IV
o0o0o0o
The captain's bed was built to comfortably accommodate an average-sized human, but not one of Arlong's height. If he stretched out even a bit, his feet hung over the side of the bed. He knew he was going to get rid of this ship soon, but without the tribute money that Arlong Park once collected, their funds were distressingly low. Which left them with the option of stealing a ship – or the funds – for an upgrade unless they met some windfall.
He stirred and looked down at the form he was spooned against. Yolande lay between him and the wall, curled up in his embrace. It certainly was nice having a warm body to wake up next to after a cold night. Most of her head was covered by the blankets that were tucked around them, and he gently ran his fingers across the top of her head, feeling the thick, dark locks and twirling a lock between his fingers. It looked black, but when the light hit it, he saw flashes of dark red and copper.
She stirred and pulled down the blanket a few inches. Mumbling something, she opened her eyes, shifting her gaze around for a couple of moments before settling on his face. He looked down at her with a grin, and saw a flash of fear and confusion on her face before recognition settled in.
"Hello," she whispered.
"How did you sleep?"
"Surprisingly well."
"Mmm." His fingers trailed along her forehead and down the side of her face. It'd been the best sleep he had had in… months… even a year or more? Even before the demise of his beloved park. There had been nights when he could not fall asleep without a substantial amount of alcohol. Not that he hadn't drunk a fair amount the night before with his fellow fishmen, but he was certain that the fucking and snuggling had done far more for him than a few bottles of alcohol.
She started to pull herself up, and he took the opportunity to look over the bites he'd placed on her shoulders. The first couple had been lighter, but still left their mark on her. She shivered as he moved his hand to her other shoulder. Though the puncture wounds were deeper, he was relieved to see that there was minimal inflammation.
"Do you like seeing what you did to me?" she asked dryly.
"These are claiming bites."
"The last one really hurt," she said quietly.
"It was not my intention to harm you, but yes, it happens as part of the claiming," he replied lowly. "Does it still hurt?"
She lifted her hand, touching it. "Some."
"It will heal. In the meantime, if you still feel pain, we now have drugs in the infirmary, thanks to you. Or I can give you more drink." He ran his fingers down her arm as he re-tucked the blankets around them, letting her remain in a seated position with her back against his chest.
"I don't regret helping the sick members of your crew or finding the best deals in the market. But this still feels so surreal to me. Why did this happen to me?"
Arlong could ask that of many things. Why did he lose his parents? Why did Fisher Tiger die? Why was Arlong Park destroyed? Why end up with a siren who was half-human, when he'd spent pretty much his whole life hating humans and looking down at them?
He'd consistently told himself and his crewmates, and even the young ones in the Fishman District that Heaven made fishmen superior to humans. After all, they were faster and stronger, even out of the water. Fishmen fetched more than humans on the slave market, so even as humans looked down on them, they were still valuable. Just not in a way that benefited the fishman race.
"Who the hell knows, but we're here now," he growled as he stared off into space, listening to her breathe as he wrapped his arm around her.
o0o0o0o
Hatchan watched as several fishmen brought potted plants onto the ship. Last night's delivery of Yolande's note went without incident, fortunately, but the young woman who answered the door seemed determined to hold her suspicions against fishmen even though Hatchan had never done her any harm. Now that woman's stepmother was disappearing, sailing off with the fishmen!
He did feel sorry for Lena after hearing her story. She'd lost her mother at a young age, and then her father in her late teens, and her older brother worked abroad for years. Yolande had been a rock for her, helping her navigate the last few years of her teenagehood, a far cry from the evil stepmother one often came across in fairy tales. Regarding Lena's baby, there was no father in the picture and Hatchan did not pry.
All he could do was accompany Yolande and carry the things she needed. Her personal possessions were relatively modest – the biggest portion of what she was taking to the ship was her plants and other things she needed for her work.
"Hey, careful with that," Yolande said as a fishman struggled with a crate. "That has glass in it!"
Hatchan rushed to help with the crate, making sure it was situated before he returned to her side, seeing the distant expression on her face. "I'm sorry for any trouble that my friendship caused you," he said gently as he placed a hand on her shoulder. She was being taken from a home she'd known for years and what little family she had because of Arlong. And none of that would have happened if Hatchan hadn't appealed to her for help for his crewmates. He'd already apologized before but felt the need to do so again as he witnessed the upheaval Arlong caused in her life.
Although if a siren really was chosen by the gods or fate, then they'd have made her and Arlong cross paths some other way.
She let out a small sigh before she looked up at him. "I know. And if nothing else, I'm glad to have a friend here on the ship." She placed her hand on top of his.
If Arlong had attempted to enslave or mistreat Yolande, Hatchan would have stepped in. After what happened with Nami, and standing back while the poor girl suffered, he wasn't going to do that again. He hadn't expected to run into Arlong after his takoyaki ship was destroyed, but perhaps that was another twist of fate. Who knew? He'd learned much in his time with the Straw Hats and was truly happy for the chance to make it up to them and be their friend. Arlong didn't know about all that, of course.
He hoped that one day, he might be able to tell Arlong. But not now. The sharkman still carried a lot of bitterness and pain.
"Has everything been… okay with Arlong?" he asked. He'd noticed his captain get handsy sometimes. Taking hold of Yolande's arm, or her chin, or picking her up. He knew that a siren was supposed to be irresistible to her partner, but none of the partners he heard about in the stories were like Arlong. A prince, farmer, warrior, and artist among others. But certainly not a pirate or villain.
"I think so," she said with a dry chuckle. "He has… quite a few rough edges, doesn't he?"
"I guess you could say that." Oh, all the rough edges. Many of them, Arlong had been carrying around since childhood. Looking for a quick change of subject, he pointed to one of the plants. "What's that one?" he asked, noticing fruit among the leaves, some green, others taking on a hint of red.
"Tomato. You can do so many things with it and it's so good for you!" The distant look disappeared from her eyes as she discussed cooking with him.
o0o0o0o
The mess hall was quiet as Yolande knelt by one of her plants, touching the leaves. She'd been thrust into a new environment, but it was nice to have something familiar with her, and she cupped one of the tomatoes in her palm, feeling its cool weight. The windows in the mess hall made a good spot to place most of her plants when the weather was cold. She tried to arrange them in such a way as to take up as little space as possible. Though no one had said it, she knew some of the fishmen bristled at the idea of having a half-human on their ship.
She was determined to do the best she could here, and navigate the turbulent seas of life – literally and figuratively – as she'd done in the past when thrust into unexpected situations. But this was the first time she'd had a mate. Nothing could have prepared her for being claimed by a sharkman. She sighed and looked out the window, seeing the twinkle of a few lights along the interior of the harbor. In the reflection of the window, she saw Arlong slide up behind her, silhouetted against the sole lamp that still burnt in the quiet room.
"It's getting late. Come to bed," he said with a purr. She turned to face him, putting her hands on his chest. Like many of his crewmates, he wore a crewneck shirt, albeit one that had been modified for his fin. She couldn't imagine it was easy shopping for clothes when one had a dorsal fin. Or pectoral fins, or extra arms. Or maybe it'd be easier if they went to Fishman Island. She'd heard of that place quite a few times and had considered visiting there.
The fabric stretched over his broad shoulders, chest, and biceps, offering her an appealing sight of his physique.
"I'm happy to come to bed. But I've been doing some thinking in between all the running around I've been doing today."
He let out a short, inquisitive growl.
"There's no denying the bond between us. On a physical level, you and I are all too aware of it."
An amorous chuckle was Arlong's response as his hands slid to her sides, and she shivered at the contact even though she was wearing a thick flannel shirt.
"But there's supposed to be more, isn't there?"
"What's your point?" His hands rubbed her sides, large thumbs trailing along the underside of her breasts. She took a deep breath as she felt the heat rise in her cheeks and elsewhere.
"Aren't you the person I am supposed to spend the rest of my life with? And vice versa?"
"Which means even more sex," Arlong purred as he leaned down, breathing hotly against her ear.
"You really have a one-track mind!" she said, unable to bite back a moan as her body responded to the sharkman's attentions. She tried to pull herself free, but he wrapped an arm around her before she could. "Please, Arlong."
"Listen to your body," he urged as he hugged her close, his hand sliding down to her ass, cupping it.
"Will you listen to my mind, too?" she asked firmly. He stilled for a moment.
"After I'm sated with your body."
"Really?"
"Yes," he replied heatedly, and she felt his teeth against her ear and just below it. Fuck it, she'd let the heat run the course… and then cooler minds should – no, would – prevail. So she let him paw at her before he dragged her back to his cabin.
o0o0o0o
Arlong glanced over at her as she quickly carded her fingers through her hair before pulling it in a ponytail. Sharing his bed took a bit of getting used to, especially with a too-small bed. Still, it'd been enjoyable to feel that warmth against his – or around him, when he chose to make use of it. And he'd had time to think about putting the practical talents of his siren to use. She might say she was no doctor, but she was better than nothing in the meantime and there was no denying that she knew what she was doing in the infirmary. She could cook a bit. Her plants looked healthy as far as he could tell. She knew some chemistry. He'd protect and treat her well, but it didn't mean he'd coddle her like some spoiled pet.
However heated he might get, he refused to lose his mind over it. Yes, it'd been overwhelming at first, but now he'd had some time to orient himself to this, and the pull that existed between them. He'd enjoy the sweetness of her, and make good use of that spice.
Glancing back at the table, he looked at the compass. Right now, they were drifting westward, Eventually, they'd hit the Red Line unless they went north. And then what? Going back to the East Blue was out of the question.
Why had he chosen the East Blue? It was the calmest, easiest of the Blues, and he figured it would be a good place to establish himself. And it was almost too easy. For years, they'd terrorized humans into compliance, milking them for tribute every month and using it to enrich themselves. The mild weather and relatively backwoods location made the Conomi Islands an ideal haven for fishmen, on or offshore.
Now it was all gone. Yes, he had most of his nakama, but what future awaited them? He looked at Yolande again as she stood up before coming to the desk, glancing down at the notes. Some of them bore the hand of the former captain of this ship, others bore his distinctive scrawl.
"Where are you headed?" she asked. It was a casual question, and in her position, a reasonable one. Yet he bristled because he did not know the answer. He heard her take a deep breath.
"I ask these questions because I need to know what I am dealing with… or what to expect. Like, this ship is stolen… which makes me wonder if I have to fear reprisal simply by being with you. I think that's a fair thing for me to be concerned about."
Arlong stared at her for several long moments before acknowledging her statement with a begrudging nod.
-Protect-
"Remember what I said last night about our bond and how it is more than physical? I'm sure there are things you don't want to talk about, but we do need to get to know one another better. Like… hmm… what's your favorite food?"
He expected a much harder question and almost smiled in relief. "Beef."
"Beef? See, there's something I can work with. Your turn."
"My turn for what?"
"Ask me a question."
He looked up from one of the maps, seeing her bat her eyes at him. He frowned thoughtfully for a moment. "Favorite color?"
"I can never settle on indigo or green. Right now I'm more inclined toward green."
"Huh." Such a trivial bit of information. But she seemed happy to share it, just as she seemed happy to hear his favorite food. He'd humored previous lovers with a bit of small talk but had the feeling he'd have an easier time remembering what Yolande liked. Green and indigo. Not bad colors.
"Where were you from?"
"The Fishman District." He glanced up at her. "Heard of it?"
"I've heard of Fishman Island. I'm afraid that's all I know."
"You have much to learn about fishmen, don't you?" he asked with a sneer.
"I was raised by humans. I'm an orphan."
He stared at her for a moment as the sneer faded, and she quickly looked down at the table as if she were ashamed.
"So am I," Arlong commented. She looked back up at him. "And many of the crew members are orphans, too."
She stared at him musingly. "I was hoping to find things in common with you, but I didn't expect that."
He laughed ruefully at that. "I'm certain we will find other things to share. In the meantime, we'll be leaving soon." She looked like she wanted to say something, and he gave her a brief nod.
"I've gotten most of what I need, but I am owed a debt that its owner is reluctant to pay, especially after seeing me help your crew."
"Who owes you?"
"The doctor. He owes me a fair bit of money for the work I produced and claims he can't come up with it right now because he's short on cash, but I don't think he's telling me the truth. He hates that he owes me anything but he still likes to be a pain in the ass about it. I suppose this is his last act of spite towards me for rejecting him," she muttered the last sentence to herself as she looked down at the papers again.
"What?" he growled. She blinked and looked back at him.
"After my husband died, Flen tried to court me. I turned him down. He's never quite gotten over that. So he still likes to give me a hard time sometimes when it comes to paying me for what I produce for the pharmacy. He's feeling especially bitter about that because he's a racist piece of shit who didn't like the fact that I stepped in to help your men when he refused to, and now I'm going off with said fishmen."
Arlong grinned. "We'll see about that."
It was almost like the good old days. So far, the fishmen had given the island folk no trouble, which had lulled these stupid humans into complacency. So it was all too easy to march up to the doctor's office and shake the money from him and his neighbors when the fishmen threatened them after they attempted to intervene.
Arlong the Saw ended up with more money than Yolande said she was owed, but instead of returning it to the villagers, he pocketed it for himself. The doctor thought he would scorn fishmen who had simply been seeking aid, and try to screw someone out of the money she was owed as well. Filthy humans.
He was, however, cautious enough to not tell the doctor who he really was, or the name of his crew. If that stupid asshole thought to complain to anybody, all he would have to go by was the Jolly Roger and ship identification that belonged to a man who was now dead.
He walked up the gangplank, an impressive sight with his shoulders squared, a prideful expression on his face. With a smirk, he handed a stack of Beli to his mate, who blinked at the paper in her hands before staring up at him with shocked but grateful eyes. Then her eyebrows creased and he could see the question on her face.
"Tempting as it was to do worse, he is fine. Or will be. He'll have a few bruises."
She tilted her head to one side, deep in thought for a couple of moments before giving him a simple. "Thank you." Despite. her calm expression, he was certain he saw a glimmer of approval in her eyes like she was secretly pleased that he was willing to shake a man down for her.
Wasn't it his duty to protect and provide for his siren? And if he had a bit of fun and profit doing it, all the better.
With full provisions, healthy fishmen, and his siren, Arlong set off from the island in search of a better future for himself and his crew.