So Michael has siren like powers but only when he sings, so he stays a lot quieter than usual bc he tends to sing a lot.
And Jeremy is a curious lil walnut who wants to hear Michael's elusive voice.
Also Jeremy actually has a curse that attracts mythical/nonhuman creatures to him. It could be platonic or romantic but... yeah
This is based on a line from a previous chapter
TW: swearing and that's about it.

"And remember Mahal. You can't sing in front of anybody except me. Do you remember why?" Maganda held her 10 year old son's hands in her own and he nodded

"If I sing in front of people they'll be put in a trance. Right Mama?"

"That's right Michael. Now go have fun." She nuzzled her son gently before he ran off to play with his friends...she really hoped he could handle not singing, considering he loved music the way he did...

***

"So you've never sang in front of an audience before?" Jeremy asked, fiddling with a pencil before giving up on his homework.

"Nope. Not allowed to."

"Why?"

"My anxiety screws with my mind when I'm in front if large crowds Love." Michael had been lying about it for so long now it was like second nature.

"That's reasonable...but that means you could sing for me in private right?" Jeremy asked and Michael looked away from him...why did he have to be dating such an adorable boy?

"No...I... I'm not allowed to do that either."

"Why not?"

"Mama told me I have easily strained vocal chords so I have to save my energy." Saved it.

"Oh. Alright. Okay...I just really hoped I'd get to hear you sing tomorrow night
...since we're going to a lake and it'll be quiet...and everything..." Michael froze. He couldn't get near water and sing, Jeremy would be in a world of hurt...especially since Jeremy naturally drew in any kind of nonhuman thing out there.

"I...does it have to be a lake? Can't we go somewhere else. Like the-"

"Michael we aren't going to the arcade again. We go every week."

"Fine...fine..." Michal couldn't fight Jeremy...not in anyway possible. He didn't knoww if it was due to Jeremy's curse or if he just didn't want to...but he couldn't argue with him...

But how was he gonna lie his way out of this one?

***

Jeremy was currently sticking his legs in the water, gently swirling them and giggling at the vibrations from doing so.

"You really like water huh?"

"You sure you don't wanna stick your feet in with me?"

"I'm good."

"Okay. Now can you sing for me?" Jeremy asked sweetly and Michael gulped. "C'mon I promise I won't say you sound bad."

"Jeremy I-"

"Pleeeaaaase." Jeremy whined and Michael sighed.

"F-Fine...but only for you love." He took in a breath and released, getting ready to sing, which he hadn't done in front of anybody before, and he felt himself lock up mentally. "I...I can't do this..."

"Hey. I'll sing with you. Ya know Lucky, Jason Mraz?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"I'll start." Jeremy cleared his throat and began gently tapping the grass. "Do ya hear me? I'm talking to you. Across the water, across the deep blue ocean, under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm tryin."  Jeremy's voice was smooth and gentle, and Michael was wondering how Jeremy wasn't a siren himself.

"Boy I hear you in my dreams,  I feel your whisper across the sea. I keep you with me in my heart. You make it easier when life gets hard." Michael was feeling better now, as Jeremy was holding his hand and pulling him close to the water.

"I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend," They were dueting now, and Jeremy placed a hand on Michael's cheek gently, and Michael was smiling, letting his voice come out naturally. "Lucky to have been where I have been, lucky to be comin home again~"

They only sang that far into the song, Michael was now leg deep in the water and froze when he realized.

"Shit SHIT!" He climbed out but already felt his body changing. "Jeremy you gotta go."

"M-Micha what's wrong?" Jeremy asked, reaching a hand out to his boyfriend in concern.

"Jeremy don't touch me...please..." Jeremy didn't move, he just watched as Michael's legs turned into some sort of tail, and his hair was falling in his face, and it somehow turned blacker.

"Michael are you-?" Jeremy asked, and Michael sighed.

"...a siren...yeah...that's why I've never been allowed to sing near anybody...wait...how are you not in a trance?"

"I'm immune. My curse. Remember?" Michael hadn't known Jeremy's curse shielded him from this kind of stuff.

"W-Wait...so...you knew?"

"Yeah. It was kinda obvious. J-Just saying."

"Wait... if you knew why did you want me to sing!?" Michael yelled and Jeremy crawled closer and hugged him tightly.

"I knew that you could sing near me...I wanted you to be comfortable with yourself... Because I knew you weren't...I just wanted to help you."

"Y-You don't care that I'm a siren?"

"No, I love that you're a siren." Jeremy kissed Michael gently and released, a smile making its way to his warm lips. "Now, how about you sing another song for me."

"Only if you sing with me."