A Pirate's Life for Me Part 10

Heero crouched beside the cannon, occasionally leaning forward to look at the two ships behind them- one from the South- the other from the Southwest, both getting closer by the moment.

"Don't look so worried," said the pirate on the other side of the cannon with a faint smile. "This crew is the toughest I've ever shipped with. Bunch of mad dogs." She showed her teeth in a grin. "We won't go down without a fight."

Heero remembered that Lucrezia had said something along the same lines. "Miss Lucrezia said that too- when I first got on board."

The pirate nodded. "It's the truth. How are you in a fight?"

"I've never been in a fight on a ship- on land... well, I'm still here."

She lifted an eyebrow. "Been in a lot of fights?"

"A few."

"Ah, well, it's not that much different than a fight on land- though you can't really run away and there's a chance of drowning."

Heero smiled a little. "So, kind of like fighting on a bridge. Okay, I can do that."

"You'll have to tell me the story of your life someday," she chuckled. "Bet it's an adventure."

"You mean it's not already known all over the ship?"

She laughed outright. "Only a few of the details. Apparently the Captain is very pleased with you."

Heero looked out at the ships, hoping he hadn't turned red. Were they farther away? Duo seemed sure the ship could outrun them...

"I try my best," he said and hoped she'd change topics.

"I'm sure you do."

Since that didn't work, Heero tried another ploy. "If you don't mind me asking, why is this the toughest crew you've ever sailed with?"

The look in her eyes made him wish he hadn't asked. "Because they'd rather die than go back to their old lives."

Seeing his look of incomprehension, she shook her head. "Think man. Pirate ships capture a ship- and what happens to the crew of those ships?"

"Killed, or let go or..." Heero realized what she was getting at. "Made to join the crew."

"Exactly." The woman nodded. "There's a lot of women on here who were impressed into service on a ship- and not all of them were pirate ships. And most of the service had nothing to do with sailing the ship."

Heero shook his head, horrified. "No wonder you're all willing to fight so hard."

"You have no idea." She pushed her hat back and smiled a little. "When the ship I was on was captured by this one- it was like being saved out of hell. That's why we'd do anything for the Captain." She leaned over a little to look out at the two ships- and her eyes widened.

Heero followed her gaze and then stood up to lean over the railing. "Is it just me, or does it look like Whitebeard's ship is getting awfully close to the hunters?"

"It's not you." The woman shaded her eyes. "He's turned his ship- he's not on our course anymore..."

They weren't the only two to notice the difference. Pirates were racing madly over the decks, climbing the rigging to get a better view.

"Maybe we weren't Whitebeard's target?"

"Or maybe he decided that a shipload of hunters was a better haul?"

The boom of a cannon echoed across the water. There was no answering splash in the waters around them- only a splintering crash from the hunters' ship.

Another cannon shot rang out, followed by another crash. The two ships were slowing, the hunters returning the cannon fire. White smoke drifted across the water.

Between the smoke and the growing distance, it was harder to see what was going on- but to Heero it looked as if the ships were now side by side, still firing cannons into each other- but now other sounds echoed across the water.

Heero closed his eyes briefly as the screams reached his ears, made faint by the distance, but still blood chilling.

He wondered which ship would survive- it would be better for them if the hunters went down...

Relena was on that ship, he realized with a sudden sickening surge. If the hunters were captured- she'd be in Whitebeard's hands... and even if she managed to convince them of her value as the governor's daughter... well, more than likely things would go very badly for her.

But... he couldn't go back and save her from this. He couldn't ask Duo to risk his crew for a girl that had set the hunters on them in the first place... couldn't ask this crew to put themselves at risk...

He strained his eyes, watching the battle as long as he could, until the two ships looked like tiny toy boats, blurred by smoke...

He missed the order to stand down, missed Duo's approach.

"We've got a good lead now," Duo said quietly over his shoulder and Heero started in surprise.

"Can we keep it?" Heero asked, turning around to face his Captain.

"As longs as the wind favors us, I think so." Duo shrugged. "I don't know if Whitebeard was after us and the hunters got in his way- or if he was after the hunters." He turned and looked at the pirate Heero had been talking to, still beside him on the rail. "Hilde needs you, Doro."

"Aye aye, Captain," she said and grinned at Heero as she sauntered off.

Heero looked back at the ships and Duo moved closer. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Heero said, knowing it was a lie, but not able to admit that he was slightly worried about a girl who had given him so much trouble. It wasn't like Duo could turn the ship around and go get her- and Heero wouldn't ask him to do it. "Just- can't believe that they started fighting each other."

"Hm," Duo replied, frowning a little. "Let's hope they keep at it long enough not to be a problem for us." He glanced over the railing and then focused back on Heero. "I take it that friend of yours isn't cooperating?"

Heero shook his head. "No sir. Though... considering the circumstances, maybe he will be now."

"Circumstances?" Duo looked puzzled for a minute. "Ah, right. That jade of his would have been with the hunters- unless she had the sense enough to stay in town."

"I doubt it."

"Hm, well, if he wants we can drop him off in the next town so he can get a crew together to go find her." He met Heero's eyes. "I'm not going to risk my crew to the danger she brought with her."

"I think that's for the best."

Duo nodded. "Go talk to him and then report."

"Aye aye sir."

~*~

Wufei turned pale when Heero told him about the battle.

"She'd be on that ship."

"The Captain wants to know if you want to be dropped off in the next port to go after her."

Wufei put his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Heero waited.

"What do I have to do?"

"Cooperate."

Wufei twitched restlessly. "Will they untie me?"

Heero nodded. "I don't think they'd let you out of the cell until we reached the port, but yes, the Captain did say your confinement would be eased."

"Fine. I'll tell them whatever I can."

"Very well," Heero headed for the door. "I'll go tell the Captain right away."

"Heero-"

He turned back towards the cell and waited.

"If I do go... I suppose it's impossible that I could get you to come with me?"

Heero shook his head. "Even if I could break my oaths and leave- I can't stand between you and Relena anymore."

"You're right," Wufei turned his head away. "I only hope she sees it that way."

~*~

Duo nodded when Heero finished. "Very good." He turned to Hilde and smiled. "Care to go interview our captive?"

"Happily." She smiled back. "I'll take good care of him," she added in an aside to Heero and moved away.

"Will she?"

Duo nodded. "Don't worry, she'll be gentle- as long as he cooperates." He studied his cabin boy. There was still something... he got the feeling Heero was hiding something from him...

"You look tired," he said, knowing he'd get the problem out eventually. "Go rest."

"I wasn't the only one up all night." Heero retorted. "You need rest too."

"Once I'm sure we have a good lead, I will," Duo promised. "In the meantime- go make use of the bed. That's an order."

Heero looked like he was going to protest again, but he didn't. He nodded and headed down to the cabin.

Duo rubbed the back of his neck. It was one thing being a wanted pirate- always looking over your shoulder for the Navy. It was another thing knowing that there were possibly two ships out there gunning for you.

He hoped Whitebeard had been after the Commodore and his hunters.

"Captain?"

"Cook," Duo acknowledged, turning to find Quatre beside him. "See you dropped the ruse."

Quatre shrugged. "Kind of silly to keep pretending to be a girl when the whole crew knows differently."

"What do you need? Did we get enough stores?"

Quatre nodded. "Plenty- no worries there. I came up to talk to you about Barton."

Duo frowned. "What about him? Is he causing trouble?"

"No, nothing like that. Just... I have a feeling he wasn't being honest about how he ended up with us."

"What makes you say that?"

"He has a mark here," Quatre pointed to a spot below his collarbone. "It's in the shape of an albatross. And he... says things in his sleep."

Duo wondered idly how the cook knew that. As far as he knew, Barton was supposed to be sleeping down with the rest of the crew instead of in the cook's quarters... "What kind of things?"

"A lot about Whitebeard- and the albatross- and begging to be let go... I think he was on the ship for awhile." Quatre shifted, uncomfortable. "I know it sounds kind of odd, but..."

"It's possible." Duo frowned. "He may not have wanted to admit it- or he was sent here to weaken us..."

"He hasn't done anything against anyone- I've been watching him very closely."

That was a quick defense, Duo thought, and hid a smile.

"See if you can get him to confess to you- just for our own peace of mind. Thank you for reporting this."

"Of course Captain," Quatre smiled. "Thank you."

~*~

It was much later when Duo finally made it to his own quarters. Heero was sleeping soundly, spread out across the bed, the sheets tangled around his golden skin.

Duo would've been terribly tempted if he hadn't been ready to fall on his face.

Heero's eyelids flickered when Duo fell into bed beside him.

"There you are," he murmured and slid close. "'Bout time."

"I am the Captain, you know," Duo murmured back, reaching out to pull Heero closer. "I had to... you know... do the Captaining..." Heero's body was warm under his hands.

"Stop that," Heero ordered. "Sleep first. You can molest me in the morning."

"I'll hold you to that." Duo smiled and fell asleep.

TBC...

 

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