Big thank you to you guys for reading this! Seriously, those reviews just make me squee. Always got the biggest grin on my face when I see them.
I'm still wondering on what she'll look like as a full mermaid. I've got a general idea, and she won't look like a simple mermaid with just a tail, because where would the fun be in that? Anyways, enjoy chapter 3!
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Time seemed to take forever, or so Lena thought.
She'd been sat in the sand, waiting for God knows how long as the silence stretched, which wore away at her already thin patience. She occasionally slipped her hand underneath the cool, dry sand, letting the grains fall between her fingers as she lifted it back up.
The sun had began to set, leaving the beach swathed in a deep orange glow, with a shimmering reflection in the calm evening waves. The sound of sailors singing merrily behind her reached her ears. Probably coming back from the pub, Lena thought wistfully.
Although she was bored, it didn't mean her attention was diverted from focusing on the danger in front of her, who was still cutting away at her bonds. Her eyes intently searched for any sudden changes to the French woman, whose gaze suddenly flicked forwards her.
The woman switched her attention to Lena, her eyebrow quirking. "You are still staring."
Course I'm bloody staring, you've got a sharp knife in your claws.
Lena narrowed her eyes. "I'm observing actually. Against my better judgement, I just gave a mermaid a sharp object." She was already starting to regret that decision.
The woman tutted, holding the pocket knife up to the last dregs of sunlight; inspecting the design before looking back at Lena. "And what do you suspect I will do with it, hm?"
Lena scowled and sat up straighter. "Let's see, shall we?" She brought a hand up, ready to count off ideas.
"For starters, you could easily throw that knife my way, probably take out an eye. Or you could even embed it in my throat- OR, through my chest. All my vital organs are open to you." She rattled off the woman's options with her fingers. All the while, the other woman looked quite amused at her accusations.
"Actually y'know what? You probably don't even need my knife. From all the stories I've heard, you're as deadly as all hell." Lena huffed, angrily.
That seemed to bring a slight smile to the other woman's lips. She slowly finished off cutting at the loose net strings. "I suppose I am, aren't I?"
She looked rather proud of herself. Lena scoffed.
Before she could retaliate with a comeback however, the netting sheet was lifted completely, revealing the stranger. Lena snapped her mouth shut immediately, her eyes going wide as she took in the figure before her.
Her eyes raked over the mermaid, taking in every little detail. She had the palest blue skin Lena had ever seen, almost periwinkle in colour. Deep purple hair pulled up into a neat, high ponytail, which draped over her one shoulder like silk. Her face slightly bruised and bloodied- yet still beautiful -held a pair of full, pouty lips, a small upturned nose and a jawline that could cut diamonds. Her sharp, dark eyebrows were arched perfectly over her golden cat-like eyes.
Lowering her eyes, Lena realised that she was without much clothing, the few pieces covering the woman's taut body were scraps of cloth, in an assortment of different sizes and colours. Lena's eyes darted all over, realising that both sides of the woman's waist were deeply ridged. Gills maybe? Her clawed hands held small webs between the fingers.
She wasn't much special to look at, but Lena knew better. This wasn't her main form, the legs gave that away instantly. Lena wondered what she really looked like.
The woman stood up gracefully, stretching her aching limbs, raising her strong arms above her head. In doing so, she showed off more of her lithe body. She was taller than Lena, about a head or so. Her carved legs were toned and long, the muscles in them apparent.
Without warning, she turned and headed towards the water, not looking back at Lena once.
"H-hey! Wait up!" Lena scrambled to her feet and sped forward, blinking towards the woman while still keeping a small distance between them. A good thing too, she still had Lena's knife clutched in her fist, which she pointed towards the young sailor in warning. With her own knife directed towards her face, Lena wasn't going to get much closer. She raised her hands up in a peaceful gesture. Before she could speak up, the other woman broke the silence.
"Do not follow me, human." She seethed, her gaze threatening. The hand clutching Lena's knife tightened around the handle, her knuckles turning white. Lena hadn't expected the woman to be her friend, though she had hoped for a somewhat peaceful truce. Wishful thinking, clearly.
"You wouldn't kill me after I just saved your life, would you?"
She hoped to God that the woman would show her some gratitude. Even though the only stories Lena had heard about mermaids were unpleasant, she was sure there was something more. Something that the stories had missed. What reasons would a mermaid have for killing humans? Surely they didn't just do it for fun, right?
The blue skinned woman hesitated, now pointing the blade at Lena's chest. Her eyes were curious as she considered her choices. It was clear that the woman still didn't trust her, Lena wasn't surprised. Slowly, the mermaid lowered the blade, still keeping her eyes fixed on Lena. Her head cocked to the side.
"What do you want?"
Lena sighed in relief, lowering her hands to swing at her sides.
"Oh I don't know, a 'thank-you' would've been nice."
She received a sour look in return, as if the woman had eaten something unpleasant. She scowled and looked away. If Lena hadn't been listening for it, she would have missed the quiet "merci" the woman gave her.
Lena almost snorted. So this woman was the proud type. "Didn't quite catch that, love."
The woman gave her a haughty look. "I will not repeat myself, chérie."
Alright, new tactic.
Her eyes flicked from the knife in the woman's hand, back to her face. "Can I have my pocket knife back then?"
The mermaid turned the blade over, her thumb skimming over the smooth hilt. She flicked the safety lock on but placed it in the pouch around her waist.
Lena's heart sank. Was she seriously not gonna give it back?
"Non."
"But I-!"
"I did not ask for your help."
Lena frowned. Asking for her knife had been asking for help, hadn't it? Asked for probably wasn't the correct word, she more or less demanded it. "Well you clearly needed it."
The mermaid wrinkled her nose.
"I had it under control."
Lena barked out a laugh. "Yeah, right! You were getting beaten to a pulp before I intervened." She crossed her arms. "And here I thought your kind were the dangerous ones."
The first thing she noticed was how the other woman's cat-like eyes narrowed dangerously at her words. Her pupils constricted into tiny slits. She bristled, a low growl seemed to emit from her throat. Her hands curled into fists.
"My kind?" her voice had turned dangerously low.
… Oh no. Why'd I have to open my gob?
"Do not talk to me about dangers you do not understand, human." The woman's voice no longer sounded honeyed. A harsh gravelly tone took its place, with her accent thicker than before. "It is your kind that kill mine. Your kind that pollute our home. Your kind that hunt ours to extinction!" She snapped angrily, her pearly white teeth bared.
Lena just stood there in shock, gaping at the other woman as she turned on her heel and ran. For someone who normally had a tail, she was pretty well coordinated and swift with her legs. She contemplated running after the mystery woman, and she would have, if she hadn't heard the loud telltale splash behind the cabin.
She peeked behind the wooden structure and sure enough, the mermaid was nowhere to be seen. Large ripples in the water were the only clue left behind.
Guess she's gone… well, there goes that plan.
Lena sighed, rubbing a hand over her tired face. She looked out over the horizon, hoping to see a tail but instead, she saw nothing. She turned and made her way back towards the town, grabbing her shoes and socks off the sand as she went and bending down to put them on quickly.
Her mind raced as she strolled. The past couple of hours had been a weird few to say the least. She'd met a mermaid and lived to tell the tale, and it was something she still didn't believe. Whether she would tell it however, she wasn't sure. Lena couldn't put a finger on how she felt, as if what had happened hadn't quite sunk in yet.
Lena wondered if she'd ever see the mermaid again, and if so, when, where and how? The sea is a vast body of water and she was sure there were plenty of mermaids out there. How would she ever find the right one?
More importantly if she did decide to tell her tale, how would Reinhardt take it? Angela? Torb? What if they banned her from the beach?
Lena frowned. No… She was pretty sure she knew her Captain enough to know that he'd be proud of her, proud that she hadn't succumbed to a mermaid's charm. Angela on the other hand… would definitely be worried sick. Her heart clenched. Poor Angela, she thought. She often felt the ship's medic was like a second mother to her.
She was snapped out of her thoughts as she drew closer to the stalls that no longer held all the trinkets and food from before. The music could still be heard from a short distance away, outside a cosy looking cottage pub with a dark green sign that read 'The Hog's Head' in fancy white writing. The few people she'd heard singing earlier were still outside with their arms around each other's shoulders, struggling to stay upright in their drunken stupor and still singing.
She peered through the misted window, trying to get a good look of what it was like inside, but to no avail. The windows were too grimy but from what she could see, it didn't look too busy or rowdy.
… Maybe one drink couldn't hurt-
"Lena? Is that you?"
Lena's ears perked up and a smile lit up her face. She knew that voice!
Whirling around, she was greeted by the familiar face of her old friend, Winston. Her cheeks ached from the huge grin she was giving. She was surprised to see him here, last she saw him was over in Gibraltar a few months ago. Lena felt like it'd been ages since she last saw him, though the gorilla looked exactly the same as when she left him. He peered down at her through his black framed glasses, a small smile touched his lips.
"Winston!" She let out a small laugh, jumping onto one of his beefy arms and hugging it to her chest briefly before letting go. "You're a sight for sore eyes!"
"Hullo, Lena," He took off his glasses, breathing on the lenses and wiping them on his lab coat before adjusting them back over his large nose. He squinted at her. "you look… different." Winston took in her short spiky hair and overalls, giving her a questioning look.
"I… it's a long story, love." Lena rubbed the back of her neck nervously. She gestured in front of her, forwards the pub doors. "Shall we?"
Winston nodded before leading the way, walking through the wooden doors before holding them open for Lena to follow.
The inside of the pub was dimly lit by the soft yellow lamps which decorated each small table, and from the rafters above. Framed paintings and an assortment of drinking glasses hung from the dark green wall-papered walls, giving off a cosy feel. The dark wooden bar held a wide variety of spirits and ale, both on the shelves and the counter. She could see the walls behind the bar were pinned with old photos- some black and white while others looked more recent -and a bottle cap collection, each one with a different design and logo. At the back she could see a small stage with a band of sailors playing the music she'd heard from before, the sound of a fiddle, harmonica and an accordion reached her ears. Lena breathed in deeply, taking in the scent of damp wood and beer. Not quite like her old watering hole in London, but it felt just as homely all the same.
Walking over to the bar, she ordered two pints and a packet of pork scratchings from the omnic barman before leaning back on her elbows and settling against the counter, facing her friend.
She gave him a wide smile. "I didn't expect to see you here, big guy. It's been forever! You here for business or pleasure?"
He chuckled lowly. "Business I'm afraid. I'm searching here for a doctor by the name of Angela Ziegler. I was told she would be in town for the next couple of days."
"Angie? We're on the same ship. What do you need her for?"
"Ah, I was told her research on nanobiology has made a massive breakthrough. She's improved the treatment for many known illnesses and I hoped to share my own knowledge. Nanotech is a big thing, Lena! Not to say she needs my help, however." He added quickly.
Lena smiled. Winston always did love everything to do with science, she could see how excited he was at the prospect of gaining new knowledge. He even helped her build the chronal accelerator, contributing to the scientific parts while she blueprinted the design and creation.
Their drinks were placed neatly on the counter. Lena thanked the barman, offering him a handful of silver coins and her thanks before grabbing both drinks and her snack. She set them on the nearest table, making sure to use the beer mats provided. As they both took their seats, Winston glanced at her curiously.
"Enough about me, Lena. Whatever happened to you?"
Lena fidgeted on her rickety wooden stool, her knees bouncing on the frame. She wasn't sure how to approach this territory. Even though she trusted Winston, she found the recent changes in her life difficult to explain. She took a large sip of her pint, wrinkling her nose at the first taste and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
She placed the glass back on the table and cleared her throat. "Well, funny story actually… would you believe it if I said I was posing as a bloke, just to be accepted by my crew members?"
Winston frowned. "But you said Dr. Ziegler-"
"Yep, she's on the ship." Lena sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I didn't know the crew were as friendly… you remember the letter I sent you about the last lot, yeah?" Winston nodded, waiting for her to continue.
She wrapped her arms around herself. "I just thought they'd be the same, y'know? It's a mess, Winston!"
"Lena… you could just tell them the truth."
She scoffed, "And you think that'd work? I've been lying to them for weeks. What if they won't trust me? What if they kick me off the ship? What if-"
Lena found she couldn't speak, realising one of Winston's large hands had covered her mouth, effectively shutting her up. She huffed in annoyance, jerking her face away.
He took his chance at her silence. "And what if they do accept you, hm?"
"You don't know that…"
Winston shrugged, "It's worth a try, isn't it? I would do it sooner rather than later if I were you. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be. "
Lena hated the fact that he was right, it would get harder the longer she left it. But how the hell would she bring up that sort of conversation? It wasn't something you could just bring up lightly. She had some thinking to do.
.
After finishing their drinks, the two made their way to the harbour, back towards The Bastion. The sun had long been set, enveloping the deserted huts and shacks in darkness, save for the bright white light from the moon. Torches were scattered along the sea front, offering a guiding light to any who walked the path. The cool night air that touched Lena's face was refreshing, a nice change from the stuffiness of the pub. Her nerves had at least cooled off from the alcohol in her system, giving her a slight buzz.
They walked in a comfortable silence, Lena listening to the heavy footfalls of Winston's bare soles as well as the quiet taps of her own boots against the wooden platform.
As they walked over the ship's threshold, Lena was immediately bowled over and squeezed by a familiar pair of arms. She yelped, almost loosing her footing and grabbing at the slightly taller figure now clinging to her. Her vision completely taken over by a mass of wavy, light blonde hair.
"Leo, where have you been?! We were worried sick!"
She glanced at Winston, noticing the frown on his face at the name she was called. Lena mouthed a quick 'just play along' before turning her attention back to the medic.
She felt Angela checking her all over for any injuries, looking for scrapes or grazes. The doctor held both of her cheeks in each hand as her eyes raked over her face.
This was the norm, Angela checking up on her. Being an engineer had its dangerous moments, especially when working with machinery. Sometimes she would stubbornly try to hide her injuries, much to Angela's dismay. At the end of the day it was a win-win really, Lena got medical attention and Angela- no matter how much she pleaded with her to be more careful -enjoyed the company and practice.
"Angie, I'm fine! Look at me, I'm fine!" Lena gently peeled Angela's hands from her face. The doctor cared a lot about Lena, perhaps too much but it was welcome.
Angela wrinkled her nose, smelling the alcohol on Lena's breath. "Mein gott, you were missing all day. You had me worrying and all this time, you've been at the bar?"
"No I- Ange, please, I can explain!"
The doctor held a hand up, cutting her off from explaining any further. The doctor gave her a stern frown, something Lena often received from her for not being careful.
"It's late. Don't think you are off the hook, I still expect a full explanation tomorrow."
Lena tilted her head down and nodded. She noticed how tired Angela looked and the guilt she felt immediately took over. She stayed awake just to wait for her to come back it seemed, the doctor's eyes had started to droop heavily.
The doctor must have took pity on her as Lena felt a soft hand ruffle though her hair before a quick kiss landed on her forehead. She looked up to see the frown on Angela's face had softened. The blonde never could stay annoyed with Lena for long.
Unless she's just knackered…
Before walking away, Angela sighed. "I'm glad you are safe, Süße."
She turned and headed towards the far side of the ship. Lena watched the doctor make her way down the stairs towards her own quarters. She smiled, still feeling warm from where Angela kissed her forehead. Tomorrow she'd do everything she could to make it up to the doctor.
Winston cleared his throat behind her, making her jump. She'd forgotten that he was there for a second, Anglea had been solely focused on Lena, not even realising there was a 6 foot gorilla next to her.
Yep, she was definitely knackered.
He adjusted his glasses and glanced down at her. "So that was Dr. Ziegler? She seems to care a great deal for you, Lena."
Lena smiled fondly, looking over her shoulder at the door Angela had disappeared through. "She really does." She gave Winston an apologetic look. "Sorry, love… I'll introduce you tomorrow, yeah?" She felt bad for dragging Winston along with her. It was late though, she supposed.
After saying their goodbyes and a promise to talk more tomorrow, Lena waved to Winston until the darkness of the night engulfed his hulking figure. Lena let out a long sigh of relief, glad that the day was finally over. She stifled a yawn and started making her own way down to the lower decks, deciding it'd be best to follow suit with Angela and get to bed.
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This was a fun chapter to write, so far I'm enjoying writing Widowmaker a lot. I'm not 100% sure about the ending, honestly I struggled to end this chapter at an appropriate moment. It's a bit longer than the other chapters I've done so far. Hope you enjoyed! I appreciate any reviews and follows!