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lady-lunaaa · 2 years

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Chapter 7-

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Pairing: Pirate!Mikey x Goddess!Reader

Rating: MATURE, minors do not interact

Warnings: female reader, pirate au, sexual tension, pining, complicated feelings, mention of brothels/sex workers, minor manga spoilers, alcohol consumption, kiss, there's only one bed (kinda)

WC: 11.9k

a/n: it's herrreeee, sorry for the delay, life sucks. BUT we are finally getting somewhere here - lots of intimacy and vulnerability in this chapter 👀 and also this is a big boi at over 11k - idk what came over me. Thank you to @dabilove27 for reading through this for me and reassuring me that I shouldn't quit writing for the foreseeable future, you're a real one 💙

Link to collab

Lullaby: ☠

As you step into the tavern a bell tinkles your arrival and several heads snap to the entrance to appraise the newcomers. At a round table to the right are your boys, lounging in their seats and sipping from tankards of what you presume is ale. Seems like you are the last ones to join the party, and the others make it known, a chorus of 'yer late!'s and 'about bloody time's rising to meet you. In the middle of the space is a petite woman with the most beautiful strawberry blonde hair, her curves are covered by swathes of skirt and apron, and the smile she offers you as a welcome lights up the room.

She puts her mop and bucket to the side and rushes over to the three of you, "I'm Hina, welcome, it's so great to meet you!" She introduces herself for your benefit and you thank her before giving your name in turn. She ushers you into the establishment and over to the table whilst expertly leading you around the wet patches on the wooden floor.

"You're finally here! We've all been waiting, I thought the others would be drunk before you made it." She jokes lightly, as Suya and Mikey take a seat at the table. You hesitate, swaying on the spot at the empty seat next to the still glowering captain and choose to remain standing.

Mitsuya speaks first, "I wouldn't put it past them, honestly. Two ales please, Hina, and…" He looks at you with a questioning brow and you turn to the woman.

"Oh, just fresh water for me please, I'm sick of watered down rum," you grimace at the thought of it and Hina's eyes twinkle as she laughs loudly, the sound is so melodic and sweet that your face warms and you find yourself smiling with her.

"Water it is then, pet!" Before you can respond, she immediately flows off towards the bar. You throw a sidelong glance at the men who are catching up on business and decide to trail after her.

You take the time to look around the tavern, figures when the men said 'inn' they also meant pub. You'd never had an inn at your old village because no one ever came through and visited, but you'd had a tavern, a place for everyone to convene and get merry after a hard day's work. But where that hut made of driftwood had been simple and cramped and only contained a few rickety benches, this tavern is clean and well-decorated and looks more like a home than a business.

On the wall to your left a hearth takes pride of place, complete with cushioned stools clustered around a low table right in front of it – perfect for resting after a long day. The rest of the space is full of large tables for eating and drinking, flower pots taking up residence in every available surface and corner. It is cozy and quaint, and not at all what you expected.

Hina smiles as you join her at the bar, dropping your packages onto the surface unceremoniously and leaning your elbows against the shining counter next to them with a sigh.

"Long day?" She smiles sympathetically, pouring two tankards of ale for the boys and fetching you a cup of water.

"You can say that again, I'm not used to so many people." You accept the water with a small thank you and gulp it down greedily. Goodness, that's refreshing, you can feel your skin singing its gratitude.

Hina smiles at you as she waves to get one of the men's attention, "It can be a lot down at the market, especially for a first-time visitor," she agrees, placing the tankards on the bar top next to you and mirroring your stance with her elbows across from yours.

"But it looks like you struck lucky with shopping!" There is a glint in her eye, as if she revels in this small talk, and maybe it's because she doesn't see many women here. You grin at her, her happiness infectious, and slide a package in front of you both.

"Oh, I did! I have to show you the boots I bought, I think they are now the single most badass thing I own." You unwrap the paper packaging and pull out the long boots of rich, brown leather with lace-up detailing down the front. Hina sucks in a gasp and reaches for the boots with a hand.

"Oh, how beautiful," she breathes, eyes wide.

"That you are, Hina!" comes Baji's too-loud voice from behind you right as the packages Suya had been carrying plop onto the counter next to you. You turn your head and catch Baji's wide grin, fangs on full display, as he grabs the two tankards and gives Hina a wolfish wink.

Hina blushes a little at his compliment and although you are rather inclined to agree with him you still roll your eyes, "Piss off, you shameless flirt."

You smack his arm as he retreats to the table, the men now laughing and relaxing. You smile softly at the scene before you, such a nice change to see them so carefree, with no worries or duties to attend to. But then Mikey catches your eye, and that smouldering look of such intensity makes your smile wilt and wither. You quickly turn around again with a scowl and clamp down on those insistent feelings of guilt and longing, instead choosing to channel your emotion into one feeling in particular, irritation.

Hina gives you an amused, if startled, look, "You really are close with them, Pah said as much, but…"

You shift in your seat, what else did he say about you while you weren't here?

"Well good," she says firmly, "I hope you put them in their place!" She rests her hands on her hips as if to emphasise her point and you laugh.

"Of course, someone needs to."

Your response causes her to giggle along with you, that beautiful tinkling chime, like the ringing of the little bell above her door. The sound makes you feel light and giddy, like a child again, it's nice to have some girl talk after being stuck with the men for so long. Perhaps, you've made a new friend.

Just then, a slender man appears from a back room, sporting a shock of short, black hair and a handful of papers. You watch as he takes up residence behind the bar, leaning to one side as he starts to check off things on his list. He doesn't so much as look up to greet you, even when Hina coughs politely to get his attention.

"I'm sorry about him," she sighs with a soft irritation, the kind you reserve only for the ones you love, "that's my little brother, Naoto, he's not the most social."

You smile at Hina gratefully for the introduction and extend a hello to Naoto. He blinks his coal grey eyes as he focuses on you, finally.

"Oh hi, welcome to The Siren." Simple and to the point, followed by a curt nod. You smile politely and nod back, marvelling at the stark difference between this man and his sister.

"Don't mind him, he'll warm up to you eventually." She dismisses her brother entirely and turns her attention back to your unwrapped parcels.

"I have more to show you-" you yawn into your hand, none too subtle, interrupting yourself mid-sentence, "-ahhh, if you want?" You feel suddenly self conscious at the offer, maybe she is only being polite, and couldn't care less about your silly purchases.

"I would love to!" Hina practically sings, her warm eyes the colour of a fawns coat, and you perk up again. She has a small beauty mark below her lip and you can't help but admire it. She really is beautiful, and so lovely too, no wonder this is the crew's go-to place for accommodation.

"But how about we do that after I've shown you to your room? You look dead on your feet, pet!" And coming from her, with that genuine look of concern, it doesn't feel like a back-handed compliment – just a genuine worry for another human being.

You slump in relief where you sit, "Hina, that would be amazing, I cannot wait to have a private moment to wash. You have no idea what it is like trying to strip wash on a boat full of pirates."

She looks at you with those warm and sympathetic eyes again, and sweeps some of your packages into her arms, "I can only imagine! Well, lucky for you, I ran you a bath before you got here at Pah's request."

You hop off the barstool and scoop up the rest of your purchases with a renewed spring in your step.

"Oh my gods," you turn to the men with a twirl, skirts billowing at the movement, "I love you, Pah!!"

You practically bellow the sentiment across the room and he looks up in surprise before cracking into a wide grin at your outstretched arms – raised above your head as much as they can be while loaded down with parcels and making a little heart with your fingers.

"Love you too, sweetheart!" He yells back with a goofy grin, his scar tugging at his bottom lip in that endearing way you love. You laugh as you hear Baji complain about favouritism, and catch a look of exasperation from Naoto (no doubt at being distracted from his work by the random yelling), and twirl to face Hina again.

"Thank you, Hina, you really didn't have to do that." You mean it, the prospect of a bath almost feels like too much of a luxury after the routine you have fallen into aboard the ship. Your mood has so drastically improved from moments ago that you cannot keep up.

"Nonsense! You are my guest, besides, a friend of the captain's is a friend of mine."

You smile a little tightly at her comment as she leads you towards some stairs tucked away in an alcove beside the bar. You're not sure Mikey would agree with that statement right now, you are definitely on his shit list, which is not a good place to be. You can't help but sigh at the thought, your feelings too conflicted to ponder on for long. Instead, you wonder how long Hina has known the boys and how they met. You will have to ask her later.

The spiraling ascent up the staircase makes you slightly dizzy by the time you reach the landing at the top. You note there are only four doors along the corridor stretching before you, the walls the same uneven, white plaster as the downstairs, as if it was brushed on with the careless movements of a trowel. The ceiling is lower here but has the same wooden beams reaching into the rafters, and there are small pictures adorning the walls between each door. Neat and homely. But there is one issue.

"There's only four rooms?" You ask curiously, as you follow Hina to the door nearest to the staircase on your left.

She smiles at you wickedly, "The boys have to share."

"I get a room to myself?"

She nods as she opens the door to your room, "Just you."

"Who's sharing with Baji?" You ask, as you walk into the room and look around in quiet wonder.

It is bigger than you anticipated, the roof sloping away from you towards a singular window next to the large double bed. There is a small lantern on the bedside table and a chair in the corner of the room next to the door. Opposite the bed sits a tall chest of drawers with a vanity mirror perched atop it and next to that is a coat rack and another door set into the wall, presumably leading into the bathing room. Simple but lovely, and far more than you are used to.

"I don't know, but there was a great debate as to who would be sharing with him."

"Ah yeah, no one wanted to, right?" You stop in the middle of the room and whip around with a grin.

"Correct!" Hina fails to stifle a giggle. "I heard them mention that since the captain was late back, he could have him."

You snort in disdain, "No chances there."

It's Hina's turn to look at you curiously now, "Why's that?"

"He's the captain, isn't he? And Mikey always gets what he wants one way or another…" Your mind drifts to the thought of what the captain could possibly want for, his deepest desires, before you realise Hina is waiting awkwardly for you to finish your point. You place your packages on the bed before continuing.

"Ahem," you clear your throat with an apologetic look, "and I doubt what the captain wants is to share a room with Kei."

You smile at Hina, hoping to lighten the awkward atmosphere, as you wander over to the chest of drawers.

"And who will the captain share with, new friend?" She asks wryly, as she places your packages upon the freshly made, floral-patterned sheets.

"Kenny," you immediately counter, holding up the satin robe against your frame from where it hangs on the coat rack.

Hina trots over to the door beside you and opens it into a room almost entirely taken up by bath. The square tub looks more like a pool and is set into the floor with a few steps leading into the steaming water within. Everything in here is wooden, including the small potty in the corner, except the metal sink protruding from the wall. The room is toasty warm, your own personal sauna, the scent of lavender and lily heavy in the air. You gape, mouth wide enough to catch flies.

Hina laughs at your expression, and swings the door almost shut to show you the towel hanging on a hook, "Here's your towel, and I'll hang up your robe too, just in case."

She opens the door again and reaches out a small hand to grab your satin robe from the coat rack.

"Hina?" You hesitate, as she turns to you with a smile.

"Will…will you stay? Just for a little while, you can sit in the other room and open my packages if you like! Unless you have duties downstairs, of course." You wince at your stuttering words and foolish request, you probably sound insane, asking a stranger to stay while you sit in the bath. It wasn't so unusual in your old village, but your etiquette from back then is almost useless now in this modern world.

"I thought you'd never ask!" She beams, rocking on her feet slightly.

"Are you sure? It's really okay if you have things to do, or if the request is too strange! I just…the company of another woman is nice." You smile tentatively.

Hina's delicate laugh rings throughout the bathing room, "It's not strange at all, in fact, where I'm from women bathe together all the time. This bath is actually based on the hot springs back home." She smiles in fond memory of her homeland, her features tinged with a sad longing. You can relate to that feeling all too well, and your chest aches a little for the sweet woman who stands before you.

"I've never seen anything like it," you eye the bath wistfully, "It's amazing."

Hina smiles at you gratefully, "It's my favourite room in this place."

"I can see why, truly." You don't want to be rude and evict Hina from a room in her own building but if you don't get into that water immediately you might lose your mind.

"Can I really open your packages?" Hina asks slyly.

"Absolutely! I need your opinion on my purchases, don't I? Besides, I'm about to get naked very shortly, so…"

Hina's eyes light up at the prospect of searching through your clothes and she hurries out of the room with a squeal. You smile after her, before immediately slipping out of your dress and kicking it into the corner along with your panties. Stepping into the hot water feels heavenly, and by the time you are fully submerged, your eyes have fluttered shut and a moan slips past your lips.

"Is it good?!" Hina asks eagerly from the other room, her voice slightly muffled.

"It's heavenly," you groan, as you sink into the water up to your neck, head resting on the wood behind you. The scented oils smell divine, and combined with the steam, wrap you in a warm embrace that melts all the stresses and worries of the day away.

You hear the sound of crinkling paper and a moment later Hina calls, "This corset is stunning! It perfectly matches your boots, did Mitsuya help you pick these, by any chance?"

"Actually, it was Mikey, the captain. He-" heat blooms in your face at the memory of what he said to you at the market, suddenly it feels too hot in the room, and you sit a little higher in the water, "-he helped me choose all my clothes actually, Suya was busy with vendors."

"Did he help you with these too?!" You know immediately what Hina is referring to by the tone of her voice, and you curse yourself for not remembering sooner.

"HINA! NO. He absolutely did not. I slipped them to the woman when he wasn't looking, she was very nice about it." You cover your face with your hands, washing the sweat from your pores and desperately trying not to think what Mikey would have to say about the fancy undergarments you bought at the clothes stall.

"They are very fancy! Are they for anyone?" Hina asks loudly, voice squeaky and full of glee.

You sigh loudly and grab the bar of lemon soap from the side, scrubbing your body with vigor, and relishing in the suds blooming across your skin.

"Hey! Don't go silent on me now, things just got interesting."

"I didn't have any underwear aboard the ship and I'm fed up with wearing bandages and having to wash the same pair of knickers over and over. They're a little fancy I know, but…I couldn't help myself when I saw them." You confess lightly, submerging your body again and watching the bubbles pool out across the surface of the water.

As you are leaning back to soak your hair, Hina responds in a sickly sweet tone, "That didn't actually answer my question, though." You are starting to think this angelic woman perhaps has a sting in her tail.

"You aren't as sweet as you first appear, are you, Hina?" You deflect the statement easily, voice teasing.

"Not at all." She replies humbly, "Now tell me who these are for!"

"For myself, I swear it!" You respond loudly as you finish rinsing your hair and climb out of the bath, "but…okay, you cannot tell anyone this, alright?" Your voice lowers conspiratorially as you speak through the crack of the ajar door, grabbing the towel off the hook to dry yourself hastily.

"I'm listening," Hina practically purrs, buzzing with excitement.

"Alright, that wasn't really a promise," you scoff, hanging the towel once more and sliding the soft satin robe over your shoulders in its place, revelling in the smooth and cold feel of it against your clean skin, "the undergarments really are for me, but the rest of it may, or may not, be to potentially catch the eye of a certain pirate captain."

You stress the word 'may' and finish your sentence in a rush, opening the bathroom door to an obscenely loud squeal from Hina, who is jiggling on the spot and clutching your dress to her chest.

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!" She cries, and you shush her with a finger to her lips.

She merely speaks around the digit pressed to her mouth in a lower volume, "I heard some things between the men earlier, and when you arrived it was so obvious, but I couldn't be certain until now!"

You blink in shock, your finger falling from her lips as you clutch at the robe around your chest.

"Obvious?" You repeat in horror, you can feel your eyes widening comically, and Hina only grins at you.

"Well, to my eyes, yes. A woman always knows," she smiles smugly and places your dress gently over the bedspread, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles in the fabric.

"But don't worry, I'm sure the captain doesn't know. I say go for it," you give her a stern look, "I'm sorry, I know it's not my place, but…the captain is wonderful! And what have you got to lose?"

Your heart falters in your chest, becoming impossibly heavy, and sinks to the pit of your stomach where it sits ominously. A constant reminder of how precarious your life here is. How can you keep forgetting? Every moment you deem to relax is ruined by the thought of the King and what he might do to you should you break one of his rules.

You smile sadly at Hina, "More than you know."

The words are little more than a whisper, but they reach her ears all the same, and she visibly wilts. Her eyes are downcast as she moves to leave the room, no doubt to take over bar duties from Naoto. The sounds of conversation and laughter have increased since you came upstairs, and the volume fills the room as she opens your door.

"I'm sorry…why don't you dress? I'll have your dinner waiting." She leaves before you can say another word, not that you have any to give her, to make her understand.

Instead, you merely cross the room to the door and lock it behind her, leaning your forehead against it softly with a deep sigh.

☽ ☽ ☽ ☽

The sun is now fully set as you assess your reflection in the small mirror; twisting and turning to admire your new outfit. You thank the Deities you chose a front-lacing corset. The ties were a little fiddly, especially in the flickering candlelight, but manageable at least.

Your dress is a mass of off-white curls; the front falling around your thighs in swaths of seafoam, perfectly showcasing your knee-high boots, and the back plunges in length where it skims the floorboards. The waist is pulled in by your leather corset, a rich brown that matches your boots and shows off the curve of your hips. The corset sits just under your breasts giving them an obscene lift, pillowy skin heaving over the waves at your chest. Is it too much?

You breathe in as much as the corset will allow and fiddle with your hair; it's still damp and braided back from your face. You debated leaving it down but cannot be bothered with the hassle. Chifu appeared a few minutes ago to check whether you'd be joining them for dinner and you said you'd be right down. But you take another minute to compose yourself, listening to the ruckus below, and steeling your nerves to walk downstairs. This anxiety is silly, you look great and you are just joining your friends for dinner.

Before you can chicken out, you blow out the candle by your bedside table and hurriedly leave the room.

The racket only worsens as you descend the stairs, spiralling down into the merriment below. Every table is full, every chair occupied; the cozy space is heaving with customers, all with drinks in hand and smiles on their faces. You shake your head at a group of men making fools of themselves, already inebriated past the point of sense, and hurry past another group who look your way a little too long.

Your boys are still at the round table next to the bar, tankards full and half-eaten bowls of stew in front of them. As you approach, you realise they have all bathed and dressed up for the occasion as well. Baji's hair is clean and brushed, shining like black silk in the candlelight, and he is wearing a clean pair of trousers with a matching waistcoat. You blink in surprise. He has even taken off some of his jewellery, and without his headscarf he is almost unrecognisable as a pirate. The understated look suits him.

Pah is beside him in a similar get up, his shoes polished and white shirt spotless. Draken is in his usual gear, boots and all, but they are clean tonight and he made the smart choice of wearing a shirt to dinner. Mitsuya is surprisingly the most casual of them all, wearing a loose blouse embroidered with a pretty, purple design; no doubt one of his own. His loose trousers are of a rich purple material that match exquisitely with the thread and bring out his eyes.

But, as always, it is the captain who demands your attention, who draws your eye like a moth to a flame. And it is no wonder tonight as to why that is so. His hair isn't tied back in its usual braid or falling about his face messily, in fact, he's had a haircut (when did he manage that?). The shorter strands are swept away from his forehead, slicked back with some sort of gel, leaving the pretty angles of his face bare. He's wearing his usual blouse, open at the front and showing off his muscled chest, but the coat is a new addition.

The material is a deep red, showcasing an extravagant gold stitching, and the collar is turned up against the prying eyes of others. The sleeves are pushed past his elbows in his preferred fashion, and the cuffs are folded over, probably to avoid them dipping into his dinner bowl.

His trousers are the colour of rich soil, and unlike the other men, he has a weapon in the holster at his side (though you have no doubt the other crew members have a few pocket knives stashed on their persons somewhere). The wickedly sharp cutlass is a careful warning more than anything, Mikey fights with his fists and his boots, he doesn't need anything more. Jewels glitter at his ears, throat and fingers – he looks like royalty. And you suppose, by pirate standards, he is.

You stop a short distance away, suddenly unsure whether you can do this, whether you can be around him while he looks like that and pretend that it doesn't make your gut flame and your heart tug terribly. You have half a mind to hike up your skirts and throw yourself on the table before hi-

"Hey!" Baji half-stands from his seat to wave you over, alerting the others to your presence, and your feet jerk into action. The boys all begin to cheer and call for you to join them, their cheeks rosy with alcohol, and you hurry over before they can embarrass you any further.

"Gods, I can't take you lot anywhere," you hiss at them as you thump your hands against the table, "half the damn tavern is watching us now, you fools."

"They've got quite a lot to look at," Pah winks at you, eyes roaming over your outfit appreciatively, but you know it's partly in jest.

"Down boy," you send him a wicked grin as you lean over the table, knowing full well your chest is straining against the neckline of your dress.

"Like the clothes?" You ask the men, raising an eyebrow and casting a look around the table. Despite feeling out of your depth in your current surroundings, the boys never fail to make you feel comfortable and confident, the banter comes easy and you are grateful for the distraction.

"Maybe I like them too much?" Baji cocks his head at you, looking for all he's worth like a confused puppy. "Take 'em off, I don't like this feeling!"

Mitsuya smiles into his tankard as he goes to take a sip, and you send a long-suffering eyeroll Baji's way.

You pride yourself in keeping your eye contact anywhere but at the captain, barely even glancing his way when you address the table, but you feel his eyes on you – burning a hole in your resolve. And then he speaks.

"You look delicious, and you know it, any man in here would kill to have a taste." Your heart jack hammers into your throat at the calm delivery, his low, almost predatory tone. Suya chokes on his ale next to you, and you hear Baji thumping his back enthusiastically, cackling like the idiot he is.

But your eyes don't look their way, you are too busy staring at Mikey with an intensity that would send any lesser man running. He just had to ruin your careful composure, the prick. Obscene images race through your mind, zipping behind your eyes, of him having a taste – feasting between your thighs on this very table. You suck in a breath, but otherwise make no move, despite the thrill that shoots straight to your core at his words – a zap of electricity to your aching sex. You watch as his gaze roves over your curves agonisingly slowly, deliberately pausing at your ample cleavage, before lazily meeting your eyes. He's baiting you.

Well, two can play that game.

"Any man?" You drawl your words, letting them ooze from your tongue like thick treacle as you give Mikey a once-over, not shying away from his exposed skin and lean muscle. "You know you don't look too bad yourself cap, I'm sure any man in here would kill to have a taste."

His men send up a chorus of whistles and oooh's at your response, Kenny even raps the wooden table with his knuckles as Baji thumps a beat against the floor with his feet. You ignore the buffoons, the world zeroed in on this singular moment, just you and the captain.

You smile sickeningly slow at Mikey, refusing to back down from this challenge, both of your bodies primed as weapons – your too casual stances giving away the tension in your arms and the hard set of his shoulders. Why is every interaction with him so difficult, like trying to swim through tar with your hands tied behind your back?

He smiles at you coolly, those damn eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that makes your tummy flip. The bath and fresh clothes are giving you more confidence than is smart, or maybe it's the drunken egging on of the others, either way…dangerous. It's always dangerous walking this gangplank with the captain, the threat of hungry sharks circling below should you fall. You push away from the table with more force than necessary, frustration seeping from your every pore.

"Speaking of having a taste, there is dinner to eat and I am starved. Gentlemen." You bow your head in a mock farewell and swing towards the bar, marching over to an empty stool within your line of sight. You stare at the worn wood, at the curve of its back as you walk, your marker in a sea of strangers. The blood rushing in your ears is so loud that you barely hear the other patrons, you're not even sure how you make it to the bar on your wobbly legs, the desire coursing through your veins making the mere act of breathing difficult.

But as soon as you hop onto the barstool, Hina is before you with a knowing smile and a tumbler of water, which you gratefully chug down. You raise a hand to Naoto who is pouring a pint of ale from one of the taps, and he gives you a small nod in return. Hina gives you an apologetic look as she whisks off to serve the other customers clamouring at the bar.

You sigh heavily, and only notice Chifuyu when he leans forward into your line of sight, a mere few centimetres from your face.

"Fuck, Chifuyu!!" You yelp, knocking your empty tumbler over and grabbing at your chest dramatically.

"I'm kinda offended, you didn't even see me sitting here!" He crinkles his nose adorably, large green eyes turned down with a frown.

"Sorry 'Fuyu," you apologise, "it's that hat, I didn't recognise you from behind." You smile at the page boy hat perched atop his blond locks. Odd choice for inside; he must have seen it in a shop window on the way up and made Pah stop so he could purchase it. Definitely, a Chifuyu move. You smile at the thought.

"Do you like it?!" He perks up at the mention, standing a little taller.

"You look adorable!" You coo, pinching his cheek between your thumb and forefinger. He lets you do it, but grumbles all the same, as you wiggle the skin of his face from side to side.

"At kinda 'urts, yaknow," comes his broken response, exaggerating the slur of his words for dramatic effect.

You roll your eyes and let go, watching as his pale skin flushes pink from the contact.

"Do you like your room?" He half-yells over the din of some loud men behind him.

"Yeah, it's lovely! And the bath was divine, I finally feel clean!"

"That's great! And you look wonderful, of course."

You wave a hand at the compliment and note Fuyu's look for the evening. He's gone for simple and clean, like Pah, but the hat sort of makes him look like a chimney sweep or a paper boy.

"So, what's the plan for this evening?" You jab an elbow into his ribs playfully and take delight in his 'oof' before dodging the kick he sends to your shins, swinging your legs up and out.

But your eyes quickly narrow when his round cheeks fall, green gaze flicking down into his lap, "Umm, about that…"

"No, whatever it is, no." You dismiss his shifty look and take the bowl swiftly handed to you by Naoto on his way past. Finally, dinner is here, and it smells divine – rich and herby. You wonder who made it, Naoto or Hina?

"Well, you see…we kinda have a tradition for when we finish a voyage." Chifuyu casts his eyes around, looking anywhere but at you, sentence trailing off and hanging in the air as if it will finish itself.

"Fuyu?" He looks at you then, nodding. "Get to the damn point."

He flushes under your scrutiny, "Our first night back on home soil, we visit the local brothel." He speaks in a squeaky rush, cheeks reddening even further.

You stare through him in shock, lips slightly parted as you try to form words, any words.

"I know how it sounds! But Draken used to live there. When we first came here we had no money or a place to stay, he got room and board in exchange for working as a bodyguard."

You tilt your head, unaware of this detail about Kenny's past. Right, you've only known these men for three weeks…somehow it feels longer.

"So, he goes back to visit the ladies, check up on them."

You raise your eyebrows at your small friend as you stir your stew carefully.

"O-okay, well, obviously that's not the only reason we go…" Chifuyu begins stammering so badly that you take pity on him and interrupt.

"Fuyu, it's okay. I- I get it." You finally say, having the first taste of your dinner. It's delicious, hot and spiced just right.

"You do?" He asks so innocently, head cocked to the side, that you cannot quite believe that he goes to the brothel with the rest of them.

"Yeah, it must get lonely on the open sea…" And don't you know it.

Fuyu beams at you with his sunny smile and you return the gesture, although you're fooling no one – tension is rolling off you in waves and you half expect to see it rising into the air above you.

"So…You're going soon?" You fish for details, stirring your stew again, and glancing at him from the corner of your eye.

"I think so, the lads are clearing the table now." He nods in their direction and you turn in your seat to follow his gaze.

So they are. Suya and Baj are passing the empty bowls and cutlery to Mikey and Kenny, who are stacking them neatly, and Pah is collecting their glasses between his fingers. At least they clean up after themselves, the most considerate pirates you've ever seen.

Your stomach rolls over and you look back to your stew, appetite suddenly scarce. Mikey will be going…and that means you'll be left alone. You shake your head slightly and force yourself to eat another mouthful of your food, you need the sustenance and you can't waste such a lovely meal.

"A-are you okay?" Fuyu asks you worriedly, twiddling his thumbs nervously as he watches you.

"Mhm, is everyone going? Even you and Suya?" You try to keep the nasally edge of anxiety out of your voice, instead focusing on your meal.

"Yeah, I think so. Sometimes Mitsuya bails, if he can get away with it, but the others usually bully him into it. And I…like to go." Fuyu finishes his sentence with his head ducked, hiding his flaming cheeks.

You smile despite yourself, he acts like a child scolded by his mother around you sometimes. It's sweet and adorable but you want him to know you support him all the same. Despite feeling weird about sending your little brother type off to go get laid.

You place a hand on his knee and lean forwards, "Hey, no need to go all red and blotchy, you're an adult and you can do what you want. Go have fun!"

At that moment, you happen to catch a snippet of conversation as the men draw near.

"Oh no no Suya, that ain't happening again, not on my watch!" That voice can only belong to Baji with the sheer volume of it.

"Yeah, come on Takashi, let loose a bit. You deserve to relax, enjoy the pleasures life has to offer." Kenny's deep rumble accompanies Baji's whining, and you see him shoot a smirk Mitsuya's way.

Suya only gives him an unamused look, and it's Mikey who claps him on the back as they stop beside you.

"I insist, Suya, my treat." The captain sends him a lazy smile and a slow wink, his voice leaving no room for arguments.

Mitsuya sighs heftily, glancing your way, before he gives in, "Okay okay, fine. I'll go, but only for a short while."

You visibly deflate, suddenly not feeling so confident now that your security net is being tugged out from underneath you. You spoon more stew into your mouth and listen to them talk, pretending to be unbothered by the night's events.

A cheer goes up at Mitsuya's defeat and Chifuyu downs his drink beside you before placing a hand on your shoulder.

"Don't worry, I won't take long and then I'll come back to keep you company!" You appreciate his kindness but can't manage to muster up much enthusiasm at his words, not even when Baji mumbles "Yeah, I bet you won't take long…" under his breath. Well, what Kei thinks is under his breath, so naturally everyone hears.

"Awh come on Baj! You know I didn't mean it like that, why you gotta embarrass me in front of everyone!" Chifuyu whines at him as he lets go of your shoulder to join the others.

"I feel bad for your lil girlfriend, ya sure you pleasing her right?" Baji continues loudly, pulling snorts from some of the others and more whining from Fuyu.

"She's not my girlfriend," he pouts petulantly, but you notice a warning there, a hint of hostility and…sadness. You will definitely be asking Fuyu about this later.

"Come onnnn, you ask for the same chick every time! You're smitteeennn," Baji dances around Chifuyu as he baits him, prodding the bear cub. Good luck to whoever is bunking with Baj tonight.

Mitsuya drifts to your side during the commotion and you finish your last spoonful of stew before twisting in your seat to lean your head against his arm.

"Will you be okay?" He murmurs to you, "You can come with us if you like? I'm sure the girls would love you, they have a tea room." He adds, as if tea makes the prospect of waiting for the captain to finish fucking a girl who isn't you any more provocative.

You tilt your head up to look into his face, and find that he's already looking down at you, with those calming lavender eyes.

"If it was just tea then I'd jump at the chance but…I just can't 'kashi, you know that." Your voice is steady and serious, and you commend yourself for keeping your emotions in check.

The use of his first name (reserved for the most serious of matters only) makes Mitsuya gaze at you with so much sympathy that you have to look away, turning your head to watch the others instead. To watch Mikey. He doesn't look your way this time, and you wonder if this is all some kind of punishment, some cruel trick orchestrated by Him.

"I know," he says quietly. And he does know, he always has. Too perceptive for his own good. You wouldn't be surprised if he even knew why you are in so much inner turmoil – if he sussed out exactly who, and what, you are.

"I won't be gone long, promise, I just have to stay around long enough that the others get off my back."

"You mean you're not gonna…take up the services offered?" You ask carefully, voice confused.

"No, I'll probably just sit with the ladies for a while." His voice drops even lower and you look up at him once more at the tone. "They like the company," He clarifies with a smile, but he knows as well as you that is not what your look was asking. You decide to drop the subject though, since he is always considerate of your privacy.

You hug his arm tightly as you say your farewells, "I can't believe you're leaving me, you turd!"

He chuckles at your insult, pressing a kiss to the top of your head as you pout, and extricates his arm from your grip.

"I'll be back soon, as promised," he runs a hand through his cropped hair absentmindedly, "besides, you have Hina to keep you company."

That is true. You cannot complain about that, you already find her company delightful and refreshing. Maybe it will do you good to be away from the men for a while, to be a little less codependent and brave the world on your terms. After all, isn't that the aim of this little farce? You sigh, being human is far harder than you remember.

"Alright, you sad lot, get outta here!" You pray your dismissive and falsely cheerful tone convinces them that you are not about to have a fucking meltdown.

They each give you a goodbye; Baji claps your back like he's so fond of doing, Draken pats your head affectionately and Chifuyu even races back to your side for a hug. You allow him the gesture because he's so sweet, how can you not? Your smile feels obscenely wide, almost splitting your face in two as you fight to keep it together until they are gone.

"Oh, and Fuyu?" You force the words out as he turns to leave.

"Yeah?"

"Ditch the hat until you get back, buddy." You shake your head once and snatch the hat from his crown.

He smiles cheekily at you before bounding after the others. You watch as they exit the door and it swings shut behind them, that darn bell ringing cheerfully, snickering at your pathetic form at the bar. All alone.

You turn away from the door, swallowing the bitter taste in your mouth, and raise a hand at Hina who is walking towards you from across the bar.

You pick up your metal tumbler from where it is abandoned on its side and hold it out unceremoniously, "I'm gonna need something a lot stronger this time round, Hina."

Her brows raise in silent question before she notices the absence of the men. Her face becomes hard, brows furrowing slightly, obviously she knows all about their little tradition. She seems surprised and maybe a little disappointed that they have left this time though, good, maybe you have an ally in your misery tonight.

She takes your cup and immediately reaches for a bottle of something golden, maybe rum or whiskey, you don't really care. You might as well enjoy yourself, get to know some people, experience alcohol properly for the first time in your life. An adventure, an experience, that's what this was. And heck, this is what you've wanted for millennia isn't it?

You take the double serving from Hina's delicate fingers and down it in one swallow, savouring the liquid fire that warms your insides, all the way from your throat through to your stomach.

☽ ☽ ☽ ☽

You're drunk. How many drinks have you had? Four? Twenty? Who knows, you were pissed after the first two. It seems you are a bit of a lightweight, which all things considered, makes sense.

You thought a couple of drinks might loosen you up, help with the anxiety and loneliness, but…you may have gone overboard, just a tad. But really they are to blame, your so called friends. How dare they leave you? Especially Mikey, that fucking pirate dick. You opened up to him, let him woo you, and he leaves a man behind? To fend for themselves?

"I really think you've had enough," comes a soft voice from somewhere in front of you. You raise your head and squint at Hina across the bar top, Chifuyu’s hat slipping and partially obscuring your vision, her features are painted with concern.

"I'm fiiine!" The words come out stilted despite your best efforts to sound breezy and casual. You adjust the cap on your head, putting it at a jaunty angle.

"You're definitely not. You are one drink away from bringing up your dinner and so help me Gods if you puke in my bar." Naoto gives you a hard look, but you see the same concern in his dark eyes that you do in Hina's light ones. They pity you.

"Look guysh," you frown at the slur in your voice, "I'm good, I'm having fun! Another round!" You raise your arms above your head and elbow the lad next to you.

"Come on Brian, whaddya say? Another round on me!" The man chuckles at your wobbling frame and agrees heartily, slamming his tankard on the counter.

Hina looks at you in disbelief, "But you have no money, you've been putting the last few drinks on a non-existent tab!" She wrings her hands and you can sense her fretting from a few feet away.

Well, now you feel bad. Fuck. You scramble to sit up straight so that you can lean across the bar and look her dead in the eyes.

"Hina, baby, it's okay! It is a exi- an exish- a real tab!" She lets out a snort at your struggles, but you see a small smile there too, so you forge on. "Put it on Manjirou Sano's tab," you sneer at the name and stick out your tongue.

Let the fucker pay for your mistakes tonight, it sure as fuck will be cheaper than his. You snort at your own joke and Hina gives you a worried side glance. Right, should probably speak out loud to avoid people thinking you're batshit.

Hina thunks a tankard in front of you, and you smile dreamily at her, reaching for the alcohol eagerly. You take a long gulp, only to sputter it all down yourself upon realising what it is.

"This is water!" You pout at her, affronted.

"Earlier, you were begging for water," she smirks at you wryly, and you narrow your eyes. The gorgeous wretch. "You better drink all of it too, the whole pint."

The stern warning in her voice is enough to have you gulping down the whole lot, smacking your lips with a sigh once you're done. That hits the spot, and also makes your tongue feel less fuzzy, maybe you will listen to Hina after all.

"Better?" She asks amusedly, as you hold out your arm for more.

"Yesssss." You hiss the word at her, hanging your head against your outstretched arm.

"It's getting late, no doubt they'll be back soon," she tries to soothe you, using her soft voice again, but it only makes you angrier.

"Fuck them," you grumble, "and fuck the captain. He left me."

Hina sighs as she takes your tankard from you and refills it. You look up at her as you drop your arm with a thump. The bar is quieter now, only one group remains and the rest are stragglers, lone wolves drowning their sorrows. Much like yourself. It means Hina has some down time to chat while she cleans up.

"Do you know how I met the captain?" She asks quickly. You look at her with a frown, you don't, and it is something you had wanted to know earlier. But now talking or thinking about him leaves a sour taste on your tongue, or maybe it's the alcohol. You wonder if he's finished fucking yet or if he paid for a double session.

She takes a deep breath, readying herself for the tale, hands busy polishing a tumbler with a rag, "Naoto and I were born in The East, that's where we were all born," she begins, and you nod because you know this much at least, "we lived a simple life, but it was a good one. We had parents who loved us and a roof over our heads. But all that changed after he came into our lives." She stops abruptly, giving a disgusted look, but you see the fear in her eyes – peering into the metal tumbler as if she can see the face of the one who haunts her.

"He was a bad man. A man who became obsessed with me an unhealthy amount, enough to eventually threaten me…my family. All so that I would submit to him and be his." Your head throbs so sharply that your vision blurs, and you grip your tankard harshly, focusing on the look on Hina's face. The devastation, the fear, the anger. All because a man thought himself entitled to her life, her body, her attention. It is all too familiar, your own memories hanging over you like a thunder cloud.

You swallow a heave, stomach gurgling unhappily, and lift your tankard with a shaky hand to take a small sip. Anything to keep you busy and settle the roiling in your gut.

"He stopped at nothing…" Hina whispers in horror, looking ahead with hollow eyes. Your heart cracks, splintering down the middle, and you find yourself reaching out a wobbly hand to clutch hers. She grips you tightly with cold fingers and you stroke the back of her hand with a thumb instinctually.

She turns her stare to you then and the glazed over look clears a little, a smile stretching her lips as she squeezes your hand in gratitude.

"So Mikey helped me escape, they all did, and offered us the money to start this lil' business." Hina looks around the room with fond eyes and a shrug of her shoulders, as if it is no big deal – but her face says otherwise. They are bonded, you realise, will always have a connection and understanding after what they've been through together. Just like you and the crew.

Hina looks at you seriously, her lips pinched together in a thin line, as she contemplates what to say next. You are too stunned to speak just yet, so you simply clutch her hand and listen.

"I don't know what's going on between you and the captain, and I won't presume to know, or ask about it again but…" she pauses, beautiful eyes framed with thick lashes, "despite his faults, he's a good man. Without him I wouldn't be here, nor would Naoto. We owe him our lives."

You look at the grain of the countertop beneath you, your brain sluggish from the alcohol as you try to catch onto your train of thought. You drink the rest of your water, taking large gulps, and relishing in the little clarity it brings you. Hina told you this in case you had doubts about Mikey's character, but that was never the issue to begin with. The issue is that Mikey is a good man, perhaps too good, so different from the brutes you are used to. You could do without the sulking and brooding mind you, but hell, you cannot cast stones in that greenhouse.

No. The issue is that you like Mikey more than you care to admit, but you cannot have him, are forbidden to have him – it's nothing to do with him at all. But how can you possibly make anyone understand without revealing the truth? Not that it matters anyway. You've successfully pushed him away and that was the aim but…it seemed more manageable when he wasn't pushed into the arms of another.

Just as you are about to answer Hina, you hear the tinkle of a tiny bell.

☽ ☽ ☽ ☽

Mikey pushes open the door to the tavern with a shoulder, running a hand through his stiff hair, and wondering if you're still up. The boys stumble in behind him, exhausted and decidedly less noisy than earlier, dragging their feet over the floorboards as they enter.

He doesn't have to wonder for long, as his eyes meet yours across the room, wearing Chifu's hat as you lounge against the bar top. You immediately hop off your stool, wavering on your feet, and grab the counter for support. Oh, you've been drinking. Mikey watches with amusement as you march towards them, your hands out for balance, well you can walk…just about. That's a good sign.

"Hey guyssssss," you greet them happily, eyelids heavy as you smile around at them.

"You're drunk." He states before anyone can respond, giving you a once over, checking for any signs of distress or trouble. You're fine, you've had Hina and Naoto watching over you, after all. Good. He doesn't know what he would do if he had left you and you weren't fine.

"And what of it?" You demand, resting your hands on your hips defiantly.

The men look between you both with wide eyes, working out whether it's worth it to stick around for this one.

"What did you expect me to do when you left? Hope your lil' trip was worth it, did you have a good fuck?" You spit at him bitterly, eyes flashing with anger and hurt.

Mikey bites his tongue hard, almost drawing blood, he deserves that one. But the look on his face coupled with your venomous words must have sealed the men’s decisions, for they all quickly scatter, making their way over to Hina to no doubt say goodnight. Chifu stops briefly to snatch his hat from your head before running off with it. The only one who lingers is Mitsuya, ever your protector and watchdog.

"You can do whatever you like, you're an adult, as am I." He doesn't know why he responds that way, maybe to piss you off, maybe because you shouldn't be this angry at him. Not after you made it very clear you aren't interested in him like that. He understands being mad about being left, it was a shitty thing for them to do on your first night here, but the comment about a good fuck? He can't work you out.

"Whatever, fuck you." It's a mumbled response, obviously meant as a dismissal, but he can't help the response that rises from his throat at the insult.

"Would you like to?" His outward appearance is cool and cocky, completely at odds with his inner self.

"I- you-" you stutter over your words, staring between him and Mitsuya with your mouth open.

"Relaaax, I was just joking!" He grins at you, and you blink at him slowly for a few seconds before you speak.

"And what if I had said yes?" Your tone is light, taunting, laced with a challenge. As it so often is when you engage him in wordplay. Better this than the anger and bitterness. Mitsuya quickly makes himself scarce.

"Alright, you, it's time for bed." His tone is firm, laced with slight amusement, despite the rush of blood your words sent to his crotch. You seem to think twice on his words before you nod warily, a yawn taking over you. It seems he's in luck; your sudden fatigue, understandable after the long day you've had, seems to quell your anger. You stumble slightly on your way to the stairs and he steadies your hips with two warm hands, and you let him, using his strength to guide you up the steps slowly.

"I can't believe you got so drunk," he comments lighty, feeling out your mood, trying to determine the exact level of your anger with him.

"I'm not that drunk," you hiccup, the sound betraying your own words, "Besides, what else was I to do when you all left me on my first night in a strange city?" Your tone is accusatory as you try to turn in his grasp so that you can glare at him. He doesn't blame you, he did a shitty thing out of spite and anger and…desperation. So desperate for you to want him the way he wants you. So desperate for you to let him in, even for a second. He knows you are hiding something and he wishes you would just tell him so that he could help, or simply just listen.

He stays quiet, mulling over what exactly he can say to you, how he can bridge this gap between the two of you. How can he make you understand? He helps you up the last step and guides you to your room that is, thankfully, close to the stairs. You turn the knob with a fumbling hand and stumble into the room slightly, Mikey's hands still resting over your hips as he follows you. You stop in the middle of the floor as he kicks the door shut behind him. The quiet of the room permeates the atmosphere and settles in his brain, his breaths suddenly too loud – too telling.

"I shouldn't have left you alone." He mumbles, his lips practically brushing your hair, and he is suddenly very aware of all the places you are almost touching. His hands on your hips are a lifeline in a sea of pheromones and urges, his muscles taut with restraint to stop himself from pulling you into him – to make you understand the easy way, with actions rather than words. But he knows that isn't how you communicate, that you can't just yet, and so he restrains himself.

You turn in his arms slowly, his hands now resting on your lower back cautiously, and you lay your palms flat against his chest. He wonders if you can feel the erratic thumping of his heart against your skin, the way he feels it against his ribcage, if you can tell it is beating for you.

You then cast your gaze up to his, eyes wide, and whisper, "Then why did you?"

You are so close to him that he is sharing your breaths, the air between you heated. His hands rest on your back tentatively, despite his ache to hold you close, just enough to keep you upright but still establishing boundaries. The boundaries he knows you like to keep.

But you are so fucking close and even this minimal contact feels like too much, like an honour he hasn't yet earned. He wants you so badly he can't breathe, scared that if he does, if he moves...he doesn't know what he'll do. Not with you looking at him like that.

But he manages to hold onto the shreds of his composure and answer you roughly, "Because I'm an idiot, clearly. "

The only light is from the window, the moon washing the room in a silver haze, and if it's possible you drift closer to him....and he cannot help but notice the beads of sweat rolling down your temples, the ethereal glow of your skin in the full moons light, the way your lips part ever so slightly-

And then your head drops forward and thumps onto his chest, startling him from his assessment of your beauty. You begin giggling uncontrollably, your body shaking in his arms with the action, your laughter vibrating across his skin from your proximity.

"Finally...something we can..agree on!" You gasp out around your laughter as you look up at him once more, eyes shining. And he cannot help but grin at you like the fool he is. He cannot help but to be pulled into your orbit, circling you like a lonely moon hoping to witness a glimpse of the life and colour you possess within.

You sigh dramatically, your hands gripping his shoulders for stability, when exactly your touch slipped from his chest he doesn't know, but as you lift your head the thought crosses his mind – that he might just get to breach your atmosphere and experience that colour and life after all. And then your mouth is on his, so impossibly soft, catching his bottom lip between your own. The sweet caress of your flesh is so gentle that he feels as if he might shatter under your attentive care – and it ends far too soon.

You pull back ever so slightly, as if to allow him the freedom to pull away, your dampened lips catching on his chapped ones – reluctant to part. He marvels at your ability to doubt yourself, as if he could ever reject any piece of you, not as you offer it so sweetly. A slice just for him, some confirmation that you feel the same emotion blossoming in your veins that he does, that you want him.

He doesn't waste a second before he slots his lips with yours once more. His hands rush to cup your cheeks in his palms; to deepen the kiss, to reassure you that you are wanted, to keep you there…in his grasp for just a little longer. He doesn't have to worry about the spaces between you anymore, because there are none, your front flush with his – slotting together like puzzle pieces.

You sigh into his mouth as he parts your lips with a stroke of his tongue, the taste of sea salt and sugar intoxicating his senses, blooming on his tongue and filling his lungs – he drinks you down like a sweet rum. Your fingers fist in his hair, pulling on the gelled strands and mussing them, and he groans so low it's barely a rumble. The small noise seems to alert you to the reality of what is happening and you pull away from him with a gasp. Your plump lips are wet and shiny, with his spit or yours he isn't sure, parted so perfectly for him that he aches to dive back in and have his tongue explore every inch of your mouth.

But he doesn't. Instead his calloused hands slip from your face, thumbs resting in the hollows of your cheeks, as he cups the back of your neck. Your own hands are still tangled in his hair, and you slowly press your forehead against his own, not quite ready to leave his embrace. The firm touch is far more intimate than anything Mikey has experienced, and it is a struggle to keep his breaths steady and his eyes dry.

"I'm sorry for earlier," he whispers, breath pausing as he seeks the correct words, "for lashing out and acting a chil-"

You interrupt him with a soft shh and a finger to his lips, "-you don't need to apologise, I'm equally to blame for the petty behaviour and…you've given and given, since the first day I met you, and I've only selfishly taken it and then pulled away. I'm just so confused." He realises the wetness on his cheeks isn't his own as you sniffle quietly, voice breaking with emotion.

"I don't know what to do, Mikey." You breathe the words into his skin, lips hovering over his as tears roll down your cheeks and spatter onto both your chests.

He pulls you impossibly closer, the heaving of your chest pressing into the skin and bone over his heart, and your noses squishing together.

"You don't have to keep everything inside," he murmurs, "you don't have to protect me, or anyone, from who you are or what you feel. Not if you don't want to." He aches so badly, he isn't sure where it hurts most. He just wants to hold you, pepper you with kisses, reassure you of all the doubts and insecurity he knows are brimming beneath your skin.

"I…thank you."

You say the words with such a defeated tone that he knows you have more to say, he can feel it between you, unspoken and festering. There is something you haven't told him, haven't told anyone, and it's eating you alive. But he doesn't push, baby steps, this is progress after all. He will wait for as long as you need, he will wait even if you never tell him, even if tonight is all he gets. This one selfish night. You're wrong, he is the selfish one, for though he may wait for you to come to him…he won't give up on you – on this. He can't.

"Okay, time for bed." You need rest. You need to think about this when you're sober, he hopes you don't regret it in the morning – kissing him.

You allow him to guide you to the large bed in the centre of the room and as soon as your knees hit the edge you flop onto the mattress with a huff. You've flipped that switch again, letting the vulnerability slip behind the inebriated mask, too tired to care that you are fully clothed and still have your boots on. He snorts at you, spread-eagled on the cover, and pulls one of your legs towards him and begins unlacing the boot with practiced fingers. When he's done with the first he starts on the other, slowly pulling the laces free from their hooks, and then sliding the leather from your foot. He places them by your bedside table gently.

You stay as you are, flat on the bed and your eyes closed, breathing evenly. You're not asleep just yet though, so Mikey reaches over to pull the tie on your corset. Your eyes shoot open as you watch him slowly unlace the bodice, and he wills his hands to remain steady, focusing on the task so that his mind doesn't think too hard about how close his fingers are to your bosom. Your breathing is heavier now, only making his job that much harder, your clothed skin brushing his hands with every inhale. He continues to unlace the corset slowly until it lays limp at your sides.

He wordlessly tugs on the cover underneath you, motioning for you to move. You roll slowly across the bed with little dignity, dress twisting around your legs and corset abandoned to the floor, he manages to lift the covers up and over you. You look so cute rolling around lazily and he wants to laugh at the way you tangle yourself up with another huff. But just as he pulls his arm back, to retreat to his room and toss and turn in his bed with thoughts of you, your hand shoots out and grips his sleeve.

"Did you sleep with her?" Your voice is so sad and small in the silence that he almost doesn't recognise it as your own.

"With who?" His breath is painful in his lungs, chest tight.

You tut, as if to say, 'you know who'.

But you only mumble, "One of the women?"

He hesitates, weighing his answer and whether you will believe him or not, but honesty is the best policy.

"...No." Truthfully, he only went to the brothel because he was mad... and he was hoping it would make you jealous. Judging by how the night is going, he thinks he may have succeeded. He hates the method he used but is glad of the results.

"Did you sleep with any men?"

He smiles at the second question, the curiosity in your voice.

"No, I did not."

A pause, as if you are trying to decide whether he speaks the truth.

Your next words are a whisper, your fingers tightening in his sleeve, "...please don't leave me again."

His heart throbs in his chest so painfully he almost groans, and against his better judgement, he agrees.

"I won't." Even to his own ears the words sound like so much more than a simple response. It is a confession, a prayer to the Gods that he may never have to leave you, or you him. It is a promise. Because now that he's had a taste, he is completely in your thrall, entirely at your mercy. He wonders if you realise just how badly.

You tug on his sleeve insistently and shuffle across the mattress – making room for him. He hesitates. The kiss is one thing, already a step too far, but this feels…he doesn't want to take advantage, even though nothing further will happen, he won't let it.

You turn your face up to look at him, the shadows stealing your pretty features, the moon low in the sky behind you – so bright and full.

"It's okay," you reassure him, as if you can read the thoughts whizzing around inside his skull, "I promise."

Your firm tone convinces him and he shrugs off his jacket before climbing into bed beside you, careful to leave some room between your bodies. It's a fine line between being considerate and treating you like you're weak, he hopes he never makes you feel that way. He knows how strong you are, loves to push you because he knows you can handle it, but he has to admit…he is terrified of seeing that panic he did on the day you trained together. He doesn't ever want to be the cause of such fear and anguish in you. He wants to be the exact opposite, in fact.

But it seems Mikey needn't fret, because as soon as he's settled you scoot into his space, stopping once your back meets his chest. You curl your legs into foetal position and reach behind you for his hand, stretching your fingers wide. He places his larger, rougher hand into your soft, lightly calloused one. Your skin has thickened and your muscles have grown with your time on his ship and it suits you. It suits you too well, being at sea, with him and his crew.

Your fingers lace through his and he swears he sees stars as you wrap your joined hands around your middle. He didn't think he'd ever get this close to you, certainly not after how the day went, but he sends a wordless thank you up to the Deities. You turn your cheek into your shared pillow and within seconds he can hear the sleep in your deep breaths and feel it in your relaxed muscles. He takes a moment to breathe in the scent of your skin and shampoo, lavender and lemon, the strands of your hair tickling his nostrils.

"G'night." He whispers your name into the room, indulging in the way your body clings to his warmth, and slowly allows his eyes to become heavy and his brain to rest.

Thanks so much for reading! 💙

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