#Sunny Bashra

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Chapter 1 (Frozen Storm)

Helio woke up, marking 4 months since the day he had lost his husband, because of his own stupid, stupid actions. No matter, he'd just have to continue on with his day, as he always did. He stretched with a yawn, almost tripping over an empty flask on the floor. Had he fallen asleep drinking again? Most likely, all he'd have to do is pick it up and refill it, even if he'd have to refill it around 3 more times just for the whole day. Maybe I should just start drinking them by the bottle... He thought to himself, stumbling out onto the deck. The crew glanced at him silently, before going back to their duties, used to the drunkenness of their captain by now. He shoved past them, going to the wheel of the ship, and promptly almost steered it into a nearby whirlpool.

"Captain!" His first mate, Sunny grabbed the wheel quickly, as Helio was gently guided away from the wheel of the ship, staring down blankly. She walked away, leaving someone else to steer, before marching the captain to his room. Helio swayed slightly, struggling to stand as Sunny stared at him in silent shame and disgust, as she sat him down on his chair gently, taking any bottles she found scattered. "Captain, this can't keep happening. This is the third time this week you almost put us in danger, and it's only Tuesday! You need to pull yourself together, Orion isn't coming back." The words stung, as if she had slapped him, but deep down, she was right. He knew she was right. So he went to stand up, but was quickly sat down again. "No. You're going to rest Captain, I don't like seeing you like this. Sleep until you sober up, ok?" He nodded silently. Helio didn't like to admit it, but he did appreciate how much she cared for him, even when she never had to. He truly didn't deserve Sunny, after all he put her through... but she was like a daughter to him.

She walked out the room, dimming the lamps, and Helio rolled over, pulling his coat, and his belt off, throwing them to land on a chair, as his gun clattered to the floor from its holster and skidded across the floor. It came to a sharp stop, as if someone had stopped it, so Helio sat up, looking around. His eyes adjusted to the dark, and he could see a shadowy figure standing in the darkened corner. The figure chuckled, a thin, high noise that sent a shiver down Helio's spine, as he quickly hauled himself to his feet, trying to grab his cutlass, but the figure quickly reached out, grabbing him by the arm. It's hand was wet, and cold, and Helio instinctively tried to pull away from it. "Calm yourself, my friend..." It spoke with a soft, dangerous tone. "I mean you no harm! I've come here to ask for a... favour, and I do believe that it will be very beneficial to you.." He stumbled back, eyes wide with fear, but quickly composed himself, staring at the figure with his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Helio was never one to trust someone so easily after all, and he cleared his throat quickly, hand on his pocket knife in case this stranger tries anything.

"...Who are you?" A reasonable enough first question to ask the mystery figure that broke into his sleeping quarters. It chuckled again "You don't need to know my name, Helio Frostheart, but I know you're grieving... grieving for your ex husband, yes?" Helio froze, his muscles stiffening in rage. How dare this stranger talk about Orion? He doesn't have the right to! He thought to himself, immediately beginning to close himself off. It laughed again at his reaction. "Hush... I came to you to offer my services! Surely you'd want him back, yes?" He couldn't conceal his astonishment, how would this figure even get his husband in the same town as him, let alone speak to him! But there was not a hint of sarcasm in it's thin, quiet voice, so Helio stayed quiet, listening to what it had to say, hope blooming. "And I would only require one thing from you, Helio."

A catch, of course there would be a catch, so he sighed, nodding, his eyes weary and his heart beginning to race with adrenaline.

"A mer, just one. I want it alive"

And the figure disappeared, leaving Helio alone.

#Siren Song #Helio Frostheart #Orion Stormturner #original story #original characters #reblogs>likes #Sunny Bashra #Frozen Storm

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Chapter 3 (Frozen Storm)

Helio stood up sharply from where he was crouched, staring at his terrified catch. The mer was big, tall, a strong looking fellow, with scars covering his body and the hook wound in his tail haphazardly bandaged up, as the ship landed at the swarming, busy dock. He gave the mer a gentle pat, ignoring his growl of protest, giving a backwards glance at the uneaten fish leaning on the side, as he left the cabin boy to watch him, although Helio severely doubted that the mer would be going anywhere anytime soon. He paused as he walked past a bottle of whisky, but stopped himself, reasoning that the figure would hold up its end of the deal soon, surely, walking out onto the main deck and examining the dock. Cornelius let out a soft hoot, circling down to land on his shoulder, the little owl pecking gently at his ear lobe.

”That capture seems to have cheered you right up Captain! Ready to head down to the market?” Sunny called up to him, waving. She was smiling, properly for once, the first time he had seen her smile like that in the past few months, and Helio couldn’t help but smile back at her warmly, jumping down from his place near the wheel and nodding. Cornelius perched on the railing, tilting his head as he gave the bird a gentle stroke, landing roughly on the dock as his boots clacked menacingly towards the dockmaster, the ferrety young woman seeming to shrink under the pirate’s gaze as his eyes flicked to the wanted poster with his face plastered on it, and back at her again, silently placing a gold coin on the deskbook before turning away, his beloved pet and Sunny in tow. He paused outside a coat shop, admiring a dark red coat, before hearing a familiar meaw at his feet, looking down at the little black and white cat.

He leaned down slightly, to give Nana a few gentle pets, before freezing, immediately realising that if Nana was here, then so was… “…Helio?” Orion spoke up from behind him, and he slowly stood, turning around to face his former husband. Helio winced slightly, upon seeing the scar that marked Orion’s cheek from where he had cut into him, and Orion only gave him a cold look, Nana wrapping around the smaller man’s legs and purring. Helio wanted to burst into tears, run and hug him, kiss him as if everything that had happened between them was all just one terrible dream, but couldn’t move, as Helio gave him a silent, observing look with those pink eyes that no longer held any of their former warmth for him, not anymore. “….You’re looking well..” Helio began, unsure what else to say other than a simple comment on his appearance, despite the scar, and the silver in his hair. Was that because of me? He wondered briefly, a glimmer of hope sparking in Helio, that perhaps Orion missed him just as much as he did.

“…That’s all?” Orion scoffed, “I ‘look well’, do I? I can see the way you’re looking at me, my hair. My scar. Don’t try to kid me Frostheart, I know you want the old, perfect little Orion back!” He mocked, his words piercing like eye into Helio, rendering him lost for words, before he was taken by a deep surge of rage. “Don’t tell me how I think-“ he started to move forward, before Sunny grabbed his arm to stop him, as Orion seemed to shift his weight, hand dangling just above his cutlass. “…Fuck off Helio, I don’t want to see you again. And if I do, I want it to be your head on a plate.” And with that, Orion stalked away, but not before throwing a box of hair dye at Helio’s chest, disappearing into the market with Nana following close behind.

Tears pinpricked at Orion’s eyes, shaking them away as he struggled to harden his heart, to match his former husbands, for they were now enemies.

#tw swearing #original story #original characters #original fiction #Helio Frostheart #Sunny Bashra #Orion Stormturner #Frozen Storm