[Closed Log] Pet Pet There There (Gaara & Sai) Part 2
Character(s): Gaara & Sai (Itachi)
Date: Late Autumn/Early Winter
Setting: 愛 Tavern, Trinidad
Summary: After the confrontation with Itachi, Gaara returns back to Trinidad with Sai to keep him company
Warning(s): Sexual references, coconut addictions, bonding
Sai had not seen that fleeting moment of weakness that the normal strong man had, well he did notice it but he didn't know why he would be doing such a thing as leaking water, not even knowing that they were tears that were falling. The little memories that he had left of his mother he could see her doing that, staring at her artwork smiling at the perfect picture that she had created knowing for sure that this time it would be the masterpiece that would bring her to fame, then a sudden change without reason brought her to sorrow to openly weep at the portrait, another quick change tearing the canvas vowing never to create again hating everything that she accomplished until once again she was instantly happy again. Very strange it was, each emotion was tossed around wildly shown in the wrong context, in one hand telling him how proud she was of that drawing that she had drawn of them together holding hands, the next she was throwing it back in his face letting him know how worthless it was. Human feelings just didn't hold any ground for him not when you are lead to believe that being good is bad and affection is to be pushed away. What else to do but keep a blank face.
"These ones don't taste good" he commented screwing his face up at the substance in his mouth that tasted like leather, opening his mouth up pushing the munched up pre-chewed food into his hand. At least now he had discovered that he didn't like the taste of cheese, that was one food he was going to stay well clear of for the rest of his time. All of the miraculous new things that he got to try, some was discovered that he liked and some he didn't, actually most he didn't, watching the men at the dinner table with a thick juicy half rare leg of mutton in their hand, tearing off chunks to cycle through the chewing process made his stomach churn. It looked too disgusting to try. At least grit would always be a cheap way out for any master who had him, he was picky for the finer things in edible substances.
The mound of crap dropped onto the side of the plate wiping the rest off on his pants before looking up at Gaara, pointing to his shoulder asking him "Did you win?" while continuing to point to himself so he knew what he was talking about, indicating the scratches he had over him. To be marked like that he would have gotten into a fight... or been punished.
It was becoming stranger by the moment, the long he and Sai had spent together the more and more their lives seemed entwined in the way things had panned out in their tragic past. The separate ways they had grown to accommodate such history was different, Gaara finding peace and comfort knowing he was pretty much his own master with the accepting of doing deeds for those still above him, while Sai found his own level mind (if anyone could call it that) in his art. A sad combination, but yet oddly enough, comforting to have someone around the young Captain of his own age so that maybe perhaps they may both discover what was missing for so long. A friend? He shook his head from foolish thoughts as the question he had asked grazed passed his lips like a casual conversation.
"I won in some ways, but in the end....I was conquered." He stated, turning pale eyes upward to the the wide dark eyes of his clueless interrogator. A hand reached over, dragging thin fingers over his naked chest to the mark left behind of the memory. His open palm doing it's best to hide the mark, but failing as the bruise was deep as the cut in his leg, the swelling spreading wide over his usual flawless skin. Slowly he lifted the sandwich to his mouth taking a small bite wanting badly to take this time to forget,hoping that the meal itself would be enough to take his mind off things. But in his life there had only been one thing he could turn to that would sooth his broken mind, his aching soul.
"Do you read, Sai?" He perked up again, turning his attention to him in a small cork of his chin to him in question.
Which sandwich to try next, the oozing yellow unknown substance in a jar reminded him of liquid cheese except for the overly bright appearance, scooping his finger along the run off sucking on the digit cautiously gathering the flavour on his tastes buds, a bit undecided about that one. It tasted bitter and sweet at the same time with a hint of sour... well what Sai could think was sour from the wrinkled mouth around the finger, screwing his face up from the instant reaction to the citrus fruit that had been used to make this stuff. Eating for the moment might be put on hold until he could work out exactly what each thing was.
"I read quite a lot when I have the chance. If we received praise from a buyer on our return we were rewarded with free time to do whatever we wanted for a few hours and if the weather was raining then my master allowed me to go and read from his personal study since none of the others were smart enough to do it and they just wanted to play games outside" To Sai the thought of just playing was stupendous, why would someone want to do that? Like idiots they would run around happily slapping each other across the back in a strange form of tag, then the other would chase them around so the never ending cycle continued until they were called back inside, once again hitting instant depression from the life they were forced to live in. It made no sense on why to do such foolish things to get their hopes up knowing what was waiting for them in return. The life of the slave wasn't bad in his mind, better than being on the streets whimpering at someones feet for food for their starving body, sleeping out in the cold nights trying to seek any material that could be used as warmth. He had a roof over his head, leaky at that but it was still a roof, his own mound of heshen bags that was comfortable while the other's took the beds and huddled together crying at night. He was fulfilled enough in what he had, he didn't know any different anyway.
"I don't really like the books with pictures in it like children's things but there was one that I saw when I snuck into a customers library one night that was strange, I didn't understand the text at all but it had really different pictures from what I have seen before. I wrote down what it said and showed one of the other's who was from the land and he said it was labelled 'Karma Sutra' and it had strange things in it like this" His thirst for sharing unknown knowledge would one day he Sai's downfall, taking to the wrong person was bound to land him in hot water with a trip to the gallows with the radical change in laws that will hang anyone on site for being involved with piracy, still he numblessly placed the plate down on the ground and scampered back laying down on the floor.
Stretching his leg up in the air he visually gave a reenactment of what it was that he had learnt for these strange picture book that he had stumbled upon, alone it might have looked completely ridiculous since there was a female companion at his side each shot so what else for the young pale boy to do than to play both the male and female at separate times thinking that he was giving the correct representation of it. His growing body was fairly limber so he could contort to what most of the positions were, tying himself up almost in a knot and with arms and legs failing around entangling together. "I don't think this book has a meaning" he stated bluntly and somehow was now the inventor of calestentics.
Gaara had only been half listening to his answer, it looked whenever Sai had something to say he sure could talk for extended periods of time. But it had not mattered since his attention was drawn from the bite mark Itachi had branded him with to the exciting and epic tales of his reading capabilities. His story was interesting, unknowing that this young man had the brain capacity for reading period. But it was when those two words were spoken that Gaara lifted he wide green eyes in a snap of complete and utter shock. He himself had come across the book at the ripe.... Innocent age of 10, yet growing up on a ship with a crew full of pleasure seeking men had taken it's tole on his already young and fragile mind. Yet another book the young boy had stole from the local shop in Trinidad to occupy his mind during long hours of hiding or being placed in his hay covered crate for a bed after a beating, when he needed to loose himself to reality. This book was different as Sai had pointed out, the pictures out weighed the text by a fair amount, which somewhat aided in absorbing with more ease of the foreign language it was written in, which he came to learn was Hindu, a form from the East. Learning a few sentence here and their and piecing together a study of both the male and female sexual functions. Gaara had been too young at the time to fully understand the concept behind the book, it was only in his later years of life when he had been forced into adulthood at the age of 14-15 that the books pictures would make more sense.
He was taken back by the image before him as most would bust out in a complete fit of laughter, but for the time being, Gaara had sat pale faced turning a light shade of pink at the vulgar moves in a theatrical act of positions. A slight tickle in his stomach began to surface, his chin dropping slightly as he continued to watch in shock as the muscle to the corner of his mouth twitched. "Sai." He started low, almost a quiver in his tone. "The Karma Sutra is.... well.... it's a book of positions to help balance the mind and soul, they also turn out to be rather pleasurable during.... sex... if done correctly." It was then the warm tickle in his stomach tingled all the way up his spine to the expressionless look in the cynical young captains face. It was uncontrolled, something that scared him having never felt such a pleasurable emotion sky rocket to his usual bland stone face, aside from the final thrusts bringing him to his climax during a heated session of a night of sex. The words had come out more like a broken hearty laugh in response to the sight laid out for him to watch. Entertaining to say the least.
"Will you sit down..." He chuckled before taking another bite of his meal, reaching the back of his had to wipe away the emerging tear to the corner of his dark sockets. "You are crazier than I am."
"...Sex?" the demonstrational slave repeated, tilting his head at the wrong moment taking away the skilled concentration he had on going through the memories of the book he had snuck a look at. Whatever this sex thing he was talking about caused his balance to sway, slipping his grip on the floor digging his fingernails into the floorboards was useless attempt, tumbling onto his back with a thud and a quick winding sensation, flayed over the ground looking up at the ceiling.
Although he had already been introduced to this thing that was known as sexual intercourse, Sai in no way, shape or form could identify with it only knowing that it was actions that took place inside the bedroom and if anyone wanted to do anything with him in that place then it would involve an extra cost on the final charge that was to be handed over to them. It was as nature to him as it was to scourer the floors or carry cargo around but there were many things in the world that he had still yet to learn, slowly but surely he was getting there with the guidance of others but still it lead other's to believe that he was dim witted and slow, that he was some kind of ignorant moron. Granted that the slave was not the brightest knife in the drawer when it came to dealing with other people or reacting in the correct way for each situation but he didn't know any different. It had been these past months with the Pirate Lord that taught him the wonders of many vile things like rum and women do and don't like to be groped for a call for attention, he was still confused on that one. Gaara was telling him things that he was allowed to be comfortable in a better habitat than the floor plus he had the exotic fruit that has taken his taste buds by storm. Overall if he knew how to express himself on the feelings that he might have been receiving, he would have held pride for being granted with the chance to work under the two and one day hope to pass Kisame's path again.
Rolling back up onto his behind and a drag across the cold floor, he sat back down on the ground at the red head's side taking another sandwich carefully tearing off the crust around the outside to reveal what food was squashed in between. Chicken! He liked chicken just not the yucky parts... yes there was parts that had a different taste like soaked in fat. He had taken a hate towards that. Silently he ate his food feeling no shame in the demonstration he had given only because he started pondering what he mean by him being crazy. He was laughing about it at the same time so did that mean it was real and he was happy about it but the context of the word signified that someone had issues and needed to be locked away so they could deal with the disease of the brain. Was he crazy? His fingers brushed through his short raven hair feeling up his forehead to see if he felt crazy... not that he knew of, hmmmm.
"Yes, sex now drop it before I have one of the bar maids give you a thorough lesson on page 42."He followed, his laughter, as short as sweet as it was, fell to his usual flat stone faced look the moment Sai had fell to his back only to quickly recover and take a seat next to him on the bed. It was surprising to Gaara in knowing the fact that any other man or woman would try such a thing, something as simple of equalizing themselves with the prosperous young Captain would find themselves in a bloody heap on the floor at his feet, or to be dismissed as soon as the attempt was made. But with this boy, it felt... different, almost calm and relaxed in an irritating kind of way, as Gaara was not much use to such emotion as laughing or having a normal conversation with some one of his own age. Sai was a bit younger but still close enough that Gaara had felt more of a connection with their similar paths, one that Sai had yet to break free from.
With a swift shift, Gaara pushed himself from the comfortable seat on the bed, making his way out into the main part of the room where his office was. He stopped short in the buff as Sai's weight on the sheets draping over his waist was held down as he got up. He was in no mood or bother to fight with him in a game of tug of war without hauling off and hitting the poor clueless slave. A pale thin finger dragged long the spines of books on the clutter shelf just behind desk stacked with papers, maps and other sources for his next raid or treasure hunt. Stopping suddenly at the one spine that had always had a significant meaning in his life, one he had held on to not for the epic tale of a valiant King who rode side by side with his loyal knights to be considered equals at a round table, it was the sentimental value that it's pages held. "Le Morte d'Arthur." The title read under his breath before returning to his room to find Sai still seated where he was left.
"This is my favorite book." He tossed it to land next to the raven haired boy for him to glaze over the hard, battered leather cover, the edges frayed and torn from usage.The pages turning a slight yellow color from age, as there was no telling how long the copy of this book had been around even before he had stolen it from Tenten when he was 13. Even the second, and third time she had returned to him and finally noted where the book had gone all theses years, she had not taken it back leaving it on his shelf for years to follow. "It's alright, I guess. But some of it might be hard to follow since it's a translation from French to English." Pausing in his words to take his place once again next to him, gathering up the sheets to cover himself once again. "The conversion was obviously done by amateurs, but I can.... help you....if you...don't under...?... OH forget it!" He snapped turning to let himself fall back behind Sai with a soft thud to the mattress of his bed.
Most people would have snickered or made some kind of comment about a nude man just strutting around in his birthday suit for anyone to gawk at the open display of being free and easy but Sai unfortunately wasn't like everyone else but he kept a firm eye on him walking past over to the door and then nothing all while eating the last of the sandwich. Still staring straight at the door continuing down to his last bite and then continuing to burn a hole straight where he had been at what would have been his chest height, waiting like a faithful puppy that longed to see their owner's return without a flinch, just obediently waiting. Maybe it was alright to walk around in such a state? He pondered that thought for a moment thinking that he wouldn't do such a thing unless told, keeping heat to his body was something that he needed with his small frame, ragged clothes were little but they did the job.
Page 42... bar maid... why would a bar maid want to do things to him like that? And to do something like that he would have to be... different down there. The state he was talking about had been experienced through times of 'arousal' by stimulation from others but to him it was something that he never thought had happened. It wasn't like he had his head down between his legs to see what was going on, normally he was suffocating in a pillow or sheets, something more along the style of page 9.
The return of the height challenged captain saw a blink and movements of his eyes again, following back down to where he sat and the book that had been brought in along the way, picking it up and blowing the settled dust from neglect of sitting on the self, coughing at the particles that were breathed down his throat. Slow fingertips traced over the bound cover once it had been cleared of the left over flakes, leaning down closer to stare at the writing in front of him, gaping mouth ready to read what was in front of him. "Leeeeeeee.... M-m-ma. Leema? No. Mmmoorteee... deart-ha" Already he was completed baffled on what the book would entail being that the name was already confusing enough. What was a Leema? Hopefully the inside would be a lot better than the out, flicking open the cover hearing the creak of the spine that stiffened from the last reading, using his fingers as a guide outline for each sentence that he would have to read. "Th-the... ka...ki...ci..." Ah, we will just skip that word. "W-w-w-as... su-su-supo- ya, neefrii to pa...paaah... pa.a.ahhhh" If no one else could understand what the slave was reading then that was okay, he didn't either. When he stated so proudly that he liked to read he should have said that the books that he had read were completely childproof, his reading skills were mostly self taught with the starting hand from his brother back when they were in the orphanage, other than that he was as simple as they come but he wasn't going to quit just like that, knowledge would guide him to everything that he had been neglected from. "Cuuu... qooo. Chu?"
With an Irritated growl at the boys incompetence, he had after all said he enjoyed reading..... Gaara had not anticipated he would enjoy reading at a infants level. Not moving from his spot with his forehead buried still in the comfort of his pillow he reached awkwardly back feeling out the tapered edge of the old book and wrapped his fingers around it in a solid grasp and yanked it from the slaves hands. "It's Le Morte d'Arthur, or 'The death of Arthur.'" He stated in annoyance drawing the book closer as he shifted his body in such a way that he could easily open to the first pages and glance over the words. In a moments pause his cool green eyes moved to the corners of his dark sockets to the raven haired boy looking as stunned as ever. He knew this would possibly be difficult for Sai in this instance in reading an understanding the content inside without fumbling over words trying to understand the story. It was far more enjoyable when the words flowed for the lips like a poetic epic take of a King and his knights, the tale of this great man with the legend of Excalibur impaled in a bed of stone only to be drawn with the touch of Britons next true king. The book itself was the final book of the actual full collection, only telling the final fall of a great Arthurian -Romano King. One day Gaara would own the full stories comprised of 21 books to which he only possessing more than half, following the life and times of many of his loyal knights.
"It hardly words properly if you spend too much time thinking about how to say the words instead of becoming the word." He stated in a huff, flipping through the pages idly as if looking for a particular line to recite, that was in fact what he was intending to do for him. It was only fitting since the boy could not understand even when they are speaking from his own lips, perhaps from anther's he would get the full drift and let his mind sore and take a hold of the epic story and make it his own in his imagination. "It had not taken me long to learn, in fact not long to learn the few other languages spreading this part of the word and some foreign." His vocabulary had not rested at the simple speech of English, he had branched his self taught knowledge to French, Spanish, and some of his supposing home land in Egypt, not to mention the few words picked up from the far corner of the globe to the East. This one, enough to earn him a lesson from his father when he had heard him practicing one night late in the dim candle light below decks in his small secluded hay covered crate for a bed. Heathen He recalled hearing in the darkness before a hand reached from no where and grasped the small boy by the scruff of the next, I always knew you were' the' devil'.... The merchant was so kind enough to inform the red head in his drunken entertainment for the evening.
Even thought the short red head might not have thought that he was doing a good job, Sai was satisfied with what he did until it was snatched away from him, the luxury of reading and writing were not that were given to peasants and slaves more than certainly not. He had been taught the alphabet by his self proclaimed brother one day after he caught him up on the rooftop drawing the city below, there was more to life than drawing and to get anywhere in the world then he would have to be able to read and write so he would be able to blend in enough for the commoners. So together he showed him the world of the alphabet, those 26 letters than would get you far in life promoting greater dreams for the two of them instead of the festering orphanage where they would more than likely stay until they were kicked out into the cold where the drink would be their only solace. When he was younger he used to like tracing them with his fingers, like the 'a' that one was fun. The flowing curve of the top like an arched back, dropping down to a stiff straightening to remove the cricks of the pain from overworking. The front round and smooth, the curve downwards not like a stomach that had eaten too much eyes too big for the expensive feast that the rest would have been wasted but the natural beauty of a swollen belly of a women waiting to create new life that grew inside of her ever so slowly, the small dip downwards to rest against the ground. That was the letter 'A' But only to read it was very hard knowing recognition of the letters and actually saying them were different being that reading was done in shadows, no slave would be allowed that except of his master but he was a favourite among the others.
Looking over between the book and Gaara with the explanation of it all, Sai was a bit confused on this Arthur person and why his death had been written into a book for everyone else to know how he died, his mother or brother didn't have a book that he knew of. He was not of English dependency or any of the neighbouring close by islands or countries, he hailed from the other side of the world but not that he remembered the place he might have called home, no recollections of distinct tastes, smells, places, he couldn't remember anything from there. British history had him more confused with all the monarchy and the Navy seemed to be running things like Marshall Law and the pirates that fought for rum. Why rum? That stuff tasted horrible.
"Who is Arthur?" he asked wanting to quell that curiosity.
He let an almost bored sounding huff pass his lips at the question, he still filling through the pages finding with each passing turn mind seemed to trail off more and more into the content of the written text. He had not answered Sai right away, how to explain all of what this great king way in a few short words for him to understand fully? I could not really be done, his story was legend,his deeds are what made his name live on through history and it was only a select few who had taken upon themselves to learn and comprehend the story were lucky enough to be told the story through these pages. not moving his eyes from the flipping of pages between his fingers he started. "He was a boy how became a king. The legend says that he became king after pulling Excalibur, a mystical sword, from it's rock bed. They say their next king would be the one who could pull the sword from it's solid bed. Arthur's love for his mother freed Excalibur and then became king."
Turning his chin up over his shoulder, casting a swift glance to the boy behind him as if to see his explanation and description was satisfactory. "I can read you apart if you want." He stated quietly placing an index finger between the paged where he had stopped his search. " There are many books in the tale of King Arthur, this is the last of 21. The death of Arthur and the discarding of his holy sword, Excalibur."
The idea of the man sounded ridiculous inside his head, he was a man who took a sword from a rock and became some legendary ruler all because he stole a sword. That just didn't make sense since anyone could have just walked along and picked it up and then said 'Yep now I am King' and rules them all without anyone giving it a second thought. Sai's face scrunched up along with his thoughts giving the most weirdest look he could muster which was really just a wrinkle of his nose but at least the ending seemed to be more interesting that the rest of his would be thief sword stealing tales. His death... but the mother love... hmm that didn't sound too good.
"Okay" he agreed to hearing part of this guys tale. At least it sounded like it would be full of scandal.
"I guess you really have to read it from the beginning Sai, but the thing is....I'm still missing parts of the story." He answered blankly, knowing that look of confusion all too well when the young slave was trying to deciphering his own mind something that did not make sense. Gaara had found himself more often than not with that same look, more so as a child in learning of what was laid out in front of him in these stories of myth, books of language and text of knowledge very much reading the content but understanding he had to read many times over to get the clearest of pictures imprinted in his head. It was true to many of the sailors on his fathers merchant ship the boy was a genius in his own, being able to learn and retain things swiftly was the main case to why he had many followers after the passing of the man once called father. He had proven himself to be a advent leader, even though not through his rare voice spoken, but by his many actions upon the working vessel.
He eased the book back to the bed, slipping his finger parting the page where he had decided on from between it rolling over to face the back wall from the Boy sitting to the side of the bed. Suddenly the rush of uneasy had washed over him, the signs of fatigue and the reminder of the ghostly image that had sent him to where he was at this very moment. His jaw clenched at the man who had taken the pride the belonged to him, the dignity that was stripped from his very soul now lay in the naval commanders hands, yet never to be spoke of again like it was nothing of importance. A far cry from a great King of Briton, he was now reduced to the same cowering mouse he had always been in the past.
"I will pay my debt." The tone was a soft whisper, drawing his knees closer to his chest as pale arms coiled around them for security, closing his eyes over tightly to the faint sound of the memories haunting his thoughts, the heated grunts of an animal taking what most certainly did not belong to him. "I'll take back what's mine."
Sitting on the floor did have it perks because it was so comfortable but the numbness of his behind against the planks of wood was making his butt number, tingling with pins and needles intently listening to this story with the crazy thief and his mother loving ways. He wondered if his life was significant enough to tell a tales about, if this guy who stole some sword could have a whole series written about him then him as a slave would have some stories that he could tell, all of them documented in a scrap book well worn down, tattered and torn barely bound together anymore except by a couple of confines now to be burning at kindling for someones fire being left behind. If his life was told then he wouldn't want it as words but something more as pictures as he had done despite not liking to read from picture books, those memories of his mother and this brother forever to be in a media format that he was slowly forgetting.
Without an regards for Gaara's strange mood and leg hugging actions, the quest to relief the numbness in his bony backside brought Sai up to his feet and onto the soft mattress of the bed. His master was there so that was always when he was allowed enter into luxury all the time, sliding down onto his stomach flat stretched out except for the kicked up legs swinging back and forth waiting to hear more. "He already stole a sword so why did he have to take back what was his? Perhaps he should give back what what taken" Sai spoke up dragging the book back over in front of him so he could read along. It was only logical that he should return stolen property. If he had stolen from someone then he would he missing a few fingers by now or even worse, his head.
A quick arm reached of and grabbed the shoulder of the fiery red head's tugging him hard to flop him down onto the bed, dragging the book over between them so he could study at the same time he spoke the story, leaving his arm lingering over his back from a faint memory of someone reading to him like this but who that was he could not remember. "This Arther still sounds like an idiot" he muttered loudly with his other hand propping up his chin, crushing his mouth against his fingers. A tilt of his head hit the side of his temple into the hard bone of his shoulder without a care because he was determined to get a good view of what he was reading, looking over the words trying to decipher them for himself while unknowingly holding the Pirate Captain in somewhat of an embrace.
Silent at the sudden change in mood, and conversations shifting from the story he once held in his hands to the cruel reality pulling him back into what was real. It had gone virtually unnoticed by the slave boy, even continuing in the conversation as if the interest in the story was far more important than anything else. A strange child like reaction, one he had sometimes done himself to avoid awkward subjects and uncomfortable talks. He could not really blame Sai for his simple graze of the mood swing, even as the young pirate Captain's limbs had stiffened against the warm body burrowing closer into him.
His cool Icy mint eyes exchanging a glance between the torn and used cover of the leather face of the book now help in Sai's hands, to the top of his dark messy hair, and trailing to the arm coiled around him in some kind of sentimental meaning he could not figure the older boy was looking for. "Perhaps your right, he might have been an Idiot." He stated flatly, almost annoyed that he could be so bold as to draw himself this close and surprisingly not loose a body part in a blood heap of flesh and bone for even daring to touch him after all that had happened. But a feeling of warmth, comfort not of a lover or just someone to share his bed for the simple pleasures offered to him on more occasions than not it was.... different, pleasant, and comforting to have someone who did not rightly understand the meaning of the thoughts and feelings passing through Gaara's mind but knowing, now, that someone would be there no matter what. Slave?
"I will read it to you later." He grunted, shifting his position more comfortably his scoff hiding the most relaxing feeling he had felt in all his years, a friend? His facial expression remained blank, and his unwavering blank stare remained glued to a certain spot to the ceiling lost in his own thoughts of everything that seemed to happen all at once. Not even in the arms of one he had been with and felt more than the usual brothel maid or waitress of his tavern, this was more...home. "It's really a good story."
With a heavy lids, a single blink felt weighted against the long trialing day endured from the travels back to the haven in Trinidad. The cool relaxing breeze of the tropical sunset passing through the window of the upstairs room, and the comfort of having another around to protect and shelter him when he needed the most. For the first time, Gaara sabaku felt the fight of his weakened body against the desire and need to remain awake as his body had been trained after so many years, finally, to be able to slip into a slumber without paranoia. The narrow slits remained slightly open, as his daze grazed back to the other boy wrapped around him in a kind of embrace, one to which he was not too eager to push or reject having nothing of the sorts from anyone, not even... he dare not whisper that name, that flame of anger would ignite once more and again his mind be over working against him... A friend?
"You are free Sai." The phrase almost dribbled from his mouth like word vomit, unbelieving of his own failing thoughts into reality but not cursing himself out for showing such a weakness. Right now, this did not matter. "....but I would want you to stay with me here. I will provide you with what you need." It was like that, blinking slowly a few times in his attempts at redemption for the cruel person he had grown to be, given back to this one soul who had been just as he was when Gaara had lived the life of a ship mouse. "...I will not always be nice, it is not in my nature."
Blinking a few times at the words staring right back at his face, he continued to look at it intently as possible knowing that somehow with his slow sounding syllables that it was somehow sinking in there. Well at least a sentence had. That was one out of how many? He flicked through the book searching for how many there was only grimacing at the amount of words in there that he had no clue what they were, if he was ever going to find out if this guy was arrested for his crimes against the poor sword and the rock then it would certainly require the help of someone else. Closing it he pushed it away since there was going to be no need for it and instead flipped onto his back looking up at the ceiling in the same fashion that his master had except he was counting the lines that travelled across the length, nodding a long with each number in his head.
The number counting was cut short by the order he was given to leave, shifting his body upwards contracting the muscles in his stomach to lift himself up only to lay back down with the retraction to now stay. At least he could have made up his mind if he needed him or not but the bed was nice to stay in and so warm with the body next to him, for once being able to steal the heat from someone else instead of the ones that tried to huddle up against him to steal his, plus he had been it his position before except normally there was a face that always would block his view from the ceiling. Hmm maybe he didn't want 'that'. Confusing.
"You are nice all the time" he stated with a roll of his head over to the same direction of the sleepy male, still talking anyway as if he was not about to drop off into slumber. "You are not such a bad ass as you think you are. See?" Grabbing the hem of his shirt he tugged the material up over his face covering himself up exposing his chest, keeping a firm hold with one hand while the others felt around his own chest for what he was trying to show him, brushing against deep scar tissue across his abdomen much more spongier than the rest of the pale skin, standing out in deep red. The result of a job not done to satisfaction by a drunken blacksmith who thought it would be sufficient enough to press the scolding hot blade of a sword he had been fashioning across his skin as a reminder of what he was paying him for, leaving behind the only major visible scar on him being branded like the slave he was. The others had faded over time leaving only the faint scars over his back, legs, chest, learning that never the face since he never spoke up about it and the stipulation placed after that day that scars equalled more money, they grew wise to the way and did it where it would not been seen.
"Kisame was nice too but he was always aggravated about something. Sai don't do this, Sai don't do that, Sai don't drink that, Sai fix that hole you made" On and on he rambled with examples how how his previous owner had told him not to destroy his ship or his men but despite it all he had liked that big tall muscly pirate lord. One day he would get to see him again.
It was strange even as Gaara was offering up the older boys freedom on a silver platter, where most slaves would have been more than happy to receive, to drop in whatever chore they had been attending to walk out a without burden or worry of displeasing his master. Instead Sai remained at Gaara's side, and now he would see that it would remain that way for some time to come, they had been one in the same facing trails in the world with the only difference the young pirate captain had more of an understanding of why things ended up the way they had, where as Sai had and will always have the mindset of a simple minded slave. That, the red head could live with to have that simple need and want of a companion, not in a romantic sense but as a friendship. Friend ship, odd word he repeated silently in his thoughts liking the way the rhythm of the syllables would sound as he spoke them allowed. A hint of a smile formed across his face at the acknowledgement and the request to stay all in one breath, his cool mint half lidded eyes followed the dark haired boy rise himself only to return back to the softness of the bed next to him and stay.
A snark passed his lips, the harsh grunt to his throat at the compliment, or so he thought, he had never been referred to 'nice', let alone 'nice all the time.' Shifting his position slightly to accommodate to where the young man had sat, lifting his shirt to reveal the course scar hidden beneath his cloths, cocking a hairless eyebrow at the rough imperfection of his abdomen. Well, at least it was something Sai could hide as a similar thing had happened to him when he was six. The burn to his face was harder to hide and after awhile he did not wish to hide as it branded him and all who worked under him along with anything that belonged to the young man were also marked with this sign. Rising his head, he brushed the rough pads of his thin fingers along the outline of the symbol above his left eye, the memory of that fateful night was like it had happened yesterday, the smell of his own skin, the deathly crying screams of a weak child and the drunken taunts of the man leaving his own son in the sorrow of his own pain.
"You put the hole in his ship, from my understanding Sai." He answered right away with a small snicker. "It's probably one of the reasons why he told me to keep you away from the rum...." Gaara had developed a soft spot for the strange inept slave, but that was not saying he would not be irritated to wake up and find half his island destroyed because of one pint of liquor and a wasted Sai passed out as if he had not done nothing. "I'm rather fond of my ships."
"I will read to you later, right now I need to rest a little."He followed, snuggling back down to the comfort of the sheets, the warmth of the body next to him was not at all unpleasant of unwanted, something far beyond the simple company of the random bar whore or brothel maid. This was calming and relaxing as he closed his eyes over in a light slumber, nuzzling his nose into the dip to his companions neck as a means to keep one another warm and at ease.
The hole wasn't that big he swore, only enough to lose a few men into, threatened the boat to capsize but the hull was in tact just the deck wasn't. But pleading his defence was in no way needed or really wanted by the slave for his little mishaps and just because rum made him do some crazy things then that wasn't his fault either. It was all because of that dirty foul tasting liquid that he would never drink again... unless mixed with coconuts. He heard there was a nice rum coconut drink that was around by some people at the bar while he was tending to that pink haired fat assed girl that wanted to slap him at every given moment, maybe when he was in the good books with the master then he might drop the suggestion to him if he can try a little and if he promised not to crumble anything to the ground. If they ever wanted to obliterate an entire town within a matter of days and make it more discreet then Sai would have been the perfect candidate.
"Okay I will leave no..." He stopped at the light nuzzling against his neck, the smaller frame of the red head moulding to his own resembling the others from the past that used to try to cling to him for body heat. He said he had wanted to sleep so usually that meant alone normally with a boot up the behind told to find something else to do to leave them alone while they slept but he was huddling against him, unsure of what to do. A quick look around nibbling at his lips, the young boy wriggled down against the fine sheets reminded that he was meant to sleep in the bed and not on the floor, still unsure about it but only one thought came to mind as he closed his eyes, trying to match pace of the gentle breathing tickling his neck.
It was his master so to stay in bed with him was alright.
Date: Late Autumn/Early Winter
Setting: 愛 Tavern, Trinidad
Summary: After the confrontation with Itachi, Gaara returns back to Trinidad with Sai to keep him company
Warning(s): Sexual references, coconut addictions, bonding
Sai had not seen that fleeting moment of weakness that the normal strong man had, well he did notice it but he didn't know why he would be doing such a thing as leaking water, not even knowing that they were tears that were falling. The little memories that he had left of his mother he could see her doing that, staring at her artwork smiling at the perfect picture that she had created knowing for sure that this time it would be the masterpiece that would bring her to fame, then a sudden change without reason brought her to sorrow to openly weep at the portrait, another quick change tearing the canvas vowing never to create again hating everything that she accomplished until once again she was instantly happy again. Very strange it was, each emotion was tossed around wildly shown in the wrong context, in one hand telling him how proud she was of that drawing that she had drawn of them together holding hands, the next she was throwing it back in his face letting him know how worthless it was. Human feelings just didn't hold any ground for him not when you are lead to believe that being good is bad and affection is to be pushed away. What else to do but keep a blank face.
"These ones don't taste good" he commented screwing his face up at the substance in his mouth that tasted like leather, opening his mouth up pushing the munched up pre-chewed food into his hand. At least now he had discovered that he didn't like the taste of cheese, that was one food he was going to stay well clear of for the rest of his time. All of the miraculous new things that he got to try, some was discovered that he liked and some he didn't, actually most he didn't, watching the men at the dinner table with a thick juicy half rare leg of mutton in their hand, tearing off chunks to cycle through the chewing process made his stomach churn. It looked too disgusting to try. At least grit would always be a cheap way out for any master who had him, he was picky for the finer things in edible substances.
The mound of crap dropped onto the side of the plate wiping the rest off on his pants before looking up at Gaara, pointing to his shoulder asking him "Did you win?" while continuing to point to himself so he knew what he was talking about, indicating the scratches he had over him. To be marked like that he would have gotten into a fight... or been punished.
It was becoming stranger by the moment, the long he and Sai had spent together the more and more their lives seemed entwined in the way things had panned out in their tragic past. The separate ways they had grown to accommodate such history was different, Gaara finding peace and comfort knowing he was pretty much his own master with the accepting of doing deeds for those still above him, while Sai found his own level mind (if anyone could call it that) in his art. A sad combination, but yet oddly enough, comforting to have someone around the young Captain of his own age so that maybe perhaps they may both discover what was missing for so long. A friend? He shook his head from foolish thoughts as the question he had asked grazed passed his lips like a casual conversation.
"I won in some ways, but in the end....I was conquered." He stated, turning pale eyes upward to the the wide dark eyes of his clueless interrogator. A hand reached over, dragging thin fingers over his naked chest to the mark left behind of the memory. His open palm doing it's best to hide the mark, but failing as the bruise was deep as the cut in his leg, the swelling spreading wide over his usual flawless skin. Slowly he lifted the sandwich to his mouth taking a small bite wanting badly to take this time to forget,hoping that the meal itself would be enough to take his mind off things. But in his life there had only been one thing he could turn to that would sooth his broken mind, his aching soul.
"Do you read, Sai?" He perked up again, turning his attention to him in a small cork of his chin to him in question.
Which sandwich to try next, the oozing yellow unknown substance in a jar reminded him of liquid cheese except for the overly bright appearance, scooping his finger along the run off sucking on the digit cautiously gathering the flavour on his tastes buds, a bit undecided about that one. It tasted bitter and sweet at the same time with a hint of sour... well what Sai could think was sour from the wrinkled mouth around the finger, screwing his face up from the instant reaction to the citrus fruit that had been used to make this stuff. Eating for the moment might be put on hold until he could work out exactly what each thing was.
"I read quite a lot when I have the chance. If we received praise from a buyer on our return we were rewarded with free time to do whatever we wanted for a few hours and if the weather was raining then my master allowed me to go and read from his personal study since none of the others were smart enough to do it and they just wanted to play games outside" To Sai the thought of just playing was stupendous, why would someone want to do that? Like idiots they would run around happily slapping each other across the back in a strange form of tag, then the other would chase them around so the never ending cycle continued until they were called back inside, once again hitting instant depression from the life they were forced to live in. It made no sense on why to do such foolish things to get their hopes up knowing what was waiting for them in return. The life of the slave wasn't bad in his mind, better than being on the streets whimpering at someones feet for food for their starving body, sleeping out in the cold nights trying to seek any material that could be used as warmth. He had a roof over his head, leaky at that but it was still a roof, his own mound of heshen bags that was comfortable while the other's took the beds and huddled together crying at night. He was fulfilled enough in what he had, he didn't know any different anyway.
"I don't really like the books with pictures in it like children's things but there was one that I saw when I snuck into a customers library one night that was strange, I didn't understand the text at all but it had really different pictures from what I have seen before. I wrote down what it said and showed one of the other's who was from the land and he said it was labelled 'Karma Sutra' and it had strange things in it like this" His thirst for sharing unknown knowledge would one day he Sai's downfall, taking to the wrong person was bound to land him in hot water with a trip to the gallows with the radical change in laws that will hang anyone on site for being involved with piracy, still he numblessly placed the plate down on the ground and scampered back laying down on the floor.
Stretching his leg up in the air he visually gave a reenactment of what it was that he had learnt for these strange picture book that he had stumbled upon, alone it might have looked completely ridiculous since there was a female companion at his side each shot so what else for the young pale boy to do than to play both the male and female at separate times thinking that he was giving the correct representation of it. His growing body was fairly limber so he could contort to what most of the positions were, tying himself up almost in a knot and with arms and legs failing around entangling together. "I don't think this book has a meaning" he stated bluntly and somehow was now the inventor of calestentics.
Gaara had only been half listening to his answer, it looked whenever Sai had something to say he sure could talk for extended periods of time. But it had not mattered since his attention was drawn from the bite mark Itachi had branded him with to the exciting and epic tales of his reading capabilities. His story was interesting, unknowing that this young man had the brain capacity for reading period. But it was when those two words were spoken that Gaara lifted he wide green eyes in a snap of complete and utter shock. He himself had come across the book at the ripe.... Innocent age of 10, yet growing up on a ship with a crew full of pleasure seeking men had taken it's tole on his already young and fragile mind. Yet another book the young boy had stole from the local shop in Trinidad to occupy his mind during long hours of hiding or being placed in his hay covered crate for a bed after a beating, when he needed to loose himself to reality. This book was different as Sai had pointed out, the pictures out weighed the text by a fair amount, which somewhat aided in absorbing with more ease of the foreign language it was written in, which he came to learn was Hindu, a form from the East. Learning a few sentence here and their and piecing together a study of both the male and female sexual functions. Gaara had been too young at the time to fully understand the concept behind the book, it was only in his later years of life when he had been forced into adulthood at the age of 14-15 that the books pictures would make more sense.
He was taken back by the image before him as most would bust out in a complete fit of laughter, but for the time being, Gaara had sat pale faced turning a light shade of pink at the vulgar moves in a theatrical act of positions. A slight tickle in his stomach began to surface, his chin dropping slightly as he continued to watch in shock as the muscle to the corner of his mouth twitched. "Sai." He started low, almost a quiver in his tone. "The Karma Sutra is.... well.... it's a book of positions to help balance the mind and soul, they also turn out to be rather pleasurable during.... sex... if done correctly." It was then the warm tickle in his stomach tingled all the way up his spine to the expressionless look in the cynical young captains face. It was uncontrolled, something that scared him having never felt such a pleasurable emotion sky rocket to his usual bland stone face, aside from the final thrusts bringing him to his climax during a heated session of a night of sex. The words had come out more like a broken hearty laugh in response to the sight laid out for him to watch. Entertaining to say the least.
"Will you sit down..." He chuckled before taking another bite of his meal, reaching the back of his had to wipe away the emerging tear to the corner of his dark sockets. "You are crazier than I am."
"...Sex?" the demonstrational slave repeated, tilting his head at the wrong moment taking away the skilled concentration he had on going through the memories of the book he had snuck a look at. Whatever this sex thing he was talking about caused his balance to sway, slipping his grip on the floor digging his fingernails into the floorboards was useless attempt, tumbling onto his back with a thud and a quick winding sensation, flayed over the ground looking up at the ceiling.
Although he had already been introduced to this thing that was known as sexual intercourse, Sai in no way, shape or form could identify with it only knowing that it was actions that took place inside the bedroom and if anyone wanted to do anything with him in that place then it would involve an extra cost on the final charge that was to be handed over to them. It was as nature to him as it was to scourer the floors or carry cargo around but there were many things in the world that he had still yet to learn, slowly but surely he was getting there with the guidance of others but still it lead other's to believe that he was dim witted and slow, that he was some kind of ignorant moron. Granted that the slave was not the brightest knife in the drawer when it came to dealing with other people or reacting in the correct way for each situation but he didn't know any different. It had been these past months with the Pirate Lord that taught him the wonders of many vile things like rum and women do and don't like to be groped for a call for attention, he was still confused on that one. Gaara was telling him things that he was allowed to be comfortable in a better habitat than the floor plus he had the exotic fruit that has taken his taste buds by storm. Overall if he knew how to express himself on the feelings that he might have been receiving, he would have held pride for being granted with the chance to work under the two and one day hope to pass Kisame's path again.
Rolling back up onto his behind and a drag across the cold floor, he sat back down on the ground at the red head's side taking another sandwich carefully tearing off the crust around the outside to reveal what food was squashed in between. Chicken! He liked chicken just not the yucky parts... yes there was parts that had a different taste like soaked in fat. He had taken a hate towards that. Silently he ate his food feeling no shame in the demonstration he had given only because he started pondering what he mean by him being crazy. He was laughing about it at the same time so did that mean it was real and he was happy about it but the context of the word signified that someone had issues and needed to be locked away so they could deal with the disease of the brain. Was he crazy? His fingers brushed through his short raven hair feeling up his forehead to see if he felt crazy... not that he knew of, hmmmm.
"Yes, sex now drop it before I have one of the bar maids give you a thorough lesson on page 42."He followed, his laughter, as short as sweet as it was, fell to his usual flat stone faced look the moment Sai had fell to his back only to quickly recover and take a seat next to him on the bed. It was surprising to Gaara in knowing the fact that any other man or woman would try such a thing, something as simple of equalizing themselves with the prosperous young Captain would find themselves in a bloody heap on the floor at his feet, or to be dismissed as soon as the attempt was made. But with this boy, it felt... different, almost calm and relaxed in an irritating kind of way, as Gaara was not much use to such emotion as laughing or having a normal conversation with some one of his own age. Sai was a bit younger but still close enough that Gaara had felt more of a connection with their similar paths, one that Sai had yet to break free from.
With a swift shift, Gaara pushed himself from the comfortable seat on the bed, making his way out into the main part of the room where his office was. He stopped short in the buff as Sai's weight on the sheets draping over his waist was held down as he got up. He was in no mood or bother to fight with him in a game of tug of war without hauling off and hitting the poor clueless slave. A pale thin finger dragged long the spines of books on the clutter shelf just behind desk stacked with papers, maps and other sources for his next raid or treasure hunt. Stopping suddenly at the one spine that had always had a significant meaning in his life, one he had held on to not for the epic tale of a valiant King who rode side by side with his loyal knights to be considered equals at a round table, it was the sentimental value that it's pages held. "Le Morte d'Arthur." The title read under his breath before returning to his room to find Sai still seated where he was left.
"This is my favorite book." He tossed it to land next to the raven haired boy for him to glaze over the hard, battered leather cover, the edges frayed and torn from usage.The pages turning a slight yellow color from age, as there was no telling how long the copy of this book had been around even before he had stolen it from Tenten when he was 13. Even the second, and third time she had returned to him and finally noted where the book had gone all theses years, she had not taken it back leaving it on his shelf for years to follow. "It's alright, I guess. But some of it might be hard to follow since it's a translation from French to English." Pausing in his words to take his place once again next to him, gathering up the sheets to cover himself once again. "The conversion was obviously done by amateurs, but I can.... help you....if you...don't under...?... OH forget it!" He snapped turning to let himself fall back behind Sai with a soft thud to the mattress of his bed.
Most people would have snickered or made some kind of comment about a nude man just strutting around in his birthday suit for anyone to gawk at the open display of being free and easy but Sai unfortunately wasn't like everyone else but he kept a firm eye on him walking past over to the door and then nothing all while eating the last of the sandwich. Still staring straight at the door continuing down to his last bite and then continuing to burn a hole straight where he had been at what would have been his chest height, waiting like a faithful puppy that longed to see their owner's return without a flinch, just obediently waiting. Maybe it was alright to walk around in such a state? He pondered that thought for a moment thinking that he wouldn't do such a thing unless told, keeping heat to his body was something that he needed with his small frame, ragged clothes were little but they did the job.
Page 42... bar maid... why would a bar maid want to do things to him like that? And to do something like that he would have to be... different down there. The state he was talking about had been experienced through times of 'arousal' by stimulation from others but to him it was something that he never thought had happened. It wasn't like he had his head down between his legs to see what was going on, normally he was suffocating in a pillow or sheets, something more along the style of page 9.
The return of the height challenged captain saw a blink and movements of his eyes again, following back down to where he sat and the book that had been brought in along the way, picking it up and blowing the settled dust from neglect of sitting on the self, coughing at the particles that were breathed down his throat. Slow fingertips traced over the bound cover once it had been cleared of the left over flakes, leaning down closer to stare at the writing in front of him, gaping mouth ready to read what was in front of him. "Leeeeeeee.... M-m-ma. Leema? No. Mmmoorteee... deart-ha" Already he was completed baffled on what the book would entail being that the name was already confusing enough. What was a Leema? Hopefully the inside would be a lot better than the out, flicking open the cover hearing the creak of the spine that stiffened from the last reading, using his fingers as a guide outline for each sentence that he would have to read. "Th-the... ka...ki...ci..." Ah, we will just skip that word. "W-w-w-as... su-su-supo- ya, neefrii to pa...paaah... pa.a.ahhhh" If no one else could understand what the slave was reading then that was okay, he didn't either. When he stated so proudly that he liked to read he should have said that the books that he had read were completely childproof, his reading skills were mostly self taught with the starting hand from his brother back when they were in the orphanage, other than that he was as simple as they come but he wasn't going to quit just like that, knowledge would guide him to everything that he had been neglected from. "Cuuu... qooo. Chu?"
With an Irritated growl at the boys incompetence, he had after all said he enjoyed reading..... Gaara had not anticipated he would enjoy reading at a infants level. Not moving from his spot with his forehead buried still in the comfort of his pillow he reached awkwardly back feeling out the tapered edge of the old book and wrapped his fingers around it in a solid grasp and yanked it from the slaves hands. "It's Le Morte d'Arthur, or 'The death of Arthur.'" He stated in annoyance drawing the book closer as he shifted his body in such a way that he could easily open to the first pages and glance over the words. In a moments pause his cool green eyes moved to the corners of his dark sockets to the raven haired boy looking as stunned as ever. He knew this would possibly be difficult for Sai in this instance in reading an understanding the content inside without fumbling over words trying to understand the story. It was far more enjoyable when the words flowed for the lips like a poetic epic take of a King and his knights, the tale of this great man with the legend of Excalibur impaled in a bed of stone only to be drawn with the touch of Britons next true king. The book itself was the final book of the actual full collection, only telling the final fall of a great Arthurian -Romano King. One day Gaara would own the full stories comprised of 21 books to which he only possessing more than half, following the life and times of many of his loyal knights.
"It hardly words properly if you spend too much time thinking about how to say the words instead of becoming the word." He stated in a huff, flipping through the pages idly as if looking for a particular line to recite, that was in fact what he was intending to do for him. It was only fitting since the boy could not understand even when they are speaking from his own lips, perhaps from anther's he would get the full drift and let his mind sore and take a hold of the epic story and make it his own in his imagination. "It had not taken me long to learn, in fact not long to learn the few other languages spreading this part of the word and some foreign." His vocabulary had not rested at the simple speech of English, he had branched his self taught knowledge to French, Spanish, and some of his supposing home land in Egypt, not to mention the few words picked up from the far corner of the globe to the East. This one, enough to earn him a lesson from his father when he had heard him practicing one night late in the dim candle light below decks in his small secluded hay covered crate for a bed. Heathen He recalled hearing in the darkness before a hand reached from no where and grasped the small boy by the scruff of the next, I always knew you were' the' devil'.... The merchant was so kind enough to inform the red head in his drunken entertainment for the evening.
Even thought the short red head might not have thought that he was doing a good job, Sai was satisfied with what he did until it was snatched away from him, the luxury of reading and writing were not that were given to peasants and slaves more than certainly not. He had been taught the alphabet by his self proclaimed brother one day after he caught him up on the rooftop drawing the city below, there was more to life than drawing and to get anywhere in the world then he would have to be able to read and write so he would be able to blend in enough for the commoners. So together he showed him the world of the alphabet, those 26 letters than would get you far in life promoting greater dreams for the two of them instead of the festering orphanage where they would more than likely stay until they were kicked out into the cold where the drink would be their only solace. When he was younger he used to like tracing them with his fingers, like the 'a' that one was fun. The flowing curve of the top like an arched back, dropping down to a stiff straightening to remove the cricks of the pain from overworking. The front round and smooth, the curve downwards not like a stomach that had eaten too much eyes too big for the expensive feast that the rest would have been wasted but the natural beauty of a swollen belly of a women waiting to create new life that grew inside of her ever so slowly, the small dip downwards to rest against the ground. That was the letter 'A' But only to read it was very hard knowing recognition of the letters and actually saying them were different being that reading was done in shadows, no slave would be allowed that except of his master but he was a favourite among the others.
Looking over between the book and Gaara with the explanation of it all, Sai was a bit confused on this Arthur person and why his death had been written into a book for everyone else to know how he died, his mother or brother didn't have a book that he knew of. He was not of English dependency or any of the neighbouring close by islands or countries, he hailed from the other side of the world but not that he remembered the place he might have called home, no recollections of distinct tastes, smells, places, he couldn't remember anything from there. British history had him more confused with all the monarchy and the Navy seemed to be running things like Marshall Law and the pirates that fought for rum. Why rum? That stuff tasted horrible.
"Who is Arthur?" he asked wanting to quell that curiosity.
He let an almost bored sounding huff pass his lips at the question, he still filling through the pages finding with each passing turn mind seemed to trail off more and more into the content of the written text. He had not answered Sai right away, how to explain all of what this great king way in a few short words for him to understand fully? I could not really be done, his story was legend,his deeds are what made his name live on through history and it was only a select few who had taken upon themselves to learn and comprehend the story were lucky enough to be told the story through these pages. not moving his eyes from the flipping of pages between his fingers he started. "He was a boy how became a king. The legend says that he became king after pulling Excalibur, a mystical sword, from it's rock bed. They say their next king would be the one who could pull the sword from it's solid bed. Arthur's love for his mother freed Excalibur and then became king."
Turning his chin up over his shoulder, casting a swift glance to the boy behind him as if to see his explanation and description was satisfactory. "I can read you apart if you want." He stated quietly placing an index finger between the paged where he had stopped his search. " There are many books in the tale of King Arthur, this is the last of 21. The death of Arthur and the discarding of his holy sword, Excalibur."
The idea of the man sounded ridiculous inside his head, he was a man who took a sword from a rock and became some legendary ruler all because he stole a sword. That just didn't make sense since anyone could have just walked along and picked it up and then said 'Yep now I am King' and rules them all without anyone giving it a second thought. Sai's face scrunched up along with his thoughts giving the most weirdest look he could muster which was really just a wrinkle of his nose but at least the ending seemed to be more interesting that the rest of his would be thief sword stealing tales. His death... but the mother love... hmm that didn't sound too good.
"Okay" he agreed to hearing part of this guys tale. At least it sounded like it would be full of scandal.
"I guess you really have to read it from the beginning Sai, but the thing is....I'm still missing parts of the story." He answered blankly, knowing that look of confusion all too well when the young slave was trying to deciphering his own mind something that did not make sense. Gaara had found himself more often than not with that same look, more so as a child in learning of what was laid out in front of him in these stories of myth, books of language and text of knowledge very much reading the content but understanding he had to read many times over to get the clearest of pictures imprinted in his head. It was true to many of the sailors on his fathers merchant ship the boy was a genius in his own, being able to learn and retain things swiftly was the main case to why he had many followers after the passing of the man once called father. He had proven himself to be a advent leader, even though not through his rare voice spoken, but by his many actions upon the working vessel.
He eased the book back to the bed, slipping his finger parting the page where he had decided on from between it rolling over to face the back wall from the Boy sitting to the side of the bed. Suddenly the rush of uneasy had washed over him, the signs of fatigue and the reminder of the ghostly image that had sent him to where he was at this very moment. His jaw clenched at the man who had taken the pride the belonged to him, the dignity that was stripped from his very soul now lay in the naval commanders hands, yet never to be spoke of again like it was nothing of importance. A far cry from a great King of Briton, he was now reduced to the same cowering mouse he had always been in the past.
"I will pay my debt." The tone was a soft whisper, drawing his knees closer to his chest as pale arms coiled around them for security, closing his eyes over tightly to the faint sound of the memories haunting his thoughts, the heated grunts of an animal taking what most certainly did not belong to him. "I'll take back what's mine."
Sitting on the floor did have it perks because it was so comfortable but the numbness of his behind against the planks of wood was making his butt number, tingling with pins and needles intently listening to this story with the crazy thief and his mother loving ways. He wondered if his life was significant enough to tell a tales about, if this guy who stole some sword could have a whole series written about him then him as a slave would have some stories that he could tell, all of them documented in a scrap book well worn down, tattered and torn barely bound together anymore except by a couple of confines now to be burning at kindling for someones fire being left behind. If his life was told then he wouldn't want it as words but something more as pictures as he had done despite not liking to read from picture books, those memories of his mother and this brother forever to be in a media format that he was slowly forgetting.
Without an regards for Gaara's strange mood and leg hugging actions, the quest to relief the numbness in his bony backside brought Sai up to his feet and onto the soft mattress of the bed. His master was there so that was always when he was allowed enter into luxury all the time, sliding down onto his stomach flat stretched out except for the kicked up legs swinging back and forth waiting to hear more. "He already stole a sword so why did he have to take back what was his? Perhaps he should give back what what taken" Sai spoke up dragging the book back over in front of him so he could read along. It was only logical that he should return stolen property. If he had stolen from someone then he would he missing a few fingers by now or even worse, his head.
A quick arm reached of and grabbed the shoulder of the fiery red head's tugging him hard to flop him down onto the bed, dragging the book over between them so he could study at the same time he spoke the story, leaving his arm lingering over his back from a faint memory of someone reading to him like this but who that was he could not remember. "This Arther still sounds like an idiot" he muttered loudly with his other hand propping up his chin, crushing his mouth against his fingers. A tilt of his head hit the side of his temple into the hard bone of his shoulder without a care because he was determined to get a good view of what he was reading, looking over the words trying to decipher them for himself while unknowingly holding the Pirate Captain in somewhat of an embrace.
Silent at the sudden change in mood, and conversations shifting from the story he once held in his hands to the cruel reality pulling him back into what was real. It had gone virtually unnoticed by the slave boy, even continuing in the conversation as if the interest in the story was far more important than anything else. A strange child like reaction, one he had sometimes done himself to avoid awkward subjects and uncomfortable talks. He could not really blame Sai for his simple graze of the mood swing, even as the young pirate Captain's limbs had stiffened against the warm body burrowing closer into him.
His cool Icy mint eyes exchanging a glance between the torn and used cover of the leather face of the book now help in Sai's hands, to the top of his dark messy hair, and trailing to the arm coiled around him in some kind of sentimental meaning he could not figure the older boy was looking for. "Perhaps your right, he might have been an Idiot." He stated flatly, almost annoyed that he could be so bold as to draw himself this close and surprisingly not loose a body part in a blood heap of flesh and bone for even daring to touch him after all that had happened. But a feeling of warmth, comfort not of a lover or just someone to share his bed for the simple pleasures offered to him on more occasions than not it was.... different, pleasant, and comforting to have someone who did not rightly understand the meaning of the thoughts and feelings passing through Gaara's mind but knowing, now, that someone would be there no matter what. Slave?
"I will read it to you later." He grunted, shifting his position more comfortably his scoff hiding the most relaxing feeling he had felt in all his years, a friend? His facial expression remained blank, and his unwavering blank stare remained glued to a certain spot to the ceiling lost in his own thoughts of everything that seemed to happen all at once. Not even in the arms of one he had been with and felt more than the usual brothel maid or waitress of his tavern, this was more...home. "It's really a good story."
With a heavy lids, a single blink felt weighted against the long trialing day endured from the travels back to the haven in Trinidad. The cool relaxing breeze of the tropical sunset passing through the window of the upstairs room, and the comfort of having another around to protect and shelter him when he needed the most. For the first time, Gaara sabaku felt the fight of his weakened body against the desire and need to remain awake as his body had been trained after so many years, finally, to be able to slip into a slumber without paranoia. The narrow slits remained slightly open, as his daze grazed back to the other boy wrapped around him in a kind of embrace, one to which he was not too eager to push or reject having nothing of the sorts from anyone, not even... he dare not whisper that name, that flame of anger would ignite once more and again his mind be over working against him... A friend?
"You are free Sai." The phrase almost dribbled from his mouth like word vomit, unbelieving of his own failing thoughts into reality but not cursing himself out for showing such a weakness. Right now, this did not matter. "....but I would want you to stay with me here. I will provide you with what you need." It was like that, blinking slowly a few times in his attempts at redemption for the cruel person he had grown to be, given back to this one soul who had been just as he was when Gaara had lived the life of a ship mouse. "...I will not always be nice, it is not in my nature."
Blinking a few times at the words staring right back at his face, he continued to look at it intently as possible knowing that somehow with his slow sounding syllables that it was somehow sinking in there. Well at least a sentence had. That was one out of how many? He flicked through the book searching for how many there was only grimacing at the amount of words in there that he had no clue what they were, if he was ever going to find out if this guy was arrested for his crimes against the poor sword and the rock then it would certainly require the help of someone else. Closing it he pushed it away since there was going to be no need for it and instead flipped onto his back looking up at the ceiling in the same fashion that his master had except he was counting the lines that travelled across the length, nodding a long with each number in his head.
The number counting was cut short by the order he was given to leave, shifting his body upwards contracting the muscles in his stomach to lift himself up only to lay back down with the retraction to now stay. At least he could have made up his mind if he needed him or not but the bed was nice to stay in and so warm with the body next to him, for once being able to steal the heat from someone else instead of the ones that tried to huddle up against him to steal his, plus he had been it his position before except normally there was a face that always would block his view from the ceiling. Hmm maybe he didn't want 'that'. Confusing.
"You are nice all the time" he stated with a roll of his head over to the same direction of the sleepy male, still talking anyway as if he was not about to drop off into slumber. "You are not such a bad ass as you think you are. See?" Grabbing the hem of his shirt he tugged the material up over his face covering himself up exposing his chest, keeping a firm hold with one hand while the others felt around his own chest for what he was trying to show him, brushing against deep scar tissue across his abdomen much more spongier than the rest of the pale skin, standing out in deep red. The result of a job not done to satisfaction by a drunken blacksmith who thought it would be sufficient enough to press the scolding hot blade of a sword he had been fashioning across his skin as a reminder of what he was paying him for, leaving behind the only major visible scar on him being branded like the slave he was. The others had faded over time leaving only the faint scars over his back, legs, chest, learning that never the face since he never spoke up about it and the stipulation placed after that day that scars equalled more money, they grew wise to the way and did it where it would not been seen.
"Kisame was nice too but he was always aggravated about something. Sai don't do this, Sai don't do that, Sai don't drink that, Sai fix that hole you made" On and on he rambled with examples how how his previous owner had told him not to destroy his ship or his men but despite it all he had liked that big tall muscly pirate lord. One day he would get to see him again.
It was strange even as Gaara was offering up the older boys freedom on a silver platter, where most slaves would have been more than happy to receive, to drop in whatever chore they had been attending to walk out a without burden or worry of displeasing his master. Instead Sai remained at Gaara's side, and now he would see that it would remain that way for some time to come, they had been one in the same facing trails in the world with the only difference the young pirate captain had more of an understanding of why things ended up the way they had, where as Sai had and will always have the mindset of a simple minded slave. That, the red head could live with to have that simple need and want of a companion, not in a romantic sense but as a friendship. Friend ship, odd word he repeated silently in his thoughts liking the way the rhythm of the syllables would sound as he spoke them allowed. A hint of a smile formed across his face at the acknowledgement and the request to stay all in one breath, his cool mint half lidded eyes followed the dark haired boy rise himself only to return back to the softness of the bed next to him and stay.
A snark passed his lips, the harsh grunt to his throat at the compliment, or so he thought, he had never been referred to 'nice', let alone 'nice all the time.' Shifting his position slightly to accommodate to where the young man had sat, lifting his shirt to reveal the course scar hidden beneath his cloths, cocking a hairless eyebrow at the rough imperfection of his abdomen. Well, at least it was something Sai could hide as a similar thing had happened to him when he was six. The burn to his face was harder to hide and after awhile he did not wish to hide as it branded him and all who worked under him along with anything that belonged to the young man were also marked with this sign. Rising his head, he brushed the rough pads of his thin fingers along the outline of the symbol above his left eye, the memory of that fateful night was like it had happened yesterday, the smell of his own skin, the deathly crying screams of a weak child and the drunken taunts of the man leaving his own son in the sorrow of his own pain.
"You put the hole in his ship, from my understanding Sai." He answered right away with a small snicker. "It's probably one of the reasons why he told me to keep you away from the rum...." Gaara had developed a soft spot for the strange inept slave, but that was not saying he would not be irritated to wake up and find half his island destroyed because of one pint of liquor and a wasted Sai passed out as if he had not done nothing. "I'm rather fond of my ships."
"I will read to you later, right now I need to rest a little."He followed, snuggling back down to the comfort of the sheets, the warmth of the body next to him was not at all unpleasant of unwanted, something far beyond the simple company of the random bar whore or brothel maid. This was calming and relaxing as he closed his eyes over in a light slumber, nuzzling his nose into the dip to his companions neck as a means to keep one another warm and at ease.
The hole wasn't that big he swore, only enough to lose a few men into, threatened the boat to capsize but the hull was in tact just the deck wasn't. But pleading his defence was in no way needed or really wanted by the slave for his little mishaps and just because rum made him do some crazy things then that wasn't his fault either. It was all because of that dirty foul tasting liquid that he would never drink again... unless mixed with coconuts. He heard there was a nice rum coconut drink that was around by some people at the bar while he was tending to that pink haired fat assed girl that wanted to slap him at every given moment, maybe when he was in the good books with the master then he might drop the suggestion to him if he can try a little and if he promised not to crumble anything to the ground. If they ever wanted to obliterate an entire town within a matter of days and make it more discreet then Sai would have been the perfect candidate.
"Okay I will leave no..." He stopped at the light nuzzling against his neck, the smaller frame of the red head moulding to his own resembling the others from the past that used to try to cling to him for body heat. He said he had wanted to sleep so usually that meant alone normally with a boot up the behind told to find something else to do to leave them alone while they slept but he was huddling against him, unsure of what to do. A quick look around nibbling at his lips, the young boy wriggled down against the fine sheets reminded that he was meant to sleep in the bed and not on the floor, still unsure about it but only one thought came to mind as he closed his eyes, trying to match pace of the gentle breathing tickling his neck.
It was his master so to stay in bed with him was alright.