Chapter Text
It's been ages since Shalnark last disguised himself. Using his own persona as bait, figuratively and literally, for a fish. Or at least, that's how he's humoring himself tonight. Slicking his hair back, much like Phinks, donning sunglasses to hide half of his face. He wore a lavender aloha shirt and teal swimming trunks. All dressed up as a flashier version of himself. Enough to fit the description he had given, but different enough that Chrollo or the others may not recognize him at first glance.
It's been fifteen years, after all.
Admittedly, this was a risky gamble. There was always a chance that even if Chrollo was somehow related to those two pirates, that didn't mean he'd show up. For all Shal knew, perhaps it would be the same two pirates that visited his office. Alternatively, Chrollo could show up with the two pirates, and they could blow his cover. In the worst-case scenario, Chrollo and the other siren kids have nothing to do with those two pirates. Which would mean Shal just wasted his time with a couple of nobodies.
He exhaled, knowing how unusually impulsive he was about the whole situation. This would be something Phinks would do, well, no... Phinks would blow his cover the moment he thought the two pirates were related to Feitan. That man could be a real blabbermouth without someone babysitting him. Shal chuckled fondly over the dumb scenarios Phinks would have gotten himself into.
Had Phinks been committed to giving up on Feitan, he and Shal could have... No, that would have been wishful thinking. Both of them were guilty of being too obsessive over the memory of the ghosts that haunted their childhood. Asking for either of them to forget would have been asking too much. Perhaps that's why none of Shal's relationships ever progressed. Nothing felt right. The romance felt empty, a chore instead of anything meaningful, with Phinks being the only exception.
What he had with Phinks was less romantic and more platonic. There was never any romance between them, but the platonic bond they had made the experience enjoyable, to say the least. There was nothing to regret between them. Their feelings were just too mutual. "I love you more as a friend than as a partner."
Shal sighed, taking out his phone to reminisce while scrolling through old texts. Murmuring to himself, "It really would have been simpler with you, wouldn't it?" Ignoring all of the times the doorbell rang, signaling people walking in and out.
He couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. The number of times Franklin advised him to move on made him feel incompetent. Franklin was right, as usual, but the right thing to do felt so wrong. Maybe... Maybe if this lead turns out to be all for nothing... He could actually try this time.
It's been fifteen years. Wake up.
After such a long time of not focusing on his past, he really believed he had almost moved on from it. However, tonight has only proven the opposite. He hung his head low, sighing out loud. Thinking to himself, "When did I get so pathetic? What am I even doing here? This is so stupid."
Propping his elbow on the counter, resting his head on his hand, he sighed. Debating if he should just drink a glass or two and book it.
"Here you go, sir." The bartender gently slid a glass of rum to Shal's side with a polite smile.
"I didn't order anything?" Shal looked confused. Did she make a mistake?
"I know. A handsome gentleman ordered it for you." She lightly gestured to a man sitting alone at the corner of the pub. Another obnoxiously dressed pirate was casually ignoring his surroundings in a secluded, dim area. The obstacles within his vision were blurry, as the rowdy conversation fizzled out into white noise. It was difficult to get a clear picture of his face, but the black fur trim on his coat popped out like a sore thumb.
Shal turned his attention to the bartender. "How do you know he meant this glass for me? What did he say?"
She tilted her head with a smile, "Hmm... He said to order this for the handsome blonde man in the lavender and teal."
Well, that does it, doesn't it. Shalnark nodded and slowly drank half of the rum in the glass. With a deep breath, he finally rose from the stool and walked to this pirate. If it weren't for his sunglasses, he would have caught on.
Shalnark could only imagine the flicker of recognition painting his eyes. The way how his mid-length, comma hair bangs shadowed over the black abyss in his eyes. Chrollo could only be described as a handsome young kid, but to grow up like this was ridiculous. It was as if the tattoo on his forehead and the large earrings were meant to make his appearance less friendly. Despite the obvious attempts to visually appear threatening, a hidden sense of politeness surrounded him.
"Thanks for the drink. Usually, people flirt with me first before spending a single jenny on me." Shal said, sitting down across from him. "So, why did you order me a drink?" Purposely, Shal forced his voice to sound deeper, anything that would help his cover.
Chrollo faced Shalnark, gave a polite smile, and spoke as if he were half talking to himself, "I heard you had interesting stories. Can't recall who told me that... If you don't mind, I thought it would be nice if tonight, you could accompany me with them."
What a liar. Not that Shal could complain much.
"Huh, really? People sure do like to talk. Which story were you interested in? I got loads of them." Taking a small sip of rum, carefully watching him through his shaded lens.
"I've always been fascinated with sea creatures. Rumors of the great megalodon still lurking around these parts. Or something smaller, like sirens."
"Well, I never met a megalodon, but sirens... That's a different story." He chuckled; this was painful.
"Hmmm, really? Are sirens a common occurrence here?"
"No, they aren't. Most people here don't believe in them, in fact. I wouldn't have either had it not been that event, fifteen years ago." Painful. This was so frustrating. Not that Shalnark showed any of his deeper emotions with his delivery.
Chrollo's eyes rose for a mere fraction before lowering, "Fifteen years ago, you say? Were you a child back then? I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but notice how young you look." Despite the polite facade, the hint of unease lingered in the air.
Silence... Utter silence.
Shalnark sighed, having had enough of this bullshit performance. He began to mess up his slicked-back hair, styling it to his preferred look. "You should have noticed more, Chrollo." Shalnark dropped his fake deep voice and removed his sunglasses. "So, who died fifteen years ago?"
Momentarily, his eyes widened only to close while shaking his head, "Of course, this was too good to be true." Words that stung, as he implied meeting Shalnark was a disappointing outcome.
"Wow, after all these years, that's how you're going to greet an old friend?" Sarcastically smiling through all of the suppressed emotions. "I'm totally heartbroken."
Chrollo averted his gaze towards the glass.
"Chrollo, who died?" Shalnark repeated himself.
"What makes you think someone died?" Chrollo murmured.
"Your new friends gave enough context clues. I'm not an idiot. You guys suddenly disappeared, and the moment you came back, you were looking for cryptid collectors? Instead of, oh, I don't know, reuniting with your childhood friends?"
A chuckle of disbelief slipped through Chrollo's mouth. "You're... the Black Voice of Meteor Cove..." Shaking his head, recognizing the situation was set up from the beginning.
"If you're not going to tell me who died, can you at least confirm that it's not Feitan? Phinks can't go through any more heartbreaks."
"I can't confirm anything, Shal."
Suddenly, Shalnark's phone began to ring.
"You should answer that." Chrollo gestured.
"And take my eyes off of you? Why can't you confirm anything?" Without removing his stare, he slowly took out his phone. Who the hell would be calling him up so late?
"It's been fifteen years, Shal. People change, both humans and sirens alike."
Shalnark placed his phone on the table. The screen lit up with the caller ID labeled as Phinks. Words remained unspoken as the ringing petered out.
Shortly after, the desperate pings of text flooded the screen.
Phinks: Shal, this is an emergency!
Phinks: Either pick up or show up at my place.
Phinks: I know you still have the spare key.
Phinks: I found Fei.
Phinks: He's unwell and badly injured!
Glancing over to the texts, Shal was surprised, relieved that Feitan was not one of the kids who perished all those years ago. His gaze shifted to Chrollo, who looked mortified by the texts.
"Is this... another one of your setups, Shal?" He finally dropped that mask. A suffocating aura of cold, unrestrained rage filled the abyss that was the darkness in his eyes. To think he could ever look that way towards Shalnark is absolutely heartbreaking.
Suppressing his somber mood, Shalnark shook his head. "I would never drag Phinks into one of my setups." Shal picked up the phone, obscuring the screen from Chrollo's vision. Shal's demeanor faltered. "Phinks wouldn't text me unless the injury was that severe. Feitan must be in a real fucked up state... huh?"
Chrollo's glare only grew sharper. "Where does Phinks live?"
Ignoring his question, "You know, Chrollo. I could forgive you for abandoning me all those years ago if my theory about one of our siren friends perishing is what got you kids fleeing into the ocean. However, I'm having a hard time trusting you now."
"Shal..."
"Whether you like it or not, you're now back in my life. People do change, but I loved you for fifteen years. Phinks loved Feitan just as long, albeit in a far more healthier way than me. However, if you're just here to abandon me again, my love can turn into hate. And I can promise you, the moment I don't care about a person, they become nothing but a toy to me. Something I could break if I feel like it." Never had Shalnark so openly threatened a person.
It was difficult, analyzing the array of emotions Chrollo was trying to suppress. He probably never expected Shalnark to be so blunt about it. Clasping his hands, allowing his forehead to rest on top of it, "Shal... What do you want from me?"
"Who perished fifteen years ago?" So certain of his theory, he didn't even entertain another alternative.
"...Sarasa."
"Are you looking for her killer?" He wondered if Sheila knew anything, seeing how her breakdown was far more dramatic than the other kids. Perhaps if she did, then the way she fell apart was only natural for a child.
"Yes."
Shalnark exhaled; this was the closure he needed. "I only want two things. One, let me help you find her killer. Two, stay in contact with me afterward."
...
"You should have forgotten about me all those years ago, Shal."
"Love is this stupid thing that humans have to suffer with. Not sure if sirens have that capability."
The two remain silent. Shal started texting Phinks back, realizing how worried he must have been. It's unusual for him to be so radio-silent.
"I'll drop a hint that I'm bringing another person, but first I have to congratulate him on finding his long-lost boyfriend."
"You're still teasing him like that?"
"You bet."