Chapter Text
Storms at sea were always expected to be harsh. Harsh winds, currents in the thrashing ocean down at the hull. Water collecting in the bilge sometimes, if it was particularly bad.
This, was particularly bad. Horrible even.
Thick droplets of water crashed down on Regulus, his already dark hair drenched with ice cold rain. His vision was clouded, eyelashes levered down with impact. His eyes were squeezed shut, despite the fact that he was situated on the top mast, not exactly the place you would want to keep your eyes closed.
However, this torrencial weather wasn’t ideal either.
Regulus held tightly onto the cylinder plank of wood that was the mast, and held his earlier billowy white shirt that was now a drenched sleeve, up to his face.
When he finally opened his eyes, the piercing grey that perfectly matched the current vibe of the sea, he had to shield them further if he didn’t want to go blind.
So many shouts, screams, shrieks coming from the deck below. Anxious.
Regulus wouldn’t admit to any fears willingly, but heights?… that’s another question entirely. Heights could kill you in an instant. If you fell from high enough.
The only reason he was up so high in the first place was because of his captain. Pandora. She insisted he be the one to be the lookout for Godric, who, by the looks of it, was racing right behind Salazar.
Not good.
He pulled tightly on the rope tied around the mast, and grappled his fingers through it, for a steady hold.
He watched as the mayhem unfolded, Godric gaining speed and getting ready to fire… what looked suspiciously like cannonballs.
Fuck.
“Barty! Ils sont sur le point de tirer des boulets de canon! Armez le navire! He shouted down at the bottom deck, where a young man was heaving barrels filled with water off the ship. “Godric prend de la vitesse, et vite!”
The man with half green hair, half dark brunette looked up, gave a quick thumbs up, and ran, (not without the small exception of him slipping) up the stairs to the helm.
Regulus saw him shout to a blonde man, with tousled curls, and a pale face. Could have just been the weather, or his natural look. He was also scooping water off the deck. Reduce the slipping.
“Harbour the forces! Fire to the canons! Men, do you hear me?! Light the fucking cannons!” Came a shrill scream from a similar spot. Another blonde, except it was a woman. Pandora Rosier. The captain.
Scrambles of crew mates gripped the sides of the boat, steadying themselves quickly, without setting off the canons.
But Regulus now had his focus back on the Godric ship. He couldn’t see any faces, or people in fact, due to the horrendous rain, blurring his eyesight. They had lit their canons, and were readying fire.
“Merde.” Regulus swore, and couldn’t take anymore waiting. He tightened his grip on the rope, and stepped onto the edge of the mast. He launched himself off with a breath, and swung down past the sails and landed, (thankfully) on his feet. His eyes hardened, and he ran to an occupied canon, nearest to the ship of Godric, his belt across his shoulder chafing uncomfortably.
“Move!” He shouted at a crew member who was fumbling because his hands were wet, and he was an anxious wreck. When the man looked up in panic, he got shoved away onto the deck with such force it was frightening.
“Sorry.” Regulus panted, and latched his hands with the cool metal. It was dripping with rain, and he could barely see straight, let alone think straight.
“Pandora! Give me the word and I’ll set fire to that motherfucker!” He boomed over the crowd of people scurrying around helplessly.
She caught notice of his demand, but had a tight face and did not nod. Not one word saying he could was coming out of her mouth, and he was confused.
“Pandora!” He screamed helplessly into the murk.
A souring sound screeched into the air, and Regulus’ heart dropped to his feet.
No.
His ears rang, and it was silent.
Well, it wasn’t. No, definitely not. But it was in his head. Silence. Doom.
His blood went cold, colder than usual, and he gripped the canon more uncertainly than before.
He braced himself for impact. It came.
CRASH
Salazar tipped massively, but didn’t capsize. More screams and booms were present, running around like lost chickens. Or zombies that didn’t have their heads.
Regulus let out a shout of his own, giving up his station at the canon and sprinting down the deck to the wreckage. Salazar wobbled more than it had before. Regulus could see the sea taking advantage of what was now a massive hole in the bilge, and was now collecting masses of water.
Regulus’ cheeks were pink and patchy from how much running he had to do, and breath uneven, but he still managed to direct orders.
He was the first mate after all. And if the captain was going to stand there, and give Godric mercy, then that was that.
“MEN, HOLD ON THE BILGE! BOTTOM DECK! COME ON, COME ON. YOU!” And he pointed maliciously at another random crew mate, that he should have probably learnt the name of. “LIGHT THE FUCKING CANONS!” And this time…
Godric would be getting twice the damage.
Pandora looked stricken in this lighting. She had moved from her place at the helm and was now directing the crew to fix that damage so they wouldn’t all sink into the ocean.
“Regulus..” She whispered, as they brushed shoulders. “It’s not worth it.” And her face was almost enough to convince him.
But Regulus had his mind made up, and a face of stone.
They aimed at the ship, who was now suspiciously close to Salazar and waiting for Pandora’s word.
When she didn’t give it, Regulus took control.
“FIRE!” He called, and the air was silent again. Well. Unless you want to count the horrendous crash that the canons made on Godric.
Fire erupted from their masts, spreading like a disease to the sails, trapping them with destruction and smoke.
He then saw people running wildly, some jumping into the cool misty water below. Stupid.
Regulus felt a sense of triumph. Until he didn’t.
He then realised what his mistake was.
Why Pandora wouldn’t fire.
Oh shit.
The boats were way too close together for the fire to not reach Salazar also. There was a screeching sound, and Godric crashed into a rock, bounding over it and into the choppy water. A couple crew mates fell off.
But what worried Regulus the most was that it was catching onto Salazar. Whisps of fire had been set aflame on the sails, and were spreading down with the wind to the ropes.
“TOURNEZ CE NAVIRE!” He yelled, and this time Pandora agreed.
She dashed across the deck, back up the stairs and took ahold of the wheel. With all her might she tugged it around.
No use.
Another moron decided to fire again at Godric.
Regulus cried. He landed a punch.
Godric’s bow came colliding with Salazar, and all hell broke loose.
It was a blur, fire caught, and wood smashed into splinters. Regulus saw men and women fall motionless into the ocean, some actually jumping, which was now smart.
Salazar was slowly edging away. Moving away from the rocks.
Regulus caught sight of somebody he knew.
His breath tightened as he saw Sirius, hoisting ropes through the ship, long hair tied in a bun at the back of his head.
He missed his brother. But now was not the time.
Another explosion came from their boat, knocking somebody off the ship and down into the rocks. He couldn’t even check if they were alive or not. Probably dead.
“STEER AWAY, STEER AWAY!” Came Regulus again, breathing jagged. And they did.
Thank fuck.
Water splashed in his face, and he gripped the side of the ship.
When he moved his hand away, he caught it on a bit of wood and sliced a gash right in the middle. He winced, but carried on.
They were only a little while away from the Godric wreckage, but there was no way in hell that they could destroy Salazar. They were too damaged.
“REGULUS!” Pandora screamed, having Barty take her place at the wheel.
He spun around in horror as she slapped him round the face, cold and quick. Enough to sting.
“YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US!” She screamed in his face. “WE WERE WINNING!”
“NO WE WEREN’T DORA!” He retorted. His hand hurt horrendously.
“Guys.” The other blonde spoke, slipping across the wet deck. “Guys.” He panted.
Regulus and Pandora turned, both looks of thunder across their faces. Regulus more than her, as that was deemed natural.
“What, Rosier?!” He demanded at the same time as her.
“Evan, what do you need?” Pandora responded. The contrast in their tone was extremely evident.
The wind crawled around the blonde, as he cast a look back at Barty behind the wheel.
Regulus raised a brow.
“Him. He- he’s in the water!” He coughed out.
Rain pattered onto Regulus’ head slower than before.
“Who?!” He asked, heart racing.
“Just- just come look.” And they all moved towards the other end of the ship, gripping the sides of the wood. Except Regulus, whose wound was still bleeding out.
“Shit.” Regulus breathed as he craned his neck to see.
“Get him on board! Regulus, go.” Pandora demanded her eyes wide.
Regulus almost got whiplash with how fast he twisted his neck.
“Me?! Why me?!”
“Just- you’ve angered me enough. Go!”
And regulus scoffed, grabbed another rope, slung his belt over his head, and plummeted towards the barely floating body that was sadly, definitely still alive.
A Godric crew mate.
James potter.