W: A bit dark, cannibalism(?), ambiguous ending.
English isn't my first language, and the Scottish accent is even harder for me, sorry if there are any mistakes.
John MacTavish was part of the crew of the fearsome pirate John Price. He's one of the youngest members, but he had earned his place with his skill in improving cannons and his particular talent for finding the best hidden treasures.
Everyone thought he was crazy, but he was fine. Who on board wasn't?
What did it matter if the man had a kind of hammock hanging from the mast and could lower himself down using ropes to get closer to the water, as long as he didn't drown or brake his skull on the bow, everything would be fine, besides, every now and then he'd come back with some new mental map of where to go, and there was always gold in that direction, so everyone would turn around when they saw him swinging on the mast to get down.
Nobody knew that John MacTavish wasn't crazy, and that you were the one guiding him to the gold.
“Ye're shining today, bonnie” He told you with a smile as you swam around him “What did ye dae to yerself? Ye shine as bright as a star”
He could see you were just playing the pretty girl while you swam around him; not that you needed to, you were so beautiful it was suffocating. You were a mermaid, after all.
“Oh, I see it now, ye're wearing the necklace I gave ye.”
Johnny stretched out his hand and you finally came closer; he was able to touch your neck adorned with one of the gold necklaces from the last loot. You loved shiny things and he shared at least one with you each time; after all, you were the one who told him where to go.
"It's a special day and I didnae even know? I would have showered for ye, bonnie."
You moved even closer, touching his lips with yours. A deep, slow kiss that made John relax, while at the same time a feeling of finality overwhelmed him, as if it were about to end, as if he no longer had time. He pulled away from your kiss and looked into your eyes, you couldn't speak, because your voice might enchant John and make him drown; he had never heard your voice, but your kisses always tasted of something, this one tasted of goodbye.
“Are ye leaving me, bonnie?”
You shook your head, one of your finned hands went to his cheek.
“So my time has come?” he asked, and your nod was slight, but final.. “Oh, a didnae say goodbye to Cap, or to Ghost...”
The look you gave him was a little sad, but John smiled; he knew this was to be expected, he knew it ever since he decided to save your life in his village by killing the man who tried to impale you. You took care of him, you let him live, just as he did for you, but mermaids are predators at the end of the day, your love and care could not come without the hunger for him and a part of John liked the idea; he always liked the certainty that he would leave this life in your hands, and that you would eat his flesh, use his bones to adorn yourself, and a part of him would always live in you.
“Am sure they can live without ma goodbye.” He said casually. “But I want tae hear yer voice before, bonnie.”
John moved willingly into the water with you, placing his hands on your waist. He didn't make the effort to swim because you would hold him.
"Am ready” He whispered against your lips, gazing calmly into your eyes; there was no fear, only genuine, wholehearted surrender.
And those were the first and last words John MacTavish heard from the one he loved most and to whom he decided to give himself.
