Title: Siren song
Author: Laurel
E-mail: Laurelc@wincom.net
Date: August 2001
Archive: yes to DitB, anyone else just ask first
Pairing: Sk/K
Summary: A transformed Alex lures Walter into the deep blue sea
Rating: NC-17 for m/m sex
Spoilers: Existence
Notes: Poem by Margaret Atwood is entitled "Siren Song"
and stanzas are marked with an *asterisk*.



*This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song 
that is irresistible:*


Walter looked out over the side of the ship, grinning at the dolphins
thrusting madly through the water.  Their laughing faces stared back
at him as he watched them break away, leaving frothy foam behind 
in their wake.  They circled around away from the ship and frolicked
happily.  The last sight he had of them was their smooth gray bodies
sluicing through the water and leaping high as acrobats.

*the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see the beached skulls*

This relaxing cruise was just what he had needed after the events of
the past spring.  The bullets that had ripped apart his former enemy 
and his secret lover still rang in his head.  He had been reluctant 
to take a vacation but already he had met a beautiful widow, several
friendly couples and a flirtatious Italian man that laughed heartily
every time he caught Walter eyeing him.  The man was half his age
but didn't seem to care one bit.  Walter grinned again.

*the song nobody knows
because anyone who has heard it
is dead, and the others can't remember.*

This excursion was just what he needed.  His agents had each
other, all was well with the world, except for murders, rapes,
drugs, terrorism, road rage, famine, plagues and an interesting
array of human suffering.  Yeah, he was getting more cynical
by the minute but out here, he could smile at dolphins, buy tacky
souvenirs at the ports of call, skip stones across the beaches they
landed on, watch solemn whales play, see fish leap like silver 
knives through the balmy air, enjoy people he would never meet
again.

*Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?*

He spent his days working out, relaxing, chatting with his new
friends and reading a pile of trashy novels his mother would
clandestinely love.  By night he listened for the sound of the song
that enchanted and aroused him.  It was a song, clear and low,
certainly in a foreign tongue, sung by a voice so familiar it was 
maddening.  It teased him relentlessly, usually appearing in the 
evening when the sky turned pink as a baby's cheek, as golden as
a glass of champagne.  It faded away as the clouds turned as deep 
blue as the velvet lining of a jewelers box.

*I don't enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical*

He shouted in the night when he was full of bravado and drink
for the mysterious singer to appear.  When no one was forthcoming
he stumbled to his cabin.  The next day he spent the day at the beach
by himself, waving off offers of company from the amorous widow 
and the young man.  He played in the sand like a child, his heart 
heavy for all the lost years, all the games played and lost but he
was heartened by the small victories.  He collected seashells,
smooth pebbles and rocks that vaguely resembled fossils.  He 
studied the starfish, breathed in the ocean air and gazed at the 
dolphins and sea life that cavorted beyond the clear water.  He 
thought he'd seen something green and silvery out in the distance
but couldn't make it out.  It could have been a fish, or algae or
driftwood for all he knew.

*with these two feathery maniacs,
I don't enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.*

He decided to take a swim.  Perhaps he'd go beyond the barrier
and discover what had been floating in the water.  He stepped into
the clear water and when it was deep enough began to swim.  The 
song began again.  He knew it wasn't his imagination.  He swam hard,
his chest compressed and bursting with starved lungs but he could not
stop.  His legs were heavy weights that threatened to drag him down.
He saw the tail splash out, a thing as beautiful as a peacock tail, 
made of silver and blue and green scales.  The body was pale, the 
limbs long and elegant.  The limbs were all there, including the one
previously missing.  The dark hair was longer and it floated around
his angelic face, which smiled benignly at him.  The eyes were 
still deep green with no trace of pain or fear or anger or any of the
other emotions they had mirrored before.

*I will tell the secret to you
to you, only to you. 
Come closer.  This song*

One hand reached out to him, gently pulled him down below the
surface of the water.  Sunlight streamed through the top layers,
dappling the clear liquid with shafts of gold.  Alex twisted and
swam around Walter, his tail slapping playfully at his legs.  Walter
tried to reach the surface.  He needed to fill his lungs, but Alex
danced around him, hands joined to his and in a few panicked
moments Walter realized he didn't need air anymore.  Just Alex.
His lover made quick work of his bathing trunks.  He was already
hard, straining for release.

*is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can
you are unique*

Alex's own arousal was evident.  His cock was pale like the rest
of him, firm and seeping with milky pearls that drifted in the 
waves.  Walter pulled him roughly to his chest and kissed the
enticing mouth.  It was pale pink and tasted of salt and the ocean
air.  His tongue was a marine creature that bobbed and danced in
Walter's mouth.  Limbs that felt slippery and cool, yet at the same
time warm, circled his neck like branches of algae.  He felt the
vibrations, more than heard, Alex moaning.  Alex's hips thrust
against his, demanding satisfaction.  He turned his lover around
and thrust against the small opening little by little.  He watched
as Alex's sea-green eyes closed with pleasure.  A smile played on
his lips as Walter thrust all the way inside him.   Alex twisted 
pumped against him vigorously, slamming his tail against Walter's
back.  Walter held him tighter, trunk-like legs squeezing his hips.
Walter roared with his release.  The sound carried across the water,
sending silver fish scurrying to safer waters.  Alex's sound was more
subtle though no less intense.

*At last.  Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.*

Walter relaxed his hold.  Alex began to swim away.  He looked
back over his shoulder, slapping his tail playfully and smiling
like a dolphin.  He beckoned to Walter with his hand.  Walter 
took it without a moment's hesitation.  Before he followed down
he looked at the surface of the water reluctantly.  The sun was
high, sending beams of light slicing through the water.  The shore
was so far away now, a white curve of beach, littered with colorful
stones and driftwood.  The fish darted all around them, wondering
at the curious creatures.  He smiled at his lover and drowned in
eyes of sea-foam green.