With you, I'd go anywhere || Nikolai Lantsov x Male Reader

6

"Like the stag". Mal peered out at the waves, "I wouldn't know where to start". "For her safety, I hope thats not true" said the darkling, he reached into your kefta and pulled out one of your knives. "Because everyday we don't find the sea whip, I'll peel away a piece of her skin. Slowly. Then Ivan will heal her and we'll do it all over again" he grinned. Alinas face went pale and so did yours.

"You're going to cut her?" you said "why do you care, she's nothing to you" replied the darkling. "You wont hurt her" said Mal, his voice clearly showing his fear but his face did not. "I don't want to hurt her" said the darkling. "I want you to do as I ask".

"It took me months to find the stag" said Mal, "I don't even know how we did it". Sturmhond stepped forward, no one noticed him since the commotion with the darkling. "I won't have a girl tortured on my ship" he said. The darkling turned his gaze towards him, "you work for me Sturmhond. You'll do your job or getting paid will be the least of your worries".

"Please" you said. "Don't hurt anyone". The darkling flicked his eyes to yours, "or what?" he said, flicking the tip of the knife to your throat. Sturmhond placed a hand on his holstered pistol, a wave of disgust passed over the ship. Sturmhonds crew were sizing up the grisha, and their expressions were far from friendly. Genya had a hand placed over her mouth but she did not speak.

"I never knew you cared so much about them" said the darkling, lowering the knife. "Give the tracker some time" said Sturmhond, releasing the grip on his pistol. "A week. At least a few days". The darling arm slid up Alinas arm, revealing her white skin. "Shall I start with her arm? " he asked. He dropped the sleeve. His knuckles grazed over Alinas cheek, "or her face?". He nodded to Ivan. "hold her".

Ivan clasped the back of Alinas head. The darkling lifted the knife, the blade glitered in the sun. Alina tried to pull back but Ivans grip was too strong. "Don't do this" you pleaded, "who are you to stop me" he sneered. The blade finally met her cheek, he traced her skin as it shined in the sun.

"Stop!" Mal shouted. The darkling stopped. He raised an eyebrow. "I. . I can do it". Mal swallowed hard, "tack southwest. Back the way we came". Alina wasn't sure if he was stalling or if he had actually seen something. The darkling cocked his head to Mal. "I think you know better than to play games with me tracker" he said. Mal nodded. "I can do it. I can find it. Just. . .give me time".

The darkling flipped the handle of the dagger to you. You sheathed your knife and Alina let out a big breath. "You have a week" he said, disappearing into the hatch. "Bring her". "Mal" Alina said, trying to reach out to him, Mal lifted his bound hands. Their fingers only grazed as Ivan tugged Alina with him.

Time skip-

Days grew on and on the sixth day, Alina was woken up early by Genya. "He found something!" she cheered, bouncing on her feet. "He says we're close". "His name is Mal" Alina muttered, pulling away from her. Genya brought Alina up from the cabins and into the dim grey morning. The deck was covered with grisha staring out at the waters from the railing while the squallers worked the winds and Sturmhonds crew worked the sails. The mist lay heavier than the days before.

It clung thick against the water and crawled over the ships hull. The silence was only broken by Mals directions and Sturmhonds orders. Genya led Alina to where the darkling, you and Mal were. The ship pulled into a large open stretch of sea. "I think we're close," said Mal, turning to the darkling. "You think?".

"How are we even going to find it in the ocean. Its a literal sea dragon, it could be anywhere" you groaned. "I'm going to the cabins" you said pulling away from the railing, but the darkling pulled you back. "I want you here when we find it. The waves could be unpredictable". Sturmhonds face went red. His fists balled, knuckles white. Alina raised an eyebrow but he paid no attention to her. "trim the sails" he commanded, and the crew moved to obey. Ivan tapped the darkling's shoulder. "A ship moi soverenyi". "Just call him Ale-".

The darkling flicked his eyes at you, making you quickly shut up and stare back out at the water. "Are they flying colors?" the darkling asked Sturmhond. "Probably fishermen," he replied. "But we'll keep an eye on her just in case". He signaled to a man and he went scurrying up the main royal with a long glass in hand.

The longboats were prepared, and in minutes they were being lowered over the starboard side, loaded with Sturmhonds men and bristling with harpoons. "You're going to kill it" you said, turning to Sturmhond, "capture" he smirked. The grisha crowded by the rail to view the boats. The mist seemed to magnify the slap of the oars against the waves. "Someone get rid of this mist" said one of the crewmen.

The darkling nodded in your direction. You raised your hands and flicked them in circles outward. The mist lifted into the air and shot away from the ship. Alina stepped towards Mal. everyone's attention was focused on the men in the water. Only Genya was watching her. She hesitated but went to join the others at the railing.

Mal and Alina faced forward, but were close enough to touch shoulders. "Tell me you're alright" he murmured. She nodded and swallowed hard. "I'm fine," she said softly. "Is it out there?". "I don't know. Maybe. There were times when I was tracking the stag that I thought we were close and. . .Alina, if I'm wrong-".

The mist was rasing once more. Alina turned to Mal, not caring if anyone saw. "None of this is your fault, Mal. none of it". Mal lowered his head to hers. "I won't let him hurt you". They both knew Mal would be too powerless to stop him, but the truth hurt more. "I know". "How sweet" you chuckled, as they began to dive deeper into conversation. 

You walked closer to Mal, and he stepped closer to Alina. "Is it really out there?" you asked. "I pray it's not". "I thought you wanted this" said Mal, "I don't want him killing everyone just cause he can. I'm not a monster" you replied. A cry rang out. "Two points off the starboard bowl!" someone shouted.

You three turned your head to face the water. There was something moving in the mist, a shimmering white shape. "Saints" Mal cursed. The creature burst through the water, its body cutting through the waves in a sinuous arch, rainbows sparkling off its scales. "Rusalye".