Chapter Text
Jun had been begging for days.
Not the quiet, hopeful kind of begging, either—no, this was relentless. Puppy-eyes. Dramatic sighs. Leaning over the railing of Edo’s workshop with his chin in his hands, staring longingly at the distant glimmer of the sea.
“Pleeeeease,” Jun whined for what had to be the tenth time that hour, “Just once! I won’t even ask to steer! I’ll just sit! I’ll be good!”
Black Hook stood a few paces away, arms crossed, his hull creaking faintly as he shifted his weight. “Absolutely not,” he said flatly, “You are small. Fragile. And the ocean is—” he gestured vaguely, “—wet.”
Jun scowled, “That’s the point.”
“You will fall in,” Black Hook continued, “You will drown. And then I will be blamed.”
“I know how to swim!” Jun protested, “Phoenix Fire taught me! And Shadow X helps me float sometimes—!”
“That is not reassuring.”
Jun groaned and flopped dramatically onto the dock, arms spread wide, “I survived getting impaled by a pipe,” he muttered, “I think I can survive a nice day on the water.”
That gave Black Hook pause.
The pirate let out a low, annoyed hum, optic narrowing as he looked down at the boy, “…You are insufferable.”
Jun perked up instantly, “That’s a yes?”
“…Get on.”
Jun let out a victorious squeak and scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping ashes rushed over, “YES! Thank you thank you thank you—!”
“Do not thank me yet,” Black Hook grumbled as he transformed, metal shifting and unfolding into the familiar, imposing shape of a pirate ship, “If you fall overboard, I am not diving in after you.”
“You totally would,” Jun shot back, grinning.
Black Hook did not dignify that with a response.
Soon enough, they were gliding over the water, sunlight sparkling across gentle waves. Jun sat near the edge, legs dangling just above the surface, kicking happily as salty air whipped through his hair.
“This is awesome,” Jun breathed, “See? Totally safe.”
“Hmph.”
After some coaxing —and a lot of rules— Jun was allowed into the water, clinging to a rope tethered securely to Black Hook’s side. He paddled around, laughing as the cool water splashed against him, occasionally dunking his head under just because he could.
“This is the best day ever!” Jun called.
“Do not let go of the rope,” Black Hook warned, eye swiveling to track him.
“I know, I know!”
The water was calm. Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Without warning, something large surged up beneath the surface.
A massive head burst out of the water with a loud SPLASH, sending waves rolling outward.
“RAAAH—!”
Jun screamed.
Black Hook yelled.
“WHAT IN THE SEVEN SEAS—?!”
Jun flailed wildly, nearly losing his grip on the rope as he scrambled backward, heart pounding — until the massive figure started laughing.
A deep, booming laugh that echoed across the water.
Heavy Iron wiped water from his optics, shoulders rising as he chuckled, “HA! You should’ve seen your faces!”
“…Heavy Iron,” Black Hook growled, voice dropping into something dangerous.
Jun blinked once.
Then twice.
And then he burst out laughing.
“Oh my god!” Jun gasped between giggles, “You scared me so bad!”
Heavy Iron huffed, water cascading off his armor as he leaned back, “Worth it.”
“YOU ABSOLUTE BUOY-BRAINED MENACE,” Black Hook snapped, “Do you have any idea what you could have—”
“Oh relax,” Heavy Iron waved a massive hand, “The kid is fine. Look at him.”
Jun was still laughing, clinging to the rope with one hand while wiping water from his eyes with the other, “Your face, Black Hook,” he wheezed, “You yelled!”
“I did not yell.”
“You totally yelled.”
Heavy Iron laughed even harder at that, the sound rumbling through his chassis, “Didn’t peg you as the protective type.”
Black Hook sputtered, “I am NOT—! He is my responsibility while aboard my vessel!”
Jun floated a little closer, grinning up at the pirate ship, “Aww. You care~.”
“I care about not being blamed,” Black Hook snapped.
Heavy Iron snorted, “Sure you do.”
Jun kicked the water playfully, still smiling as the tension eased, “You guys are ridiculous,” he said fondly.
Black Hook huffed, adjusting his position, but didn’t tell Jun to get out of the water.
Heavy Iron's optics were bright with amusement, “So,” he rumbled, “Who’s up for another scare?”
“DON’T YOU DARE,” Black Hook roared.
Jun just laughed harder.