Broker

While Sonya was away setting the stage for dealing with Representative Sowards, Marta had other things to occupy her time. She’d pouted a little over being excluded from going with her friend and lady, but she knew that there were some things Sonya preferred to do alone. At least she was better now, far better than she had been in a long time. Marta smiled a little to herself as the maids that Setsuna had passed over to her worked their way through Sonya’s living space on the Idol of Venus.

“You look tired, ma’am,” one of them said with a delicate bow. The auburn-haired young woman was smaller than a few of her companions but was more dedicated to her work as a result. 

It’s a good thing this earpiece comes with a translator, Marta thought idly. I can’t believe I never bothered to pick up Japanese. I’ll do that soon. “Have you completed your chores, Nagisa?” she asked patiently rather than answering the question.

The girl bowed. “Yes ma’am. Shall I prepare some tea?”

I could use a break, Marta thought. But what I really need is some fresh air. “That won’t be necessary,” she said and nodded to the others. “Assist them in finishing up what’s necessary before taking your dinner. Good work, girls. I’m looking forward to working with you more in the future.”

The maids present all turned quickly and returned the sentiment as Marta made her way to the room Sonya had set aside for her personally. She ran her fingers along the desk filled with notebooks and schedules. Her lip twitched in amusement. Not that my lady ever sticks to her schedules. She chuckled and shook her head before going to change. Just a sundress should be fine to walk around the deck for a bit. Her eyes sparkled. After that, I’ll finally commandeer the theatre for some binging!

She hummed merrily to herself and swapped into the simple white sundress with faint yellow flowers adding a delicate effect to it. She drifted out from the captain’s suite and onto the deck after that, taking a deep breath of the sea breeze while she descended the stairs. Laughter and conversation hung in the air. Members of the cult, the Inner Circle, and agents of her lady’s power all gathered in one place as she put her first grand scheme into motion.

It was exciting to see her finally throw herself into her role. 

A chime of a laugh rang out and she glanced over to spot Setsuna sitting near the wave pool. She looked like she was engaged in lively conversation. Not a lot of people can keep a conversation going with her because of her ability’s drawback. Who… Her eyebrow arched as the man she was speaking with turned a bit more. Da-Som? Marta’s lips pursed and she shook her head. Interesting. I should tell Sonya the gossip when she-

Marta stopped right at the bottom of the stairs. She saw the sea, the ocean glittering beneath the setting sun. The light danced for what looked like miles across its surface. Beautiful… she breathed. The wind picked up and tousled her hair as her eyes turned to the person leaning against the rail and staring out at the same view. Big as a bear, broad shoulders and strong back relaxed over his powerful arms. His short black hair was as messy as ever, those beady gray eyes looked almost serene from where she stood.

He really is just like the sea, isn’t he?

She drifted closer and stopped at his side.

“Pretty, ain’t it?” Barry asked.

“Yes,” she mused.

“We’re gonna have a match tomorrow ‘n we’re standin’ here talkin’ bout the view,” he chortled. “What kinda nonsense is that?”

She shot him a sideways look. “Nervous I’ll make you look like a fool?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Oho! Thinkin’ you got my number, huh?”

“Maybe,” she said and rested her hand on the rail next to his elbow. Her heart felt tight and relaxed all at the same time. The wind blew again and her hair fluttered into her face. She reached up to brush it away when a powerful hand scooped her hair back and tied it into a simple loop, letting it fall to her shoulder. 

She looked up into his face and he grinned that toothy grin of his; those razor sharp teeth didn’t seem so scary to her as they did the first time she’d seen them. “There ya go.”

She returned his smile before reaching up to brush a finger across the thick chain he always wore around his neck. “You’re still wearing this?”

He glanced at her finger and then huffed out a breath. “I never told you?”

“No,” she said thoughtfully. “It looks like an old bike chain.”

“It is,” he said. “My sister’s.” He glanced towards the ocean. “She ain’t around no more. Hit by a car on the west side. She snuck out to ride her bike back when I was a brat. I forgot to put the chain on that day.”

Her hand froze, and she looked up into that serene face. It was hard to imagine that he was the brash man that they had confronted while trying to recruit Amos. It was even harder to imagine that he was the furious demon that had rained hell upon Liberty’s compounds such a short time ago. He was a man who could call whales and beasts of the deep to his aid, had armies of fish men at his beck and call, and could make the very ocean churn if he so desired.

Yet right now he was just… Barry. A man who didn’t like pity. “A reminder to not make that kind of mistake again. You lost your way for a while,” she said and looked back out to the water. “But you’re a great man now. I’m sure she’d be proud.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I think so too. King of the Sea.”

“You think you’re Posiedon?” she asked, leaning against his shoulder. “That’s a pretty bold claim.”

“Poseidon ain’t got nothin on Barry Logan,” he chortled. “Great One or whatever he wanted to call ‘imself.”

“You really are something else,” she sighed with a wry shake of her head.

They fell into a comfortable silence for a while, watching the sun dip lower and lower. The ocean was ablaze at this point. He shifted a little bit before speaking again. “You know, if I’m the sea, you’re like the sun in the sky. Yeah?” he said. “Brilliant, beautiful, and bright.”

She frowned. “I’m flattered, but I don’t know if I like that analogy,” she said. “The sea and sun are so far apart.”

He snorted. “What’re you talkin’ about?” he asked and pointed towards the sunset, while resting a hand on her shoulder. She followed his hand and looked at the lights again, her eyes going wide as the next words came, “They look pretty close to me.”

She looked up at him. “Barry, I-”

He didn’t stop looking at the sunset. “I wanna make a bet with you, Marta.”

“A bet?” she asked, her eyes running down the shape of his jaw and the lines of his gills. They were permanent rather than the other parts of his transformation. “What kind of bet?”

“Tomorrow we’re gonna put on a big show. Handmaiden versus Kingshark. Gotta make it look good, really sell the boss’ power and make the heroes feel good about themselves, yeah?” He clicked his tongue. “She’s really plannin’ every angle,” he mused before leaning forward a bit and grinning. “Well, I’m gonna get the most coverage tomorrow.”

“You’re betting on who gets the most news coverage?” she asked with a laugh. “Are you serious?”

He stood up straight. “I’m dead serious!” he said and turned to her. “More serious than I’ve ever been about anything.”

She met his eyes and saw something that made her chest tighten a little. A tiny fear that had always been there in the back of her mind. His hand rose to her cheek, so big it nearly enveloped one side of her head. She leaned into the warmth of it even as her eyes flicked away. “What are we betting?” she asked.

He tilted her head up a bit and she forced herself to meet his eyes again. They were so stone cold serious it was a little shocking. She reached up to put her hand over his.

“If I win, I want to be the man to lift the Companion’s veil,” he said.

Her fingers wrapped around his and she reached out with her other hand to grasp at his shirt. “So you’re leaving it up to a bet, then? So I can’t come up with another excuse? What if I win?” she asked without breaking eye contact. “What do I win?”

“You’re leavin’ it up to me?” he asked.

“It better be good,” she shot back.

“If you win,” he said. “Then you’ll have tamed the sea.”

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