Ship

Characters: Polar Tang, Heart Pirates. Rating: K+. Warnings: none.

When she was made, she was made to be a weapon. Cutting edge technology, one of a kind and emblazoned with the blue seagull of the Marines. One of Vegapunk's creations - the sort of thing men would do more than just kill to get their hands on.

Four children had killed to claim her. First kills, blood running along her infirmary floor and tears to match as teenagers screamed and fought against the reality of taking a life. Most ships were christened with alcohol.

She'd been christened with blood.

It was appropriate, for a pirate vessel. There was little they'd done to change her, after stealing her mere hours before her maiden voyage, but the seagulls had gone - scraped off with a prejudice routed in deep sorrow and anger.

They'd given her a name - a proper name, not the wishy-washy generic thing the marines had lined up for her - and a flag, which she wore proudly. Prouder still, when they stopped hiding and the grinning jolly roger of the Heart Pirates was painted straight on her side in stark black-on-yellow.

She loved those boys, watched them grow into adults - three humans and a mink - and protected them and their later additions with everything she had. A Marine-created weapon meant that she had a lot. Kairoseki hull, top of the range weapons and engines that could get them out of any trouble they couldn't handle were to name but a few.

But she wasn't invincible. Like them, she took bumps and scrapes, even gouges and on one unfortunately memorable occasion disembowelment. Battle scars littered her, less so on the outside after her crew lovingly repaired her every time, fiercer and stronger than ever before as more and more of their love poured into her with every weld, but so very there on her spirit. She wore them with pride.

A fighter. A defender. A safe haven and a home.

The Polar Tang was many things, and for as long as her crew needed her, she'd be there. If they couldn't fix her, she'd fix herself with the love they'd lavished upon her for thirteen years and counting. It wouldn't be perfect, and there would be more scars left behind, but she would do it.

For her crew.

Another music prompt, this time 'Battle Symphony' by Linkin Park.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari