Chapter Text
Toni Topaz loved the ocean. At six years old, she could tie knots almost expertly and differentiate east from west just by looking at where the sun lay in the sky. She knew the ins and outs of sailing with the help of her father, who seemed to know the waters like the back of his hand. He had a sixth sense when it came to the ocean. Just by looking out the window of their beachside house, he could tell whether it was a good day for sailing or not, as if the ocean had told him itself.
The Topaz family had been living in the small fishing town of Riverdale for generations, each father had been teaching their sons the ins and outs of the sport pretty much since the town was founded. But after the untimely death of his wife three years ago, Anthony Topaz knew that their only daughter could continue the family tradition just as well as any boy. And he worked tirelessly to make sure of it.
"We watched The Little Mermaid and Ariel kissed the prince at the end, it was gross," six year old Toni's squeaky voice just barely registered over the crash of the waves against the shore as she chased a few seagulls on the dock. "She lives in the ocean and has a tail. Why would she wanna come on land? And kiss a yucky boy?"
"Probably the same reason you wanna spend all your time on the boat instead of at school," F.P. chuckled as he and Anthony tied the company boat to the wooden dock to keep it grounded for the night, "School's boring and the oceans mysterious and exciting. Allison probably felt just the opposite."
"Ariel," she corrected him with a sassy roll of her eyes, the spitting image of her mother, "Daddy, are mermaids real?"
"As real as the sun setting over that horizon," Anthony smiled at his daughter as he ran over to scoop her up, making her giggle as he tickled her sides.
"Come on, Tony, don't fill the kid's head with those old fish tales," F.P. shook his head and tightened the rope once more for good measure.
Toni's giggles stopped as her face fell, "You don't believe in mermaids, Uncle F.P.?"
"Don't gimme those sad eyes, kid, I just think it's a little far-fetched. I mean, if mermaids were real, don't you think I woulda seen one by now? Or heard about it from someone else? I mean come on, the ocean's our backyard."
"Maybe your face just scares'em all away," Anthony chuckled, making his daughter laugh as he carries her back to the house with F.P. trailing behind. He was very grateful for F.P. Jones. The two had been like brothers all their lives, since their great-grandfathers started the Serpentine Fishing Company back in the early 1900's. Tony had been there for F.P. after his wife took off with their infant daughter, leaving him alone with their six year old son. And being the loyal and grateful friend he was, F.P. had been there for Tony in return after Violet passed away.
It wasn't easy being a single dad, but Tony always made sure to keep his daughter happy and safe like he promised his wife he would. She had been the best mother to Toni, and he could only hope that he could fill her shoes. But with F.P.'s help, it got a little easier with each passing day.
That night after dinner, a bath, and a short bedtime story, Toni looked up at her father with a sleepy smile as he moved around the room, checking her closet and under her bed for monsters. "Daddy, you don't have to check for monsters anymore," she yawned, rubbing her eyes with a little fist.
Anthony turned around, surprised. He'd been checking Toni's room for imaginary monsters since she was three when the nightmares began to plague her after her mother's death. "Are you sure?"
"Mmhm," she nodded, "I'm not a'scared no more."
"Oh. Well...okay," he sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed, bringing a hand up to run through her curly brown hair before leaning over to kiss her forehead, "Night, Toni-bug."
"Are we still gonna go wayyyy out on the water tomorrow? It's been forever."
"It's been a week," the man chuckled, but nodded, "Bright and early, so make sure you get plenty of sleep, okay? I'm gonna need my first mate to be awake and alert."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Daddy? Do you ever think we'll meet a mermaid?" little Toni hugged her stuffed bear tighter to her chest. The golden heart shaped locket around her father's neck caught the light from her lamp, the reflection shining in her eyes.
"Maybe one day, bug. But you can see as many of them as you want in your dreams, so you better hurry up and go to sleep. I love you."
"Love you too," she giggled as he kissed her head once more before getting up to leave the room, turning off the light. "Daddy?"
"Yeah, munchkin?"
"C-can you turn my night light on?" she asked timidly. She wasn't afraid anymore. She would fight any monster that dared come near her...but the dark was still pretty scary.
Tony just breathed out a gentle laugh, leaning down to turn on his daughter's nightlight, projecting pale blue ocean ripples around the dark room. Even he felt a sense of serenity watching the lights as the waves gently hit the shore outside her open window.
"Goodnight, bug."
xxx
"You promised!" Toni stomped her foot on the creaky wooden dock, staring up at her father with tears brimming in her eyes.
"Toni, it's not a good day today, okay? Just-"
"Daddy, it's sunny! The weatherman said there was no chance of storms or even rain!" she pouted, stomping her feet again, "Please, Daddy, you promised!"
Tony looked at F.P. as he was helping his ten year old son up the ladder and onto the deck of Violet, his personal boat. "Bug-"
"The kid's got a point, Tony," the other man cut him off, "I know you've got your instincts and all, but it can't be right every time. Sun's barely up and the clouds are already clearing. That's a good sign."
Tony glanced between the orange horizon and his tearful daughter once more before sighing, nodding his head and handing the little girl to his friend, who strapped a pink life vest securely onto her. With a bit of uncertainty, he untied the line that kept them docked before climbing up and onto the main deck.
"Loosen up a little, Tone," F.P. slapped his back before loosening the mainsail, "We're just going ten miles out. If we see things starting to get rocky, we'll just turn around and head back. No big deal."
Tony nodded and cleared his throat, starting to steer the boat away from the dock. Once they were far enough out, F.P. raised the mainsail, tightening his grip on the rope and tying it up once they had set sail, letting the breeze do its job.
A few miles out and Anthony finally began to relax thanks to the sight of his daughter smiling and having the time of her life. Toni loved being on the water just as he had raised her to. The same couldn't be said for F.P., as Jughead would rather be at home drawing or writing than being out at sea. But if Toni had a choice between having a big mansion with all the toys she could ever want in the middle of nowhere and being on a modest fishing boat at sea, she would choose the latter every time.
"Daddy, can I steer?" she came running up to her father, bouncing in her worn out sneakers.
"Maybe on the way back, bug. Why don't you go keep Jug company on the bow?"
The little girl pouted, but did as he said, bringing a smile back to her face as she went to sit with the older boy who was like a brother to her towards the front of the boat.
"You think those two are gonna keep this business running when we get to be too old?" F.P. chuckled, coming up behind Anthony as he nodded towards the two kids, "Toni, I can trust. If only my kid would get his head out of the clouds and into the water."
"Hey, you don't have to be a sailor or a fisherman to run a fishing company," Anthony pat his back reassuringly.
After about an hour journey, the boat was stilled in the calm waters with only the famous Riverdale lighthouse just barely visible in the distance. The four were enjoying the gentle rocking of the boat and the sound of water lapping at the sides as they finished up their lunch, too caught up in lighthearted conversation to realize the clouds forming overhead.
"Those don't look too friendly," F.P. commented, looking up at the dark clouds forming overhead and blocking out the sun, "Guess we should be heading back."
Anthony nodded and helped the kids clean up while his business partner adjusted and raised the sails. Thunder was rapidly approaching as the boat started to sway with the waves forming in the wind.
"Jug, why don't you take Toni below deck," Anthony muttered, trying to keep his voice neutral. He knew today wasn't a good day.
"No, Daddy, I can help!" the little girl shook her head as her ponytail swung behind her.
"Toni, it's starting to rain, the deck's gonna get slippery, it's not gonna be very safe up here," F.P. chimed in, "Go on, we're gonna outrun this storm and be back home before you know it."
With an intense pout, Toni let Jughead lead her to the little trapdoor that lead to the little room below the main deck. It was small, but cozy with a little cot and a stationary table where she would usually color or do her homework.
"It's not fair," she huffed, plopping down in one of the chairs around the little round table, resting her chin in her hands.
Jughead sat on the cot and relaxed back into the pillows against the wall with a shrug. "Do you really think you'd be much help? I mean, you're only six. You wouldn't be able to steer or adjust the sails. Not during a storm."
Toni just stuck her tongue out at him before getting up to get one of her coloring books and some crayons. The rocking of the boat was causing things to fall off the shelves faster than she could pick them up.
"Jug..." her voice trembled a bit as the boat thrashed back and forth uncontrollably.
The older boy got up and carefully made his way to the table to sit with her. "It's okay, Toni. Just sing your mom's song. That always makes you feel better, right?" He smiled sympathetically as the scared little girl nodded before she started to sing.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's gonna be a-
"I told you we shouldn't have come out today!" her father's angry voice could be heard muffled through the ceiling, "I've always trusted my gut, F.P.! The one time I don't and look what happens!"
"Don't blame me for this asshole, I didn't force you out here! You're a grown man, you can make your own decisions!"
Tears formed in Toni's eyes as she swallowed thickly, knowing it was her fault that they were in this mess. She just wanted to go sailing with her daddy. Now that she had started school, they didn't get to do it nearly as often. She wanted to learn and spend time with him. She should have listened to him. Her dad was always right. And now they were in danger.
Because of her.
"Keep singing, Toni, it's okay," Jughead pulled her into a hug, noticing that her breathing was starting to pick up speed from nerves.
I-it's gonna b-be a bright
Bright, s-s-
Her body started to tremble, leaving her practically vibrating as her teeth chattered from fear and guilt. Shaking her head, she pushed Jughead away harshly. Not to be mean, but she just couldn't breathe. Not with him squeezing her like that. She fumbled around for the buckles of her life jacket. Why did Uncle F.P. always have to make it so tight?
With her breathing uneven and her forehead starting to sweat, Toni managed to unbuckle the puffy pink vest, easing her arms out of it as she started to see spots. The thunder was crackling and rumbling above them. She could hear the harsh waves and the whistle of wind. And even all that didn't drown out the noise of her dad and uncle fighting on the deck above. She had to apologize. Apologizing made everything better, right? She could just get them to hug it out like her teacher made her do with kids she fought with at school.
"Toni, put your vest back on! What are you doing?" the older boy looked at her incredulously as she got up from her seat and unsteadily made her way towards the ladder that lead to the upper deck. "Toni!"
"I have to see my Daddy, I have to tell him I'm sorry!" her voice was weak but thick from tears as she sniffled, little sobs and whines escaping her as she struggled to climb the ladder as the boat continued to sway harshly.
"Toni, don't go up there!" Jughead shot up to chase after her. But the little girl moved too fast and he was almost immediately thrown to his knees as the floor beneath him rocked and shifted.
Wiping her eyes, Toni made her way to the top deck, letting the door close underneath her as she squinted in the heavy rain. "I'm sorry!" she yelled, her voice drowned out entirely by the wind and thunder. Her feet nearly slipped out from underneath her as a wave struck the side of the boat. "Daddy, I'm sorry!" she tried again, this time catching the attention of the two men.
"Toni, go back below deck and put your lifejacket on!" her dad yelled at her. Her dad never yelled at her. But she knew not to question him or go against what he said. Not with that scary voice.
Gasping in fear, she turned to go back below deck, but was immediately splashed by a wave that came over the edge. The strong water was forceful enough to knock her off her feet, dragging her with it to the edge of the boat when it receded back over the edge of the port quarter. With the boat swaying and the waves coming over the edge, the little girl was defenseless against the elements. And her father coming to her rescue was the last thing Toni saw before a large shift in the waves sent her over the edge of the boat and into the dark grey water.
She heard her name being called out before she found herself submerged below the sea, bubbles and the muffled rumble of thunder were all she could hear. The water was cold and it was going up her nose, making it hard to focus on trying to swim back to the surface.
The salty water stung her eyes when she blinked them open, desperate to see where she was going. She saw movement beside her and she immediately panicked as she felt something scaly against her leg. She'd never been afraid of the ocean until today.
Struggling to move her arms and legs, she tried her best to keep holding her breath when she saw movement again. Coming towards her this time. She just hoped and prayed that it wasn't a shark. Or a whale that would eat her up like in Pinocchio. She could barely start to make out a face. It was too pale to be her father, and they didn't have his same beard. When it came closer, it looked like a little girl. Maybe about her age. Her eyes widened as she watched the girl's long red hair flowed behind her. She looked so calm. How could she be so calm right now? They were trapped below the water in a storm!
Toni attempted to swim again, finding it even harder to move as she began to grow tired, her brain fuzzy from not breathing. The pale redhead girl in front of her moved again and Toni could feel the cold scales against her legs again as she was pulled up towards the surface. And with what little energy she had left, she looked down to see a shiny, rapidly flipping iridescent tail attached to the girl's bare hips just before she lost sight of everything.