Iceburg got up from Paulie's guest bed and paced over to the window. He opened it to let some air in to dampen the heat, then drew the curtain back over to shield the east facing room from the sharp morning light. The layers of drape blew intrusively into the room with the breeze.

"After Sofia's tour and my meeting with the Weatherians, I'll go over and book in with the paper for the interview."

Iceburg perched on the edge of the sill and peered out the window as the curtain parted at the side.

"If I arrange it for the end of this week, it should give us a bit of time."

Paulie climbed out of his sheets and lay back on top of them, his shirt damp with sweat. The breeze wasn't as cool as he might have liked, but it made the room slightly fresher at least. The curtain gently wavered, and the beam of light swelled as it streamed onto Iceburg's face.

Paulie sighed. "So, should we do this interview together then, or…?"

Iceburg looked back over at him. "Well, how do you feel about that?"

Paulie tensed. "I'd just fuck it all up again."

Iceburg returned to Paulie's bedside. He kicked off his slippers and sat up on the bed beside him, then took Paulie's hand in his.

"Then I'm happy to do it myself." His thumb stroked over the back of Paulie's hand. "But I think it's still important we reach a decision together about what I'll say to them."

"What if we can't decide by then?" Paulie worried.

He watched Iceburg flex then curl his toes as he thought it over.

"Well, unless we decide otherwise, then for better or for worse we'll just tell the truth." Iceburg glanced at him with a hesitant smile. "Like you said yourself yesterday, maybe things might actually calm down if they're not having to keep wildly speculating."

There was a lack of confidence in Iceburg's tone and expression. Paulie was so used to Iceburg knowing exactly what to do. He always looked to him for grounding, so when he found Iceburg looking for it from him, it threw him off balance.

"Hm," Paulie nodded. "Guess that's probably the right thing to do. But I'm still worried about what might happen after the big reveal."

His face creased in thought.

"It could hit your ratings hard if they try to spin it as a scandal. I wouldn't want you to lose your job as the Mayor over this."

He glanced away in guilt.

"I don't want that to be my fault."

"It wouldn't be yours or mine if that's how they choose to see it." Iceburg shrugged. "Who knows, maybe nothing will come of it. A firm yes and perhaps they'll just move on."

"That's a bit too optimistic don't you think?"

"Well, the people might be more sympathetic than the press will."

"Gonna have to hope so."

Iceburg's usual ease and confidence returned to his face. "I trust them to be a bit more discerning. We'll just need to earn their support."

Paulie wasn't entirely convinced, but Iceburg's assurance still had a way of winning him over.

Paulie shrugged. "They do love you, so…"

"They love you too."

"Don't know about that."

"They do," Iceburg insisted, with a kiss against his head. "You're very charming Paulie, and they all think so. I don't think you need to worry about it so much."

They'd fawned over him after Iceburg's first announcement, sure, but the papers had turned critical soon enough. He wasn't entirely sure where public opinion on him now sat and it did worry him.

Iceburg knew this world a lot better than he did though. If he was convinced they could win the public's approval then they might have some chance of doing it. If not right away, then gradually, over time.

He took a long, slow breath.

"You know, I'm actually finding this whole breathing thing helpful though."

He yawned.

"Well that's good. I'm glad it's helping," Iceburg replied. "I find it quite helpful myself."

"Maybe I'll catch up on lost sleep if it's my day off," he said with a shrug. "Sounds a lot more appealing than going to go slave away for my dad just yet."

"That does sound nice." Iceburg turned to smile at him.

He ran his hand up and along Paulie's arm.

"Maybe I'll skip work and join you."

Paulie's smile back was slightly nervous.

"I know it's your day off Paulie, but go cancel all my appointments for me would you?"

"I'm not doing shit," Paulie laughed in disbelief. "Today onwards I'm officially not your PA anymore."

"Well, technically you still are until Sofia gets here for her induction. So for hm-" Iceburg pulled out his pocket watch. "About another half an hour."

"You're unbelievable." Still laughing, Paulie shook his head. "Do it yourself. This child better have the patience of a damn saint. I swear. Feel sorry for her."

Iceburg chuckled. He got up to kneel across Paulie and cupped his face in his hands. He pressed his lips to his. Paulie answered with muffled enjoyment into each shifted movement as Iceburg kissed him over and over, gradually deepening with each return.

He drew his hands down Paulie's sides and stopped at the hem of Paulie's shirt. "Are you ok with this?"

Paulie nodded, and Iceburg drew it up over Paulie's head. He wrapped his arms over Iceburg's shoulders and pulled him close. He allowed Iceburg to lay him down then lie over him. Paulie's heart thudded as Iceburg's body pressed flush against him. The musk of his scent flooded Paulie's senses.

"Can't believe this is real," Paulie said.

His eyes traced Iceburg's face, taking it all in.

"Half expecting to wake up."

"Mm, I know. I've thought about this a lot," Iceburg admitted.

Paulie looked blankly up at him. "Huh?"

"You didn't realise?"

Paulie shook his head. "Apparently I'm clueless though."

He shook it again, red faced.

"Still can't believe you've really been interested in me too."

Iceburg laughed. "Well, it's true then. You really are clueless."

Iceburg stared deep into Paulie's eyes. Iceburg's face was so close and his expression so sincere as Paulie looked back, still trying to process everything.

He waited for Iceburg to go on. It never came, but Paulie felt compelled to open up too.

"I've watched you for so long Iceburg," he said quietly. "You were everything I wanted to be."

His eyes darted between meeting Iceburg's gaze and glancing away.

"Had to keep telling myself that's all it was. Years of that. Pushing it down."

Iceburg brushed his cheek. "Paulie. I'm sorry. Well, if I'd known-"

Paulie shook his head. "I'd only have pushed you away. I wouldn't have been ready."

His smile was unsteady as he drew clumsy fingertips along Iceburg's jawline.

"It's ok," Iceburg replied. His fingers mirrored Paulie's, bristling blond stubble. "It's an incredibly vulnerable thing to open up and allow yourself to love someone. It's always scary."

"That's the thing though. Now we're here I'm nervous as fuck about this sure," Paulie confessed. "But I'm not scared."

He laughed, and his eyes welled.

"I can't believe I'm not fucking scared."

Iceburg pressed his forehead to Paulie's. "Am I allowed to admit that I am a bit?"

"You are?" Paulie wiped the corner of his eye with the back of his wrist.

"Mm, it's been a long time since I've let someone in."

Paulie's slid his hands down Iceburg's back. "Then don't let me go, ok? And I won't go anywhere."

As he reached to pull off Iceburg's pyjama shirt, his chest still dressed beneath in bandages as a remnant of everything they'd been through together, Paulie found himself falling in much faster than he'd expected. But he was happy to go along with whatever pace Iceburg set. He trusted him completely and felt fully at home in his hold.

Paulie hesitated at the front door. "You really sure you don't want me to support you at this meeting with the climate scientists?"

"Paulie you've asked the same thing so many times now." Iceburg smiled and brushed him off.

He opened the door and gestured him out with a tilt of his head.

"I'll be fine, really. Go and make the most of the time that you have with your dad while he's still here."

Paulie scratched his head, and wondered if Tom might have been on Iceburg's mind.

"Sorry, must be nervous," he replied. "Don't even know why. I mean, we just saw him the other day."

"Well, you are planning to ask him to help out with this whole blackmail situation, so you have a lot riding on it."

Iceburg breathed in slowly, and Paulie followed the cue to match his rhythm.

"Breathe it all out," Iceburg said. "It'll be alright. It might not be fully formed yet, but we do have the start of a plan to deal with that now."

Paulie nodded. "Thanks."

Iceburg had chosen a short sleeved shirt for the heat and hints of his tattoos peered out the cuffs. After getting a close look at them earlier, the slight tease of them felt quite illicit.

Paulie reached and touched them. "I'll see you tonight. You can fill me in about the meeting then."

"And I'll let you know how it went showing our daughter around too." Iceburg smirked.

"Hasn't got old yet." Paulie chuckled. "I'll let you get back to her. Don't want to keep her waiting around any longer. Bad enough we did earlier."

As Paulie passed by Scrapheap Island, the warmth that emanated off the beached sea of metal parts was overwhelming. If he was going to be working next to it all day he'd be cooked alive. He trudged his tools along in the blazing heat and the sourest mood he'd felt in weeks as he crossed the shore line to the Franky House.

His dad's ship stood anchored beside. Just as he'd imagined, it didn't look in good shape.

He looked up to the deck. "Hey?" he called.

He rapped his knuckles on the hull and listened closely to the hollow knock for the tell-tale warnings of a breech. It sounded in better state than it looked. Some small relief. Perhaps it wouldn't need too much work after all.

"You even here Dad?"

He shaded his eyes with his hand to squint at the shadowed face that appeared and peered over the side of the ship.

"Starting to wonder if you were even going to come see me at all," Danny called back.

He slipped over the side and started to climb down the rope ladder.

"Don't play that guilt trip game with me," Paulie scowled. "Do you want me to fix Blackjack up or not?"

He watched his dad hop off her to the ground and walk his way.

Paulie crossed his arms. "Before I do anything, I need to ask if you'd do a favour for me in return for once."

"What is it?"

"Can you stick around Water Seven for a while?"

Danny nudged him. "Been missing me?"

Paulie scoffed. "I'm probably going to need you and your crews' help with a bit of a situation."

"I'm intrigued," he said, wrapping an arm over Paulie's shoulders. "Anything more to tell son?"

Paulie pulled him off. "Not yet. Just don't go sailing off as soon as I fix up your ship. I need your word on this, or there's no deal."

"Don't know where this is going, but sure." He scratched his head with a hint of rejection as he looked back at Paulie."I'll talk with the others, but I don't think there'd be any objections. You're fixing our ship for us. And it sounds like it might be interesting anyway."

Paulie sat his tool box down.

"I thought you said you were really busy," his dad added, leaning up against the ship. "What changed?"

"Iceburg let me take my day off today," Paulie explained. "You should feel grateful I'm spending it doing this."

He could have thought of many other things he'd rather be doing, though only one really lingered in his mind.

Danny shrugged casually. "So what's the deal with you and him anyway then? Hm? You're fucking, right?"

Paulie cursed the fact that his face had the terrible whim to always betray him.

He hoped his dad would drop the conversation if he didn't respond. He paced red faced over to the rope ladder and took it tensely in hand and climbed up to the first rung.

"How old is he anyway? In his forties?" His dad's tone was light, but the implication wasn't.

"Why's it even matter?" Paulie's pitch raised more than he'd intended.

He continued up the ropes.

"Everyone's so damn fascinated with the fact that he's older than me."

"And he's your boss."

"So what?" he huffed. "And he's thirty-" he paused. "Uh seven? Eight? "

Paulie was embarrassed he didn't know off hand.

"Is he keeping you then or what's the arrangement?"

Paulie hit his head off a jutting canon. "Ah fuck," he complained.

He broke into a long line of expletives before he finally calmed down.

"God Dad," Paulie winced. "There's no fucking arrangement. Now stop fucking probing. I'm not talking about this with you anymore if you're going to judge us like this."

He climbed up onto the deck, his footfall heavy across it.

"I'm not judging," Danny called up to him. "Curious though. I mean, you hit the jackpot there. You're fucking a millionaire. If he was putting you up I'm sure things'd be pretty comfortable. Not having to worry about money."

"I don't care about his money." Paulie laughed bitterly as he began inspecting the mast. "And judging's exactly what you're doing. God, I'd expect this from Mum, but you really can't talk."

He scowled.

"How many damn affairs did you have again before she finally caught on?"

"Ok, alright. Just worried about my kid," Danny answered. He footed the ladder and started to climb. "Maybe I jumped to conclusions about it. Sorry if I offended you."

Paulie glanced over as he heard his dad's feet hit the wooden decking.

"Where's this coming from anyway?" Paulie complained. "You seemed just fine with us the other day."

Danny shrugged. "Just wanted you to know if you need to talk about it I'm here. For now at least."

"You sound more like you're interrogating me."

"I've never been good at this have I?" Danny asked.

His guilty glance back to Paulie was one Paulie had seen countless times before. He had gotten much better at staring him back in the eye and not caving to it. "No."

"So does she know about it?"

Paulie's tone softened a bit. "Uh, well it's all over the papers right now."

He knelt down to run a hand over a crack in the decking. Some rot, but it hadn't spread too far yet. Thankfully, most of the damage seemed to be quite superficial so far.

"Officially just rumours still," Paulie continued. "But I mean, we might as well just confess to it."

"You worried what she'll make of it?"

"Of course I am," he sighed.

"So are you gay then?"

He blushed. "Bi maybe. I don't know."

"This all new to you?"

"Dad, look, what did I say? I don't want to talk about this with you."

"Might help."

"If you really want to help me out could you go get me some water? It's so fucking hot out again today."

Danny patted his back. "Sure."

"And hand me a scrap of paper before you go," Paulie added. "Writing a list of stuff I need to fish for when I go brave that death trap over there for materials."

It was late in the evening when Paulie made it back to headquarters. He pushed open the dining room door, expecting to find Iceburg and Lulu eating together but found Lulu eating alone.

Paulie sat down next to him. "Iceburg still not back yet?"

"Haven't seen him this evening come to think of it." Lulu cut at his fish. "I suppose he probably walked the new little secretary girl back home. Maybe her parents invited him in as a courtesy?"

"No, he had a meeting after that tour so I don't think he'd have stayed long. And he went to go talk to the paper after that too." Paulie glanced at the clock on the wall. "But I would have expected him to be back by now."

Lulu's eyebrow raised. "The paper?"

Paulie took a moment to decide how much to tell Lulu and how much to keep between Iceburg and himself.

"Just about scheduling an interview." He shrugged. "So crazy story, but we caught a reporter wandering around the headquarters yesterday."

Lulu almost choked. "You're kidding."

"Wish I was."

"So, what, he's going to tell the press about that?"

Paulie shrugged. "The guy said if we let him go he'd give us the chance to give our side of the story on the rumours that have been going round."

Lulu looked across the table at him. "Have you told Iceburg yet?"

Paulie hesitated.

"That's a yes." Lulu laughed.

Paulie rubbed his arm. "We're going to try it out."

Lulu raised his glass. "Hey, congratulations."

"I've got no idea what I'm doing to be honest," Paulie replied watching Lulu down his drink. "Or what everyone is going to make of it. The guys at the docks, the press, the people of the city."

"What, are you two actually planning to tell them the truth?"

"We're starting to think it'll just be simpler that way. Feels way too soon to me to be making some big ass public announcement about it though, so I'd rather not have to."

He reached to fiddle with his goggles.

"But rather than letting them say what they want about us, if we're upfront, we can shape the story ourselves. I guess that's probably what Iceburg's thinking."

Lulu nodded.

"He thinks they'll accept it and this is the best way to do it," Paulie continued. "I'm probably not quite as confident but Iceburg-"

Paulie jumped at the sound of the door opening. Carol stepped into the room.

"Can I get you anything to eat Paulie?"

"No, I'll wait for Iceburg to get back," he said.

Carol shook her head. "He's here already."

"Oh," Paulie replied. "Has he already eaten then?"

"Hasn't been down from his office," she replied. "I asked if he'd like me to bring something up to him, but he said he wasn't hungry."

"Maybe I'll check on him." Paulie frowned. "Did he seem alright?"

"He looked quite busy."

Paulie got up.

"Should we go see if he's ok?" Lulu asked. "Or maybe you want to go on your own?"

"Yeah, I'll go."

Paulie knocked on Iceburg's office door. He waited a moment and when there was no answer, he tried the handle. The door was locked. He knocked again.

"Iceburg?" he called. "Are you in there?"

He waited again, then knocked harder. "Iceburg?"

He heard the sound of footsteps at the other side.

"God, Iceburg. I was starting to worry something might have happened to you," he called.

"Sorry if I worried you," Iceburg replied quietly from behind the door. "I'm a little caught up in work right now. I want to keep working on if that's ok. Feel free to eat without me."

"Are you alright?" Paulie asked. "Is it something I can help with?"

Paulie heard a sigh from behind the door.

"My talk with the Weatherians this afternoon," Iceburg replied grimly. "As expected, it wasn't good news."

"Hm, I see." Paulie swallowed. "I take it Aqua Laguna is just going to keep on getting worse then?"

"Probably."

"So you're back working on those plans for the city?"

"Hm yes, well, I'm trying."

There was a silence.

"I'm struggling."

Paulie stood silently, searching for something to say. He wanted something that could offer either some comfort or some encouragement, but everything he ran through in his head sounded forced or contrived.

Paulie pressed a palm to the door, the feeling of the planed wood smooth and familiar.

"What did they tell you about it?" he asked simply.

In the pause that followed, Paulie gathered Iceburg was finding it hard to choose words himself.

Iceburg cleared his throat. "Damn it. I really thought I was helping, but as it turns out, I've been sending Water Seven to an early grave. This is all my fault." His voice was raised and unsteady.

"Wait, how is this your fault?" Paulie called back.

Iceburg went silent again.

Paulie sat against the wall and pulled out a cigar, clamped it between his teeth and tried to think of something, anything. He flicked his lighter on and off, watching as the flame sprang up from a spark and disappeared just as quickly.

"You could call it a miracle or maybe luck. Or you could call it whatever the hell you want," he said. "But against all the odds, we're still here, right? She's not sunk just yet, so we can still do something."

He waited, but again he was met with quiet.

"Iceburg, do you want to let me in?" he offered.

Paulie glanced up as the door opened and Iceburg stepped out to join him in the corridor instead. As he sat down next to Paulie, Paulie stashed away his unlit cigar for later.

"I don't think you quite get it Paulie," Iceburg replied. His voice strained. "I can't see a way around this that won't involve having to seriously cut down on production work. And if that's the case, there's no way we could take on such a large scale project like converting the whole city into a ship."

Paulie could smell alcohol again on his breath.

"The problem is with the shipyards themselves," Iceburg added.

"So then, Aqua Laguna has been progressively worsening because of work at Galley La?"

"Hm, thriving industry is great for the economy of Water Seven, but as it turns out, it's a double edged sword."

Paulie placed a hand on his back, rubbing gentle circles as Iceburg talked.

"It's giving us all very comfortable lives," Iceburg continued. "But it's also having an effect on our climate. That's why the storm's been getting worse year on year."

He shook his head.

"Continue to work as usual and they have no doubt that the annual storms will completely destroy this city within the next few years. But without the shipyards, what do we even have left? The city will collapse. No matter what it seems like there's no possibile way to win here."

He cupped his head in his hands.

"I've been so naïve," Iceburg mumbled.

"No," Paulie replied. He got up to crouch in front of Iceburg and placed his hands on Iceburg's shoulders.

"You were doing what you could. You helped. In so many ways."

He shook his head.

"So we're a bit more comfortable in Water Seven now, but if it's a choice between drowning and being broke, it's kind of obvious what's the easier option. If we have to cut down on work and finances take a slide for a bit now as we readjust to this news, so fucking what?"

Iceburg brushed his hands away from his face slowly to glance at Paulie. His eyes were exhausted as they trained on him as Paulie spoke and it knocked some of the confidence Paulie was desperately trying to hold for him.

"Uh, maybe this'll mean having to do a big overhaul on how we do things at the shipyards," Paulie continued. "God knows how the hell we'll find a new way to do it that's not going to make as much of an impact, but you haven't been sinking it, you've been holding this city together."

He smoothed his palms over Iceburg's arms, and he felt the tension he was holding through his whole body.

"You brought everyone together. Not just by uniting the shipyards. And not just cause there's a bit more money tossing around. You can feel it in the way everyone actually looks out for each other now, there's... this softness, warmness? It's like a different city entirely. They'll come together through this too."

Everything was streaming out from him in full flow and in full honesty. Paulie had to stop to take a breath.

"Just like Tom did, you give people hope. People like me that didn't think they had much to hope for living in a city just awaiting her end. If it wasn't for the two of you, we'd never have got this far."

Iceburg looked at him with an expression that was shifting silently and rapidly through emotions as he processed Paulie's words.

"Hm," Iceburg began. "But it's like all these years we've just been desperately trying to patch back up a ship that's beyond repair. The sea's battered her, and we've done too much damage to her too. Maybe we really have reached the point where we just have to abandon her. Let her rest."

"Look, just don't give up on Galley La or Water Seven yet." Paulie reached for Iceburg's hand. "You're going to prove that Water Seven can still be saved. I know you have a hard time believing it, but you're so damn brilliant, ok? And like I keep saying, you don't have to shoulder this on your own. I'm here to help you, we all are. With anything you need."

Iceburg waved Paulie into his arms and he followed.

"We'll work this out," Paulie said, pressing into Iceburg's chest. "Couple obstacles to deal with, but we'll deal with them."

Iceburg's hold was almost a little too tight.

"Hm Paulie, honestly, I don't know. But I'm so glad I have you by my side right now."

He shrugged. "Those scientist guys are absolute bastards for just dropping all this on you and running."

"They've actually agreed to stay a bit longer," Iceburg said.

"Good," Paulie huffed, holding Iceburg just as tightly back. "If they hadn't I'd be going to find them and fucking dragging them back here. First, to apologise to you, and second, to fucking help us sort this mess out."

Iceburg smiled at Paulie wearily in response.

"Do you think they'll be able to help us figure out what our next move is now?" Paulie asked.

"Well, let's hope so," Iceburg replied.

They sat a while just holding each other in the long, empty corridor.

They spent the night together, in Iceburg's guestroom this time.

Paulie held Iceburg as he slept, surprisingly soundly, everything considered. He woke occasionally, stirring Paulie in the process. But it didn't take much more than a brief stroke of reassurance from Paulie that said, unspoken, that he was there with him and it sent Iceburg back off into sleep.

Paulie wondered if Iceburg's dreams were as complex as his were, full of the joys of life, fears of death and all the complications that seemed to surround both lately.

"Good morning," Iceburg said running his palm over Paulie's face.

Paulie couldn't think of a better way he'd ever woken up.

"Morning," he mumbled lazily as Iceburg planted a kiss on his head. "You seemed to sleep pretty well last night."

"Yes." Iceburg smiled.

"What's the good mood about?"

"Mm, well, a couple of things," he started. He brushed the sheets down Paulie's chest to look at him. "This being one of them, of course."

Paulie smirked into his blush.

Iceburg sighed. "And I had a dream last night about the city. Water's such an abundant resource there has to be more ways that we can utilise it at the shipyard too."

He wrapped his arm across Paulie and tucked himself close to him.

"I couldn't see it at all last night, but you picked me back up when I was ready to just give in to despair about it. But you've always been like this. I don't know how, but you always seem to find the strength to keep going."

Iceburg gazed into his eyes and stroked Paulie's dishevelled hair off his face.

"That night you just kept on going. And I don't think anyone else knows that you stay late into the night from time to time at the docks, pushing on with work or just rigorously practicing techniques long after everyone else has gone home."

Iceburg kissed him.

"If I ever felt my motivation to work late myself wavering, I'd think about you for a while, and that dedication. It gave me a bit more strength."

Paulie shook his head dismissively as he turned to face Iceburg. There was nothing left as a screen between them. No clothes on their bodies, secrets kept or thoughts left unspoken. Paulie couldn't help but feel that this was how it was meant to be.

"I don't think it's strength so much as just hope and sheer bloody-mindedness." He smiled wearily. "I meant everything I said. You just needed a reminder. That, and to get out of your own head for a moment."

He pushed Iceburg back and shifted over to lie on top of him, gazing into his eyes.

"Oh, and, um, happy birthday Paulie," Iceburg said.

"What?" Paulie chuckled. "You're a week early, but, it's the sentiment that counts I guess."

"Oh," Iceburg cringed. "Well that's a bit awkward isn't it?"

"It's fine." Paulie placed his hand on Iceburg's flushed face in a reversal of roles. "Had a moment like this myself not that long ago. Maybe we don't quite know everything about each other yet, but it's still early days."

Paulie kissed him.

"Even though it kind of feels like this is how it's always been already."

"Mm." Iceburg nodded.

Paulie could have spent the day like this, ignorantly avoiding all of their current situations and responsibilities in calm bliss, wrapped up only in each other's arms and getting to know each other more. He'd spend every day that way with Iceburg if he could. Though he knew they really couldn't.

There were commitments and realities to face outside the warmth of their bed that they'd both have to reluctantly drag themselves away from each other to deal with.

Even just having to get up to work in separate offices from that day on seemed a bit of a lonely prospect.