Cresting Waves

Gunpowder On Your Fingertips

It takes a few days for the ship to be completely repaired. The storm had damaged one of the smaller masts and knocked a few of the boards loose in the hull. The railing had also been broken when they'd hauled Niall aboard in a hurry, so there's quite a bit of work to keep the crew busy. Louis had instigated a shift change, so each crew member can get their share of time on the island. Even Liam pulls his weight on the ship, spending every other night aboard The Dread Persephone so Louis and Harry can return to shore.

Zayn is the only one exempt from the schedule. He spends more time in the ocean than he ever thought he would, tucked away in the secret cove and watching over Niall. He's not there all the time. He spends time with Liam when he can, and when Harry and Louis come ashore they usher him off to have some time to himself. Zayn finds some paper and pens about five different letters to his family that he folds up and hides, unfinished, beneath the mattress in their room.

But mostly, he tends to Niall's wounds with Liam hovering by his side. The merrow's fever has broken by the end of the next day, and he's been conscious but demure since. He'd thanked Zayn profusely until Zayn had refused to speak to him unless he stopped. Zayn and Liam bring him food and little bits and bobs to keep him occupied. Zayn regularly checks his wound for signs of the infection returning, and reapplies his salve when Niall climbs out of the pool to sun himself on the big rock.

He runs his fingers cautiously against the large tail while Niall sleeps. There's little sharp buds on the flesh around his stitches, where the baby scales are beginning to grow back in. It's fascinating to Zayn, and he spends a good long while staring at the needle thin, clear scales poking through Niall's skin.

Zayn bumps into Harry and Louis as he's coming up the path away from the cove, nearly smacking right into Harry. "Woah! Sorry."

Harry hands brush briefly against the outside of his arms, steadying him.

"How is he?" Harry asks anxiously, reaching back for Louis' hand and tangling their fingers together.

Zayn shakes out his hair, lifting his arm to wipe sweat from his brow. He shrugs. "He's healing. But he won't be able to swim along the ship like he's been doing. He can't keep up with us in this state. But the infection in his tail hasn't returned, and the wound is closing nicely. We'll have to make sure to cut the stitches out before his scales grow over them."

Harry nods, still looking worried. "That won't happen right? Like, he won't end up with a thread stuck in his tail?"

Zayn laughs lightly, and there's a small grin on Louis' face as well. "I'll take the stitches out in a few days. Everything will be alright. Now shoo, the two of you. I left him sleeping but he'll be glad to see you."

He starts to pass them, but stops when Harry calls his name. Zayn half turns, seeing Louis stood on his toes to put his chin on Harry's shoulder. Harry is smiling, his hand covering Louis' where it's curled around his stomach. "Tonight, after dinner. I'll sort out your hair."

Zayn blushes, twisting a wild strand around his fingers. "Oh, uh, yeah. Thank you."

With a wave, he continues on his way back towards the little village. The people who live here are nice, and Zayn has seen more of the crew than he ever did while on the ship. They look relaxed, but they're all buzzing with a giddy energy. Everyone wants to get back on the water as soon as possible.

Zayn gets it, he does. That's their life, the pirate life. He himself wouldn't mind staying ashore for a few more weeks at least. But, the two nights he's spent away from Liam have been lonely and cold, something missing that he didn't even realize he wanted. He doesn't know how he'll go back to sleeping in the barracks with the crew when they set sail.