[W] Dang angst muse is at it again...
Can I get a Fisher Tiger tag?
Editorial Note: I just read Ch. 623, and that kind of makes this piece sadder... ;_;
Title: Strangers in the Night
Challenge: Weekly, "Discovery"
Character/s: Fisher Tiger, a little Jinbe, and a surprise... (Though if you know me, it ain't hard to guess.)
Song: All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
Artist: Heart
Words: 1387
Rating: Eh, let's just call it T for grins, shall we?
Warnings: Spoilers up to current canon. Also, my angst muse and my crack theory muse ganged up on me... Also also, I usually like to include lyrics, but as this is sort of from the wrong POV for that, I didn't. Also also also, I fudged with the timeline a little because I am currently too lazy to do a whole lotta research. Sorry!
Disclaimers: Getting a song stuck in your head doesn't make it legally yours, so it still belongs the writer, R.J. "Mutt" Lange, and Heart. The characters, with the exception of a few OCs, are all Oda's, but I don't think what I borrowed them for requires much more suspension of disbelief than One Piece usually does.
As the Sun Pirates' ship sailed closer and closer to the East Blue, Jinbe noticed that his captain became rather brooding and quiet.
"Tai-san," Jinbe worked up the courage to ask when they were alone one evening, "is something troubling you? Is it the human child?" Most of the crew still believed that agreeing to transport the human was a terrible idea.
"Not directly." It seemed as though that was all Jinbe was going to get, but Fisher Tiger shifted in his seat and spoke again. "Did I ever tell you that I have a son?"
"No!" Jinbe was surprised, but he thought he might understand. "You've spent a long time away from the Ryugu Kingdom; it must be difficult to leave your family behind." He wondered why he had never heard mention of a lover and child before. Word got around fast on Fishman Island.
"The child is not on Fishman Island. His mother is human." There was a long pause; Jinbe was so stunned by this revelation, he wouldn't have been able to comment if he'd wanted to do so!
"H-human?" he finally managed to stammer.
"It's a long story." When Jinbe merely took a seat, Fisher Tiger sighed and began, "It was seven years ago in the East Blue..."
***
The pouring rain that chilled him to the bone did nothing to lighten Fisher Tiger's dark mood. Gold Roger had just been executed, throwing the world into chaos. The fishman had been wandering various human islands, hoping to find anything to bolster the last shred of faith he retained that humanity and fishmen might one day be able to truly coexist.
This island had been no better than any other. He'd been thrown out of a tavern for being a fishman, and a rowdy, drunken crowd had followed him outside. One man, emboldened by the presence of his peers, had thrown a rock. The cut it left above his right eye still trickled blood occasionally. Now, here he was, standing pathetically in the rain with no place to go for the remainder of the evening. He would be glad to leave this place behind him in the morning!
"Oh my..." The exclamation was only a quiet breath, barely audible over the falling rain.
He look up to find a woman seated at the front of a small cart, the reins of the horse clutched tightly in her pale hands. She wore a heavy cloak to shield her from the rain, but some of her blond hair and her sad but pretty face remained visible. He waited for her expression to change to one of disgust, but instead she held out a hand.
"Most men have enough sense to stay out of the rain," she remarked. "Is there somewhere I can take you?"
"I like the water," he retorted in a surly fashion. Hadn't she noticed he was a fishman?
She laughed for a moment before her face returned to it's former sad expression. "I could use some company this evening," she said suddenly, a flush rising in her cheeks. "Unless you'd truly prefer the rain, you're welcome to join me."
For reasons he couldn't begin to fathom, he found himself taking a seat next to this strange woman. They rode on in silence, back into the town and past the tavern, stopping before a small, rather rundown inn.
The proprietor gave them a disapproving frown, but the woman ignored him, purchasing a room for the night. Once in the room, he suddenly felt awkward. He didn't do things like this!
"Have a seat." The woman gestured to the bed and then disappeared into the small bathroom. She returned momentarily with a washcloth. She guided the stunned fishman over to the bed, pushing him down to a seated position. She leaned over him and began gently cleaning the cut over his eye.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" he asked.
"You're just a man," she answered with a shrug, "and you've given me no reason to fear you."
They spoke for a long time, two lonely souls sharing their burdens. He told her of his quest for hope for the future and the intolerance he'd found so far. She spoke of an argument with another that had driven her from her home on this night. Eventually, they took comfort in one another's arms as well.
In the morning, he woke to find her gone. She left only a note wishing him luck and asking that he not try to find her. He never even learned her name.
***
Four years later, he found himself in a town that seemed terribly familiar. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed a familiar face across the street out of the corner of his eye. She hadn't seen him. He knew it was probably a bad idea and wrong to do so, but he followed her out of town.
As she approached a small house next to a shop of some kind--probably a smithy, judging by the anvil sign--he placed a hand on her shoulder.
She spun around and gazed at him in confusion for a moment before her eyes widened in recognition.
"Have you been well?" he asked. He had no intention of causing harm; he just felt an urge to know more about this strange woman.
"You shouldn't be here," she mumbled.
A very young boy ran out of the shop and clung to the woman's skirts. He blinked at the unusual green coloration of the boy's hair. It was rare amongst humans, but his own grandmother had hair of a similar shade... It couldn't be!
"Mommy!" the boy declared, smiling up at the woman. He then turned innocent eyes over to Fisher Tiger, eyes of a familiar dark shade.
After a moment, a man in a thick leather apron followed the boy out of the shop. He too smiled a the woman. "You're home! Who is this?" His smile faltered a bit as he gazed upon the fishman. The man's hair was a chestnut brown, and his eyes were hazel--nothing at all like the boy.
"This is an... old acquaintance," she stammered. The man and woman exchanged a look that spoke volumes.
"Zoro," the man said, turning his attention to the boy again, "I need someone strong to man the bellows for me in the forge."
"I'm strong," the boy replied solemnly.
"That you are." The man smiled fondly, lifted the boy to perch on his shoulders, and disappeared back into the shop.
"The boy looks..." He tried to think of something to say.
"Human?" the woman offered.
"Well," he corrected. "Healthy. Happy." He had thought the fact he was a fishman didn't matter to her, but it appeared he was wrong...
"I didn't mean it that way," she tried to defend herself. "I'm a married woman, was when I met you, and it's... easier for everyone if we can pretend the father is my husband."
"Does he know?" He couldn't understand why he should feel so guilty. He hadn't known she was married!
"He's not an idiot." She sighed. "He's a good man. The argument that night... It was partly because the two of us couldn't... We both said very hurtful things that we didn't mean."
"So, you were just using me?"
"Yes." She bit her lip and looked away. "But you were basically doing the same, if not with quite the same intent." When she looked back, her eyes were full of a fierce determination. "I'm afraid I may never tell him about you, but I promise you he will be raised to judge by actions and not appearances."
He supposed he could not ask any more of her. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
***
"Tai-san..." Jinbe was once again at a loss for words.
"That boy is only a few years younger than our passenger now, and we are sailing back into the East Blue." Fisher Tiger looked suddenly weary.
"Will you try to find him?" Jinbe asked.
"No." The answer was firm. "It's just another reason for me to work for a more equal world."
"I understand," Jinbe replied, but he was unsure he ever truly could.
Editorial Note: I just read Ch. 623, and that kind of makes this piece sadder... ;_;
Title: Strangers in the Night
Challenge: Weekly, "Discovery"
Character/s: Fisher Tiger, a little Jinbe, and a surprise... (Though if you know me, it ain't hard to guess.)
Song: All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You
Artist: Heart
Words: 1387
Rating: Eh, let's just call it T for grins, shall we?
Warnings: Spoilers up to current canon. Also, my angst muse and my crack theory muse ganged up on me... Also also, I usually like to include lyrics, but as this is sort of from the wrong POV for that, I didn't. Also also also, I fudged with the timeline a little because I am currently too lazy to do a whole lotta research. Sorry!
Disclaimers: Getting a song stuck in your head doesn't make it legally yours, so it still belongs the writer, R.J. "Mutt" Lange, and Heart. The characters, with the exception of a few OCs, are all Oda's, but I don't think what I borrowed them for requires much more suspension of disbelief than One Piece usually does.
As the Sun Pirates' ship sailed closer and closer to the East Blue, Jinbe noticed that his captain became rather brooding and quiet.
"Tai-san," Jinbe worked up the courage to ask when they were alone one evening, "is something troubling you? Is it the human child?" Most of the crew still believed that agreeing to transport the human was a terrible idea.
"Not directly." It seemed as though that was all Jinbe was going to get, but Fisher Tiger shifted in his seat and spoke again. "Did I ever tell you that I have a son?"
"No!" Jinbe was surprised, but he thought he might understand. "You've spent a long time away from the Ryugu Kingdom; it must be difficult to leave your family behind." He wondered why he had never heard mention of a lover and child before. Word got around fast on Fishman Island.
"The child is not on Fishman Island. His mother is human." There was a long pause; Jinbe was so stunned by this revelation, he wouldn't have been able to comment if he'd wanted to do so!
"H-human?" he finally managed to stammer.
"It's a long story." When Jinbe merely took a seat, Fisher Tiger sighed and began, "It was seven years ago in the East Blue..."
***
The pouring rain that chilled him to the bone did nothing to lighten Fisher Tiger's dark mood. Gold Roger had just been executed, throwing the world into chaos. The fishman had been wandering various human islands, hoping to find anything to bolster the last shred of faith he retained that humanity and fishmen might one day be able to truly coexist.
This island had been no better than any other. He'd been thrown out of a tavern for being a fishman, and a rowdy, drunken crowd had followed him outside. One man, emboldened by the presence of his peers, had thrown a rock. The cut it left above his right eye still trickled blood occasionally. Now, here he was, standing pathetically in the rain with no place to go for the remainder of the evening. He would be glad to leave this place behind him in the morning!
"Oh my..." The exclamation was only a quiet breath, barely audible over the falling rain.
He look up to find a woman seated at the front of a small cart, the reins of the horse clutched tightly in her pale hands. She wore a heavy cloak to shield her from the rain, but some of her blond hair and her sad but pretty face remained visible. He waited for her expression to change to one of disgust, but instead she held out a hand.
"Most men have enough sense to stay out of the rain," she remarked. "Is there somewhere I can take you?"
"I like the water," he retorted in a surly fashion. Hadn't she noticed he was a fishman?
She laughed for a moment before her face returned to it's former sad expression. "I could use some company this evening," she said suddenly, a flush rising in her cheeks. "Unless you'd truly prefer the rain, you're welcome to join me."
For reasons he couldn't begin to fathom, he found himself taking a seat next to this strange woman. They rode on in silence, back into the town and past the tavern, stopping before a small, rather rundown inn.
The proprietor gave them a disapproving frown, but the woman ignored him, purchasing a room for the night. Once in the room, he suddenly felt awkward. He didn't do things like this!
"Have a seat." The woman gestured to the bed and then disappeared into the small bathroom. She returned momentarily with a washcloth. She guided the stunned fishman over to the bed, pushing him down to a seated position. She leaned over him and began gently cleaning the cut over his eye.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" he asked.
"You're just a man," she answered with a shrug, "and you've given me no reason to fear you."
They spoke for a long time, two lonely souls sharing their burdens. He told her of his quest for hope for the future and the intolerance he'd found so far. She spoke of an argument with another that had driven her from her home on this night. Eventually, they took comfort in one another's arms as well.
In the morning, he woke to find her gone. She left only a note wishing him luck and asking that he not try to find her. He never even learned her name.
***
Four years later, he found himself in a town that seemed terribly familiar. His breath caught in his throat as he noticed a familiar face across the street out of the corner of his eye. She hadn't seen him. He knew it was probably a bad idea and wrong to do so, but he followed her out of town.
As she approached a small house next to a shop of some kind--probably a smithy, judging by the anvil sign--he placed a hand on her shoulder.
She spun around and gazed at him in confusion for a moment before her eyes widened in recognition.
"Have you been well?" he asked. He had no intention of causing harm; he just felt an urge to know more about this strange woman.
"You shouldn't be here," she mumbled.
A very young boy ran out of the shop and clung to the woman's skirts. He blinked at the unusual green coloration of the boy's hair. It was rare amongst humans, but his own grandmother had hair of a similar shade... It couldn't be!
"Mommy!" the boy declared, smiling up at the woman. He then turned innocent eyes over to Fisher Tiger, eyes of a familiar dark shade.
After a moment, a man in a thick leather apron followed the boy out of the shop. He too smiled a the woman. "You're home! Who is this?" His smile faltered a bit as he gazed upon the fishman. The man's hair was a chestnut brown, and his eyes were hazel--nothing at all like the boy.
"This is an... old acquaintance," she stammered. The man and woman exchanged a look that spoke volumes.
"Zoro," the man said, turning his attention to the boy again, "I need someone strong to man the bellows for me in the forge."
"I'm strong," the boy replied solemnly.
"That you are." The man smiled fondly, lifted the boy to perch on his shoulders, and disappeared back into the shop.
"The boy looks..." He tried to think of something to say.
"Human?" the woman offered.
"Well," he corrected. "Healthy. Happy." He had thought the fact he was a fishman didn't matter to her, but it appeared he was wrong...
"I didn't mean it that way," she tried to defend herself. "I'm a married woman, was when I met you, and it's... easier for everyone if we can pretend the father is my husband."
"Does he know?" He couldn't understand why he should feel so guilty. He hadn't known she was married!
"He's not an idiot." She sighed. "He's a good man. The argument that night... It was partly because the two of us couldn't... We both said very hurtful things that we didn't mean."
"So, you were just using me?"
"Yes." She bit her lip and looked away. "But you were basically doing the same, if not with quite the same intent." When she looked back, her eyes were full of a fierce determination. "I'm afraid I may never tell him about you, but I promise you he will be raised to judge by actions and not appearances."
He supposed he could not ask any more of her. Without another word, he turned and walked away.
***
"Tai-san..." Jinbe was once again at a loss for words.
"That boy is only a few years younger than our passenger now, and we are sailing back into the East Blue." Fisher Tiger looked suddenly weary.
"Will you try to find him?" Jinbe asked.
"No." The answer was firm. "It's just another reason for me to work for a more equal world."
"I understand," Jinbe replied, but he was unsure he ever truly could.