"Die? Kiddo, are you sure?"

Logan looked down. "I... It's the most likely outcome."

"But-"

"Look, you don't have to believe me." Logan said. "You just need to keep this in mind. And if any of the crew have been acting unnaturally or haven't been themself-" He looked up at Patton. "It's already happened, hasn't it?"

Patton shook his head quickly. "No, no. Nothing's happened yet, Kiddo."

"Patton, don't lie." Logan said, a sharp edge to his voice that surprised Patton. "Apologies. But if anyone has been acting oddly, I would suggest keeping an eye on them, just to find out what's wrong."

"What if they won't talk to me?"

Logan paused. "You're Patton." He said slowly. "You can make friends anywhere and you're the only pirate on this ship to dare show me kindness." A ghost of what might've been a smile passed across his face. "I think they'll talk to you."

"Pat, are you fucking insane?!"

"Logan said-"

"Logan." Virgil laughed humourlessly, running a hand through his hair. "Logan is a mermaid, Pat. Mermaid's manipulate and they control and they-"

"And they tell the truth." Patton cut in.

"Sometimes, Pat. They tell the truth sometimes." Virgil closed his eyes and tried to take a deep breath. "Has it ever crossed your mind that spending so much time with Logan isn't good for you? He could be hurting you."

"He wouldn't hurt me."

"You barely know him!" Virgil nearly yelled.

Patton shook his head slightly and pushed his glasses up his nose. "He trusts me, Kiddo. He's trusted me with information that-"

"Pat, he is a mermaid! He could be lying to you. He probably is lying to you!"

Patton crossed his arms protectively. "Logan has no reason to-"

"Logan has every reason to lie! As much as you may like him, he's still a prisoner and all prisoners want to do is escape. I know that from personal experience." Virgil glared at Patton before it almost looked like he realised who he was talking to. He sighed. "Look, I'm not saying Logan is evil-"

"Except that's exactly what you're saying!"

"No, I'm not. I'm saying that he's a mermaid. Pat, you know what mermaid's are like. You know more about mermaids than anyone here. Think for once."

"I am thinking." Patton protested. "And I think I trust Logan and what he says about Remus. He's known - hear me out, Virgil - he's known Remus for much longer than we have and he thinks something's up. I trust his judgement."

Virgil scoffed a little. Then he realised Patton was serious. He shook his head. "You're completely insane." He walked away from Patton and didn't turn back to see the hurt look in Patton's eyes.

"Um, hey, Jan-" Patton said, noticing his crewmate walk by.

"Not right now, Patton." Janus said as he walked past.

"But it's important." Patton mumbled.

"They don't believe me." Patton said quietly. He looked up at Logan. "Why don't they believe me?"

Logan shrugged. "How would I know?"

Patton looked down at his hands. "Yeah, sorry. I just... you remind me so much of my friend who used to know all the answers. I just kinda hoped..."

Logan shrugged helplessly. "I am not someone from your childhood, Patton. I'm sorry to disappoint you."

I always think this story is moving way too fast and then I realise that I'm on Chapter 25 and we haven't even gotten to any falling in love yet.
Bye,
Blaize