I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP
"Should I check on her?" she whispered.
Penn shook his head. "No. Let me." He stood up, the reason dancing on his lips, left unspoken. He wanted to talk with her. He hadn't seen her in hours. "Shut up," he muttered to himself, edging towards the archway. His knuckles rapped sharply on the wall. "Can I come in?"
Massa was sat with her feet in the water, a sleek dagger spattered with droplets laid next to her in a small puddle. "New blade?"
She nodded, picking it up and sheathing it.
He circled and sat down opposite her, allowing his own feet to dip into the pool. With some amusement, he noticed how her feet drifted far from the bottom, while his own were planted firmly flat on the pool's floor. There was silence, Massa staring intently at him. Penn coughed. "I saw you dance today," he said dumbly. "I didn't know you could dance."
"I can't. Not really," she said with a shrug. "I can move with rhythm if there's a heavy beat, but put me in any other kind of dance I have two left feet."
"So no slow dancing for us then?" Penn teased. Massa head snapped up, eyes wide. Penn quickly held up his hands. "I'm joking, I'm joking." He grinned at her. "All I can do is slow dance myself. Flori taught me."
"Yes, but you knew her." Massa smiled. "Tell me about her."
Penn rubbed the back of his head. "Well, she was always full of surprises. Like you, really. One minute she'd be chasing off hordes of men twice her size and bulk with a sword, the next she'd be showing me how to dance. She had the grace of a lady, but she was selective about when she showed it." Penn's face softened. "And I'm talking about her in past tense. It's like I've given up on her already."
Penn nodded. "Not did. Do. Not having her near me is killing me. It's like...it's like there's a void where she should be. I miss her the most when I sleep. She'd always creep into my room and stay with me, fitting under my arm like she belonged there. And I can't get into contact with her, which could mean she's...dead." He forced himself to say it. "Dead...god." He bent over, face in hands. "I can't imagine her dead. I don't want to. I just-"
"We'll find her."Â Â Â Â Â Â
Massa nodded. "We. I know you won't stay here while she's out there. So I'm going with you."
"Thank you." Penn sat up straight, wanting to change the subject. He studied her. "Did you ever love someone?" Silence. She wouldn't look him in the eye. Her hands clutched tightly at her trousers. Bad move. He began to babble. "I mean, you don't have to answer that, but I'm just sitting here talking about myself and-"
The answer was so quiet, he almost missed it. "Did?"
"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"
More silence. Her hand touched her jagged ears. "He died."
"Massa, I..." Penn searched for the words. "I'm so sorry." He reached out to give her a comforting pat on the arm, and wobbled violently, his weight working against him. He struggled briefly to pull himself upright, and then toppled forward his a yell, water crashing out all over the floor and Massa in a tsunami. Massa blinked, soaked, as Penn bobbed in the pool, trying to gain his footing. She started to laugh. When Penn finally surfaced looking like a drowned rat, it only made her laugh harder. It had been too long since she had laughed. She laughed until her jaw ached, until tears streamed down her face and her sides began to hurt. Even then, she didn't stop. Penn huffed and grabbed her arm, yanking her straight into the water with him.
Massa went under, warm water going up her nose, and down her throat as she accidentally swallowed a mouthful. She didn't care. When Penn dragged her up, she was still laughing, clinging to him for support. Bemused, he splashed water in her face, but she just did it back, eyes bright with mirth.
Her eyes are so green, he thought. He grabbed her and dunked her, but she just pulled him under with her and blew bubbles in his face. Right. This is war.
For a time, Florence was banished from his mind.
