Pirate AU angst
TW: blood in black and white
The ship Varian and his parents are on has been attacked, and is burning. He (stupidly) attacks Zhan Tiri in an act of bravery, an attempt to save his parents and the ship.
He is no match for the dread pirate.
He loses his arm to her blade.
"It's really a tragedy for someone of your lineage to perish this way, but I can't exactly let you live after that, my dear boy."
His only choice is to jump into the frothing, freezing waves, or be run through.
He jumps. It's a decision that haunts him for many years after.
Zhan Tiri isn't worried, much. She knows that he'll either bleed out or die of exposure before he gets rescued, and she naturally assumes that he's gone for good.
However, the alchemist is stronger and more determined to live than she thought, and he holds on just long enough. Edmund's merchant ship, which had been following the same course as Quirin's, arrives just before morning light.
Eugene spots the bloody body slumped over a crate, drifting past, and (noble man that he is) dives in for a rescue.
