Chapter Text
Chapter: 3
Turning Tides
Aurora was lead to the other side of the docks, to this sea side quaint little home, where it seemed that Reeves knee everyone he had bumped into. Many fishmen, some humans, looked like a mixing pot of a place where wooden rickety structures were built with houses stacked and fused on top of eachother in a pile that both looked a dog pile of structures but beautiful and homey.
“Hey Reeves! I’m cooking up some fish from today’s catch, want some?”
A man yelled from the door way of his home, Reeves genuinely smiled at this as he waved at him. “Maybe later, I’ll ask Moni what she’s cooking up!” Reeves replied, the man looked pleased with that answer as he patted his beer belly and proclaimed he’d bet it was something good. And to leave him a plate. Reeves chuckled at this, Aurora looked around at all the lights, buildings and friendly faces. It was nice. “Oh, who’s that cute little thing beside you Reeves? Your girlfriend?” An old man called out to him from his seat on the porch of his house, smoking on a big cigar. “No sir, just a friend who needs help. Have a good night now.” Reeves replied, Rory felt a bit uncomfortable with the old man’s comment, but she quickly followed behind Reeves as to stay away from the interaction. “You seem to be quite popular here, huh?” Aurora commented after they were a bit away from the old man and his rickety porch. Reeves gave a slight hitch to one of his shoulders in a shrug motion. “My sister and I were raised here. So everyone basically knows us and what we’re about.” Reeves explained nonchalantly as he continued to lead her through the winding dirt paths and molded together homes until they ended up at one just at the edge of the ocean. Waves licking up the faded peachy pink walls of the home and the sun bleached barnacle covered bricks surrounding it. Reeves climbed up the ladder on the side to the fourth floor of the home, it seemed that they had the top and someone else housed the bottom part. Aurora swallowed nervously for a moment before following after Reeves. Soon reaching the faded teal door from the wooden walkway, he opened the door for Aurora to enter first which she did so, nervously. Immediately the smells of food and warm air from the home washed over Aurora and fought off the cool sea breeze shivers. She didn’t know what was cooking, but the aroma made Aurora’s mouth water and her stomach voice its wants in a growl. Reeves either didn’t hear it or pretended that he didn’t as he hung his jacket up on the wooden rack next to the door way and took off his boots. “Reeves, that you? You’re home early!” A soft feminine voice called out from the kitchen. “Yeah, it’s me! And I brought a friend!” Reeves explained as he made his way further into the home. Aurora slowly took off her own shoes and jacket as well, following slowly behind Reeves, still a bit hesitant and nervous. A tall, bright green eyed woman stepped out from the kitchen, wiping her tan hands off on a dish towel. Her brown to ginger orange, to white tipped hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and her make up was simple but beautiful. She looked a tad surprised to actually see another person in her home, but quickly recovered. “Friend huh? Didn’t know you had those. Hi, darling, I’m Monica.” Monica introduced herself with a soft smile, Aurora gently shook her hand with a small smile of her own. “Aurora. Nice to meet you. Your house is beautiful.“ Aurora complimented, this made Monica’s soft smile brighten and her stand a bit straighter, prouder even. “Well aren’t you just the sweetest? You can come by anytime.” Monica told her before giving her brother an elbow to the gut making him wince a bit at the rough jab. “She’s so sweet and well mannered. Why can’t you be like that for a change?” Monica chided her brother playfully, he just scoffed back, just as playful. “Will I get less bruises that way?” He replied teasingly, Monica just rolled her eyes at this. “Probably not.” “Then where’s the fun in that?” Monica again rolled her eyes dramatically at her brother’s retort. “You see what I have to put up with? Just this, constantly.” Monica stated this time to Aurora who couldn’t help but chuckle lightly at the two. “Hey, asshole, come help me in the kitchen.” Monica flicked his forehead before heading off to the kitchen. “Yeah, yeah. Be there in a minute.” Reeves stated before turning to Rory once again. “Go ahead and relax, make yourself comfortable, we’ll be back. Want anything to drink? Beer, water, tea..?” Reeves asked her, she smiled politely, though strained by nervousness. “Water is fine, thank you.” Aurora replied, and with that, he turned on his heel and headed off to the kitchen. Leaving Rory there on the couch…alone with her thoughts while she nervously fiddled and tugged at her fingers, her jeans, anything to help self soothe her worried anxiety riddled mind.
“So tell me Reeves, why is she really here? You’ve never mentioned her before and the poor girl looks like she’s shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. Tell me the truth, is she another run away?” Monica asked him, he sighed heavily as he washed and chopped vegetables, his large webbed hands flowed around the water easily. A brief moment of silence fell between them between his chopping, but he finally responded. “Sort of… it’s hard to explain… She’s a merchant trying to sell her stuff and she met these people who thought they could sell her…” Reeves slowly explained as Monica groaned a tad frustrated. “Reeves-“ Monica started but was cut off by her brother. “She’s alone, Monica. I couldn’t just leave her to the wolves, you know she wouldn’t have survived that.” Reeves stated, Monica sighed softly but she couldn’t help the small soft smile that tugged at her lips. “You’re such a softie.” Monica teased as she ruffled his ginger hair playfully, making him huff and swat her hand away, though a glimmer of a smile tugged at his lips that he tried very hard to fight off. “Alright, so what’s the plan? Is she staying or…?” Monica asked while grabbing some mitts and pulling a fresh baked dish out of the oven. “She’s planning on going to Sabaody tomorrow, but she’s never been there before and I know that island will eat her alive. She’ll need someone to help guide her.” Reeves explained as Monica gave him an incredulous look, almost dropping the dish of seafood enchiladas, mouth gaped looking at her brother with green eyes wide as saucers. “You… what?” Monica asked in almost a whisper before quickly regaining her composer and setting the hot glass dish down on some pot holders on the kitchen table. “Look, Monica… you don’t have to come, I just… I can’t have this woman’s blood on my hands, ok?” Reeves explained to his twin sister slowly, his large webbed hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck sheepishly while his blue eyes stayed glued to some spot on the wall past her so that he didn’t have to look her in the eye when saying this. “Like hell I’ll allow you to go to that island alone! Besides… how do we know she wasn’t sent as bait? No, can’t risk it. I’m coming with you.” Monica whisper yelled at her twin, he snapped up his head at this to look at her in slight shock. “Wait… really?” He asked, mouth agape in surprise. “Someone’s gotta keep you out of trouble.” Monica grinned as she crossed her arms over her chest. Reeves could feel his shoulders relax at the fact that he wasn’t going to be the only one going with this young woman. “Ok, it’ll be a couple weeks journey out to Sabaody. That’ll give us plenty of time to plan out our escape if this deal goes sideways.” Reeves stated quietly with a proud puff of his chest.
That meal conversation had gone about as well as you could imagine. Aurora was very hesitant to accept their proposal of guiding her on her journey to Sabaody. Her ship wasn’t huge by any means, but it was more than comfortable for her, and she did have a guest room that she never used anymore. She took her time in pondering that night as she lay there on the couch in their living room, tossing and turning like the waves of thoughts crashing against her skull. If she were to allow them to go with her it could turn out better than she imagined…or worse. After all, she didn’t know these people. But they seemed kind and genuine. So did Roxy though. She groaned in frustration with herself over her tossing thoughts. She sat up, looking around the dark living room, slipping out from the blanket they let her barrow for her to quietly creep out the front door. There she perched on the ledge of their wooden walkway, looking out over the view of the moon reflecting on the ocean’s surface. A sea breeze sent ripples of goosebumps over her fair freckled skin while she fidgeted with her hands in her lap. She could run, she should run. She was already out of the house, it wouldn’t be hard. She could even see the Little Drake from where she sat on the rickety wooden catwalk. Run as fast as her legs could carry her, make it to her ship in no time, set sail and be on course for Sabaody before the sun even rises… But what if they were right? What if Roxy and Rome really were on her ship right now just waiting in the shadows of night to strike? The thought had her guts twisting knots and made her feel a bile of nausea set in her throat. She knew how dangerous this plan would be, her grandpa warned her of it. Asked her to not go it alone if she ever thought about it before he passed. The memory making her bottom lip tremble in fear and melancholy. Was she truly ready for something like this? Was she able to go forth into the New World? Looking up at the stars, as if she were looking for an answer in the constellations, before she had overheard a dad talking with his daughter just below. She clutched a manta ray plushie from Aurora’s booth while her dad held her on his shoulders. “And then, and then, Lucy punched the bully right in the face to get me back my birthday present from that big bully! She was awesome! Some day I wanna be brave just like her, and smart too! Like pancake!” The girl rambled happily as she held up her manta ray strawberry pancake themed plush. Aurora couldn’t help the soft smile spreading over her cheeks and the warmth in her chest at the adorable sight. And just like that, her resolve had hardened. As if this was a sign that was sent to her by the gods themselves, this wasn't the end of her story, but little did she know that this was in fact just the beginning.