The Great White and her Scribe

by Mouse_With_A_Typewriter

Summary:

GW and Lee were never big fans of each other. One was loud and mean, hit first and ask questions later. The other soft spoken and smart. What happens when they're forced to work together?

This takes place a long while before MC arrives.

Notes:

My first Shark Bait fanfic. I haven't finished reading it yet so forgive me if anything seems off.

Chapter 1: The Assignment

Summary:

GW doesn't appreciate Akhelios keeping such a close eye on her training protocols, especially when the Goddess sends a certain lemon shark to watch her.

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" GW slammed Rhin into the wall, making the whale shark grit her teeth and glare at the great white for the outburst. "Those are her orders, I suggest you get it together and do as she asks." GW's claws dig into the collar of Rhin's shirt before she slowly pulls back, letting the whale shark go. "This is stupid, I don't need anyone keeping tabs on me. Certainly not someone who's going to lose their head at the sight of a fight." She glares over at Lee, making the lemon shark hug her book closer to her chest. 
"Akhelios gave an order. She knows best. Just do as she asked." Rhin insists, earning a glare from GW. "I don't need a supervisor." She muttered, making her way back to the training grounds.

Lee let out a soft breath, jumping a bit when she felt Tiggy's hands land on her shoulders. "Don't worry about her. Just go and do as you were told. As long as you don't get in the way, you should be alright." She gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze before sliding her hands to her back, giving her a gentle nudge. Lee took a tiny step forward, smiling nervously at Rhin and Tiggy before lowering her gaze and making her way to the training grounds, and if she dragged her feet a little along the way...well no one would know.

Lee arrived far sooner than she would've liked, hesitantly stepping inside and looking around. She jumped when she heard a loud thump. She looked towards the sound, finding GW pinning one of the soldiers to the ground. "I told you to bend your knees! If I was an enemy then you'd be dead! Get up!" She stood and walked a few steps away, eyeing the rest of the soldiers lining the wall. "Who's next?" She asked, most of them trembling slightly. There was one that stood out, too cocky looking considering what they'd just witnessed.
Lee watched the grey haired shark approach the smug looking soldier, standing fairly close to them with her hands on her hips. "You. Step up." She turned around and began walking towards the open area they were using for sparring. 

The soldier's first mistake was thinking that her guard was down. Her guard was NEVER down. They lunged at her, but just before they made contact, she stepped to the side, leading to them falling flat on the floor. Lee cringed at the sound, watching the soldier lift themselves to their hands and knees only for a firm kick to their side to have them collapsing and curling in on themselves. "The only reason I'm not tearing you apart is because we've got company. Consider yourself lucky this time." GW spat, fists clenched as she resisted making an example of them. She glanced over at Lee, making the blond tense. It was only when GW turned her attention back to the soldiers that the lemon shark relaxed and slowly opened the book, noting down a few things.

The training went on, the soldiers doing their best but getting beaten every time. Though it was obvious that they got better as they got down the line, each of them picking up on the mistakes the other made and making sure to correct it in their own form. And with each improved soldier, GW seemed to calm down. She was still loud and rough, but she helped them up when they did well and left out the insults while correcting their mistakes. Lee almost forgot about taking notes, too distracted watching the grey haired shark fight one soldier after the other and managed to knock down every one. Her face flushed slightly when she saw GW grin at the last soldier. They held up better than most of the others, and it seemed like instead of fear, the defeat had them showing respect. 

GW sent the soldiers to run a few laps, crossing her arms as she watched them with what almost looked like pride. It was surprising to see such improvement in a single day. Lee didn't process she'd been staring until the taller shark stood in front of her. "Whatcha staring at? I told them you'd freak out over some simple sparring." She scoffed, hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes at the lemon shark. Lee jumped slightly as she was brought back out of her thoughts, her gaze lifting to look at GW. "I-I wasn't freaking out." She muttered, earning an almost amused huff from the other shark. "Yeah? Your face is burning up. You certainly don't look alright." The blond averted her gaze and hugged her notebook to her chest, only for the other to pluck it out of her hold with ease. "Let's see what you wrote about my training. Probably gonna tell Akhelios I'm being too tough on them." She muttered, holding it out of reach as she flipped through the pages to find the notes she cared about.

Lee's eyes narrowed. "Those are confidential!" She insisted, jumping to try and reach it. She grabbed at GW's arm to try and pull it down, only to be met with a flash of teeth and dark eyes. "Can it shrimpy, let me read." She demanded, making the blond's jaw clench. Her efforts to grab the book doubled. GW grabbed the blond's neck, pushing her back against the wall. "Be good and stay put." She demanded again, her voice low as she leaned in, letting her claws dig into the skin near her gills ever so slightly. Lee's hands scrambled to grab at the taller shark's hand before slowly lowering. Her cheeks burned as she took a few shallow breaths. GW smiled, seeming satisfied at the reaction before she slowly let go and went back to flipping through the pages, finally getting to the part about her training. 

Lee's mind felt foggy, her limbs almost too heavy. It took her a few seconds to regain her composure, and by then it was too late. GW looked at the notes in confusion, lowering the book before shutting it and holding it out for Lee to take. "Not sure that's what Akhelios had in mind when she told you to take notes." She snorted, beginning to leave when the lemon shark took back the book. GW called out to the soldiers, having them line up once more before getting on with the training. 

Lee quickly made her way out of the training room, flipping through her book before finding the notes the other had commented on. Her eyes widened a bit as she picked up on what GW had meant with that comment. Most of the notes were about the shark herself. The way she looked, acted, the little things Lee had managed to catch between fights. None of it was really on the soldiers or their training process. This definitely wasn't what Akhelios had asked for. She cursed as she shut the book. She couldn't go back in there now. It wasn't like she understood any of what they did in the first place, so what was she meant to write exactly. 

The lemon shark nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt two hands land on her shoulders. The giggles revealed who it was, Tiggy. "You nearly scared me to death!" She exclaimed, making the tiger shark laugh a bit more before she let go of her shoulders, allowing the smaller shark to turn around to face them. Tiggy was closer than anyone to GW, if anyone would know what to do, it would be her. "Hey Tiggy?" Lee said, looking down at her book as she thought of how to word her question. Tiggy tilted her head, waiting for the blond to continue. The lemon shark sighed. "Akhelios wanted me to take notes on how GW trains the soldiers but I uhm I messed up and GW read the notes and I don't want to go back in there now. Can you take the notes? I'm not even sure how to explain what she does, it's not like I understand anything about training soldiers." She explained, clearly a bit stressed. She'd never had such trouble fulfilling a task for Akhelios before, so why now? Tiggy scratched the back of her neck as she seemed to think, looking towards the doors to the training room before looking back at Lee. "Just ask GW to explain it. She always enjoy bragging about what a good commander she is, I'm sure you'll get plenty of info that way." The tiger shark suggested, looking proud of the solution she'd found. "One small problem, GW hates me remember?" Tiggy frowned a bit at that. "If she hated you then you'd be in much worse shape, Rhin is only in such good shape because they're similar in strength. I'm sure she'll jump at the opportunity to explain her methods, just don't have an attitude and you'll be fine." She reassured Lee. "Now, I have to go, don't want anyone accidentally dying again." She said, grinning as she made her way back towards the area she worked in. Lee smiled and nodded, but it faded once Tiggy was out of sight. Something told her this wouldn't go well.

Notes:

Next chapter will be out soon!

Chapter 2: The Interview

Summary:

Lee couldn't go back to Akhelios with the notes she had, so who better to ask than the commander herself?

Lee stood in front of GW's door, book hugged to her chest, her grip on it tight while her hands trembled. Tiggy knows GW best, if she says that it'll be alright then it must be..right? With a deep breath, she found the confidence to finally knock on the door. For a second she considered running, but if GW caught her then she will have signed her death warrant. No going back now.

GW sighed as she got up from her desk, always a bit irritated when she was doing paperwork. She really wished she could find someone else to do it for her while she trained the soldiers, but then again, she didn't trust anyone to do it properly. There were too many things they could fill out wrong or write in a way that made a simple training accident into attempted murder. If she wanted something done right, she'd do it herself, even if it meant dealing with towers of paperwork that always took her too long to get through. She walked over to the door, opening it as she glared at whoever decided to interrupt her. "If it isn't you again. What now pipsqueak?"

Lee smiled sheepishly as she realized the other already seemed to be angry. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. "I-I want to start off by saying that Tiggy was the one who suggested it." She rushed out. 
GW simply rolled her eyes. "Well then it can't be anything good. Out with it, you're wasting my time." She complained, her grip on the door tightening as she remembered all the work still waiting for her. As much as she'd like to drop it and do just about anything else, she wouldn't risk disappointing Akhelios. 
Lee sighed. "Okay. You saw my uhm my notes..." She began, hesitant to bring up the idea. 
GW nodded, crossing her arms. "Yeah. They were horribly off topic. Accurate, but not the type of thing Akhelios cares about." The corner of her lips curled up slightly as she remembered some of the notes that she'd read about herself. 
Lee's face flushed with embarrassment before she nodded. "Yeah so I was hoping that, if you're not too busy because I understand you have a lot to-" 
"Out with it already." The taller shark interrupted. 
"I need your help." The blond finally admitted, looking a bit deflated. 
Of course she was embarrassed, she hadn't the need to ask for help before, at least not with anything this important. It felt like she was letting Akhelios down by not being able to do this by herself.

GW seemed taken aback by the request, not offering a reply before stepping to the side and letting the door swing open a bit further, giving the lemon shark enough space to enter the dimly lit room. For once, the grey haired shark was annoyed that she hadn't bothered to clean up before getting lost in the papers scattered across her desk. Lee looked up at the other in surprise at the gesture, but was met with an avoidant gaze. She knew better than to question the decision, that would only make her change her mind. The blond scurried into the room, still holding the book to her chest as she watched the door close. She wasn't quite sure what to do or where to sit. The last thing she needed was to upset GW right now.

GW turned around, making her way back to her desk chair. She spun the chair to face the bed and crossed her arms as she leaned back. "You just gonna stand there?" She raised a brow. Lee looked around a bit, shuffling over to the bed. "Uhm can I?" She gestured to the bed, clearly worried about setting the other shark off. Red eyes narrowed before she nodded to the bed. "Sit." And with that the lemon shark sat down on the edge of the bed, slowly lowering her book into her lap and grabbing the pen from the front pocket of her shirt. "So uhm where do we start?" She asked, subtly looking around the room since she'd never been allowed inside before. It was tidy. Messy in a sense but still with a certain system. It could be a bit brighter but she wasn't in any position to be commenting on such a thing. She had a job to get done.

GW scoffed. "You're the one that came here to do an interview. You tell me." The grey shark seemed unimpressed with the question. Lee nodded. "Right, yeah, okay uhm..." She thought for a second. "Why don't you start describing your thought process behind your training tactics. Does that sound alright?" GW shrugged, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. "Whatever, you're in charge." She muttered. The blond's fingers tightened around the edge of the book and the pen as she nodded, taking a deep breath as she waited for the other shark to begin.

"I'm not..mindlessly brutal with them. I hope that much is obvious. But they won't remember the lesson if it doesn't hurt. If I tell them things, they forget over and over. One good bruise and they won't make the same mistake twice. Some of them learn by watching someone else make the mistakes, it shows them what happens and most of them are sure to avoid making the same mistake. So yeah some of them get hurt, but by the end of it they all learned from each other and learned faster than if I simply made them all copy whatever I do." GW began explaining. Lee nodded as she wrote down some key points. "And...what happens to the ones that don't learn that easily?" She asked softly. The grey haired shark smirked and met the blond's gaze. "Depends. Sometimes all they need is to get their ass kicked, have them bruised and humiliated in front of their peers. Most of them are quite obedient after that, always on time and I never have to repeat myself with them." 

Lee's face heated up slightly at the image that formed in her mind. GW frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Shouldn't you be writing this shit down?" She asked, making the lemon shark blink a couple times before nodding quickly and beginning to write. She really had to avoid getting distracted. The taller shark leaned back in her seat with a sigh, looking off to the side. "The really stubborn ones get sent to Tiggy, it breaks some of them, the others become better soldiers than all the rest. But if it's the last resort then there's nothing else I can do. Some just aren't built for this, and it's always been survival of the fittest." Lee frowned, picking up on the hint of guilt that snuck it's way into GW's tone. It was obvious that while the commander was harsh, anyone she lost along the way was another weight on her shoulders, whether she'd admit it or not. She placed her book on the bed beside her slowly, hesitating before she reached out her hand. She flinched when red eyes zeroed in on the movement, staying still for a split second before continuing and landing on GW's hand. "It's not your fault, you do the best you can, you've made that pretty clear." Lee said, slowly pulling her hand back. She was lucky she hadn't lost her hand for touching the commander in the first place, let alone pushing her luck by letting the touch linger. When she lifted her gaze, she met GW's eyes, a shiver running down her spine instinctively. 

Lee grabbed her book once more, letting her eyes scan the notes she took before shutting the book. "I think that's all I need." She said, hugging it to her chest once more. GW stayed quiet for a second longer before speaking. "Then get out. I have work to do." She muttered as she spun around to her desk, beginning to sort through a few of the papers. The lemon shark nodded. "Of course." She quickly made her way to the door, freezing when the great white spoke up once more. "Hey. You can come to training again tomorrow if you want." Lee didn't need permission, GW knew that, so this was an invitation. The blond smiled a bit and nodded. "Okay. Thank you." She bowed her head before slipping out the door, shutting it slowly and quietly. It was only when she rounded the corner at the end of the wall that she leaned against it, taking a few deep breaths. That went a lot smoother than expected.

GW listened as the door latched closed and soft footsteps descended down the hall. She sighed and put her head on the desk. She could still feel the phantom touch of the cold, thin hand on her own. What the hell?

Notes:

Next chapter will be out soon!

Chapter 3: The Interference

Summary:

Lee took GW up on her offer, but was that really the best idea?

Lee left the throne room, waiting for the door to fall shut behind her. Once she heard the firm click, her shoulders rounded, her posture softening as a soft sigh left her. It's a good thing she'd asked GW for help. Akhelios was more than pleased with the details she'd captured in her notes, letting her know that she'd be sure to rely on her to collect information she needed from now on. On one hand, Lee was ecstatic to have been praised and promised similar work in the future, on the other hand, she hadn't done all the work herself, actually she'd gotten none of that information from her observations. Of course she saw it and noticed it but somehow she'd forgotten to write down those important details. Tiggy's advice had been great, she'd have to thank her later. 

She made her way down the halls, aiming for Tiggy's room. She could only hope the tiger shark was there, since she wasn't too keen on visiting her during her work. It always made her a little nauseous. Unfortunately, it seemed like there was work for Tiggy, since Lee's knocks at the door went unanswered. How to pass the time... Lee looked around a bit before remembering GW's offer. With a lot less nerves than yesterday, she made her way to the training grounds. She pushed open the door just enough to slip inside, quickly being met with the sound of clashing. It seemed today they'd be using swords. She stepped to the side, staying near the door as she sat down on a nearby bench to watch.

GW stayed focused on the fight, knocking the soldier off their feet. "I told you to correct your stance." She said, irritated that the other hadn't done as she'd asked. Only once she waited for them to walk away did she allow herself to glance at the door. She'd heard it shut, but knew better than to turn her back on an opponent. Her eyes landed on Lee, sitting near the door. She let here eyes linger for a mere second before quickly turning back to the row of soldiers, beckoning the next one to join her. "Give it your best shot." She said, twirling the sword in her hand once as she waited. They all knew they didn't have to take it easy on her, whether they took her word for it or found out the hard way didn't matter, all that mattered was getting them trained to fight like they meant it. Little taps and nudges wouldn't cut it out there, so she wouldn't allow them to do so during training. By the time they're ready, they'd be used to pain, to aches, to the feel of cold metal pressing into their skin, and they wouldn't lose their heads over any of it. 

Lee lifted her hand in a tiny wave when she saw the commander looking her way, only to shrink into herself when it went ignored. Of course, she shouldn't have expected anything else. GW was always very careful of her reputation, especially around her soldiers. They only knew her as ruthless and strict, but fair. It didn't hurt her feelings to have her greeting ignored, but it did feel a bit embarrassing when she caught some of the soldiers looking over at her instead. She gave them a polite smile before going back to watching the commander. Her eyes grew wide as she saw GW's blade drawing blood, the soldier trembling as they seemed to press themselves to the floor in an attempt at putting more distance between themselves and the blade. She quickly jumped up, "GW!" The great white's eyes only narrowed, pressing the blade just a tad deeper. Lee ran over, grabbing the commanders arm to try and pull her off.

GW turned around faster than the lemon shark could process, the blade now hovering at the blond's neck. Despite the speed with which she spun around, the blade stopped before it could even scrape against Lee's skin. Red eyes kept her frozen in place. "Don't disturb my training." Her voice was low, most of the soldiers shivering at the tone. Lee's face burned, a whirlpool of emotions leaving her stuck. She was scared, angry, hurt..and enjoying their position far too much. "Yes ma'am..." She whispered, lifting her chin to put some more distance between herself and the blade. GW's shoulders fell, sighing softly as she sheathed the blade. "Laps, all of you, until I tell you to stop." She commanded, earning many nods and hushed confirmations as they began doing as they were told. The soldier beneath her was still, unsure if they were meant to go as well. It wasn't until GW stood and glared at them, nodding her head towards the others, that they scrambled to their feet.

GW glanced back at Lee, making the blond take a small, cautious step back. GW shook her head, walking towards the barrel the swords were stored in and placing hers inside before lifting it and bringing it to the storage room. Lee hesitantly followed, keeping her steps light. Lee found the other muttering in annoyance as she pushed around a few things so the barrel would fit. The storage room wasn't exactly well organized, at least not in a typical way. Just like GW's room, it had order amongst the chaos. 

When the great white turned around, she paused, narrowing her eyes at Lee. "What do you want shrimpy?" She muttered, crossing her arms. The blond's mouth opened and closed a couple times as she figured out what she wanted to say. "I'm sorry for interrupting, but you were hurting them." She said, obviously nervous, but determined. In response she received a scoff. "I know what I'm doing. You got your notes, that doesn't mean you can start sticking your fins where they don't belong." GW replied, clearly irritated. "You could've seriously injured them and I wasn't going to sit there and watch." Lee's fist clenched. "And who was going to stop me?" GW gave her a light shove. "Hm?" And another. "You?" And another. The blond swallowed nervously when the last push had her colliding with the wall. "I would've stopped you." She insisted, uncharacteristically bold, at least until she felt claws prickling against her gills. GW's hand was firmly around her throat, her claws digging into Lee's gills ever so slightly, a silent threat. The blond's hands flew up to grab her wrist, eyes wide and face flushed. "I suggest you mind your own business before you get hurt. Do I make myself clear?" GW leaned in, anger burning in her eyes. Lee's breaths were shallow. "Yes ma'am." She whispered, the fight seeping out of her. The commander hesitated before letting go, watching as the blond held her throat protectively and slid to the ground trembling. 

GW returned to the training room, dismissing the soldiers for the day before retreating to her room to get started on the paperwork. By the time Lee found the strength to stand, she found the training room empty. She sighed as she left, making her way back to Tiggy's room and feeling relief wash over her when the door opened after the first try. "Tiggy..."

Chapter 4: Caught

"Tiggy..." Lee's arms quickly wrapped around the tiger shark. "Woah there Lee, you okay?" She asked as she returned the hug with a look of concern. The blond shook her head and buried her face in the other's neck. "Let's get you inside." Tiggy said softly, walking backwards with the blond before shutting the door. "C'mon, let's go sit down." She offered, picking up the lemon shark, who giggled at the action, and carrying her over to her bed before sitting down with the smaller shark in her lap. "Now, what happened little lemon?" She asked her, hoping that the slight teasing would get her to relax.

Lee took a deep breath, letting herself relax into Tiggy's arms. "You were right, asking GW had worked great. Akhelios was impressed with the notes and GW even said I can come by to watch training again if I want." Tiggy smiled and ruffled the lemon shark's hair. "That's great! I'm not seeing why that's upsetting." She chuckled a bit, rubbing gentle circles into Lee's back as she waited for her to elaborate.
"I went and watched, but then she started hurting one of them. It wasn't just twisting their arm or knocking them down. They were on the ground and she..she had a sword pressed to their throat, they were bleeding and she didn't let up." Lee took a shaky breath. "So I stepped in..." Tiggy winced as she heard that. "I take it she didn't like that." Lee shook her head slowly. "She-" Her voice broke as she remembered the hand around her neck. "She's angry, told me to stay out of her way. I didn't mean to make her so angry." Lee nuzzled into the tiger shark's neck. Tiggy smiled and pulled back. "Hey GW is moody, I'm sure she didn't mean it. If she was really angry then you wouldn't have made it back here in one piece." She joked, hoping to provide the smaller shark with some comfort. 
Lee smiled a bit and finally met the tiger shark's eyes. "Just when I thought we might start getting along I manage to make her hate me even more than before." She sighed, a bit frustrated that her progress seemed to have backfired. Tiggy shook her head. "I'm sure she'll warm up to you. It'll simply take time and patience. GW is stubborn and mean, even to me. She acts all tough but deep down she'll start caring for you. Who wouldn't?" Tiggy leaned in to nose along Lee's jaw with a grin. "You're absolutely precious." She whispered, making the blond's head tilt slightly as she relaxed. 

Lee blushed, taking a shaky breath before turning her head to face the tiger shark's. Tiggy's eyes almost seemed to glow as she leaned in, the closeness enough to fill the blond with butterflies. A lot of people had gotten close to Tiggy, talked about how comfortable she made them, how addictive she was. Lee hadn't had the guts to test it out herself, despite the regular offers. "I know one way we can get your mind off Brucey." She said, her tone teasing as she allowed her lips to brush against the lemon shark's gills, leaving behind chills. "I promise I'll take great care of you." She added. For what felt like the thousandth time, Lee considered it. Her curiosity was often too much to ignore, and it seemed like that might be the case once more. The blond nodded a bit, making Tiggy pull back and gently grab her chin. "I need you to say it darling." She said softly. If there was one thing she was insistent about, it was consent. Not a 'maybe', not a hesitant yes. 
"Kiss me..please." Lee said softly, making the tiger shark's eyes light up. "Good girl." She grinned as she leaned in.

The door swung open, GW's form standing in the doorway. "Tig-" She paused at the sight. Lee panicked, beginning to fumble and try to stand. Tiggy shushed her, gently rubbing along her back as her other hand held her hip in place. "You should know better than to barge in Brucey." She said, grinning at the great white. GW's gaze hardened as it stayed glued to the lemon shark in her friend's lap. "Shrimpy can wait." She muttered, crossing her arms. The tiger shark shook her head, pressing her lips to Lee's gills before letting her eyes meet the commander's. "She was here first. You very rudely interrupted..but you're always welcome to join." She said, continuing to rub soothing circles into Lee's back to calm her trembling. GW narrowed her eyes before scoffing. "Whatever." She grumbled as she left, slamming the door behind her.
Lee let out a breath, relaxing once more. "I-I had better go." She said quietly, attempting to get up once more. Tiggy smiled softly and let go. "I understand, I'm here if you need." She reminded the blond, leaning back on her bed as she watched the other leave.

Lee quickly closed the door behind herself, making her way towards her room. She didn't notice GW standing on the other side of the door, her gaze following the smaller shark down the hall. 
The commander knocked this time before opening the door, jaw clenched as she inspected Tiggy, but seeming to relax once she realized that the other looked decent. "What the hell was that Tigs?" She hissed, gesturing to the door. "Since when are you into those scrawny types?" She asked, earning a small scoff from the tiger shark. "The question is since when do you /not/ like the scrawny ones. She's shy and quiet and real obedient when she wants to be." Tiggy chuckled, standing and walking over to GW. "Just your type." She said, holding out a book to the commander. It was Lee's notes. 
GW narrowed her eyes at it before grabbing it. Tiggy waited a second before speaking. "Well? Go on then. I can't take another second of the suspense." She groaned dramatically. "If you really don't want her just send her my way, I'm more than happy to take care her." Tiggy's tongue dragged along the edge of her jagged teeth. GW snorted. "You're insatiable." She muttered before leaving, making her way down the hall towards Lee's room.

Was this really such a good idea? She was sure she'd nearly scared the lemon shark to death earlier. She was convinced that the light blush she saw was simply the lighting, or maybe her own mind playing tricks on her, maybe she was literally seeing red. She paused in front of Lee's door, looking down at the book in her hands. It wasn't too late to just knock and leave it there for the blond to find. But that would be cowardly. She was no coward.

Chapter 5: Defense

Summary:

GW didn't act without reason, but will Lee believe her?

Notes:

Happy Pride Month everyone!

Lee looked up when she heard a knock at her door. Was it Tiggy with her book? She hadn't realized she'd forgotten it until she'd already gotten back, and she didn't want to risk running into the commander in the hall by going back for it. She smiled softly as she stood, padding over to the door and opening it. "Ti-" The name died on her tongue, her eyes wide as she met GW's gaze. Just great. "Commander." She said quietly, hopeful that she could avoid angering the other by showing respect. 

GW was about to change her mind and leave the book by the door. Why should she care what Lee thinks of her? She could leave it there and act like it had been Tiggy who did it. But by then the door had opened, and she'd never admit the small ache she felt as she watched the smile fade from the blond's face. Her jaw clenched as Lee referred to her as 'commander'. "You forgot your notes." She muttered, avoiding the lemon shark's gaze as she held out the book.

Lee looked at the book, hesitant as she grabbed it and slid it from the other's grasp. "Thank you." She mumbled, hugging the book almost protectively to her chest. GW pulled back her hand and clenched it at her side. 
"Is that all?" Lee asked, waiting until the commander nodded before beginning to shut the door. She desperately hoped it didn't come across as rushed, despite that being exactly what she was doing. 
"Wait." GW's hand landed on the door. It stopped instantly, making Lee sigh quietly. There was no point in trying to force it closed. "Yes?" She asked, avoiding meeting the great white's gaze.
"Can I come in?" GW's voice was gentle, still rough from her usually yelling and growling, but gentle in a way that made it clear she was trying. She didn't want to scare Lee.

The blond finally let her eyes meet the red ones across from her. She swallowed before opening the door further, hiding behind it as she made space for the other to enter. GW stepped inside, taking in her surroundings before turning around to face the blond. Lee hesitated before slowly shutting the door. "Is there something you need?" She asked, keeping her head bowed. And as much as GW thrived off of power and respect, the action made her frown. "I just...I need you to listen alright? I'm only gonna explain myself once." She insisted, a bit frustrated that she'd taken the book instead of letting Tiggy deal with it. Lee looked up, a bit confused. She nodded nonetheless. 

GW sighed, briefly looking down. "I don't make a habit of nearly beheading my soldiers. I lost my temper. You don't know what they were saying, they deserved it. I wouldn't have killed them, but you can bet that they're never going to be disrespectful towards you or anyone on the council ever again." She explained, growing tense as the memory of their words flooded her mind. If she had less self control, she would've killed them. She hadn't been angry at being interrupted..well maybe a little but that wasn't what had set her off. "I was defending you. They needed to learn a lesson and you wanted me to let them get away with the things they said." She hadn't noticed her anger flaring up until she looked at Lee and found her trembling slightly. She huffed and averted her gaze. 

Lee couldn't imagine it. GW always seemed to be mocking her. The idea of being defended, protected, it was sweet, but could it be true? GW hated liars, so it wouldn't make sense for her to be dishonest, let alone go through so much effort to simply make something up. After a while of silence, the commander looked back at the blond. She scoffed. "Fine, don't believe me then. See if I care." She made her way back to the door, opening it before pausing. "But just so you know, Tigs would've done the same thing as me." She shut the door behind her, admittedly using a bit more force than necessary. Lee was left standing there, thinking. GW was insistent about always being truthful, and she knew Tiggy better than anyone. Now the question stands, what could they have said to deserve that?

GW made her way back towards her own room, having enough paperwork to finish up before she could allow herself some rest. The last thing she needed was to run into Rhin on the way back. Rhin stopped in front of the commander, side stepping to block the way when GW tried to walk around her. "Out of my way filter face." She grumbled. "Real mature." Rhin sighed. She'd heard it all before, the comments on how 'real sharks' tear through flesh. She liked to think that every shark could be gentle if only they tried. Needing to eat and violence didn't need to go hand in hand. Her pacifistic nature didn't help the mocking. 
GW shoved Rhin but she only swayed, adjusting her stance. "I'm not in the mood for whatever your problem is this time." The commander's fists clenched. The whale shark crossed her arms. "My problem is how you're treating Lee. She's been doing her best and she'd been doing a great job. I won't let you tear her down. We all like her, and most importantly, Akhelios likes her. Hurt her and you'll regret it." Rhin said. She'd grown quite fond of the lemon shark. 
GW shook her head and pushed past the advisor. "I mean it GW." Rhin said, watching the great white leave, lifting the middle finger as she continued walking, slamming her door behind her.

Rhin sighed, making her way over to the lemon shark's room. She knocked on the door gently. "Lee? It's Rhin." She spoke softly, hoping it would get the other to open the door. She couldn't be sure what state the blond was in after dealing with GW after all. 
Lee shuffled over to the door and opened it with a soft smile. "Hi Rhin." She said, coming out from behind the door once she was sure it was only the whale shark at her door. She let the door swing open a bit further, a silent invitation for the other to enter if she wanted to.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Rhin was clearly inspecting the blond, seeming to relax when she couldn't find any signs of harm.
Lee nodded. "I'm alright, I promise. Thanks Rhin." Her cheeks tinted pink, unused to others showing concern for her. "Did you want to come inside?" She offered.
The whale shark smiled sadly and shook her head. "I'd love to but I still have some things to deal with for Akhelios." 
"Oh..yeah of course." The blond looked down, unsure of what else to say.
"I'll come by tomorrow." Rhin offered, earning a smile and nod from the lemon shark. "Okay, if anything happens come find me." She said before making her way towards Akhelios. 

Lee shut the door and leaned against it briefly before deciding to lay down. "Only a few minutes." She told herself, letting sleep wash over her.

Chapter 6: Confusion

Summary:

GW had been misunderstanding her own feelings

It had been a few days since GW and Lee found themselves in the same room. The work of a commander and a scribe didn't overlap that often. And both of them seemed okay with that. No drama, no stress, no arguments. Just peacefully going about their work. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and Akhelios calls for a meeting. 

Lee and Rhin arrive early, as is the norm for the two of them. Tiggy arrives fashionably late with GW in tow. There's a certain tension in the air as GW's gaze meet's Lee's. Rhin quickly clears her throat, giving the commander a pointed look. She was protective of the lemon shark, and she didn't hide it. 
The meeting went smoothly, for the most part. There was the occasional grumble from GW but that wasn't unusual, especially when Rhin was there. It seemed like there was a permanent feud between the two of them, one that wouldn't fade no matter how much time they were given.

To say they were all relieved when the meeting ended would be an understatement. Lee was quick to close her book and tuck away her pen, eager to put space between herself and the commander. Just as she was walking past Tiggy, her hand was grabbed. "Wait!" The tiger shark said, quickly getting up so they could walk out together. The lemon shark smiled at the gesture and gave the other's hand a gentle squeeze as they walked past GW. She could feel the piercing red gaze following them out. Only when they turned a corner did she relax, smiling at Tiggy. "Thanks for walking me out." The tiger shark smiled. "Of course, any excuse to get my favorite lemon shark to myself." She said with a teasing tone, making the blond blush slightly. Lee rolled her eyes. "I'm the /only/ lemon shark you know." She laughed.

Just as GW was about to follow them down the hall, Rhin caught her arm. The commander pulled her arm away and glared at the other. "Don't touch me." She snapped through grit teeth. Rhin's gaze stayed stern and steady. "Don't go bothering Lee. If she wants to spend time with Tiggy then she has every right to do so." She reminded the commander. GW scoffed. "Tiggy is too good for her." She argued. "Tiggy has slept with half of the ocean, and Lee is where you draw the line?" Rhin asked with a raised brow. She was right. Tiggy had slowly but surely been changing her reputation, shifting it from being feared to being desired, and so far GW only stepped in when Tiggy asked her to. "I don't know what your problem is, but you'd better get it sorted out before you do something stupid." Rhin warned as she walked past the commander.

Of course when Rhin handed out a warning, GW did the exact opposite. She shook her head, muttering about where Rhin could shove her warnings while continuing down the hall. It wasn't long till she caught the scent of vanilla, oak and pine, revealing the direction the tiger shark had gone. It only took her a few steps to pick up on a fresh citrusy scent that joined the other. While GW had a better sense of smell than most, Lee often smelled very muted, could this really be her? Her steps quickened, stopping when she rounded a corner and saw the two of them. Lee was pinned to the wall, beet red as her and Tiggy's lips stayed locked. The sight, the scents, it had the commander reeling. 

She should leave, or step in? She couldn't just stand there staring, but the sight of Tiggy's hands crawling down Lee's form had her frozen. It was wrong, something about it was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She'd caught Tiggy with many people, sometimes pinning them to the wall and sometimes being pinned, she usually told them to get a room and that was that. But it wasn't the tiger shark she was focusing on, it was Lee. The way her chest rose and fell unevenly, how her hands trembled as she wrapped her arms around the tiger shark's neck. 

It was bound to happen, everyone fell for Tiggy's charm at some point, but something about Lee falling for it bothered her. She knew the tiger shark would take good care of them, she always did. She was careful and thoughtful, and her work made her great at figuring out what makes you tick. Lee was in great hands...but she could do better. The thought surprised her, the air knocked out of her at the realization. She wasn't feeling possessive over Tiggy..she felt possessive of Lee. The realization should've had her turning her back and walking away. It wasn't her business, and she had no right to intervene. Instead she was rooted in place, watching as Tiggy's hands teased beneath the fabric of the blond's shirt.

It felt like years, but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes, before they parted. Tiggy's hand carefully wrapped around Lee's and beginning to walk, pulling her along. It was then that they noticed GW. "Oh! Hi Brucey!" Tiggy said, face slightly flushed. She pulled Lee along, past the commander. GW's gaze lingered on the blond, who kept her eyes downcast as they passed. She didn't allow herself to turn around, not trusting herself to not get in their way. 

She forced her legs to move, to carry her back towards her private chambers. She had to focus, she had work to get done. For once, she was looking forward to the papers strewn across her desk and floor. It would be a welcome distraction, and it would keep her mind from wandering to the two sharks and the things they could be up to. It wasn't any of her business she reminded herself. It was between Tiggy and Lee. She slammed the door shut behind herself when she entered, quickly sitting down at her desk and beginning to sort and fill out the paperwork she usually neglected in favor of having some extra time to train the soldiers. 

She fell asleep at her desk that night, refusing to get ready for bed lest her imagination haunt her.

Chapter 7: Lemon Squares

Summary:

No explanation, just GW being embarrassed and awkward

From that day on, GW made an effort to avoid Lee, more than she normally did. Instead of trying to scare her off, she found herself being the one to leave the room. She spent more time in the safety of her room, pushing the soldiers twice as hard in the time she spent with them due to cutting the time down. She wasn't going to let them think she was going easier on them. If anything, she was stricter, tougher. Her words colder and hits harder. If they weren't scared of her before, then they definitely were. She hadn't needed to send a single one Tiggy's way, or even threaten to do so.

Everything was running smoothly until there was a knock at her door. She sighed as she stood and walked to the door, opening it expecting to see Tiggy. Instead, she was surprised to see Cookie. Her posture relaxed as she opened the door a bit wider. "Something you need?" While it may seem rude, the question was a kinder greeting than most received after interrupting her work. She had a soft spot for Cookie, but she was fairly sure that everyone did. 
He held out a plate with a few different pastries. "Special delivery!" He spoke cheerfully, seeming to always be in far too good of a mood. 
GW hesitantly took the plate. "What's the occasion?" She asked, noting that there seemed to be a new type of pastry on the plate. 
Cookie shrugged. "Someone mentioned you'd been working pretty hard and asked me to put a little something together." He gave the plate one last proud look before turning to leave. 
"Wait, who?" The commander asked, suspecting Tiggy, only that the tiger shark would've delivered them herself instead of making Cookie come all the way. Everyone knew he was pretty busy. 
He turned around wide eyed. "Oh uhm they asked me not to say." And with that he sped down the hall, clearly trying to avoid further questioning. 

GW frowned and shut the door, looking back down at the plate. She picked up one of the little squares, the smell of lemon overwhelming as the pastry was brought closer. Her thoughts drifted to the lemon shark she'd been avoiding, how this smelled similar to the scent she'd picked up on that day. Her mouth watered and she quickly ate the lemon square, hoping to convince herself she was simply craving Cookie's baking. There was rarely a time where he baked something that didn't turn out amazing. He had to be the most popular shark in the whole castle.

She continued to snack on the plate of treats as she worked, the task seeming just a tad easier than it had before. Still, the pastries couldn't possibly have lasted her through all of the paperwork, and after about an hour of sorting and resorting papers that just didn't seem to fit together, she decided she'd check if Cookie had any more of the sweets left. It didn't hurt to check, and stretching her legs would be a welcome change of pace. She left her room, carrying the empty plate back to the kitchen. Her jaw clenched when she saw Lee sitting on the counter, talking and laughing with the brunette.

The laughter died down when the commander entered the kitchen. 
Cookie looked up from his mixing bowl, confused by the sudden silence. His eyes widened a bit when he saw GW standing in the door, his smile faltering but not fading as he glanced at Lee and back again. "GW! I hope you didn't mind being my taste tester for my new idea. Lemon squares! How were they?" He asked, knowing that if anyone would give an honest opinion, it would be GW. 
She smiled slightly and held up the empty plate. "I don't eat what I don't like." She said, her smile growing as Cookie jumped with excitement. 
"I was actually coming to check if you had any more? They made the work less shitty." She explained, looking around a bit, pointedly avoiding meeting Lee's gaze.

Lee only dared to sneak short glances at the commander. This was probably the longest they'd spent in the same room in a week. It felt like they didn't see each other at all anymore. She didn't know that GW had been taking different hallways each time to avoid the risk of crossing paths with her. 
Cookie smiled. "Of course, any specific ones you were wanting more of?" He asked as he brought out a tray of fresh pastries. 
GW hesitated. "Those uhm little yellow squares." She said, having enjoyed them more than she'd like to admit in front of the reason she liked them.
Cookie perked up. "The lemon squares! Coming right up!" He said as he took the empty plate and began placing more of the lemon squares on it, adding a few other sweets as palate cleansers. "Lee actually inspired them, I wanted to make something that smelled as refreshing as she does. You've got a better nose than I do, what do you think?" He asked the commander, only looking back at her when she never received a response. 
GW avoided looking at either of them, trying to figure out how to respond. "They uhm I-I can't tell." She finally decides, expecting that to be the end of it. 
Of course Cookie being Cookie didn't realize what he was saying before it was already out. "Well she's right there, sniff test." In her mind it made perfect sense, until Lee's face grew red and the commander turned her head away to avoid the blond's gaze completely. "Oh, oh no I didn't mean it like that just she's right there s-so you should be able to smell her from where you're standing." He began explaining, hiding his face behind his hands in embarrassment.

The kitchen was flooded with a tense silence that lasted longer than any of them would've liked. It was broken by GW. The sooner she replied, the sooner she could leave and go back to avoiding Lee. "They're perfect, they smell just like her." She muttered, reaching around Cookie to take the half filled plate of sweets, subconsciously lifting it towards her face before quickly leaving, throwing a 'thanks' over her shoulder. She'd apologize for her lack of manners later. She had work to get back to.

Lee smiled as she watched GW leave, a bit flattered that the other knew her scent well enough to make that call. Normally it wouldn't have been an issue to smell Lee's presence in the kitchen, but the whole room smelled like vanilla and various fruits. GW would've had to have known her scent before, and while it may not make sense, Lee liked the idea that the commander likes something that would remind her of Lee. She looked over at Cookie, who was sadly mixing another batch of dough. "GW's not upset and neither am I, don't worry. We just..haven't gotten along well. She probably just wanted to leave because I was here." Lee hopped off the counter and walked over to Cookie, holding out her arms. 
Cookie wore a small pout as he looked at the lemon shark before wrapping his arms around her and hiding his face in her neck. 
Lee smiled and gave him a gentle squeeze, letting Cookie hold on until he felt better and decided to let go. 
"Thank you." He said softly, smiling as he went back to the dough, humming happily to himself once more.

Lee's smile faded slightly. GW could be angry at her all she wanted, but Cookie had nothing to do with it. He deserved an apology, and Lee was sure that the commander's pride wouldn't allow such a thing. Maybe she'd be able to get one out of her anyways. It was worth a try, right?

Chapter 8: Discovery

Summary:

Lee discovers something about herself, all thanks to GW

With a surprising amount of determination, Lee stood in front of GW's door, her hand moving to knock before she could second guess herself. 
It was only when she was met with the tired looking commander that her pulse began to race. With fear of course. But it didn't drown the words she had been rehearsing the entire way there. She must've taken too long actually beginning to speak because the great white gave her a confused look. "The fuck are you here for?" She asked, rubbing her eyes with a sigh.
Lee took one last steady breath, beginning to worry it would be her last. "You upset Cookie. I don't care if you hate me, insult me or yell or whatever you need to do, but don't go being mean to others because you've got a problem with me. Cookie is a sweetheart, he doesn't deserved to get dragged into this. Whatever 'this' is." She said, glaring up at GW, beginning to tremble a bit as red eyes met her own. "You should go apologize. You storm in there, grab the sweets Cookie spent ages perfecting, and can't even have decent manners." The commander's gaye hardened. "Shut up." She was aware that she'd been rude, and it truly did weigh on her. Cookie never seemed truly scared of her, always smiling and offering her fresh treats. She was going to apologize, once she was sure that Lee wasn't going to be there to witness it. "For a commander you seem to have no control over yourself, look at your temp-" Lee's angry rant was cut short by a firm grip at the collar of her shirt dragging her closer, her heels lifting off the floor as the grey haired shark seemed determined to shorten the distance between the two of them, a short yelp escaping.

"I have /plenty/ of self control." She spoke through grit teeth, her eyes practically glowing as her temper flared. "I haven't snapped at Akhelios, I haven't torn Rhin to shreds and-" She shook her head, her expression shifting from anger to frustration, subtle, but enough for the blond to pick up on. 
Lee's gaze softened, her eyes slowly drifting off to the side. "You want a reward for it? Want me to thank you for not killing me the second we're alone?" She asked, her jaw clenched. She was angry, and hurt, but no amount of struggling could get her out of GW's hold, she knew that. "It's not self control." She said softly. "You just don't want Akhelios deciding that she's had enough of you and your temper." 
"I don't want to kill you dammit." GW grumbled, not quite sure what it was that she wanted. She didn't hate Lee, not like she hated Rhin. Lee hadn't actually done anything to warrant this hostility. All she remembered was the way she began to feel warm, her heartrate spiking when they first met. Anger had the same effect..but she liked the anger she felt around the blond. It was strange, addictive. Like a flame that she walked into over and over despite the burn, craving the ache it left behind because it was different, it was new.
Lee looked back at the commander, her face morphed into an expression of confusion. "You /hate/ me. You've made that clear. Or is this just you not wanting to get your fins dirty by killing me yourself. Would you feel better making someone else do your dirty work?" The blond's eyes were brimming with tears, her frustration showing in the way most of her feelings did. Over time the feeling of rejection had built up, a constant weight in her chest that only got worse.
"Quit it!" GW snapped, shoving the smaller shark against her doorframe, not letting go of her shirt yet. "You don't you know me, don't act like you do." Her voice was low, the calm before the storm. She was pissed, and half of a wrong move away from losing it.

"And who's fault is that? You-" Lee whimpered. She was cut off but the sudden pressure on her gills, clawed fingers digging into the skin. She was tense for a brief moment, her hands flying up to grip GW's wrist.
"You need to learn when to shut up, you hear me?" The commander asked, pressing just a tad further.
The blond's mind felt fuzzy. Later she would tell herself it was because of the lack of air, because of the fear that came with knowing that the hand around your neck could easily tear through you. She'd never admit that it was, in a sick way, exciting, to have such a threat looming over her. GW wouldn't kill her, she was fairly sure of that, it was simply a threat, an attempt at forcing her to back down. Instead, a smirk slowly made it's way onto her lips. It was an unusual sight. The usually shy and timid lemon shark looking cocky. 
Only when GW's fingers curled into blond hair, harshly grabbing it and pulling to tilt Lee's head back, did the cocky look falter. The blond's grip on the other's wrist briefly tightened before falling away. Lee felt breathless, like every muscle in her body was going to give out if the grip on her hair would only tighten a bit more.
The commander's hold loosened in shock, taking in the almost blissed out look on the other's face. She let go as if each point of contact would burn her, quickly taking a step back. 

Lee leaned back against the doorframe, her breathing shaky as she blinked a few times. 
GW was quick to grab her forearm, pulling her out to the hall so she could shut her door. "I'll apologize to Cookie." She muttered, quickly shutting the door and leaning back against it, waiting for the sound of retreating footsteps. Only when she was sure that the lemon shark was gone did she allow herself to sit back down at her desk. It didn't take long for her to realize that she wouldn't be focusing any time soon and thus she went to bed early that night, plagued by the strong scent of lemon filling her space.
It took a few seconds for Lee to recover, reeling from the fog in her mind. After a minute or so, she slowly began making her way towards her room. 

She sat down on her bed in silence, still dazed as she stared into nothing. 
Then it came crashing in, like every thought was trying to form at once. She felt overwhelmed, vulnerable, exhausted. Everything was too much. She let herself fall onto her side before bringing her knees to her chest, trying her best to sort through her thoughts. Rationality usually calmed her down, the simple act of knowing that most of her worries were things she couldn't change, and thus sorted them into her 'don't worry about it' pile. This time though, she found herself falling asleep, escaping from all the light and noises and scents.

Maybe a nap would help her sort her thoughts, and even if it didn't, that was tomorrow's problem.

Chapter 9: Jealousy

Summary:

so this is how jealousy feels?

Lee was happy when it turned out all she'd needed was some sleep. 
The moment of relief was cut short when she remembered the meeting she had to attend, that she was already 5 minutes late for. 
She'd never gotten ready that quickly in her life, almost forgetting her notebook as she sprinted out of the room. She arrived 10 minutes late, apologizing over and over before Akhelios waved her hand, demanding that she quit embarrassing herself. This was her first slip up, so Akhelios would be merciful. It was relief, so was the fact that this wasn't a council meeting, so she didn't have to worry about GW mocking her for being late.

The meetings went by smoothly, the usual topics about efficiency and security being the main focus. Lee felt ashamed when she caught her thought drifting from the topic at hand, and it was obvious by the rushed notes that came every time she refocused. She hoped no one picked up on it, but she should've known better than to underestimate Akhelio's perception. When asked why she was out of it, she simply replied that she was tired. Akhelios insisted she get more rest next time, not wanting to be embarrassed by a sleep deprived scribe. Lee assured her that it wouldn't happen again, because it was true. She wasn't going to let herself crash like that again. She assumed it was because of the stress that came with GW's threats, but she didn't want to test her theory.

Instead, she decided to relax in the common area. Maybe Rhin or Tiggy would have some time to spare and spend with her. She didn't care what they did, their company was comfortable and safe and that's all she was looking for. It wasn't uncommon for her to lay her head in Tiggy's lap and read or to read while Tiggy laid on her. She considered herself lucky, having a friend who was so comfortable being casually affectionate. The tiger shark didn't make a fuss about hugs or cuddles, in fact it was nothing compared to what she did with most. Rhin's presence always felt very safe, a strong, steady presence. Often enough they just sat next to each other, each doing their own reading and drawing. And the best part was, no matter which one she'd be with, GW shouldn't be able to do a thing to her. Tiggy always managed to pull GW away or calm her down, and Rhin was strong, a pacifist, but not a pushover. Plus, it often seemed like Rhin was protective of her, which was a welcome feeling in a place where most sharks were stronger than her.

She'd just sat down on the couch with a book when she heard footsteps behind her. Based on the weight of them, it had to be Rhin, she must be exhausted, or annoyed. "Rhiiin, do you have a minute? I don't wanna be alone." Lee said, already having started reading. "You still ha-aaave..." The rest of the sentence dying on her tongue when she felt a clawed hand gently scrape up her scalp, a feeling she quite enjoyed. She was always weak for having her hair played with. "Rhin?" She asked softly, a bit confused by the silence. 
"Guess again shrimpy." GW muttered, tightening her fist and tilting the blond's head back by her hair.
Lee swallowed, eyes wide as she stared up at the smirking commander. They could both feel it, the way the air grew thick and tense, their eyes glued to each other. Something unspoken floated between them, something they'd only recently awoken from its slumber.
"C-Commander..." She muttered, beginning to fidget with the corner of her book when the great white's grip tightened, a frown tugging at her lips. She adjusted her hold, forcing the blond's neck to tilt further, a small ache blooming in the muscles. "GW!" Lee whimpered, scrambling for the commander's hands, hoping to get her to ease up. At the sound of her name, she loosened her grip only slightly.
GW leaned in. Smirking once more, she let her lips hover beside the lemon shark's ear. "Don't think that you're getting away with mouthing off like that, I'll make sure you think twice before trying to tell me what to do again."
Lee shivered at the threat, but she wasn't sure it was out of fear. There must be something wrong with her. She nearly whined when her hair was released, the ache in her scalp and neck slowly fading. She blinked a few times before noticing Rhin. That's why she'd been let go, the hold Rhin had on GW's wrist. 

"Hi Rhin." She sighed with a smile, looking relieved by the other's presence. GW's eyes snapped to Lee, her eyes containing the same fire as the day before. The lemon shark's breathing was shallow at the sight, her head staying tilted back over the edge of the couch. Her eyes drifted to Rhin, and not a second later GW was pulling herself free from the hold on her wrist. "Don't touch me!" She snapped at the whale shark, earning an unimpressed look. 
Rhin looked over at Lee. "Are you alright?" She asked softly, running her fingers gently through the blond's hair. Lee's eyes shut and she nodded, frowning and opening them again when the petting stopped. At that point she sat up and turned around to face the other two, clearly annoyed as she looked at GW's hand gripping Rhin's forearm. "What is your problem?" Rhin snapped, pulling away from the great white. GW frowned as she looked between them. "Nothing." She muttered, glaring at each of them before storming out the door.

Lee and Rhin looked at each other briefly before the whale shark walked over to sit next to the blond. "Cmere." She said softly, putting an arm around Lee's shoulders, reaching up with the other hand to gently run her fingers through the hair. They stayed like that for a while, even falling asleep for a few minutes before deciding it was best that they each retreat to their rooms for the night.

GW on the other hand felt like she was losing her mind. She knew Rhin and Lee were fairly close, but watching the blond relax so easily around Rhin made her blood boil. Rhin this, Rhin that, there was nothing special about a coward. It hurt, a sharp pain in her chest that only served to fuel her anger. Her mind repeatedly tried figuring out what was so great about Rhin, why did Lee like her, how could Lee like Rhin but with a tug of her hair give her a look that made her heart stutter. It wasn't jealousy, it couldn't be, not of Rhin. 
GW went to bed that night fuming, struggling to fall asleep. She sighed in resignation as she stood, making her way to her desk and grabbing the plate of lemon squares she got from Cookie earlier that day, as a sign that her apology was accepted. She ate one before placing the rest of the plate on her nightstand, letting the smell of lemon overpower everything else. Her eyes fell shut when she laid down, and she was out cold far sooner than she'd like to admit.

Chapter 10: Overwhelmed

Summary:

Lee is overwhelmed, was it her argument with Tiggy, or is there something else behind it?

Not even a week later, Lee found herself in bed, unable to bring herself to get up. 
She'd never had that problem before. She knew what work had to get done and often got up early to finish everything so she'd have more time to read or do research on whatever topic interested her in that moment. She was blaming it on what happened the day before.

She and Tiggy had been spending the night together, nothing too unusual about that. The problem was that it wasn't enough. None of it. Tiggy was experienced and a great partner, so Lee couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. It all felt muted, like each touch wasn't fully there. It drove her mad, frustrating her over and over, and in the end she snapped at Tiggy. It wasn't the tiger shark's fault, she knew that, so she felt horrible when she realized what she'd said. She watched the kind smile fade, replaced by a distant look that she only rarely saw nowadays, the only reminder that there was another side to their playful tiger shark. She was told to get out, and so she did. She knew that no amount of apologies was going to fix things, not in that moment. She had to let the dust settle before trying to approach Tiggy again, but it proved harder than expected. She didn't think that she'd end up so upset over a moment like that, but maybe it was because of the frustration still drawing tension into her muscles. She wanted to relax, fully relax. But her mind refused to give her a break for even a second. The doc had warned her that being created with more than the usual intelligence meant she'd have moment like these, moments where it was all too much. She was told there was a way of dealing with it, suppressing the noise that seemed like a permanent static in her mind, but she'd never needed to ask for help before. And she didn't even have the scents of the council members surrounding her to keep her grounded.

Spending the day in bed would've meant being left alone with her thoughts, and while doing other things was bound to overwhelm her at some point, at least it was a break from the noise in her mind. So she got up, dressing in lazier clothes than usual. She couldn't be bothered to wear clothes that would only irritate her more, otherwise she'd truly be intolerable to be around. One person angry at her was enough, two if you could GW, who she hadn't seen in quite a few days. She was almost disappointed. She could only hope that the other stayed out of her way for another day, until she managed to get herself sorted out. Snapping at the commander was a sure way to die. The fact that she was still standing considering how rude she'd been is a miracle. She partially has Rhin to thank for that, she seemed to always be watching over her. 

She took a deep breath before finally opening her door, groaning as the noise of other people triggered a throbbing headache. Okay, food, if she didn't eat then she'd feel even worse. The kitchen was going to be torture, but Cookie was always pleasant to be around, so maybe it would help her feel a bit better. 
She slowly stepped into the kitchen, the strong scent of cinnamon making Lee sneeze, catching Cookie's attention. 
"Oh! Lee! Good morning sleepyhead!" He greeted, always happy to see the lemon shark. 
"Hi Cookie." The blond greeted, offering a tired smile. 
The other shark frowned. "You don't look very well, are you okay? Here, these are fresh, they should help!" Cookie held out a plate with cinnamon buns, waiting for Lee to take them before turning back to the next batch. Cookie believed that just about any problem could be solved with enough baked sweets, and normally Lee found it endearing. But today she found herself a bit annoyed. Food wasn't going to fix her head, but it would keep her stomach from causing problems as well, so she took one and put the plate off to the side. 
"Thanks Cookie, I'm gonna go now though." She said. 
The other shark frowned a bit before smiling and nodding. "Okay, be sure to stop by for lunch." He said before going back to baking. 
Lee nodded and stepped out.

She took a bite, smiling a bit at the taste. It was still warm and the dough was fluffy and sweet. They were perfect, but that's to be expected when Cookie is the one baking. She took her time enjoying the treat, welcoming the distraction while it lasted. She frowned a bit when it was over, sighing before making her way towards Rhin's room and knocking on the door. She wasn't sure where the whale shark would be at this time of day, since their schedules always shift according to what Akhelios needs, and sometimes they end up with last minute changes. She wasn't eager to head back to the living area after what happened there last time, so she hoped Rhin was in her room. She was beginning to think the other was out running errands for their goddess when the door opened to reveal Rhin rubbing her forehead. "Oh, Lee. Hello." She said with a gentle smile, stepping to the side to allow the blond to enter the room.
"Excuse the mess." She sighed, gesturing to the papers on the floor, currently being sorted into various piles. It was still far from organized, but it was obvious Rhin was being thorough with her work.
"I didn't mean to interrupt, I just, I need a distraction." Lee admitted, trying to decipher how the papers were being sorted.
Rhin nodded. "I understand. You're not interrupting, I'm just trying to figure out how GW goes about sorting these. Luckily she should be back tomorrow." She said, nudging one of the papers with her foot as she spoke. "I really cannot figure out what sort of a system she uses." She muttered.
"GW is gone?" Lee asked, trying not to sound happy about it. Of course she wasn't happy because the commander was gone, she was happy because that meant that her room would be empty. Even though they might not get along, GW's scent was still once she associated with comfort, just like the other council members. It felt like right from the start they were meant to fit together in one way or another. 
Rhin nodded. "Yeah, haven't you noticed how peaceful it is?" She joked, making Lee stifle a laugh.
It was quiet...too quiet.

Chapter 11: Early Return

Summary:

GW returns early and catches Lee, what will she do?

Lee relaxed a bit, taking in the overwhelming scent of lavender and sandalwood. She swayed slightly, realizing that she may have figured out what she was missing.

"By the way...while I'm here...could I borrow a shirt?" She asked, avoiding Rhin's gaze. She knew she wouldn't be turned down, but it still felt embarrassing to ask. 
"Of course..can we trade?" Rhin asked as she stepped closer. It had been quite a while since Rhin asked for a scented clothing piece.
Lee nodded. "I-I can go to..my..." Her voice drifted off when she felt fingertips grazing the skin just beneath her shirt, right above her waistband. 
Rhin swallowed. "May I?" She asked softly, smiling when the blond looked up at her in slight surprise. She leaned in to press a kiss to Lee's forehead when she received a nod, slowly lifting the shirt higher and higher, waiting for the blond to lift her arms before carefully slipping it off. 
Lee shivered at the cool air hitting her skin, blushing as she reached for the hem of Rhin's shirt and began to lift it, letting her hands drag against the skin of her abdomen as she did so. Rhin eventually took over, slipping her shirt off the rest of the way. She held it out for Lee to take, not bothering to hide the way her eyes drifted along exposed skin while she waited for the blond to put on her shirt. Rhin's gaze drifted away once Lee pulled the other shirt on, her cheeks slightly flushed. The shirt was a bit too big, it looked cute. 

Lee could feel the same frustration as the day before, her mind too loud for a moment so tender. Rhin went to her closet and grabbed a fresh shirt to pull on, since she definitely wouldn't fit into Lee's. Once she was dressed she walked back over to the blond, still holding the shirt in a tight grip. "I know you and Tiggy aren't on great terms, but you should go ask her for one, she wouldn't say no, you know that." She reassured Lee, putting a hand on her shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze. The firm hold made the blond relax, feeling relieved for just a moment, nothing to focus on but the pressure of fingers digging into her skin. She nodded. Rhin smiled and pressed another kiss to Lee's forehead. "Go on then." She encouraged the blond, watching her walk to the door before turning away. She wasn't as subtle as she thought, having obviously brought the shirt up to her face. One deep breath was all it took for the tension to seep out of the whale shark's shoulders. Lee smiled at the sight and stepped outside, gently shutting the door behind herself. 

She pulled the collar of the shirt up over her mouth and nose, taking a deep breath, allowing a smile to break out. She decided to take her chance and walked to GW's room. If she wouldn't be back till tomorrow, then she could slip inside, grab something small that wouldn't be missed, and leave, with no worrying about GW catching her. She looked around the hall to make sure no one was there before opening the door and slipping inside the room. Amber and leather overwhelmed her senses, and she found herself leaning back against the door to steady herself. It took her a second but eventually she stood up and began looking around. She smiled when she saw a tank top that seemed kicked to the side, forgotten just beneath the great white's bed. She carefully picked it up, bringing it closer to her face. Before she could think twice, the tank top was pressed to her nose. She used her other hand to steady herself on the bedframe. It wasn't perfect, but she found herself more relaxed than she'd been in days. 

"What are you doing?" Lee's blood ran cold.

GW had finished up early, wanting to get back to her usual bedroom as fast as possible. She always felt uneasy when she was anywhere other than her space. Lucky for her, Akhelios agreed to heading back a day early, having decided she was done trying to negotiate with people who refused to listen. 
She had stepped into her room, relief washing over her at the familiarity of it, that is, until she smelt Rhin. She was going to tear the whale shark apart for snooping, only to find Lee standing in her bedroom, one of her tank tops in hand. She watched the blond take a few deep breaths before speaking up.

Lee quickly turned around, hiding the tank top behind herself. "GW! You..you're back early." Her mouth was dry, mind spinning as it went from relaxed straight into fight or flight. She was sure this would be the last straw, GW would kill her.
The commander narrowed her eyes. "You /reek/!" She complained, glaring at the shirt that was very obviously Rhin's. "Now I asked you a question. What. are. you. doing?" Each word was punctuated with a step, the distance between the two of them closing much faster than the lemon shark would've liked. "And remember, I hate liars." She leaned in. 
Lee was incredibly lucky that looks couldn't kill. "Need scents." Is all she managed to force out, her throat closing up in fear.
GW took a small step back, caught off guard. "You want something from me?" She asked, clearly a bit stunned.
The lemon shark nodded hesitantly. "I'm sorry." She muttered.
The commander seemed to think for a moment. The image of Lee relaxing because of her scent was all she needed to be convinced. "On one condition." She said with a smirk.
Lee stared, shocked that she was going to get what she went in the room for and come out unscathed. "Anything." She quickly agreed. She needed GW's scent, she hadn't realized it until she was surrounded by it, all her senses overwhelmed by it and it did was calm her. 
GW smirked at the blond's eagerness, stepping closer once more. "You walk out of here in my shirt." She said, her red eyes practically glowing as she imagined it.

Lee's heart hammered in her chest. It was a simple request..and yet a part of her found itself fighting the idea, not because she disliked it, but because she didn't want to give in so easily. "Or else?" She replied breathlessly.
GW's expression hardened. "Or I will tear that shirt you're wearing to shreds for stinking up my room." She replied, gripping the collar of the shirt to pull the blond in. 
The lemon shark shivered at the threat, refusing to acknowledge the disappointment she felt when the hand reaching out grabbed the shirt instead of her. "No you won't, I like this shirt." She replied, knowing that she was pushing her luck. 
GW saw red. The shirt wasn't the problem, it was the scent overpowering the citrusy scent she'd started craving. She dragged the blond by the grip on the shirt, pushing her up against the closet before pressing her forearm to the base of her neck. "If that idiot's scent is so much better, then why was your nose buried in my shirt? Hm?" She pressed further.

The blond trembled at first, until the pressure became grounding, her muscles nearly going slack as she focused on the nearly painful press of the warm arm against her neck. This is what she'd been missing. She couldn't think, couldn't remember why she'd bothered with the scents in the first place. 
She needed this.

Chapter 12: Jacket

Summary:

just a bit of a teasing chapter before I find the confidence to write something other than fade to black

GW's head tilted slightly. Something was off. This wasn't fear. She took away some of the pressure on Lee's neck, being met with slightly narrowed eyes. She experimentally began to press into her neck once more, making the blond's eyes flutter and hands fly up to her arm, only they were keeping her there instead of trying to pull her off. She smirked. "Interesting." She muttered. "Why don't you tell me the real reason you came here?" She removed her arm, instead wrapping a hand loosely around the blond's neck. 
Lee blinked a couple times, processing what the commander had said. "Just for the shirt." She insisted, her voice trembling as she was forced to focus. That is, until claws dug painfully into her gills. She whimpered, standing on the tips of her toes as she tried to escape the piercing pain.
"I said, I hate liars. You never stole my clothes before. Why are you really here?" The commander asked, tightening her hold briefly before loosening her hand and letting the other take a few breaths. Lee felt dizzy, she didn't want to talk, or think. 

Then she noticed it. Lee looked exhausted, drained. "...Okay...okay." She said softly, letting go and looking around. She thought for a second before slipping off her leather jacket. The heavy jacket was hung around Lee's shoulders, overpowering Rhin's scent. The blond subconsciously buried her face in the leather and took a deep breath, relaxing as she leaned back against the closet. GW watched in silence as the other wrapped the jacket tighter around herself before remembering where she was. The lemon shark's face quickly flushed red. "Thank you." She murmured. The other shrugged and avoided her gaze. "Whatever. Was that all?" Lee nodded, lowering her head as she made her way to the door. "Bring it back when you're done with it." GW called after her. She didn't bring up the shirt still clenched in the blond's hand on the way out. 

It wasn't until Lee got back to her room that she noticed the fabric scrunched in her hand. She cringed as she realized she'd accidentally stolen it. Hopefully GW wouldn't be too upset. She was surprised that the commander had handed her the jacket so easily. She wore it all the time after all, it was clearly important to her. So why did she give it to Lee? She looked down at the jacket, burying her face in it before sitting down on her bed. She let herself fall back and rolled over, curling in on herself slightly as she decided to take a nap.

The blond ended up sleeping the rest of the day away. By the time she woke up the next day, she could feel herself burning up. Had she really been so distracted that she'd missed the signs? She got up on trembling legs and made her way to the door, making sure to lock it before her heat could consume her completely. This must be why she'd been feeling strange. It makes sense now. Why else would she have started craving GW's presence? It was still strange to grow attached to the commander of all people but it wasn't too crazy if it was just her subconsciously getting closer to someone she could imagine being protective. It had all just been instincts, that's it.

It had barely been a day since GW had handed the lemon shark her jacket. Of course Tiggy immediately noticed the missing jacket, since GW normally wore it every day. "Change of fashion?" She asked, grinning as she stared at the commander's exposed skin, scarred, but strong. 
GW rolled her eyes, turning on her heel to leave the common area. 
The tiger shark jumps up to follow her out, grabbing onto her bicep. "Aww c'mooon. I certainly don't mind the change." She said as she hugged the commander's arm, grinning when the other sighed and stopped walking. 
"It's too hot for a jacket, alright?" 
Tiggy let go and crossed her arms. "You always tell us to quit complaining when we say it's too hot." She pretended to think. "You know..I haven't seen Lee all day. When I passed by their room earlier it smelled an awful lot like her heat had hit." 
GW tensed. 
Tiggy's eyes lit up when she caught the other's reaction. "But that wouldn't have any effect on you..would it?" She asked, watching as the commander tried to school her expression. 
"Of course not." GW muttered, her cheeks slightly flushed as she imagined Lee burying her face in the jacket as she got off. She shivered.
The tiger shark slid her hands to the commander's waist. "Aw did I say too much? I wouldn't mind helping you if you need." She said, her tongue running along the edge of her sharp teeth. 
GW considered it. It wouldn't be the first time they helped each other out. She leaned in, but all she could imagine was Lee. She knew better than to assume she has a chance with the blond after the way she'd acted. Tiggy waited, watching the commander. Every second felt like an hour, until finally their lips brushed, once, then twice, before GW allowed herself to give in.

The two of them stumbled into GW's bedroom, the closer of the two options, the commander being quick to pin the other to the door. Images of Lee flashed in her mind as she dragged her lips down Tiggy's neck, her hot breath fanning over the gills, making them open and close at the sensation. She dragged her teeth down to the other's shoulder, bringing them closer to her neck again before biting down, sinking her canines into the muscle. Would Lee squirm? Would she moan? Her jaw loosened when Tiggy before patting her arm, signalling that it was becoming too much. GW muttered an apology, licking over the wound before kissing along her jaw. Would Lee have been able to handle it?

The tiger shark grinned, enjoying the affection for a moment before slipping her hands under GW's tank top, bringing the fabric up and up before the commander pulled it the rest of the way off, helping Tiggy out of her t-shirt just as quickly. "I knew it, you just need to destress a little." The blond grinned, dragging her hands down the commander's chest as she slowly sunk to her knees. Her eyes never left GW's, just like she knew the commander liked. The great white buried her fingers in blond hair. "Well get to work then."

Chapter 13: Scheming

Summary:

Tiggy is tired of watching the two of them dancing around each other, so she's taking matters into her own hands

GW woke up the next morning to soft snores coming from beside her, and the strong scent of what could only be Tiggy. She wasn't one for cuddling after sex, but she wasn't cold-hearted enough to kick her best friend out. So she buried her face in the tiger shark's neck, letting her warm breath fan over the gills, slowly but surely waking the blond. 
Tiggy glanced back at the commander, a lazy grin tugging at her lips as she rolled onto her back and stretched. "Well good morning to you too." She chuckled, groaning softly at the pull in her muscles before relaxing and letting her head fall to the side to face GW. She hissed as she sat up before giggling and looking at the commander. "Someone was energetic. Something been stressing you out commander?" She asked as she moved slowly, grabbing her clothes that had been tossed around the room and slipping them back on. 
GW sighed as she watched the other. "Just the troops being particularly difficult is all." She lied, unable to meet Tiggy's eyes when she looked back at her, clearly not believing her. 
"And here I thought I could fuck the truth out of you." Tiggy snickered. "What a shame." She teased as she walked back over to the bed. She leaned in with a smile, giggling when GW pulled her in for one last kiss before letting her go. She sighed, clearly satisfied with herself as she made her way to the door. "I suggest you get things sorted out with lemon drop. You're only half as fun when you're thinking about someone else." She said before leaving.

GW stared at the door for a moment before groaning and letting herself fall back on the bed with a huff. Of course Tiggy would notice, they'd slept with each other often enough. Had she really been so distracted? It was then that she realized that she didn't remember much. Of course she knew what they did, but the details were hazy, instead there were memories of what she imagined doing to a certain lemon shark. The way her skin would feel. Would it be as soft as Tiggy's? Would she sound similar? Would she bury her fingers in her hair or dig her claws into her back? Or her arms? GW grit her teeth. She felt just as worked up as she did before she'd spent the night with Tiggy. Great.
She quickly hopped in the shower, making sure the water was cold as she cleaned up. She still had soldiers to train, and she refused to show up soaked in Tiggy's scent. The shower wouldn't get all of it, but it would make it far less obvious. 

After a quick shower, she hurriedly made her way to the training area. She paused when she entered. The soldiers were sitting in small groups, talking and laughing. "Who gave you all permission to slack off?" She snapped, making them jump up and begin warming up. GW sighed and continued walking to the center, watching them begin to run their laps. "Much better. That wasn't so hard now was it?" She said, watching them continue to run. She caught a few of them giving her weird looks, likely catching on to Tiggy's scent on her. "Focus!" She snapped.

Lee whimpered as the doctor tried to remove the leather jacket from her frame for the thousandth time that day. 
"You're being ridiculous, clinging to that barbarian's jacket." The doctor sighed, letting go once more. 
The blond curled in on herself, burying her face in the sleeves and taking a deep breath. The doctor sighed. Lee perked up when there was a knock on the door, but quickly stayed in place when the doctor gave her a pointed look. She took her time walking to the door, her shoes a soft click against the floor with each step. She opened the door, her nose wrinkling. "Why do you all reek of that brute?" She asked, earning a grin from Tiggy. 
"Oh? Who is 'all'?" The tiger shark asked with a smirk, glancing past the doctor to see Lee burying her face in the jacket, looking uncharacteristically angry. "Ohhh. Whoops." She snickered. "GW was frustrated and needed some relief. I just did what any good friend would." She kept her gaze on Lee as she spoke, watching as Lee began to look angrier, her eyes beginning to tear up slightly. Tiggy hated making people cry, unless they deserved it, but in this case it seemed necessary. If they wouldn't sort it out themselves, she'd force them too, even if it meant upsetting them a little. "Do you mind if I borrow something of Lee's?" She asked the doctor, making her glance back at Lee. 
"Would she normally allow you to do so?" She asked as she turned back. 
Tiggy rolled her eyes. "When does Lee ever say no to a member of the council?" She asked. "Relax, just something for my nest. She won't miss it." She said. 
The doctor hesitated before nodding and stepping to the side. 
The blond stepped inside and glanced at Lee, walking to the bed to grab the lemon shark's shirt. She lifted it closer to her face, taking a deep breath before grinning. "Perfect." 
The doctor raised a brow, crossing her arms as she impatiently waited for Tiggy to leave.

Lee glared at Tiggy, eyeing her shirt. She smirked a little and walked towards the lemon shark. "Hey there lemon drop, what's got you all grumpy hm?" Tiggy stopped herself, unable to step closer as the scent of citrus became overwhelming. She took a shaky breath. Lee leaned in, taking in the smell of GW wafting off of the other. She narrowed her eyes. "Mine..." She muttered as her hands rested on Tiggy's shoulders, eyes glued to the shirt as her claws dug into the fabric. The tiger shark took a sharp breath and smirked, carefully slipping out of the shirt. Lee quickly hugged it to her chest and buried her face in it, shivering as she let herself fall back. Tiggy let out a breath, slipping the lemon shark's shirt on. It was a bit of a tight fit, but she made it work, if only to mess with GW later. 

"We had plans, I suggest you leave." The doctor said with narrowed eyes. Tiggy glanced at her. "Make sure to leave marks, if she even lets you touch her now." She chuckled, brushing past the doctor as she made her way out. The doctor quickly shut the door, making sure it was locked before approaching Lee. "Now, where were we?"

Chapter 14: Instinct

Summary:

Mild NSFW towards the end, nothing graphic though

GW was pushing the soldiers harder than she had in a while. "Next time you'll think twice before slacking off just cuz I'm not here early!" She said, watching with crossed arms as they were forced through a row of exercises, over, and over, and over again. So far most of them were doing fine, only getting slightly bored of the repetitiveness of it, but they knew they were nowhere near being let off the hook. She was right, they'd be scared to sit still during training hours. The commander had a reputation for being strict, even those not under her command were aware of it, but this was a little harsh, even for her.

Tiggy hurried through the halls, not wanting too many others to catch Lee's scent. It definitely wouldn't go well, she was already pushing her luck as is. She panted lightly as she stopped in front of the training area, catching her breath before entering. 
GW glanced at the door, her eyes immediately landing on the shirt the other was wearing. Of course she'd recognize it. Tiggy really was insatiable. She sighed and walked up to her, but she barely made it half way before she began picking up on the smell of citrus slowly wafting through the room. Her steps faltered before speeding up. She was tense when she reached the blond, eyes glued to the shirt. "Insatiable." She muttered, tempted to tear the shirt off of her. "You can't be walking around like that, it's distracting." She swallowed. 
Tiggy grinned and grabbed the commander's waist to pull her in. "Aw is it? Poor lemon drop seems to be the first one hit by the mating season, she's being taken care of as we speak." 
GW shivered as the thick scent began to lure her in. 
"Oh no, you're not affected by little old Lee's scent are you?" The blond asked innocently, leaning in. 
The commander grit her teeth. "Of course not." She said, quickly taking a few steps back, struggling to keep her composure. 
Tiggy pouted only to quickly grin when she figured out a better way to execute her plan. "Fine, sorry for bothering you commander." She smirked, glancing at the soldiers who had stopped moving to instead stare at Tiggy. She flashed her sharp teeth, a glimpse of her bloodlust in her eyes. It was a look that the older soldiers knew all too well, a look they hadn't seen in some time. Tiggy had worked hard to get rid of that reputation after all.
It took a few seconds for everyone, including GW, to recover after the blond had left, but training quickly resumed, now with renewed energy. GW knew why, and she hated it.

It was a few hours later when the commander sighed. "Alright, get out of my sight. I expect you all here early and going over the things I taught you today." She received a scattered "Yes commander" in response as the soldiers hurriedly left. Now all that was left was the paperwork. She rubbed her temples, taking a deep breath before she left as well, retreating to her room. She hadn't picked up on the mild scent of citrus wafting down the hall as she walked. She pushed open the door with a small huff. She was already exhausted. She leaned back against the door, letting it fall shut before it began supporting her as she leaned back on it. She took a deep breath, pausing halfway. It couldn't be. 

She quickly began looking around the room, her eyes quickly landing on a shirt with a lemon design that certainly didn't fit her, let alone belong to her. "Fuck Tiggy what were you thinking?" She muttered, sounding breathless. She should wash it, or return it? She had to get rid of the scent, it was overwhelming...but so sweet. She hesitantly walked over to it, her hand trembling ever so slightly when she reached out to pick it up. She stared at it as she tried to figure out what to do. It was impossible to misunderstand the scent. Lee was in heat.

Mating season..it would explain the lemon shark's strange behaviour. It would explain why the commanders feet were carrying her towards her bed subconsciously, why she could feel heat stirring in her gut, her face, no, her entire body heating up. It explained why she was sitting...then laying down. It was just mating season messing with them, that's all. Hers was simply being triggered by Lee's scent. That's the reason she shut her eyes and buried her face in the fabric, it's the reason her thighs were squeezed shut. She could blame it all on mating season. Each shaky breath she was taking, the way it clouded her mind with thoughts of Lee. What would she look like flushed and out of breath? Would she be noisy? Or rather quiet, needing someone to coax each sound out of her? Would she have to do so slowly and gently? Make her comfortable enough to let her hear? Or would she have to force out each sound? How far down would her blush go? Would her skin be prone to bruising? GW took a sharp breath as the image of Lee covered in hickeys and bite marks flashed in her mind. 

This was a horrible idea. If she let herself go now, Tiggy would never let her live it down. She'd done this on purpose, so if GW began rut now, she'd know exactly why. But why did she do it? Normally the tiger shark jumped at the chance to help her through her rut, but now she was leaving Lee's scent there instead. The commander let out a huff, pulling the shirt away from her face. It felt like she was on fire, going against her instincts always did. Her instincts were always a rush, a wave dragging her with it, and fighting against it felt like fighting Poseiden himself, at least in moments like these. They were natural, something that's followed her even before she was gifted this new form. It was primal and ancient and filled her with strange calmness when she gave in, when she let go of her stress and worries and just let herself be. She could feel them creeping in, sinking their claws into her and pulling her under, drowning her in her own desires. And she gave in.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! Kudos and comments are appreciated. Be nice please.