You know when you're making a thing but one bit becomes its own thing? Yeah now its its own oneshot.
Listen? Listen. hear me out. I hate love triangle troupes that aren't triangles. I do however enjoy making the rivals for affections suddenly have feelings to the other as well. Show me a love rivalry and I will make it poly and or queer and everyone wins.
For context marina's been at marinville a while bout a year. earnt thier trust a vauled memeber of the team but atlanta's realsied she's caught cupids feeling bug for her newest friend...
"Well he did say you'd possibly break a rib if you do it right, I suppose." Atlanta tried as they walked down the corridor together heading for lunch.
"Not on the rescue breaths. Lungs aren't meant to go bang, Marina." Troy argued and frowned at his crew mate. "Take it easy next time, yeah?"
"Yeah Marinaaaaa." Atlanta heard someone behind them hiss.
If Stingray, the current best in the WASP fleet, were to have a workplace rivalry, it would be with the Wave Skimmer. Not because Skimmer was a better or even on par ship. It's just that acting-captain Kevin 'Kaptin' Crill was always obnoxious, especially with a crowd. He had a real jealous dislike for troy tempest but was unable to hit up. So often targeted his crew instead.
"Take it easy on your next victim." Crill sneered.
"Leave her alone." Atlanta Troy and Phones said at once. He didn't. It only encouraged him and his friends. His shipmate Mackrell laughed and even crowed,
"It's called the kiss of life, not the kiss of extra death!"
This got a big laugh from Kaptin Kev, as it was the funniest thing in the world. Marina rolled her eyes but ignored them. And told the others to ignore them too. They did begrudgingly atlough Phones did give them a glare, As they carried on:
"Can you imagine if she did that on a really drowned sailor?"
"What a gal."
"What a kisser-!"
"Can I get some mouth to mouth Marina?"
Marina's shoulders went up at those last ones. But still she continued to ignore them. Even, like a school boy in a playground pestering or trying getting a rise out of the girls, as a hand reached out for her green hair to yank it. Atlanta's notebook and filofax combo was faster though. It came down hard; swatting across the back of Mackrell's knuckles with a satisfying WH-ACK!
"leave Marina alone!" She and Phones both snapped, blocking Marina in front of them, away from Crill and crew.
Mackrell, nursing his hand, started whining that just because Atlanta was the commander's daughter didn't mean she could just go around hitting people. They told him he shouldn't go for people's hair. Kev stupid mustash and all made to say something about mear Luietents trying to order him an acting captain about. But several actual captains and one staff captain turned around to look at him and he promptly shut up.
"Hey, beat it, Crill. That's an order." Captain Tempest snapped. "you too Mackrell get lost."
The two shoulder-barged past him, adding to the playground antics.
"Don't let them get to you, Marina."
"You tell me if they're bothering you again, alright?" Atlanta frowned after them. Marina nodded, signing okay and thanks.
"Lousy creeps...I still can't believe you broke the dummy though." Troy added.
"You're just stronger than you look." Phones grinned patting her on the shoulder. He at least wasn't being mean about it. And Marina could see the funny side of it, sure.
Some of the other NCOs weren't as kind though. As well as the gruesome twosome, there was definitely some sniggering from the crew of Swordfish (pricks). And some giggles from the school of sub-lieutenants and Lieutenants. A lot of giggles actually. Marina sighed and rolled her eyes again, feeling rather othered as later on they walked quickly past her on their way back to the training centre, all a titter; Fisher included.
First aid and life saving. One of the many many modules of experience Maria lacked paper workwise in the eyes of HQ. marvel or not she was not they insisted yet an aquanaut until she'd received the proper basic training.
But seeing as Troy Phones the tower team and several other crews were due their yearly Refreshers course anyway, Commander Shore had thought Marina might as well join them. get her introduced to the concepts, before she had to spend three supposedly gruelling days in the pool dragging dummies up from the deep end and dealing with fake blood. The captain had pointed out it was pretty redundant given how often she'd done similar and worse rescues on board Stingray anyway. but never mind.
Marina had been very good at the bandaging, burns bleeding and the rest of the initial response. The common sense stuff. Blood goes round and round so keep it inside the body sort of stuff. Even if the things like epipens and the recovery positions had been very new to her. And while Marina couldn't verbally call for help, she'd explained and shown herself to be very capable of knowing to attract attention, fetch the first aid kit etc. The instructor had been happy to tick that off for her.
Marina however had been uncomfortable with the idea of mouth to mouth and had struggled to understand some of the CPR part of the talk. Understandable, Troy had pointed out, given her race didn't drown. Why would she know that?
And possibly uncomfortable given Pacifica's connotations with kissing in general Atlanta had privately thought. But they weren't to share that to the assembled class.
Doc had had a quiet word with the instructor beforehand who'd happily had arranged things. Marina was given a face shield to use and the Stingray crew had been set up on the far side of the training room. a little ways out of view of the rest of the class during the scenario test; so Marina for her first time wouldn't be under so much scrutiny. The instructor however hadn't been so happy to have a class of nearly thirty personnel, on full alert at something going BANG.
They'd all been sent on an early break for lunch while the First aid instructor worked out how to fix not just a set of fake lungs but also a crushed mechanism. because apparently thirty chest compressions from a deep sea dweller were a lot harder than a resussie Annie could deal with.
It was funny. But some remarks were unkind. Marina clutched her books to her, hanging back from the rest of the teams milling about. Atlanta took pity on her and caught up with Marina.
"They're only teasing. Well Troy and Phones are. And the instructor did say ``go as hard as you can with the chest compressions." She reminded Marina. Marina looked unsure and gestured to the retreating group of staff. A young blonde was watching them and seeing Marina look at them burst into giggles and went bright pink in the face whispering to their also giggling friend.
"See?" Marina signed.
"I think most of them are laughing more at how the dummy was left looking. And the guy from Catfish seven fell over his dummy in surprise." Atlanta suggested.
(She didn't mention the amount of sub-lieutenants and lieutenants that were also crushing on Marina and were giggly around her anyway. Fisher included. He'd been working up the courage to ask Marina out on cinema date since he'd first met her. )
Marina looked a little less despondent for that. But shrugged and again sighed, flipping her hair back over her shoulder. Something she often did. And in doing so Exposing her neck and collar moreso. And again yet Atlanta suddenly felt warm all over. And was glad she'd taken off her glasses when she'd left the lecture hall or else they might have steamed up! Gosh why did Marina have to be so pretty?
"You'll have to teach us any Pacifican equivalent or differences of any of this, you know? In case you ever get into trouble." She said instead. Marina smiled at that at least, nodding and Atlanta continued, "Is there anything else? Or anything you're stuck on?"
Maria Shook her head. then frowned, pulling Atlanta's arm to stop them in the corridor pulling them aside. Atlanta gulped, taken aback.
"Oil." Marina said, putting her books on the floor and spelling it out in sign.
"Hm?"
O- I - L. Marina repeated.
"Oil. mission." She said, "You did this? "
Marina mimed a startled motion, a jump a gasp and hand over her-
"Heart." Marina added, making the sign for heart with a right ring finger to her left hand side.
Atlanta frowned. Then Remembering,
"Oh when you snuck up on me?" She asked. It had been an accident. She'd been extremely jumpy after being kidnapped by aliens. and the mergirl made very little sound moving around the ship.
Maria nodded. And patted her hand flat to her chest.
"Yes but that wasn't a heart attack. You just startled me, that's all. Don't worry-'' Atlanta laughed but Marina shook her head. "Oh. Not that. Sorry Marina, go on."
They were learning how to understand Marina and her mix of Gestures signs and flash cards; and Marina was learning sign, diver reponces and written English. She was pretty good even. But it was still slow going to make them understand her some days.
"You said Heart. one. " Marina said.
She put her hand to her chest again slowly. Emphasising where her Hand was.
"Heart" she reiterated, signing it and then even a love heart with her fingers. And again, "One."
Atlanta nodded but looked at her blankly. Marina gave A little frustrated silent huff tapping one flipper as she always did When she was thinking of another angle. Then picked up Flipped through her first aid book and made a writing gesture.
Atlanta passed her a pencil . Marina scanned down the green of the CPR section then Circled the words 'The heart'. And underlined it. Just 'The' that is. And tapped it. Then 'borrowed' Atlanta's note book. It was more of a tug really. Atlanta, used to this by now, held the notebook up steady as Marina wrote what she wanted to say. And tried not to feel funny about having Marina so close.
THE . Marina slowly scrawled out on a blank section of paper. Her letters themselves were neat. They were just wobbly when lined up together and sometimes in the wrong place or missing.
EVERY LINE IN 1ST AID BOK. THE. 1
She paused writing to put her small fist to her chest.
IS HERE? JAST 1.
"Heart." She said again; Switching back to Sign. "No S. One. Left. Right.?"
"I'm really sorry Marina. I still don't follow." Atlanta apologised. It wasn't a case she couldn't understand what Marina was saying here (Atlanta sometimes had to ask Phones for help or translations). She just didn't get her friend's drift. And Marina was getting increasingly agitated.
Marina huffed again. "Where? Heart." Marina repeated. "Where Atlanta? Yours? We pressed here," she said, then Mimed the Chest compressions
And pointed in the centre of her chest. "But heart is there? Yours? Left. Right?"
"or Here?" She said And dragged her hand down her chest, her sternum and tapped below it almost to her stomach.
"Mine? No. What a funny question. Why would it be there?" Atlanta frowned. Marina scowled. And Atlanta realised, "Oh… humans? You want to know where the human heart is?" Marina nodded relieved but Atlanta was still catching up. "wait, Isn't yours in your chest Then? Do Pacificans have hearts even? you have a heart right? That came out all wrong, sorry-!"
Marina had that face on which she normally only used for the likes of Crill and the Mackrell brothers. Or when one of the boys had suggested something extremely thick and dangerous. But she rolled her eyes and nodded, held up one finger and tapped her chest again.
"One here. But Humans? Land people." She then Said, fingers flashing quickly. "Right? Big? Same place? One? True?"
"Erm not quite. Here let me," Atanta took the course book from Marina and pointed on the ken doll blank chest illustration. "it's here. So we press in the middle but it's not there exactly."
It didn't even look like any shade of flesh coloured. No wonder Marina still looked sceptical. Atlanta tried to explain circling the areas in pencil and echo pointing out to her own chest. Then gave up tucking her note book under one arm.
"Maybe it's better if I just show you. Here, Give me your hand." Atlanta said. "hold it flat."
Marina did as she was told (for once). Then blinked in surprise, as Atlanta brought it across between them to firmly press Marina's hand to her chest; between her breasts and just to the left of Atlanta's sternum.
"There. You should feel it now."
And then Atlanta realised what an awfully silly idea this was. Because her cheeks were suddenly very warm. and said Heart started hammering against her ribs at Marina's Ghost-like touch against her.
"S-see? So in the middle, But to my left slightly." Atlanta said in a breath. It was a wonder her voice didn't tangle completely. "Can you feel it?"
Marina nodded with focus intent. An intensity sending Atlanta all of a shiver.
"That's why we do chest compressions in the middle of the ribs. The human heart is About the size of- of a fist." Atlanta stumbled as she tried to be as normal about the situation as possible. Marina glanced from her hand to Atlanta.
Then shifted foot to flipped foot. Her Fingers Relaxed, and pressed gently at Atlanta's chest feeling the heartbeat. And caused the fabric of Atlanta's bra to creak and her breath to faulted.
Atlanta imagined Marina could probably feel every vibration. Could she hear it Even? Marina's ears were very strong.
Marina nodded again, more to herself if anything. then Slowly (almost reluctantly even as Atlanta's head cleared) Took her hand back to speak.
"My side. One? One heart?"
Atlanta sighed.
"I still don't know what you mean by that honey."
(Honey slipped out. It was making a habit of that lately. )
Marina sighed too. Then Held her hand out and made her 'pass me' gesture.
Taking Atlanta's hand in both hers she tugged it to her, mirroring and copying the example. Atlanta had to stifle a squeak as Marina firmly squashed Atlanta's Hand to her chest. For a split second Atlanta could only feel the sequin like material and the Shock of Cool smooth skin as her fingers brushed the neckline of Marina's dress. and then the softness both beneath her palm and softness to Marina's palms over Atlanta's knuckles as she held her Pinned in place.
If Marina noticed any flush or any signs Atlanta's internally freaking out, she didn't mention it. Oh gosh what if her hands were clammy? Could Marina feel her pulse going doolally in her wrist?
But Marina stood there, gazing up at her. Atlanta looked back. Then began to frown.
"I can't feel- huh…There it is."
For a moment Atlanta felt as if she held a flutter of a bird wing or a Wiggle flip of a fish tail in her hand. And then it was gone.
"See it?" Marina asked. Which Atlanta took to be "Feel it?"
"Yeah," Atlanta breathed. There, again. She should really look at her watch and check the beats per minute. Troy would want an accurate reading. " I can."
But Atlanta's head was spinning With Distraction upon Distraction.
Maria's heart was Slow and steady. one beat for ever two of her own by Atlanta's reckoning. Or four given how wild a pace it was currently going.
And Marina's heart sat higher in her chest too. It was almost on level for Atlanta's despite the height difference between the two women. Almost at Marina's collar bone, Atlanta thought. Before she realised Something else
"You've brought my hand straight over. Not across." She said, almost babbled. "That's- this is my left. You're right. You tapped your right hand side earlier- Oh! you weren't saying left right as is in left correct were you Marina? you were asking which side! Yours is on your right, right?"
Marina nodded.
"Our hearts. They're on opposite sides..." Atlanta Trailed off stunned. Marina made her I guess shrug.
Well, She had scales and funny ears and flippers. It made sense her insides would reflect her nature too. Atlanta supposed.
"One. Two-?" Marina counted on one hand, still holding Atlanta's with the other.
"One beat for every two of mine, yeah. I can feel it." Atlanta said, her voice hushed. Then realising she still had her hand on Marina thought she should maybe move it. But her arm wouldn't obey her. Marina Shifted and Kept her hand locked in place with her forearm any way..
"Yes. But not that," She said looking up through her lashes. When Marina looks up at her like that, Atlanta alway feels like a sailor of old on the port bow, one temptation away from throwing themselves to the mermaids to follow them down.
She stood there speechless as Marina returned on hand on top of hers. Then took Atlanta's other other hand note book and all in hers. And Pressed Atlanta's knuckles into the diaphragm area- If Marina had a diaphragm? well where she'd pointed to earlier at least. Atlanta jumped, wide eyed. She could Feel the softness of Marina's breasts on top of her hand causing Atlanta to Break out in goosebumps under her uniform.
Then something else.
"Oh." At the v of Maria's ribs was a second beat. Marina slowly took a step closer watching Atlanta's Face. Making sure she understood.
They Slow, sure. But when felt together it was almost magic, following the Rise and fall of Marina's chest. Overlapping; an eb and flow like the tide, pulling Atlanta in.
Atlanta stared at her hands. Their hands. Then dragged her gaze up to Marina's pretty face. But she was speechless. And Stood there Stunned.
until marina let her go to say,
"Heart. Really True? You only have one. I have two."
Two hearts.
Atlanta arms dropped like lead back to her sides.
"I- yes. one. Humans only have one." She said.
Marina Nodded. As if she'd sort of Expected this to be true but still found the idea fascinating.
"Your one is faster. Very fast, more than I thought it would be? bigger too." She said then she corrected herself. "No Not bigger. Wrong word. More.."
Marina waved her hand in circles Unable to articulate herself. She settled on making a Fist and covering it; miming soft thumping punches into her other hand twice four times.
"Like that." She said switching back to her asl. "Didn't expect or know that. Stories. Thought it'd be fragile."
"You have Stories? About humans?" Atlanta asked, enthralled.
"Yes. And Old sayings." Marina nodded, "Don't fall in love with land people. And They only have one heart and they break easily."
Marina had been jumping between using a love heart and the proper sign for heart. Something about using a love heart while talking about humans breaking made Atlanta's own heart squirm. and not in a good way.
"But." Marina paused. "Yours felt strong."
Then realised something and broke the spell.
"That's probably a bad, odd thing to say? You're looking at me funny."
"It's- it was just a surprise." Atlanta stumbled. "That's all."
"Sorry." Marina signed with a sigh.
"Well…now guess we better have another word with the instructor. If you ever need them,we need to know how to do compressions on both hearts?" Atlanta tried.
Marina shrugged And picked up her things. But she was Thinking something else now. Her face pinched All Sad like. Before Atlanta could ask what was wrong Troy stuck his head around the corridor corner And Startled them both. Not that was any feat given how shook she already felt.
"Hey? There you are! I wondered where you'd both got too. You girls coming?"
"We'll be right there." Atlanta said.
"No rush. Phones' saving us some seats.." Troy nodded, holding the door open for them.
"Away from Crill and Mackrell," he added. "And don't worry about the dummy Marina. Resussie Annie's been shipped off to maintenance for a breather."
"Poor choice of words there, Troy." Atlanta said.
"Anything the matter? Or just a little heart to heart?" Troy asked obliviously.
"No, Marina just had some questions, didn't you?" Atlanta fumbled.
Marina's face flickered away from whatever she'd been thinking over and she schooled it into an impassive look. almost masking whatever doubt had started bothering her.
Oh Atlanta had to resist really hard the urge to kiss it better. To kiss Marina on those pink soft looking lips.
But Marina nodded. Then Tugged on Atlanta's sleeve and looped their arms together. She did that a lot now. Even the odd hand hold or hug was the norm between them now. Marina didn't even flinch anymore when either of the fellas casually put their arm around her shoulder or her waist either.
"When we get back I think I'd better get you a biology book out of the library." Atlanta suggested, as they set off alongside the captain, her mind still whirring. Her heart skipped and skittering again when Marina smiled at her, and signed.
"Thanks. Would like that." Marina agreed and squeezed her arm. Atlanta smiled back, wishing her body would stop betraying her. Even this touch, as innocent as it was, just a press of the side to her arm, was electric in her blood. Could Marina feel her heart hammering still?
There was something very ironic and very bitter sweet about this whole thing, leaving a funny taste in Atlanta's mouth.
There was her Atlanta in love with two people, Troy and Marina but only one human heart torn between them and unable to speak about it. While Marina had two hearts, and was openly and clearly in love with just Troy, always the centre of her attention.
A double heart for her single one. And Two hearts in one person. For one person. Atlanta thought, squashing, compressing any feelings of being othered down in her lungs.
"You know," she said instead, arm in arm with her friend and secret crushes back to the hall; "You really are a marvel, Marina?"
"Heart, Atlanta. " Was all Marina signed in reply.
Thanks for reading