Written for Verabraun_art's Mermay - Day 6: Doctor

Ships: Adrien/Marinette, Luka/Marinette

Tags: Merman Adrien, Forbidden Love, Arranged Marriage, Pirate Luka, Disney Twits, Ambiguous/open ending

*****

In the fading light of dusk, Marinette clung to a piece of debris, battered by the relentless waves of the tempestuous sea. Saltwater stung her eyes, blurring her vision as she desperately scanned the horizon for any sign of salvation. But all she saw was an endless expanse of churning water, threatening to swallow her whole. Her idea had completely gone amidst.

With each passing moment, her strength waned, and fear threatened to consume her. She wasn't a strong swimmer, she'd never been near the sea. Since the arrival of Princess Melody, the crowned Prince Eric and his new wife Princess Ariel had banished the kingdom from the sea, a wall erected to stop the civilians going in and the rumoured 'Merfolk' coming out.

Her venture here was purely unfortunate. An escape from an impending marriage she didn't want. Her parents had sold her out. Auctioned her off at one of those pesky Pirate auctions, where men screamed 'we want the redhead' and paid for a lady's pleasure. Despicable really! Especially her parents. They'd sold her hand to the nefarious Captain Luka for little more than a hundred pieces of gold.

So, here she was. Stranded in the sea, in her great escape. She hadn't thought this through. Her fingers began to ache from their tight grasp on the splintered wood she was holding. The waves growing reckless around her and making every lift and fall dig the sharp wood deeper into her skin.

As she struggled through the churning waters, her wedding dress billowed around her like a ghostly shroud. The delicate lace and satin, which should have been a symbol of joy and celebration, now clung to her like the desperate grasp of a long-forgotten nightmare. The hem, heavy with seawater, floated up and around her, creating an ethereal halo that contrasted sharply with the chaos of the storm-tossed sea.

The water swirled around her, each wave a relentless reminder of the freedom she sought, yet was so agonisingly out of reach. Her dress, now a tattered flag of defiance, fluttered and flowed with each movement, a stark white against the deep, dark abyss below. It was as if the ocean itself was trying to reclaim her, to drag her back into the depths from which she had escaped.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounding like a drumbeat of determination. She felt the weight of her predicament pulling her down, yet she refused to be consumed. The floating fabric of her dress was a beacon, a radiant symbol of her undying hope and the fierce will that burned within her.

With each stroke, each desperate push through the water, Marinette's dress transformed from a relic of captivity into a banner of her resolve. She would not be subdued, not by the sea, not by fate, and certainly not by the shackles of an unwanted union. As the water surged around her, she swam towards a small island of sand on the horizon.

But everything within her ached. Hurt.

A violent cry left her lips, unsure whether it was a plea for help, or a shriek of pain. She screamed again, sure her doom was most certainly impending.

Just when she thought she couldn't hold on any longer, a shadowy figure emerged from the depths below. Through the murky water, she could barely make out the silhouette of a man with piercing eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, strong arms encircled her, pulling her down into the abyss. As darkness closed in around her, Marinette felt a sense of calm, knowing that she was no longer alone in the vast, unforgiving sea.

*****

As the gentle caress of sunlight warmed her skin, Marinette stirred from the depths of unconsciousness. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she found herself lying on the shore of a pristine desert island, surrounded by the rhythmic lull of crashing waves.

Confusion clouded her thoughts as she tried to piece together how she had ended up here. Memories of the storm and the mysterious figure beneath the waves flooded her mind, leaving her with more questions than answers.

Her attention was drawn to a pool of crystal-clear water beside her, shimmering in the morning light. As she leaned closer, she heard a soft, melodic voice speaking to her from within the depths of the pool.

"Are you awake?" the voice asked, its tone gentle yet filled with an undeniable sense of curiosity.

Her heart quickened with a mixture of apprehension and wonder. Unsure of what to expect, she tentatively responded, "Yes, I'm awake. Who... who are you?"

"I am Adrien," the voice replied, its timbre carrying an otherworldly resonance. "I am a merman, guardian of these waters."

Marinette's eyes widened in astonishment. A merman? The stories she had heard as a child suddenly seemed more real than ever. She struggled to comprehend the fantastical nature of her situation, along with the danger she'd been warned about during the construction of the sea wall. The Prince and Princess had warned of an otherworldly presence beyond the boundary, one they wanted to protect everyone from. But looking at Adrien, there was nothing dangerous or terrifying about him.

"Where... where am I?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She needed to get away. She didn't want to know what his plan was with her.

"You are on an island far from the shores of your world," Adrien explained. "You were brought here by the currents, guided by fate—perhaps."

Marinette's mind raced with a flurry of questions, but before she could voice them, Adrien continued.

"You were in grave danger when I found you," he said softly. "But fear not, for you are safe now. Rest, and let my healing waters mend your wounds."

"Healing waters?" she asked curiously.

"Do you mind if I swim closer?"

Marinette nodded, unsure if denying such a creature his request would become something worse than fate. She watched him dive into the water, before swimming around and coming up in the shallow depths around her.

"Are you okay being out of the water like that?" She noticed his bare chest dazzling under the sun, the reflection on his skin making his body look as glistening as a clean cut diamond—like the one on her finger. His hair was sunshine yellow and glowed along with his ethereal emerald eyes. He was like something from a fairytale. And something which made her feel whole.

"We can survive for a couple of hours out of water. I'll be okay." His smile was brighter than his body, intriguing her more than any treasure from the depths of the deep blue sea. "I hope you don't mind, but whilst you were out I performed some treatments on you."

"Treatments?" The squeak leaving her lips, sounded neither here nor there, instead it sounded like a fable attempt at a word.

"You had swallowed a lot of water, and your dress was weighing you down. I hope you don't mind that..."

Adrien trailed off, a hand indicating her attire. She looked down, noticing the once Pirate worthy wedding dress now ripped and shredded. She placed her hands over herself, attempting to hide her modesty.

"What did you do? I'm a betrothed woman."

"I saved your life!" Adrien stated, Marinette huffing and scrambling around to support herself on her knees.

"You don't decloth a woman, especially one that is spoken for."

"Well, as for my job, I have no choice. You were going to drown. I made a professional judgement."

"To undress a taken lady?"

Adrien laughed, and she wished the sound wasn't so appealing. "I heal people. Find their problems and fix them."

If only he could fix this arranged marriage. "Like a doctor?"

Adrien's eyebrows pulled together in the cutest way, almost like a puzzled cat. "A doctor?"

"Yes, a doctor."

He remained staring at her, before shuffling back into the water, the waves breaking over his back and sprinkling over her body. She found herself moving closer towards him, the fan of water making him look even more other worldly. "You do know what a doctor is? Don't you?"

Ignoring the question, Adrien gently took Marinette's hand, his touch a reassuring anchor amidst the uncertainty. "Come with me," he said softly, leading her away from the shore and into the sea.

Curiosity piqued, Marinette followed him as he swam through the shallow waters, the warmth of the sun beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the ocean. He guided her around a rocky outcrop and into a secluded lagoon hidden from the rest of the world.

The lagoon was a breathtaking sight. Crystal-clear water shimmered like liquid sapphire, reflecting the vibrant colours of the coral and sea life below. Small, luminous fish darted playfully around, creating trails of light in their wake. The air was filled with the gentle melody of distant waves and the occasional call of seabirds.

"Wow," Marinette breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. "This place is incredible."

Adrien smiled, his own eyes twinkling with delight at her reaction. "I thought you might like it. This is one of my favourite places—a hidden sanctuary, where the troubles of the world feel far away."

She knelt by the water's edge, dipping her fingers into the cool, inviting water. "It's perfect. I feel... at peace here." She turned to look at him, a soft smile bracing her lips.

Climbing onto the rock Adrien sat beside her, the two of them taking in the serene beauty of the lagoon. She looked down at the green and black of his fin, the scales coated in a leathery material making him look like the bad boy of Atlantis.

"So," Adrien began, a playful glint in his eye, "you mentioned before about a 'doctor.' Are you one?"

Marinette smiled. She wasn't used to a man asking about her job, and much to her parents' dislike, she had been training for years to help people. She was more into the sciences than anything, but in today's world, women weren't valued as reliable sources. But she loved to create and to help—so that's what she did.

"I suppose you could call me one, yes."

"And what exactly is a doctor?"

Marinette chuckled. "Well, a doctor is someone who heals people, like when they're sick or injured. They study medicine and learn all about the body and how to fix it."

Adrien's eyes widened with intrigue. "Ah, like a healer! I suppose I am a doctor then, but us merfolk call them 'aquamenders.' I suppose your title sounds a bit more... dignified."

Marinette laughed. "Aquamenders? That sounds pretty mystical. I bet they have some amazing remedies."

"Indeed," Adrien replied, a smile spreading across his face. "But your term 'doctor'—it sounds like something more. Perhaps someone who teaches dolphins how to sing in harmony?"

"Or maybe someone who commands the waves to part," Marinette countered, her eyes twinkling.

"Or a master of potions who brews magical elixirs," Adrien suggested, his tone teasingly serious.

She shook her head, giggling. "I wish it were that magical. Mostly, it's diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medicine, and a lot of paperwork."

Adrien raised an eyebrow, amused. "Paperwork? Is that some sort of ritual?"

"Definitely not as exciting as teaching dolphins to sing," she said, smiling. "But helping people makes it all worthwhile."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Well, then. To me, you'll always be the greatest healer I know. Even if you can't command the waves."

"And to me," Marinette replied, a warm smile on her lips, "you'll always be the bravest aquamender I've ever met."

Their laughter echoed across the lagoon, blending with the gentle sounds of the sea, as they found joy in their shared understanding.

"Thank you for saving me. I'm Marinette, by the way," she said during a break in their laughter.

Adrien smiled back, a hand tentatively reaching out to grab hers before pulling back. She couldn't help but wonder how it felt. Would he feel soft and warm like a human's hand? Or cold and slimy like a fish?

"It's nice to meet you, Marinette." Her name from his lips sounded more erotic than any foreign name she'd heard of travellers to their kingdom. He spoke it with such allure, as though it was a fine wine dripping from his lips.

They sat in companionable silence, watching the sun dip below the horizon, casting a final burst of colours across the sky. In the tranquil embrace of the lagoon, surrounded by the wonders of the ocean, Marinette felt a renewed sense of hope and determination. She didn't know what it was about this mythical creature but he called to her in ways she heard the siren called sailors. She wanted to know everything about him. She wanted to spend time talking to him, sitting in silence with him. Her heart fluttered from the close proximity to this magical man like it never had for anyone before.

"So, are you up to anything at the moment?"

She couldn't help but laugh, though it sounded a bit hollow. "Well, I was meant to be getting married to a man I despise."

Adrien's expression softened, concern etching lines across his forehead. "That sounds awful. Why would you marry someone you don't love?"

Marinette sighed, her fingers absently tracing patterns in the sand. "It wasn't really my choice. My family arranged it. My fiancé is influential, and my parents thought it was a good match. But he's... cruel."

His eyes widened with horror. "That's... terrible. No one should be forced into something like that, especially with someone so heartless."

She nodded, her eyes misting over. "I didn't know how to get out of it. Running away seemed like my only option, but then I ended up stranded here."

Adrien reached out, his hand gently resting on hers, the sunlight hitting the silver ring on his finger as he traced the scars left from the splinters of wood. The answer to her question appeared in a gentle stroke of his thumb. Smooth. His hands were smooth with a slight coolness which could only come from the exfoliation of the sea salt caressing his skin. They soothed the mottled skin from her desire to stay alive, breathing renewed strength into her body.

"Just rest here for a while. The waters will help you build your strength. Trust me."

And for some reason she did. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to relax with a sense of both relief and bewilderment, Adrien's soothing presence and the promise of healing waters helping her unwind.

She felt him move into the water, her heart being hit by loneliness without his hand there surrounding hers.

She lay on the rocks, feeling the gentle caress of the healing waters, she noticed something remarkable happening. The cool, soothing currents seemed to pulsate with a life of their own, swirling around her with a newfound intensity.

Adrien's voice, soft and reassuring, accompanied the magic as he explained, "This is Aqua Vitalis, the essence of life within the sea. Let it flow through you, and feel its healing embrace."

As Marinette closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the magic, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her, suffusing her body with a sense of serenity she had never known. The pain in her limbs began to ebb away, replaced by a tingling sensation that spread throughout her entire being—largely collecting on her palms.

With each passing moment, Marinette could feel her strength returning, her wounds knitting themselves back together as if by some unseen hand. But it was more than just physical healing; it was as if the magic was reaching deep into her soul, soothing the scars of past traumas and filling her with a newfound sense of hope and resilience.

Marinette opened her eyes to meet Adrien's gaze, filled with gratitude and wonder. In that moment, she knew that she was in the presence of something truly extraordinary, something that went beyond mere magic or medicine. She was in the presence of a love that had the power to heal even the deepest of wounds.

The distant boom of cannon fire shattered the tranquil atmosphere, jolting Marinette and Adrien from their reverie. Adrien's expression darkened with concern as he scanned the horizon, his thoughts racing.

"The Jolly Roger. I need to go," he said, his voice heavy with worry. "My family is in danger. They need me."

Her heart clenched with fear at the thought of Adrien leaving her side, but she knew she couldn't hold him back. "Go," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Be safe."

Tears welled in her eyes as she watched him dive into the water, disappearing beneath the waves with a graceful flick of his tail. Alone once more, she felt a surge of guilt wash over her. Was it selfish of her to want him to stay, to prioritise their newfound connection over his duty to his family? Did he even feel this connection too?

With a heavy heart, Marinette whispered a silent prayer for Adrien's safety, but then something hit her. The Jolly Roger. Standing unsteadily, Marinette watched as Luka's ship came in closer. The skull head of the front, nothing more than a symbol of doom growing closer and closer. How did he know she was here? Had his uncle spotted her with a merman? Everyone knew Captain James Hook hated the mermaids, almost as much as he hated Peter Pan.

Standing strong, she watched in horror, as the boat drew closer, its sails billowing in the wind as it glided across the shimmering sea. Her heart sank as she recognized the familiar figure of Captain Luka Hook at the helm, his crew of rough-looking men laughing and jeering as they approached the shore.

The sight sent a chill down her spine, her worst fears fulfilled as she realised the true nature of her betrothed's expedition. These were not mere fishermen, but hunters of the sea, capturing merfolk for profit and amusement.

As the boat came to a stop on the shore, Captain Hook leaped gracefully onto the sand, his eyes alight with a predatory gleam. Marinette's stomach churned with a mixture of fear and disgust as she forced herself to meet his gaze.

"Well, well, well," Captain Luka Hook said, his voice dripping with mock concern. "What do we have here? I thought you would have drowned by now, my dear."

Marinette's blood ran cold at his words, realising the true extent of the danger she was in. But even as fear threatened to overwhelm her, a spark of defiance flickered within her heart. She refused to be a pawn in Captain Hook's twisted game, a mere prize to be won and discarded at his whim.

Summoning every ounce of courage she possessed, Marinette squared her shoulders and met Captain Hook's gaze with steely determination. "You won't get away with this," she said, her voice trembling but resolute.

"You're mine now, Angel. There's nothing more to get away with. For a moment, I thought I'd find you dead and all your valuable powers would be wasted. But here you are. Uncle can finally get his life back, and get revenge for all who have wronged him." Captain Luka's hand stretched up and traced a thumb over her earring, her own acting on instinct and slapping it away.

"Aren't you forgetting one thing?" she hissed, tensing her arm from where he'd reached out to grab.

His maniacal laugh sent a shiver down her spine, as he twisted her around and pulled her back into his body, his liquor soaked breath causing her to cringe as his lips skimmed her ear. "I'm not forgetting anything, Ladybug."

Marinette's heart seized with horror as she realised the true extent of Captain Luka's treachery. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she beheld Adrien, trapped in a net, his once vibrant form now weakened and fading before her very eyes. She looked at his hands, there it was, the pair to match her earrings. A black sovereign ring.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she knew that she was facing a choice that would change the course of her destiny forever. As Captain Luka's laughter echoed in her ears, she whispered a silent vow to herself.

No matter the cost, I will save him. I will save us all.