" The Boss .. " - A Shark Tale Story ( Mr Sykes x Don Lino )

In Too Deep

Mr. Sykes lay in his dimly lit living quarters, feeling the lingering sting of the wound on his side. His adopted sons, Ernie and Bernie, had done their best to tend to him, but the pain went beyond the physical. His mind was still trapped in the chaos of the last few days—the shadows, the whispers, and the growing sense that something far darker was unfolding just beyond his understanding.

He winced as he shifted, his round, spiky body trying to find a comfortable position. The balloon from Don Lino, tied to a small rock near his bed, still bobbed in the gentle current. It was a reminder of something he hadn't wanted to confront—a growing connection to the shark boss that confused and frightened him.

"Why am I even thinking about him? This is ridiculous," Sykes muttered to himself, his thoughts spiraling. "I should be focused on running the car wash, not on some mafia shark who terrifies everyone else. What's wrong with me?"

The soft sound of water moving signaled that someone had entered his room. He glanced up to see Ernie and Bernie, his two adopted jellyfish sons, gliding toward him with concerned expressions.

"Dad," Ernie began, his voice softer than usual, "you've been really out of it lately. You sure you're okay? We're worried about you."

Bernie nodded, his tentacles quivering with nervous energy. "You haven't been yourself. And what's with that letter from the big guy? Lino? That's not normal. You're mixed up with him way too much."

Sykes sighed and sank deeper into his bed, trying to ignore the tightening knot in his chest. He hadn't told them about everything. The encounter with Lino, the feelings that had started to creep up on him. Feelings he couldn't explain, let alone deal with.

"I'm fine," Sykes lied, his voice flat and unconvincing. "It's just... business, alright? I owe him, and we're handling some stuff with the car wash and other things. It's nothing you need to worry about."

Ernie shot a glance at Bernie, who shook his head in frustration. "Dad, it's not nothing. It's something. You're acting all weird, and we can see it."

Bernie floated closer, his eyes narrowing. "Is it about Don Lino? Because if it is, you need to be careful. You don't mix with guys like that and walk away unharmed. He's dangerous. Everyone knows that."

"I know who he is," Sykes snapped, sharper than he intended. His spines bristled slightly, betraying his irritation. "But I don't need a lecture from you two. I've been handling my own business long before you showed up."

Ernie frowned, clearly hurt by the tone, but Bernie wasn't backing down. "We're just trying to protect you, Dad. You've always told us to watch out for the sharks, and now you're the one getting too close to one. It's not safe."

Sykes' heart pounded in his chest as his sons' words hit too close to the truth. Was he getting too close? Was he putting himself at risk for something he didn't fully understand?

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady his thoughts. "I'm not in danger," he finally said, though even he didn't believe it. "This is just business, alright? We're handling something beyond the reef, something bigger than all of us. And Don Lino... well, he's a part of it."