt for proper hunting so he gives you seals and fish, but you hardly touch it. He tries to teach you how to swim but you just want to curl up on the ice and weep. It's hard, watching you sink into misery at what was done to you. He sings to you. He sweeps wet locks from your face and whispers that it'll be alright. He will protect you. But none of it seems to work.

Until one night he takes you to the surface under the aurora borealis. It's so stunning, and for once, your face lights up to admire it. He kisses your cheek and shows you that there are still good things. Even if this wasn't your choice, you can still thrive. But that only makes you bubble with tears again. You sob against him and he holds you tight as he listens to your woes.

You want to become human again.

But Eclipse just found you. He was alone until you swam right into his arms to escape the other siren. He can't lose you. He can't turn you back even when he has the magic to do so. Please, stay with him, birdie. He'll make you happy. You'll smile again like you did tonight, learn to sing songs and feast on seals. Say you'll stay with him.

You can't. Your tears flow into the sea and Eclipse brushes your cheek but the bitter smears of salt remain.

He'll only keep you for a little while. Just enough to get a taste of you, then he'll turn you back. Yes, he'll do that. He won't go back on his word when he gets too attached, right? And you accept his answer. It's the least you can do as thanks, right? But he'll change you back soon.

He won't refuse later on when he holds you so tight and refuses to let you go, right?

An orca siren Y/N would quickly gather that Eclipse has not been raised with a pod because he lacks significant proper socialization that is taught from living with others. You would take great pity on him and immediately invite him to yours. It's rather small but you're sure Vanessa and Michael wouldn't mind (they very much do).

Eclipse doesn't want to join Y/N's pod, he wants to make his own. He coaxes you into coming with him and immediately begins trying to court you but you rebuff his attempts to take you away. He's very aggressive and possessive which you think is a very terrible coping mechanism due to his isolation. You really want to help him because no orca siren should be alone! That goes against their nature! It's not healthy and it's not safe!

It amazes you that he is still alone considering that Eclipse is rather striking and impressive. You will allow him to court you since you find him attractive, but you firmly set boundaries with Eclipse. He can't grab you out of nowhere. He can't demand you go somewhere with him. He can't intimidate you or else you will swim away from him and make him wait until tomorrow to see you again. It stings Eclipse's pride to hear 'no' over and over, and he grows fearful that you're going to leave when you keep telling him that he's not being nice, but it does spur him to become mindful and aware of your comforts and wants and needs. It's slow progress, but you start to see the beautiful side of Eclipse where he brings you food. He takes you to a lovely place to watch the stars and when he sings, your heart aches. He listens when you speak.

He's sweet. And Michael and Vanessa thought the feral siren was going to eat you.