Disney Storybits 61

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Logically she was safe. She was back on the ship, and in Captain Mickey's arms, the safest place in the world as far as she was concerned. Yet even as they walked into his personal chambers with the door slamming shut behind him, she still trembled and whimpered, as if they weren't out of the clear yet. Neither man nor mermaid said a word as he walked towards his bed, and sat down, still keeping her in his protective clutches. He leaned on his elaborate headboard, letting her head rest on his shoulder. She was still wearing his jacket, and there seemed no rush to take it off. His fingers brushed the back of his head, and he finally spoke, quiet and calm. "Hey… hey, it's okay." Though he could understand her long standing fear, it still bothered him to have her upset. "That rat aint ever goin' near ye again…"

Her tears were pressed into his shoulder. "I-I, I know, but…" A hiccup. "E-every time I close my eyes, I-I see his eyes… and their eyes…" The eyes of the audience, all boring into her, all of them warped with insidious desires. She could handle a pair at a time, as she had been used to using her song and allure to distract and then get away. But during that time, there had been no escape, and she had no choice but to endure all of these stares. They made her feel disgusting, and that she existed only to be pawed at. Even now, in Mickey's arms, she could feel their sick gaze on her, and a timid cry escaped her. "I-I was so scared, and I…"

His grip on her tightened, almost painfully. "Never again." His voice contained grating anger at the man who had escaped his punishment, and sorrow that he could not have prevented this entire tragedy from happening. "I won't let this happen, never again… no one's ever gunna look at ye that way again… never gunna touch ye… I won't let 'em…" Even if he had to lock her up, even if he had to spill the blood of everyone who glanced their way, he would do it, if it meant keeping her safe and happy. She was not an object of desire, but an innocent girl who deserved love and protection.

She shuddered hard, and Mickey stopped his promises when he realized how dry she had gotten. "Shoot, yer all dried up… why didn't ye say so…" But he knew why, in that going in her tub would have meant leaving his arms, and neither of them wanted that. Yet he still got out of bed, and headed towards the bathroom, sliding it open with his foot.  Stopping at the side of the tub, he gently laid her down in the water, but as he pulled back, she suddenly latched onto his arm, nails almost digging into his skin. He winced visibly, and their eyes met.

His eyes were not like Mortimer and the audience. He didn't see her as a thing to be taken for pleasure. These eyes were soft and pained, still wishing he could somehow go back and protect her. Sympathy, caring, warmth, tenderness, his eyes were beautiful because of all the beautiful emotions inside of them. He did not see her as a physical fantasy, or even a mermaid, but as Minnie, and that was enough to bring fresh tears to her eyes. He stroked her arm, murmuring. "All right, I'll go in with ye, just gimmie a moment…"

Comfort and modesty had to be taken into consideration for this sort of thing. She released his arm reluctantly, and he removed his shirt and his boots. He slid in, taking his time, not wanting to splash all of the water out as the tub was not designed for two. Once he laid down, she was already on top of him, and already clinging to him again. The floor became wet as he held her again, and Minnie reflected on the bitter irony of the situation. During her first stay on this ship, she had once teasingly asked Mickey to join her in the very same tub, and the poor boy looked ready to pass out once he understood the implications. Now she would never let him leave, and hated herself for being as pathetic as needing to depend on him so deeply.

This hatred was focused on herself, as she had become a burden on this wonderful person. He had never voiced it, but she always knew she had thrown his life into new chaos, and the more she had gotten to know him and like him, the worst the chaos grew. He was better off without her, and yet she could not stand to let him leave her. She had done everything in her power to keep them together, and even that was not enough, for her singing voice was gone forever. She pulled a hand back to touch her neck, feeling the scar jagged across.

"Why…?" She whispered, not able to look at him. "Why did you… come for me?"  Her magical voice had not commanded him to, and in her fragile state of mind that was all she could think of as to why he would risk his life and the life of his men. It never occurred to her that she existed outside of her voice, and was a gentle soul to be around with; the sort that draw friendly faces together. Though it had been weeks since her voice was gone, she had thought it only a matter of time before she was tossed into the ocean to become a forgotten memory. To be loved outside of her song was madness.

She appeared to be mad in her questions, if one judged by Mickey's befuddled expression. "Why?" He repeated to emphasize how bizarre it was. "I couldn't just let ye stay there! Ye belong here! This is yer home, with yer friends, and with me, and…" With that last slip of the tongue, his cheeks pinked, and his eyes scooted away. He had always thought his own feelings obvious since his crewmates always teased him about them. He had no problem with letting her know how she felt about him, but to actually put it in words was oddly embarrassing for him. Girls were supposed to be the one to say the frilly romantic things, and guys were supposed to nod along and say 'me too'. But she stared at him, making it clear she wasn't going to confess, so he would have to.

"A-and… well. Um."  He swallowed, uncomfortable. Why couldn't she deduce his reasons on her own? They were half naked in a tub holding each other, for goodness' sake! "And… cause, I…" But if it would make her feel better, if it would stop her tears and fears, it would make her believe him, then he would make himself say it. "C-Cause I… love ye, Mins." His face sunk a little in the water, not wanting to repeat himself.

He didn't have to for that one time rung clearly in her ears. It wasn't the first time he had said those words, but it had been the first time outside of being commanded to. In her own twisted sense of need, she had used her song to command him to tell her he loved her countless times. To hear him tell her of his own accord was enough to make her heart stop, almost gasping. He loved her. But why? But how? Her mouth fumbled for a reply as her mind ran in circles, not understanding him. It took a few tries to say anything at all, and even then she only managed one word. "R… Really?"

Aw, geez, she was killing him. He drew himself up, head and part of his chest out of the water. "W-well… a course." He made himself look back at her adorable face, and he couldn't help but smile. How could he not love her?  Aside from her incredible beauty, which was really just a nifty bonus, she was overflowing with kindness and generosity. She always did her best to help out, even when her physical abilities were limited, and tended to offer her advice when it wasn't asked. She was sweet, soft, and brought about the ability to cheer him up with one look at her shining eyes. If it wasn't for the fish tail, he was certain he would have married her months ago legally. He had a feeling most churches wouldn't adhere to the blasphemous marriage of man to fish. "I said I did, didn't I?"

Now it was her turn to have eyes avoided for the sake of embarrassment. She bit her lower lip, and put her head on his chest, feeling his heart beat. "Say it - " She cut herself off, shaking her head. Even without her magical singing, she felt if she did not command him to do it, he wouldn't say it on his own. That wasn't right, and if she wanted to prove that his love was real, she couldn't demand it out of him. She needed to learn they were equals, and she tried again, quieter. "W-will… will you please… say it again…?"

Only for her, he obliged, sighing but smiling again. "… I love ye." It was a little easier that time, and he decided on his own to say it again, and then again. It rolled off his tongue, and soon became as natural as breathing. When their eyes met again, he said it once more, but she lifted her head up enough to slowly kiss him. Their feelings became open and honest, which made their love all the more powerful and precious.  She was still in disbelief, and he was still embarrassed, but they accepted each other's love long into the night.

The floor became soaked.