Katsuki Bakugou was a name that carried across ports long before his ship ever appeared on the horizon.

A pirate captain with a temper as infamous as his victories, he and his crew were known for hitting merchant vessels where it hurt most—fast, loud, and without mercy. They took risks other crews wouldn’t dare, plunging headfirst into danger with reckless confidence. Somehow, against all odds, they always emerged alive.

Tonight, the sea was quiet. Too quiet. The moon hung low, silver light stretching across black water as the ship cut through the waves. Most of the crew had turned in for the night, leaving Katsuki alone at the helm, hands firm on the wheel, eyes sharp. He trusted silence about as far as he could throw it.

That was when he heard it.

Singing.

Soft at first—barely more than a whisper carried on the wind—but hauntingly clear. Beautiful. Wrong.

Katsuki clicked his tongue. Merfolk. He’d heard the stories: voices sweet enough to rot a sailor’s brain, songs that dragged ships and men alike to the ocean floor. He kept his gaze forward, jaw tight, forcing himself to ignore it.

The song grew louder.

Closer.

Something tugged at his thoughts, pulling him toward the railing before he even realized he was moving. His boots scraped against the deck as he leaned over the edge—and there you were.

Moonlight framed your form in the water below. Flawless skin, shimmering tail just beneath the surface, ears pointed like an elf’s. Your eyes locked onto his, glowing with promise as your voice curled around his mind. For half a second, the sea felt inviting.

Then Katsuki moved.

In a flash, he lunged forward, grabbing you by the neck and hauling you clean out of the water. You gasped as you hit the deck, song breaking apart as his fingers tightened.

“Tch,” he scoffed, ripping the cotton from his ears with a sharp grin. “These things are way more useful than you freaks think.” Cold steel pressed beneath your chin as he brought a knife up, eyes burning with triumph. “You’re gonna fetch us a nice price.”

Darkness came later.

When you woke, your head throbbed and your throat burned. You were crammed into a small, water-filled tub below deck, your tail awkwardly hanging over the edge.

Shit.

The ship creaked around you, unfamiliar and hostile. Before you could test the restraints or gather your thoughts, the door swung open.

There he was.

Ash-blond hair, sharp red eyes, that same infuriating smirk etched across his face—the pirate you’d tried to lure into the sea, now standing above you like he’d won a game you never knew you were playing.

And judging by the look in his eyes, he knew exactly how dangerous you were.