★ The Pirate and The Mermaid [Giant/Tiny]★

X - A Dance Fit For A King

Mariana giggled as she made the final adjustments to Kaine's hair, unable to suppress her amusement at his resigned expression. Kaine sat there, stiff and uncomfortable, hoping against hope that she wouldn't go through with her plan to style his hair. But Mariana was determined, her fingers deftly undoing his thick braid and replacing it with an array of shells, pearls, and hair clips. Each one seemed to sparkle as she carefully positioned them in his dark locks.

"HEY!" Kaine protested when she tugged a bit too hard, but his annoyance quickly faded as Mariana placed a soft kiss on his scalp, a soothing gesture that melted his resolve. He settled down instantly, letting her continue with her work, his gruff demeanor giving way to a quiet contentment.

After what felt like an eternity to Kaine, Mariana finally stepped back to admire her handiwork. She had decided on a single, elegant braid adorned with the sea's treasures, and to her, it looked perfect. Kaine stood up and faced the mirror. His eyes softened as he took in his reflection. It wasn't exactly his style, but the way Mariana's face lit up with joy made it worth every uncomfortable moment.

"I love it, Mariana," he whispered, his voice thick with sincerity as he turned to scoop her up into his arms.

"Really?" Mariana's voice bubbled with happiness, her laughter filling the room as Kaine spun her around effortlessly.

"Yeah, it's... different, but I know it makes you happy." Kaine smiled down at her, a rare, genuine smile that made Mariana's heart flutter. "Does my outfit look okay?" he asked, gesturing to his usual princely pirate attire, complete with his signature coat and boots.

Mariana nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with admiration. "You look amazing, Kaine."

Content with her approval, Kaine let her link arms with him, and together they left her room. Mariana swam alongside him, her gaze drifting down to his legs as she swam backward, fascinated by the way he moved on land. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to have feet—ten extra limbs, as she thought of them, to decorate and paint. It seemed like a dream.

But just as she was lost in thought, Kaine's hand shot out, grabbing her waist and pulling her toward him. "MARIANA!" he growled, yanking her away from a dangerous collection of sea urchins she'd been about to crash into. She gasped, startled by how close she had come to being injured.

Kaine's eyes immediately darted to her arm, where he noticed the smallest of cuts. Without hesitation, he brought her arm to his mouth, covering the wound with his lips as if he could will it to heal faster.

"Kaine," Mariana giggled, charmed by his overprotectiveness as he tried to stop the bleeding. But Kaine wasn't taking any chances. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt and wrapped it around her arm, the fabric engulfing her small frame. Now shirtless, he shrugged on his jacket to cover himself and scooped Mariana up once more. "I'm carrying you to the ball," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Mariana remained quiet, her fingers tracing the contours of his chest as they made their way through the castle. She had seen him shirtless before, but every time felt like the first. His powerful muscles, marked by scars from past battles, and the way he looked at her with such fierce protectiveness made her heart race. He was breathtaking, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of pride that he was hers.

They soon arrived at the grand doors leading to the ballroom. Kaine pushed them open without hesitation, revealing a vast space filled with lords and ladies who immediately turned to stare. A human with gills holding their princess was a sight to behold, and many instinctively reached for their weapons, their protective instincts kicking in. But a quick wave from King Cove, who sat brooding on his throne, kept them in check.