𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

when bea told him the truth

Nico is about to go feral. Because the one time he left her side, a siren tried to wear his face to lure her. This man was already paranoid after the last few sea voyages—and now? Oh, he's ready to wage war with the ocean itself.

[SETTING.🐞] Back at the Iron Lion base. A quiet moment after the crew returns. Bea and Nico are in their quarters. She's curled up on the bed, his cloak wrapped around her shoulders. Her belly, seven months along now rests under her hand. Nico is sitting beside her, freshly bathed and still drying his hair with a towel.

He was mid-sentence when she said it.

"There was a siren on the last trip."

Nico froze.

Bea's voice was quiet. Like she hadn't even meant to say it. She stared ahead, not looking at him. Just her hand smoothing over her stomach again and again. Her curls were damp from the bath Teresa helped her with earlier. Her voice shook slightly when she added, "It took your face."

Silence.

The towel dropped from Nico's hands.

"What?" he breathed, the word almost choking itself out.

Bea still wouldn't meet his gaze. "It said your name. Sounded like you. It even smiled the way you do when you're trying to calm me down. I—" Her voice cracked. "I almost believed it."

Nico stood. Then sat back down. Then stood again.

He raked a hand through his hair.

"Bea..." he whispered, "what the hell do you mean it took my face? You saw it? You heard it?"

She nodded once.

Nico crouched down in front of her, gently taking both her hands, eyes searching hers like he was scanning her for damage.

"Did it touch you? Did it touch you?"

"No," she said quickly. "It just... hovered. And asked me to come closer. It tried to lure me. Said it missed me."

Nico's breath hitched.

His jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ached. "That damn creature wore my voice to get to you?"

She finally looked at him. "I was strong, Nico. I didn't fall for it."

"I know you were," he said fiercely. "But you shouldn't have had to be. You shouldn't have been alone out there."

"I wasn't. Harriet and the others were on board—"

"I don't care if you were sailing with an army," Nico snapped, chest rising and falling fast. "If I'd known— Bea, I never would've let you leave shore."

She squeezed his hands. "You trust me with your life. Let me trust you with mine."

Nico stared at her for a long moment. And then he dropped his forehead against her knees, his arms wrapping around her legs, his voice muffled.

"I'm gonna kill that thing. I swear on my sword. I don't care if it's a myth. I'll stab the sea itself."

Bea smiled softly, fingers combing through his damp hair. "You already told me you'd fight the stars for me. This isn't new."

"I'd drown the stars too if they tried to copy my face."

She laughed, a watery sound. Then whispered, "You think the baby heard it too?"

Nico slowly lifted his head, eyes dark. "If it ever tries again, it'll regret not knowing who you are. And who I am."

Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly stood.

"Where are the maps?"

Bea blinked. "Why?"

"I'm drawing you every known siren route, every ancient legend we've ever heard, every warning sign. If I'm not there again, you'll know how to identify a mimic in less than five seconds."

"Nico—"

"I'm serious. And you're not sailing without Thèrèse's approved checklist either. And I'm putting salt in your boots."

She laughed, gently tugging him back down. "Just... stay with me tonight. That's all I want."

He wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek against her belly. "I'm not going anywhere."

"...Not even if the sea calls?"

"I don't answer to the sea," he whispered. "I answer to you."