This is my first fan-fiction. Anyways I just got done reading Behemoth and I'm seriously obsessed with these characters…enough to write a story about them! I hope you enjoy it! Scott Westerfeld is the author who wrote the Leviathan series.
this is an idea of how Deryn could be exposed, probably not gonna happen though but oh well. =D
Deryn had always been careful about the times that she could bathe. If the need ever came, she would have to sneak into the wash rooms at the middle of the night as a precaution so she wouldn't be caught. Often she would just skip the bathing rituals as did the most of the ship's crew. There was always too much to do and hygiene seemed quite pointless when you were going to get dirt under your nails a few minutes after.
Still, Deryn was human, and she needed to wash every once in a while just like every daft git around. Any sane lad would even agree that she deserved the nice warm water against her skin after all the trouble she'd been in while her stay at Istanbul. When Deryn had been sure that not a soul was up she had welcomed the warmth that the liquid had given her with bliss. For a moment, she could relax.
As Deryn was beginning to get dressed a hard knock came at the door. She jumped in shock and then glared. What would a person be doing up at this hour? She assumed that it would be Dr. Barlow. The Doctor was always having Deryn do odd jobs for her at unusual times of the day. She should have known that she wouldn't get a proper chance to relax. A daft idea it was anyways.
"Just a wee bit!" Deryn called, sure to use her boy voice.
"Mr. Sharp!" a familiar male voice called, and Deryn tried to change quickly into her Midshipman's uniform. The man at the door must have not had barking patience because as Deryn was sliding her trousers on, the door to the washroom clamored open.
"Dylan there's a…" Alek started, Newkirk interrupted him though to say "Blisters! You're a…"
Deryn had the urge to cover herself before she remembered that she was covered, she had a white undershirt on, just not the top of her uniform. It clearly didn't hide her obvious female parts from the two lads but there was no point trying to conceal her secret from them now. Instead she pulled her riggers knife from her pants pocket and held it up to Newkirk's throat. "Another word from you Mr. Newkirk and I'll toss you out of a barking window!" she threatened, then she snuck a wee glance at Alek and her heart sank.
Alek stood off to the side behind Newkirk, mouth gaping, with a confused yet still angry expression. Bovril sat on the young archduke's shoulder, and when Deryn looked at the beastie it giggled. "Mr. Sharp!" Deryn glared.
"D-Dylan…" Alek tried.
Deryn cut him off, she didn't want to, couldn't even, answer that question right there, in front of the bum rag Newkirk. "Why are you two barging into the washroom like this? What has happened?"
Newkirk struggled against Deryn's chokehold and reluctantly she took the knife away from his throat. "Tell my secret to anyone and I swear to you, your midshipman's status will be removed as quickly as mine."
Newkirk scoffed, as if Deryn was suddenly less threatening. Of course the ninny would do that after she'd taken the knife from his throat! Her fists clenched. "I still have the same amount of skill Mr. Newkirk, and I saved your life. You owe me. Do not think you are more superior to me because you were too barking daft to find out my secret sooner!" Bovril jumped from Alek's shoulder and sunk his claws into the exposed flesh of Deryn's arm. She winced as the wee beastie climbed onto her shoulder. "Mr. Sharp!" it said again and then broke out into a fit of giggles. Deryn kept her hard stare trained on Newkirk.
"aye, I'll keep your secret." He said after what seemed like minutes of consideration. "only because you have a life debt over my shoulders." He said regretfully.
Deryn wanted to take her already balled up fist and hit Mr. Newkirk in the face for thinking she was any different because she was a girl but the prince interrupted her raging thoughts.
"As much as I'd like to know what in Gods Wounds is going on, we don't have time. We'll sort this out on a later note." Alek glowered at Deryn and she felt a choked feeling at the back of her throat. No, she would not cry, she was already in a tough enough spot. "A zeppelin has been spotted circling the Leviathan and the captain wants Mr. Sharp on deck." He then sent one more confused glare at Deryn and started to turn to leave.
Deryn watched the boy walk away, her heart beating erratically. She knew she couldn't do anything right then so with a threatening glance at Newkirk to be sure he didn't forget his promise she nodded. "be up in a squick."