Breath of Life [Part 8]

[esp_dragonv2]

Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Frankenstein almost drowned. He didn't, something in the sea saving him, and he's going to find out just what it was.
Notes: Mermaid au
Thank you so much to madameazure for all her medical advice! ;w;
Couldn't find a good pausing spot here, so just have the full part, haha.
Rating: G
Genre: General
Word count: 4,237
Total word count: 17,553
Status: Work in progress



There was something else floating in the waves, and Frankenstein waded in to retrieve it. It was a strip of fabric, similarly covered in blood. It wasn't Muzaka's -obviously, since he didn't wear clothes- but Frankenstein recognised the trim as one that the sailors at the port wore.

He stared at its frayed edges, only hearing the lapping waves around him.

His first thought was that the Union had found him again, and captured Muzaka, but if the piece of clothing had been torn in the same way and at the same time as Muzaka's bracelet, then it must have been the work of some of the sailors at the port.

Which was ironic, and something Frankenstein would have been amused by, if Muzaka's life wasn't on the line.

He hadn't been as secretive as he thought, even though he'd only left once a week. He should have realised his walks would have been noticed by the others, with how quickly word spread through the small port. He'd just thought - hoped, that it was early enough that no-one would notice.

But...maybe it wasn't just then. How many times had he been greeted upon his return? Almost every time.

Damn.

He shook his head, turning back to the cave entrance as he pocketed Muzaka's bracelet. It was done now, and he had more pressing matters at hand.

Like how long had it been since Muzaka had been taken? Frankenstein wasn't a hunter so couldn't tell how fresh the tracks had been, even if he had better light now.

He would just have to assume he had little time left.

What was worse? The Union finding Muzaka, or the superstitious sailors wanting to eat his flesh?

Frankenstein grimaced, heading out. Neither. They were bad in their own way. He was wasting time thinking about that, when he should be thinking about where they could have taken Muzaka. If they took him away by ship then there was no way that Frankenstein would be able to follow them, or find out where they'd gone, so he had to hope that they had gone to the port.

Or that someone else at the port would know.

Destination in mind, Frankenstein ran out the cave.

*
Frankenstein arrived at the port to see the usual scene of people milling around with their daily lives and he regarded each one with suspicion. There were people here who had planned Muzaka's capture. Who had helped one way or another to hurt him.

But how would he find anyone that had any information with what happened? He was still essentially a stranger in the port with little good connections with its people. If he argued with anyone in sight, he would look like a madman, and it would alert the people in question that he was looking for them.

So what could he start with?

What did he know about them?

Nothing.

He knew nothing aside that one was a sailor and had been inj...

Frankenstein's thoughts trailed off as his eyes drifted. Injured enough to need medical assistance? Ateryi would be in the office by now, yes? He glanced up at the sky but the sun's position was hidden by the swiftly darkening clouds.

They might have gone to her house instead, depending on how early they arrived, but he headed for the office. It was closer. If no-one was there, he would try her house.

*
Frankenstein exhaled when he saw the office door ajar. She was in. That could mean anything. It could mean nothing.

He nudged the door open, seeing Ateryi leaving her room, wiping her hands. They were still stained with blood. "Oh, you're early," she said with a smile. "It's been a busy morning already."

"An injured sailor?" Frankenstein said, trapping his anger. He had to make sure first.

She nodded. "I'm not sure what attacked him, but they can find trouble anywhere," she said with a sigh.

He smiled. "The high waves don't help with the number of accidents either."

She tutted at that. "I think they get in more trouble once they get back on land! I'll be back in a few minutes - there's a few things I need to collect since he just used up the last of it and we'll need more. It still hasn't stopped bleeding."

Perfect. The sailor was still there. "I'll take care of him while you're gone," he said, watching as she left.

He listened as her footsteps faded, and once he was sure she wouldn't return for something she'd remembered at the last minute, he went to her door, knocking on it before entering.

The sailor inside her room wasn't one that Frankenstein recognised, younger than most of the ones he spoke to, but he could see the blood seeping through the shoulder bandages already. The blood was forming into the shape of slash marks, and he could easily imagine that Muzaka's hand would fit the size of them.

But he was jumping to conclusions. He needed to make sure first. "Hello there," he said as he walked in, sitting across from the sailor like he would normally do with any of his other patients. "I'm checking how you're doing, if you need anything."

There was a slight sway to the sailor, his eyes not quite focused on Frankenstein. "I'm doing much better!" When he spoke, it had the slight tinge of alcohol and Frankenstein hid his smile. Alcohol had a rather nice habit of loosening tongues. He could use this.

"Could I ask what attacked you?" Frankenstein asked, gauging how the sailor reacted.

The sailor's smile froze for a second. "Oh, you know," the sailor said, his gaze drifting around the room. "It was an accident. Happens all the time on ships."

Of course he wouldn't get the answer he wanted immediately. "If you let me know what happened, that means I can help you to recover faster, so I can specialise the care you need."

The sailor laughed nervously, one finger picking at the bed sheet. "I've already been seen to, so I don't need anything more than this?"

Hmmm. Well then, he would have to be a little more aggressive in his questioning. "I will have to say," Frankenstein said, looking over the sailor's bandages again, "it doesn't look like an injury an accident on a ship would cause."

The sailor's eyes widened slightly, before he tittered again. "Why would you think that? You haven't seen all the different kinds of ship accidents, have you?"

No, he wasn't going to let him lead his attention elsewhere. "But it's not an attack from your fellow man either," Frankenstein mused, humming.

The sailor didn't say anything to that, watching him.

Well then. "You are aware of the diseases and toxins animals and other creatures can carry, yes?" Frankenstein said. "And that they can pass on to us through their claws?" He shook his head. "It can make for a very painful, slow death. If I don't know what attacked you, if you were to have a reaction, I wouldn't be able to help you."

The sailor paled, his eyes as wide as they could go. "But - but, it was supposed to make me immortal, not kill me!"

Got him. Frankenstein kept his concerned expression on his face. "You know what attacked you?"

He nodded vigorously. "A ningyo!"

Now, if he could just... Frankenstein sighed. "Damn. Then that means it's long gone and I won't be able to make an-"

"I know where it is!" the sailor blurted out, hand over his wound. "So you can just - just find out how to make an antidote, right? I knew I felt weird when it slashed me!"

"Then tell me, quickly!" Frankenstein urged him. "There might not be much time left before the poison begins to take its hold."

"It should be as Osbern's house - blue door nearest to the lighthouse!"

Which meant it was as close to the sea as they possibly could be without being on a boat or ship. Maybe to keep the number of witnesses down. Frankenstein nodded. "Thank you. I'll go there immediately. Don't move around too much. Just in case."

The sailor nodded, laying down as Frankenstein left.

*
The wind tugged at Frankenstein's jacket as he jogged towards Osbern's house, the skies dark. That was good. It would drive people to stay inside once it started raining.

He just had to hope Muzaka was still alive.

The house was easy enough to find, a boat laying next to a wall, and Frankenstein exhaled as he approached. Muzaka wouldn't be alone, not unless... No. Frankenstein wouldn't think of that possibility until he had confirmation himself. So he would have to assume there was some sort of guard there, and this wasn't something he would be able to talk his way through. Especially depending on if anything else had been done to Muzaka.

He slowed, looking around. There weren't many people around, and that would help. He needed to do this quickly, in case people weren't as put off by the rain as he hoped.

He peered into the back room window and sucked in a breath.

Muzaka was there.

Curled up against the wall, a haphazard bandage wrapped where his torso met his tail, the bandage dark.

Both of his eyes were closed. Unconscious, or dead? Frankenstein checked his chest for movement out of habit, before he remembered their previous conversation.

Ningyo didn't sleep. They didn't close both eyes when they rested.

They had to be conscious to breathe.

Frankenstein swore as he checked the other windows, trying to see how many people were inside the house. Muzaka may not be dead now, but he very well could be soon through suffocation.

How long could Muzaka live without air?

Frankenstein didn't know.

And it had to depend on how prepared he was before he stopped breathing, and it was clear Muzaka wouldn't have had much time, or knowledge potentially, to take in air.

Two sailors inside, wearing the same uniform the injured one was.

He ducked away when one of them turned towards the window.

He closed his eyes, exhaling. It would be harder to talk his way in with two people, and with how Muzaka was, he couldn't waste time either.

So he would need to force his way in quickly.

He heard the click of a lock coming from the house, the creak of a door opening and he swore, dashing in that direction. If he could get to it before it was locked again, that was the minimal noise he needed.

He caught the sailor at the door and drove his fist into his gut, hearing him wheeze as he slammed the sailor back into the house.

The sailor stumbled back a few steps and Frankenstein caught the door before it hit the wall, closing it behind him and locking it.

"How did you-!"

It had been so long since Frankenstein had fought unmodified humans that he had to keep his strength in check to make sure he didn't break any bones or do unintended permanent damage.

It didn't take him long to subdue and tie them up, and he checked on them long enough to make sure they were breathing easily before heading for the back room.

Muzaka was in the same position Frankenstein had seen him and he put his fingers to his neck. A strong heartbeat. It was slow, but Frankenstein didn't know if that was normal. He didn't know how Muzaka's body worked at all.

Muzaka didn't seem pale, and Frankenstein could see bruising across his crown that must have been the cause of his unconsciousness.

"Muzaka," Frankenstein hissed, shaking his shoulder. Hoping the unconsciousness wasn't something deep. That Muzaka would stir from it soon.

Nothing.

Exhaling, Frankenstein lifted his hand and slapped Muzaka across the face.

Still nothing.

No reaction to sharp pain, though he wouldn't have expected one, if Muzaka wasn't reacting to the wound to his side.

He would see to it later. The blood on the bandage hadn't expanded since he last saw it, so Muzaka wasn't bleeding out. That wasn't as important as making sure Muzaka was breathing - that would kill him faster than loss of blood.

Frankenstein opened Muzaka's mouth and peered in. He could see his throat was open and that was good. It was something. If Muzaka's throat was closed, he would have needed to put something in to keep it open while Frankenstein breathed for him.

Muzaka didn't have the same human nose to pinch but Frankenstein did as best as he could, breathing into Muzaka's mouth, seeing his chest expand. Good. No blockage, and the air was going where it was supposed to be.

How long could he keep breathing for Muzaka? He wasn't sure. Technically indefinitely, but how long did he have before someone else came to check on the sailors, either other conspirators who helped to kidnap Muzaka, or their coworkers on their ship?

But he couldn't stop.

He knew Muzaka could hold his breath, but he was sure Muzaka breathed at a normal human rate on land. It seemed like it when they'd found out how each other breathed.

Everything seemed to drag, focused entirely on the rise and fall of Muzaka's chest. He wasn't dead, Muzaka's heart was still strong, but he could still be dying right in front of Frankenstein's eyes, from brain damage or lack of air.

And it was because of him. If Muzaka hadn't saved his life, if Frankenstein hadn't been so stubborn to try and find Muzaka again, they wouldn't have continued meeting each other. Frankenstein wouldn't have continued to unintentionally announce where Muzaka was to everyone in the port.

Muzaka wouldn't have been found because of him.

Wouldn't be dying in front of him.

Frankenstein put his feelings to the side as he continued breathing for Muzaka. He had to keep going. The blame and guilt could happen later, after Muzaka had regained consciousness.

Breathe.

Muzaka still didn't stir.

Breathe.

Muzaka still didn't stir.

"Whatever you're doing-" Frankenstein snapped his head around, seeing Panska at the window, being soaked by the rain. "-you need to finish it quickly."

Frankenstein stared at him, still counting down in his head until the next breath. He had forgotten to cover the windows. "Why?"

Panska glanced away. "Because chances are, the rest of them will return to prove they've got a ningyo instead of asking how best to cook it."

Dammit. So it hadn't just been those three. "I'm surprised you're helping them." He didn't want to turn his back to Panska, but he needed to continue breathing for Muzaka.

"I'm not. They talk loud. I just came here first to see what they were talking about."

Right. Of course. Panska believed more in the misfortune side of the myth than the immortality. And with how it was storming outside already... Yes, Panska would be concerned.

"I can't," Frankenstein said, between breaths. "I can't finish quickly. It depends on Muzaka, on him." How long had it been now? How long did either of them have left?

Breat-

Muzaka exhaled and Frankenstein froze, watching as movement flickered behind Muzaka's eyelids. His eyes opened, focusing on Frankenstein. "Frankenstein...?"

Frankenstein let out all the air in his lungs, relief crashing through him. Muzaka was conscious. He was talking.

"What-" Muzaka looked over his shoulder and anger swept over his face, a raspy hiss erupting out of Muzaka's throat as he lunged past Frankenstein.

"Muzaka!" Frankenstein said, spinning around. Nothing should happen if Panska was still outside, but it wouldn't help Panska's opinion of ningyo either. "It's okay. He isn't here to hurt you," he said as he wrapped his arms around Muzaka's shoulders, holding him still.

Muzaka still glared at Panska, though his whiskers settled down somewhat.

"How are you feeling?" Frankenstein asked, trying to distract him. He needed to know if there was anything he needed to see to anyway.

"Hm." Muzaka frowned, still looking between Frankenstein and Panska. "I was...'unconscious'?"

Frankenstein nodded. Muzaka was responding to his questions. Good. His mind hadn't been affected by what had happened. "Yes. I hope I was able to help you to breathe."

Muzaka touched his mouth with his fingertips. "Yeah, you did."

Frankenstein smiled, letting him go. "I'm glad."

"Frankenstein," came Panska's voice, and he nodded, getting to his feet. Right. That had been enough time catching up. "There's a boat here," Panska continued, "that I assume they brought...Muzaka in."

Of course. The sailors wouldn't have been able to drag Muzaka's body to the house without being seen. "Thank you."

"So we leave the same way?" Muzaka said, glancing at the door.

"No, not quite." It had been early in the day when the sailors had arrived, when more people were asleep, but even if there was a storm raging outside, there was more chance of Muzaka being seen. Muzaka had been seen enough by human eyes already.

"Why?"

"You'll be seen." The boat had been right by the door, so it would only take a few steps. "I'll carry you out." Just so long as there was enough material in here to cover Muzaka, it should be all right.

Muzaka looked over him, his brow furrowed in doubt. "Can you?"

Frankenstein nodded, stripping the bed free of its sheets and laying it on the ground. "My legs may not be made for water, but my arms will be able to hold you."

Muzaka peered at the sheets, whiskers moving closer towards it.

"Lay here, so I can wrap you up in them." Before Frankenstein could say more, Muzaka moved on top of it. Not asking too many questions for now. That was good.

Frankenstein wrapped the linen around Muzaka, making sure to tuck in the end so that his tail wouldn't poke out. Like this, Muzaka almost looked like a vague human shape. Frankenstein also loosely covered Muzaka's face before curling his arms around Muzaka's shoulders and under where his tail started, and lifted him up. It wasn't quite a bridal carry, especially since Muzaka didn't have the same joints in the same place as humans, but it was serviceable to carry him out of the house.

"You're stronger than you look," Panska noted after Frankenstein opened the door, greeted to a gusting wind and rain that was eager to get inside. "But then, I suppose I should have guessed that when you took out two sailors by yourself."

Frankenstein merely smiled at him, setting Muzaka down into the boat, covering him fully. "I'm a doctor - I know how to incapacitate a body." It was true, even though that wasn't everything that happened. If the sailors remembered what happened, people would assume they'd been affected by drink, especially if the tale was paired with finding a ningyo.

He leaned closer to the boat. "You can move now," Frankenstein murmured. "Just stay low." Even if Muzaka moved too much, it would look like the covering was being blown by the wind.

It was a little harder to keep his footing as he and Panska pulled the boat along to the shore.

"Do you still think ningyo aren't bad omens?" Panska asked, his gaze going towards the sky.

"I think that they neither bad omens, or does eating their flesh grant immortality," Frankenstein said. "I have met Muzaka many times now, and a storm hasn't appeared every single time. And as for his flesh granting immortality, he eats food like we do, needs food like we do. The only difference between us is ningyo are more suited to living in the sea than us - nothing more than that."

"Hmm."

They made it to the shore, and they pushed the boat out into the waves. Muzaka peeked out from under the cover. "What're you gonna do now?" Muzaka asked.

Frankenstein exhaled, looking around, making sure there was no-one approaching them. They were alone, for now. "I can't stay here anymore." Not after attacking people, and Atreyi would have words for him for scaring a patient, let alone running off. "So I suppose it's time for me to move on again."

Muzaka frowned at him. "Yer not goin' through there again."

"I can-"

Shouts carried over the wind and damn, were they discovered? "I suppose this is a better escape route," he said as he clambered in, Muzaka moving to make space. The sailors wouldn't dare to follow him into the storm and this way, he would be able to squeeze out a few more minutes with Muzaka. He didn't want to say goodbye like this.

Frankenstein turned back as the boat lurched forward, seeing Panska pushing them further into the sea. "What about you?" Was he just leaving Panska to bear the brunt of the other sailors' fury?

Panska gave Frankenstein a crooked smile. "If you hurry on out, they won't suspect me. And they wouldn't believe I would help a ningyo either."

That was true. "Thank you," Frankenstein said, putting his heart as much into the words as he could while he tugged off the cover. Panska really hadn't needed to do anything. He could have just let the sailors talk without coming to investigate. He could have tried to stop them from leaving. Instead, Panska had helped them.

Panska gave him a small wave as Frankenstein got the oars out, Muzaka slipping back into the water. The last Frankenstein saw of Panska was him jogging in the other direction.

*
Lightning flashed overhead, thunder cracking the sky a second later as the boat dipped up and down. Wasn't this familiar, Frankenstein mused. This time, he had a better hold of his stomach, and Muzaka was at his side, guiding the boat. Though...

"Muzaka?" he called out. No ships had followed them, like they thought they would.

"We'll talk when we get to the cave," he heard Muzaka say, the boat's course changing.

Frankenstein nodded, rowing again.

*
Frankenstein exhaled as the familiar cave entrance loomed over him when they entered. They were safe for the moment - they hadn't been followed by ships, and unmodified humans wouldn't be able to run here fast enough.

But it also meant...

He closed his eyes and exhaled, climbing out of the boat and pulled it up so it wouldn't drift out.

Muzaka was waiting in the waves when he was done, watching him.

Frankenstein waded out to him, so they could talk face to face.

The sea didn't feel too cold since he was already drenched, but Frankenstein didn't care about that, focused on Muzaka.

"You can't come back, all right?" Frankenstein said once he was in front of Muzaka. His hands drifted forward, finding Muzaka's, holding them tightly. "I won't be here anyway."

Muzaka didn't immediately reply, holding Frankenstein's hands as tightly as he was holding his. "You could..."

Frankenstein smiled softly. "I can't live in your world, and you can't live on mine." He couldn't hold his breath for long enough, nor swim that well, and Muzaka would be hunted.

Frankenstein dug into his pocket, finding the bracelet, and pulled it out.

Muzaka's face lit up at the sight of it, taking it from Frankenstein's hand. "You found it! I thought I wouldn't see it again."

"Yes, I did," Frankenstein said softly. "We might not be able to see each other again, but..." He swallowed. "We'll still have these."

Muzaka nodded, keeping the bracelet in his hand.

"Well," Frankenstein said, not letting go of Muzaka's other hand. "You should go."

"Wait."

Frankenstein shook his head. "You shouldn't." They'd wasted so much time already, and that was still too little. "The longer we take-"

He paused when Muzaka brushed the hair away from Frankenstein's face, tucking it behind an ear. Muzaka still didn't say anything, and neither did Frankenstein as Muzaka's hand trailed back, to cup Frankenstein's neck.

Frankenstein didn't resist when he felt Muzaka draw him close, drawing him in for a kiss.

It was a little different from kissing a human, Muzaka's skin slicker and lacking lips, but it was still similar enough. Still warm to the touch. Could still hear Muzaka breathing this close, over the storm outside.

"Heh," Muzaka said when they broke apart, his mouth curled up into a soft smile. "I've been wanting to do that for ages, when neither of us are dying."

Frankenstein smiled back, even as his chest ached. "I've felt the same," he admitted. He had just stopped himself from thinking of the possibility before his thoughts skirted too close. There had been other things to think about the time, but now, they had none.

He wrapped an arm around Muzaka's waist, pulling him in for another kiss.

Their second kiss lasted longer, their hands exploring each other as they committed each other to memory.

"You...should go," Frankenstein panted, leaning his forehead on Muzaka's, even though the words pained him to say.

"Yeah..." Muzaka said. He still lingered a second too long before he nodded, letting go of Frankenstein and slipping under the waves.

Frankenstein watched the crashing waves, lightning flashes brightening the cave, making sure Muzaka was gone, that he didn't turn back for one reason for another.

Even though he wanted Muzaka to.

Muzaka didn't reappear, and with his chest aching, Frankenstein turned on his heel and ran out of the cave.

---

Just a small epilogue left. :)