[Talk Like a Pirate Day] Chapter 5: "Batten Down the Hatches"
STORY TITLE: "Talk Like a Pirate Day"
CHAPTER: 5 - "Batten Down the Hatches"
SERIES: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, xxxHoLic, X/1999, Tokyo Babylon
DISCLAIMER: Everything in the CLAMP Megaverse was originally created by CLAMP. They are entirely to blame for creating a system of crossovers that do not easily disclaim. Characters have been adapted without authorization or approval, and I am making no profit from their use.
PAIRINGS: Kurogane x Fai D. Fluorite (main). References made to: Doumeki Shizuka x Watanuki Kimihiro, Aoki Seiichirou x Kasumi Karen, Li Syaoran x Princess Sakura, Sakurazuka Seishirou x Sumeragi Subaru, Clow Reed x Ichihara Yuuko, Ashura-Ou x Fai D. Fluorite (this list may not be exhaustive for future chapters)
RATING: PG-13.
WARNINGS: 1) Pirates. 2) Ninjas. 3) Strong language.
SEQUEL TO: Rum & Popcorn
SUMMARY: Long ago, in a universe slightly askew to this one, circumstances beyond anyone's control led to a fierce and bitter rivalry between Pirates and Ninjas... but Kurogane doesn't care about that. His only concern is to retrieve Princess Sakura and Syaoran from the Pirate King's ship.
Previously...
1: Ahoy, Matey!
2: Drivelswigger
3: Jolly Roger
4: Shot Across the Bow
Batten Down the Hatches (v) to stow and secure all gear and facilities on board in preparation for an oncoming storm (in modern usage, this storm may be figurative)
This late at night, if he wanted to borrow a bed that was free of a body or two -- his own quarters posing too much risk of ninja invasion -- there was only ever one to be had, and conveniently enough it belonged to the only person here Fai would impose upon for a few hours rest. Subaru was playing his violin, naturally. His old keepsake always came out when the 'Dragon of Earth' threatened near. Perhaps it was the nervous habit of an incurable brooder, but it was the best kind of nervous habit. Between the dreamlike after-rush of breaking through that devastatingly sexy ninja's armor and the dance of the ringing notes, Fai felt like his feet were floating on six inches of air.
Oh, that ninja, Fai thought, biting his lip in a wicked grin. The game he’d wanted to play as soon as he’d seen those red eyes wasn’t going to end with a quick toss, not for them. Kurogane was going to be quite the handful. Yuuko had lost herself a prize letting him go to Princess Tomoyo, but no doubt she’d taken a proper return on the investment. Dear, sweet Yuuko always did... that witch. If nothing else, having him outside her ranks now meant Kuro-tan wasn’t bound by her promises. He could come to this ship and be fully entertaining enough that it'd be worth losing the girl for the moment.
But even Yuuko couldn’t have been planning this assault for twelve years, putting her pieces in the right place for the right time. The mysterious Sakura had only washed up on Tomoyo’s shore nine years ago. But he could wait a little longer, now that he’d seen her for himself. Nearly a decade in the ungentlemanly company of ninja had clearly caused no habits that could become inconvenient in a descendant of Clow’s... assuming she was who he thought she was.
However this turned out, he’d have no regrets.
Fai paused outside of Subaru's door and hummed along to the crying strings, tracing a few of the grainlines down the planks to the door handle. It wouldn't bother Subaru for him to push the door open in the middle of a phrase. Honestly, it was doubtful his friend would be much bothered if someone beat the door down with a battering ram, but he liked this song. Despite the fact that it had so many memories, it was such a pretty tune in its own perverse way. He remembered when Hokuto had written it, back when Subaru's playing had been sweet and cheery, and they all used to laugh at the lyrics (especially Seishirou). Even now, the ephemeral melody bleeding through the bulkheads made the ship feel alive, seeming to shiver out of the very joints of the beams as if his Dragon sang with a voice of her own.
In right fact, the crew believed she did, and he certainly didn’t plan to correct them. It was just like he'd told Kuro-rin: there were things men were better of not knowing. When they heard the song, even though none of them could have known the words, they knew well to beware the coming of the Barrows-guard, and that was good enough. Why they didn’t choose to live in fear of Lord Monou or Satsuki instead left Fai constantly in wonder. Most officers on the ‘Dragon of Earth’ were capable of fighting a war on five fronts with their own two hands, and infinitely more likely than Seishirou to take an interest in a common sailor. Still, when most of the crew had decided he'd cage their souls if they but looked at him -- or drink their blood or tear their hearts from their chests or any number of half-truths -- he couldn't exactly argue. Their bogeyman might be more discerning than they gave him credit for, but his reputation had been earned.
Fai waited for the resolve on the phrase and the pause he knew was coming in Subaru's melody to push open the door. His old friend sat in the same small chair, facing the same tiny window as always, dressed down to his shirtsleeves and waistcoat as he made his bow dance over the strings. Still humming, Fai hung his coat on a stand next to the hat he’d left here last time he’d needed a nap, and he toed off his boots. Nothing quite like rolling on top of clean, soap-scented sheets and stretching out his toes. He'd meant to go straight to sleep, but fatigue just couldn’t win against the excitement thrumming in his blood and the crisp strains of melody. By the time the final strains of the coda faded out and Subaru dropped the violin to his knee, he was more than ready to go take on his ninja for round two.
But there was timing to worry about. And the raw skin on his arms and face that stung on the salt that infused everything at sea, of course, but timing was more important. Kuro-chan had to stew for a bit and think about what he’d done. When he was good and ready, Fai was certain, he wouldn’t have to go looking for a chance to bring his dark, handsome stranger to his knees. He’d come begging.
He couldn’t help laughing when his friend turned to stare him down. Not enough men feared Subaru’s eyes, Fai often thought, for they always looked quite mild. Those eyes were greener than the sea when the sun was high and twice as deep, but there was too much sunk in them for a glare to take hold. Sensible people feared them all the more for that, but who had time for sense nowadays?
"I'd ask who's keeping watch on our guest, but I take it you've decided not to keep him." His friend walked over to the desk to lay his violin in its case, taking his gloves from his belt. The pentagrams on his hands were scars that he went to great trouble to keep secret, and the rest of the council would find their way here before too long now that the song that kept most people far at bay had stopped.
Well, Subaru couldn’t hold that one against him. When had he ever said, ‘Stop playing’? It was the Sumeragi who was clearly inviting the company. "Oh, I'll be keeping him,” Fai answered, and tried with little success to shake the grin off his face. “But a man like that..."
He could just taste the thought of taking Kurogane for another spin. And then, what the ninja had meant by that kiss... It had been rather a number of years since anyone had tried to play that card with him. It could be fun, letting someone try to romance him. Maybe letting him think he was succeeding. Besides, any game his opponent was playing meant that he'd been challenged. That was hardly a problem.
Putting an extra sparkle in his eye, he faced the mildly disapproving expression his old friend had seen fit to wear. "Mm. Well, a man like Kuro-tan deserves to be taken down with his pants on," Fai finished. "And I really think you'd like him. He's sweet."
The discontent in Subaru's eyes stayed strong as the Sumeragi paused before donning his gloves to push Fai's chin lightly from one profile to the other. "I'll grant that he's not like most of your dance partners. They generally leave your face alone."
Well, that was true. The sore joints, the pleasantly painful stretch in his muscles, and the bruises were nothing out of the ordinary, but the mild sear across his cheek whenever he moved his mouth or batted an eye had him smiling extra just to feel it. The curious warmth of the swollen, broken skin and the twinge as it moved... Even if it hurt, he couldn’t leave the sensation alone. And every jolt through his nerves brought back the memory of how the ninja had tried to pretend the fun was over when the buckles and braces had come out.
Not that a scratch disproved the fact that Kurogane was sweet, though perhaps the confusion was understandable. Subaru hadn’t seen the look in the ninja’s eyes all night, trying to decide how far he could let himself go, trying to believe he’d be able to refuse his own curiosity. A delirious chuckle fell out of Fai’s throat as he knit his hands into the pillow under his head. How long would it be before his Kuro-pin realized that he’d blown past the point of no return without even hearing the waysigns whooshing in the breeze?
As a particular expression came over his friend that he hadn't seen in a lifetime -- at least -- Fai's amusement faded away. In silence, the Sumeragi's gaze sparked with concern, then looked deep down towards him. Too deep. "Stay out of my soul, Subaru." Fai brushed the hand off his chin and turned towards the wall to study a corner as far from those green eyes as he could find. "You know you won't like it there."
But the quiet hung heavy. Of course Subaru wouldn't argue with him, and he'd never insist. Oh, the difficulties of people who knew you too well, and who wouldn't be dissuaded by a smile. His friend wouldn't have needed to see any more than the fancy Fai had been letting show on his face. That was the price he paid not to be alone.
When he turned back, Subaru looked as reproving as his sad, somber self could ever manage. "You said I can't help who I love, and I'll give you that same courtesy. But you could decide to walk away."
Fai laughed off the warning from the last person who should have been lecturing. Who'd said anything about taking the ninja seriously enough that he had to walk away? He could be as bad as he wanted as long as he wasn't stupid about getting his heart involved. He'd learned his lesson with Ashura, after all. Of course he had. Hadn't he'd sealed his demon lord away for as much of eternity as he could manage? The way Subaru would never be able to do with his own not-quite ex but never-really lover. No, he couldn't help it if he was fond of a certain person who'd earned his attention -- for now -- but what attention he paid was something he could control. And, as he twirled the key on his neck that would never let him forget it, he asked, "Walk away? Over a few scratches? That's nothing between enemies."
"Depends on the scratches."
Fai tried not to let his eyes drift toward the patterned scars on his navigator's hands. Subaru was surely trying not to clench his fingers into fists as well, but neither of them seemed to have any luck. Sure as hell, the white ridges had stained to a blush already. By the time the 'Dragon of Earth' arrived, they'd be red as blood, and he'd need those gloves more than ever. Being fond of a man wouldn't make him any less terrible if he were a terrible man; they both knew that. But in the case of the man who'd braved his Dragon alone for the sake of those two children, then left him bleeding and bound but so very alive on the floor, it just wasn't true.
"Kurogane is nothing like Seishirou," Fai answered, staring straight into Subaru's mild eyes. That was all he could offer, though he knew full well that Subaru would find it exactly the opposite of reassuring. Not one of them had thought Seishirou was 'like Seishirou' back then, with the possible exception of Hokuto, and the chance that she'd known hadn't done her any favors when he'd sent her back across the mists for good. Some days, Fai wondered if Subaru could still hear his twin sister's voice so far away, but he'd never asked. If his friend couldn't hear her after all, then she was as good as dead.
With a twisted frown, the Sumeragi finished pulling on his gloves and paced back to his desk in silence, not speaking another word until he returned with a small, round container. "This will help take down the swelling. It should prevent any of that from scarring, as well. None of it looks deep."
"Why, thank you." As soon as he pulled off the lid, the cream set the entire cabin awash with the scent of mint. It cooled quickly on his skin where it was whole and stung where it was raw, fading soon to a numb tingle. Skin healed quickly. Fai wasn't worried about that, but he was glad to have the little gesture of peace. "Wherever would I be without my pretty face?"
"Long since dead, and probably better off," Subaru replied without a pause.
"Touche." When the Sumeragi did talk, he certainly didn't mince words. "For what it's worth, Subaru..." He finished rubbing the salve into the abrasions on his arms and settled the lid back on the pot. They had another minute before the rest of the pirate lords arrived, Fai judged, but only just; and if everything didn't go just right for the rest of the evening, the decision to call the 'Dragon of Earth' would be in vain. "I wish I could keep him away from you."
For what it was worth... Fai thought again, his bitter smile turning to a bemused laugh as Subaru's expression melted into a hint of confusion. "I never asked you to," his friend answered.
And he never would want to, which was why Fai never started that conversation until someone else was about to walk into the room. He was still staring down the unreadable stillness of the Sumeragi's eyes when the door opened, putting the question off indefinitely.
"If you're here," Kamui started before he was even through the door, "please tell me our guest is verifiably unconscious and tied securely to your bedpost."
Fai stretched out on the bed and smiled up at the gathered council lords crowding through the door. Unlike the First Mate, he waited for all of his audience to assemble within earshot before starting his performance. As soon as Yuzuriha rushed in after everyone else and had a chance to gasp at his state of physical disrepair, he shrugged and nestled into the pillow with a particularly bright smile. "Ah, nope. He's..." Fai trailed off and shut his eyes as he swirled his finger around in the air to indicate the general environs of the ship. "... somewhere out there."
Kamui had absolutely the best vexed expressions. There was no question that he'd mellowed through the years of exposure to the rest of the council -- especially Sorata -- given that he'd been such a melodramatic and humorless little shit once upon a time, but he could still paint, 'The universe exists only to cause me pain!' on his face like nobody's business. At the moment, his eyes were screwed shut, and Kamui was pressing a hand to his forehead with a charming level of chagrin. "I wish I were capable of believing you're joking about that."
"But we know where he'll be going!" Fai reminded the room. He rolled up on his side and curled up his legs after a playful kick at the council's second-in-command. "Ninja infiltration equals rescue mission. I'd imagine he's seeking out the brig, wherever he is at the moment. And I learned a great deal about what he doesn't know while he was interrogating me. Truly fascinating."
"Ninja? Interro-- You mean--" Most of his pirates now looked confused -- probably wondering why the man he'd taken off wasn't tied to his bedpost after all, if he were a ninja -- but Karen was having trouble containing giggles as Kamui's face shifted through eight shades of red and his eyebrows turned downright apoplectic. "Have you ever once considered having normal sex?!" the first mate thundered. "Maybe the kind that I could differentiate from torture?"
Fai had to join Karen in giggling at that. Of course he'd considered it -- he'd even tried it once -- but it had been awfully boring.
With a pained sigh, Kamui took the laughter for what it was: rejection. Once he'd had a chance to breathe, the color in his cheeks returned to normal. "Okay, fine. You let the ninja have his way with you, did reverse information collection, then let him think he'd gotten away so he'd lower his guard."
"Just tell yourself that," Arashi muttered under her breath.
Ignoring her, Kamui asked with a forced calm, "Did you get his name?"
Just the question he'd been waiting for. None of them but Subaru had been able to tell, or they would have insisted on trying to keelhaul the man while Arashi had still had him 'restrained' -- before Fai had a chance to find out if the ninja lived up to his reputation. He'd been looking forward to breaking the news all night, not that his knowing little smile did anything but set Kamui more on edge.
The nervousness mounting in his eyes as Fai's grin brightened at him made his voice even sharper and more ill-humored than usual. "Did you get a solid grasp of his abilities? Maybe plans for the general assault to retrieve the Princess? Anything?"
"Why, he is the assault to retrieve the Princess, Kamui," Fai answered. This time, he was the only one giggling. "Why would anyone in the Ninja Union think they needed to send more manpower than Kurogane?" At the sound of the name, six pirate faces fell paler than Subaru's shirt, and the only thing to be heard throughout the chamber was the occasional swish of his hanging coat against the wall when the ship swayed on the waves. "Quite an honor, isn't it?" he went on, every second that he watched them panic feeling his smile grow. "An honest-to-goodness legend, coming out of retirement just for us."
"So you're saying you didn't let him get away," Sorata muttered, sweeping the bandana off his head so he could start pulling out his hair properly.
Fai didn't bother to correct him.
"Did you know about this?" Kamui didn't wait for the response before he charged towards the door, pulling his cutlass from his belt -- making Fai grab his arm on his way past. The tempestuous little first mate struggled for a second, but a hard squeeze sent the message that he wasn't going anywhere. "Would you fucking tell me when we've got Kurogane on our ship instead of fucking fucking him?!"
Well, that was a silly question.
Fai relaxed back on the pillows, keeping his grip on Kamui's forearm despite the other pirate's threatening fist, and shook his head lightly. "Not you. I'd like him taken alive, and without any unnecessary structural damage, if you don't mind. Besides, didn't the boy crack your rib?"
Purple eyes that were very good at glaring indeed only locked on him until a violin case clicked shut across the cabin. Even Kamui didn't have to be reminded that, with Fai sitting out this round, the Sumeragi was the only one who could subdue that lord among ninja without wrecking the entire ship. And wouldn't you know? Subaru was already throwing on his coat. Poor Subaru. He tried admirably to look annoyed as he cocked his hat on his head and stalked toward the door, violin in hand, but he'd never been good at 'annoyed' even back when he'd had moods other than 'somber'.
At least he'd have a chance to get back to brooding for a bit, rather than dealing with all these pirates in his room.
continued in...
6: Athwartships
7: Futtock Shrouds
8: Hornswaggle
9: Well, Blow Me Down [ full - explicit/ edited - PG 13]
10: Davy Jones
**************************************
AUTHOR'S NOTES
**************************************
Happy birthday, beltenebra! Chapters 6-8 will be posted as they finish beta, by the end of next week if I have my way of it. I hope you're liking your Fai!
Many thanks to sumeria as always for her beta assistance, and for pointing me in the direction of the spark Fai was missing. As sometimes happens, I've built a mix list around said spark to listen to while I worked, which people are free to download here.
CHAPTER: 5 - "Batten Down the Hatches"
SERIES: Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, xxxHoLic, X/1999, Tokyo Babylon
DISCLAIMER: Everything in the CLAMP Megaverse was originally created by CLAMP. They are entirely to blame for creating a system of crossovers that do not easily disclaim. Characters have been adapted without authorization or approval, and I am making no profit from their use.
PAIRINGS: Kurogane x Fai D. Fluorite (main). References made to: Doumeki Shizuka x Watanuki Kimihiro, Aoki Seiichirou x Kasumi Karen, Li Syaoran x Princess Sakura, Sakurazuka Seishirou x Sumeragi Subaru, Clow Reed x Ichihara Yuuko, Ashura-Ou x Fai D. Fluorite (this list may not be exhaustive for future chapters)
RATING: PG-13.
WARNINGS: 1) Pirates. 2) Ninjas. 3) Strong language.
SEQUEL TO: Rum & Popcorn
SUMMARY: Long ago, in a universe slightly askew to this one, circumstances beyond anyone's control led to a fierce and bitter rivalry between Pirates and Ninjas... but Kurogane doesn't care about that. His only concern is to retrieve Princess Sakura and Syaoran from the Pirate King's ship.
Previously...
1: Ahoy, Matey!
2: Drivelswigger
3: Jolly Roger
4: Shot Across the Bow
Batten Down the Hatches (v) to stow and secure all gear and facilities on board in preparation for an oncoming storm (in modern usage, this storm may be figurative)
This late at night, if he wanted to borrow a bed that was free of a body or two -- his own quarters posing too much risk of ninja invasion -- there was only ever one to be had, and conveniently enough it belonged to the only person here Fai would impose upon for a few hours rest. Subaru was playing his violin, naturally. His old keepsake always came out when the 'Dragon of Earth' threatened near. Perhaps it was the nervous habit of an incurable brooder, but it was the best kind of nervous habit. Between the dreamlike after-rush of breaking through that devastatingly sexy ninja's armor and the dance of the ringing notes, Fai felt like his feet were floating on six inches of air.
Oh, that ninja, Fai thought, biting his lip in a wicked grin. The game he’d wanted to play as soon as he’d seen those red eyes wasn’t going to end with a quick toss, not for them. Kurogane was going to be quite the handful. Yuuko had lost herself a prize letting him go to Princess Tomoyo, but no doubt she’d taken a proper return on the investment. Dear, sweet Yuuko always did... that witch. If nothing else, having him outside her ranks now meant Kuro-tan wasn’t bound by her promises. He could come to this ship and be fully entertaining enough that it'd be worth losing the girl for the moment.
But even Yuuko couldn’t have been planning this assault for twelve years, putting her pieces in the right place for the right time. The mysterious Sakura had only washed up on Tomoyo’s shore nine years ago. But he could wait a little longer, now that he’d seen her for himself. Nearly a decade in the ungentlemanly company of ninja had clearly caused no habits that could become inconvenient in a descendant of Clow’s... assuming she was who he thought she was.
However this turned out, he’d have no regrets.
Fai paused outside of Subaru's door and hummed along to the crying strings, tracing a few of the grainlines down the planks to the door handle. It wouldn't bother Subaru for him to push the door open in the middle of a phrase. Honestly, it was doubtful his friend would be much bothered if someone beat the door down with a battering ram, but he liked this song. Despite the fact that it had so many memories, it was such a pretty tune in its own perverse way. He remembered when Hokuto had written it, back when Subaru's playing had been sweet and cheery, and they all used to laugh at the lyrics (especially Seishirou). Even now, the ephemeral melody bleeding through the bulkheads made the ship feel alive, seeming to shiver out of the very joints of the beams as if his Dragon sang with a voice of her own.
In right fact, the crew believed she did, and he certainly didn’t plan to correct them. It was just like he'd told Kuro-rin: there were things men were better of not knowing. When they heard the song, even though none of them could have known the words, they knew well to beware the coming of the Barrows-guard, and that was good enough. Why they didn’t choose to live in fear of Lord Monou or Satsuki instead left Fai constantly in wonder. Most officers on the ‘Dragon of Earth’ were capable of fighting a war on five fronts with their own two hands, and infinitely more likely than Seishirou to take an interest in a common sailor. Still, when most of the crew had decided he'd cage their souls if they but looked at him -- or drink their blood or tear their hearts from their chests or any number of half-truths -- he couldn't exactly argue. Their bogeyman might be more discerning than they gave him credit for, but his reputation had been earned.
Fai waited for the resolve on the phrase and the pause he knew was coming in Subaru's melody to push open the door. His old friend sat in the same small chair, facing the same tiny window as always, dressed down to his shirtsleeves and waistcoat as he made his bow dance over the strings. Still humming, Fai hung his coat on a stand next to the hat he’d left here last time he’d needed a nap, and he toed off his boots. Nothing quite like rolling on top of clean, soap-scented sheets and stretching out his toes. He'd meant to go straight to sleep, but fatigue just couldn’t win against the excitement thrumming in his blood and the crisp strains of melody. By the time the final strains of the coda faded out and Subaru dropped the violin to his knee, he was more than ready to go take on his ninja for round two.
But there was timing to worry about. And the raw skin on his arms and face that stung on the salt that infused everything at sea, of course, but timing was more important. Kuro-chan had to stew for a bit and think about what he’d done. When he was good and ready, Fai was certain, he wouldn’t have to go looking for a chance to bring his dark, handsome stranger to his knees. He’d come begging.
He couldn’t help laughing when his friend turned to stare him down. Not enough men feared Subaru’s eyes, Fai often thought, for they always looked quite mild. Those eyes were greener than the sea when the sun was high and twice as deep, but there was too much sunk in them for a glare to take hold. Sensible people feared them all the more for that, but who had time for sense nowadays?
"I'd ask who's keeping watch on our guest, but I take it you've decided not to keep him." His friend walked over to the desk to lay his violin in its case, taking his gloves from his belt. The pentagrams on his hands were scars that he went to great trouble to keep secret, and the rest of the council would find their way here before too long now that the song that kept most people far at bay had stopped.
Well, Subaru couldn’t hold that one against him. When had he ever said, ‘Stop playing’? It was the Sumeragi who was clearly inviting the company. "Oh, I'll be keeping him,” Fai answered, and tried with little success to shake the grin off his face. “But a man like that..."
He could just taste the thought of taking Kurogane for another spin. And then, what the ninja had meant by that kiss... It had been rather a number of years since anyone had tried to play that card with him. It could be fun, letting someone try to romance him. Maybe letting him think he was succeeding. Besides, any game his opponent was playing meant that he'd been challenged. That was hardly a problem.
Putting an extra sparkle in his eye, he faced the mildly disapproving expression his old friend had seen fit to wear. "Mm. Well, a man like Kuro-tan deserves to be taken down with his pants on," Fai finished. "And I really think you'd like him. He's sweet."
The discontent in Subaru's eyes stayed strong as the Sumeragi paused before donning his gloves to push Fai's chin lightly from one profile to the other. "I'll grant that he's not like most of your dance partners. They generally leave your face alone."
Well, that was true. The sore joints, the pleasantly painful stretch in his muscles, and the bruises were nothing out of the ordinary, but the mild sear across his cheek whenever he moved his mouth or batted an eye had him smiling extra just to feel it. The curious warmth of the swollen, broken skin and the twinge as it moved... Even if it hurt, he couldn’t leave the sensation alone. And every jolt through his nerves brought back the memory of how the ninja had tried to pretend the fun was over when the buckles and braces had come out.
Not that a scratch disproved the fact that Kurogane was sweet, though perhaps the confusion was understandable. Subaru hadn’t seen the look in the ninja’s eyes all night, trying to decide how far he could let himself go, trying to believe he’d be able to refuse his own curiosity. A delirious chuckle fell out of Fai’s throat as he knit his hands into the pillow under his head. How long would it be before his Kuro-pin realized that he’d blown past the point of no return without even hearing the waysigns whooshing in the breeze?
As a particular expression came over his friend that he hadn't seen in a lifetime -- at least -- Fai's amusement faded away. In silence, the Sumeragi's gaze sparked with concern, then looked deep down towards him. Too deep. "Stay out of my soul, Subaru." Fai brushed the hand off his chin and turned towards the wall to study a corner as far from those green eyes as he could find. "You know you won't like it there."
But the quiet hung heavy. Of course Subaru wouldn't argue with him, and he'd never insist. Oh, the difficulties of people who knew you too well, and who wouldn't be dissuaded by a smile. His friend wouldn't have needed to see any more than the fancy Fai had been letting show on his face. That was the price he paid not to be alone.
When he turned back, Subaru looked as reproving as his sad, somber self could ever manage. "You said I can't help who I love, and I'll give you that same courtesy. But you could decide to walk away."
Fai laughed off the warning from the last person who should have been lecturing. Who'd said anything about taking the ninja seriously enough that he had to walk away? He could be as bad as he wanted as long as he wasn't stupid about getting his heart involved. He'd learned his lesson with Ashura, after all. Of course he had. Hadn't he'd sealed his demon lord away for as much of eternity as he could manage? The way Subaru would never be able to do with his own not-quite ex but never-really lover. No, he couldn't help it if he was fond of a certain person who'd earned his attention -- for now -- but what attention he paid was something he could control. And, as he twirled the key on his neck that would never let him forget it, he asked, "Walk away? Over a few scratches? That's nothing between enemies."
"Depends on the scratches."
Fai tried not to let his eyes drift toward the patterned scars on his navigator's hands. Subaru was surely trying not to clench his fingers into fists as well, but neither of them seemed to have any luck. Sure as hell, the white ridges had stained to a blush already. By the time the 'Dragon of Earth' arrived, they'd be red as blood, and he'd need those gloves more than ever. Being fond of a man wouldn't make him any less terrible if he were a terrible man; they both knew that. But in the case of the man who'd braved his Dragon alone for the sake of those two children, then left him bleeding and bound but so very alive on the floor, it just wasn't true.
"Kurogane is nothing like Seishirou," Fai answered, staring straight into Subaru's mild eyes. That was all he could offer, though he knew full well that Subaru would find it exactly the opposite of reassuring. Not one of them had thought Seishirou was 'like Seishirou' back then, with the possible exception of Hokuto, and the chance that she'd known hadn't done her any favors when he'd sent her back across the mists for good. Some days, Fai wondered if Subaru could still hear his twin sister's voice so far away, but he'd never asked. If his friend couldn't hear her after all, then she was as good as dead.
With a twisted frown, the Sumeragi finished pulling on his gloves and paced back to his desk in silence, not speaking another word until he returned with a small, round container. "This will help take down the swelling. It should prevent any of that from scarring, as well. None of it looks deep."
"Why, thank you." As soon as he pulled off the lid, the cream set the entire cabin awash with the scent of mint. It cooled quickly on his skin where it was whole and stung where it was raw, fading soon to a numb tingle. Skin healed quickly. Fai wasn't worried about that, but he was glad to have the little gesture of peace. "Wherever would I be without my pretty face?"
"Long since dead, and probably better off," Subaru replied without a pause.
"Touche." When the Sumeragi did talk, he certainly didn't mince words. "For what it's worth, Subaru..." He finished rubbing the salve into the abrasions on his arms and settled the lid back on the pot. They had another minute before the rest of the pirate lords arrived, Fai judged, but only just; and if everything didn't go just right for the rest of the evening, the decision to call the 'Dragon of Earth' would be in vain. "I wish I could keep him away from you."
For what it was worth... Fai thought again, his bitter smile turning to a bemused laugh as Subaru's expression melted into a hint of confusion. "I never asked you to," his friend answered.
And he never would want to, which was why Fai never started that conversation until someone else was about to walk into the room. He was still staring down the unreadable stillness of the Sumeragi's eyes when the door opened, putting the question off indefinitely.
"If you're here," Kamui started before he was even through the door, "please tell me our guest is verifiably unconscious and tied securely to your bedpost."
Fai stretched out on the bed and smiled up at the gathered council lords crowding through the door. Unlike the First Mate, he waited for all of his audience to assemble within earshot before starting his performance. As soon as Yuzuriha rushed in after everyone else and had a chance to gasp at his state of physical disrepair, he shrugged and nestled into the pillow with a particularly bright smile. "Ah, nope. He's..." Fai trailed off and shut his eyes as he swirled his finger around in the air to indicate the general environs of the ship. "... somewhere out there."
Kamui had absolutely the best vexed expressions. There was no question that he'd mellowed through the years of exposure to the rest of the council -- especially Sorata -- given that he'd been such a melodramatic and humorless little shit once upon a time, but he could still paint, 'The universe exists only to cause me pain!' on his face like nobody's business. At the moment, his eyes were screwed shut, and Kamui was pressing a hand to his forehead with a charming level of chagrin. "I wish I were capable of believing you're joking about that."
"But we know where he'll be going!" Fai reminded the room. He rolled up on his side and curled up his legs after a playful kick at the council's second-in-command. "Ninja infiltration equals rescue mission. I'd imagine he's seeking out the brig, wherever he is at the moment. And I learned a great deal about what he doesn't know while he was interrogating me. Truly fascinating."
"Ninja? Interro-- You mean--" Most of his pirates now looked confused -- probably wondering why the man he'd taken off wasn't tied to his bedpost after all, if he were a ninja -- but Karen was having trouble containing giggles as Kamui's face shifted through eight shades of red and his eyebrows turned downright apoplectic. "Have you ever once considered having normal sex?!" the first mate thundered. "Maybe the kind that I could differentiate from torture?"
Fai had to join Karen in giggling at that. Of course he'd considered it -- he'd even tried it once -- but it had been awfully boring.
With a pained sigh, Kamui took the laughter for what it was: rejection. Once he'd had a chance to breathe, the color in his cheeks returned to normal. "Okay, fine. You let the ninja have his way with you, did reverse information collection, then let him think he'd gotten away so he'd lower his guard."
"Just tell yourself that," Arashi muttered under her breath.
Ignoring her, Kamui asked with a forced calm, "Did you get his name?"
Just the question he'd been waiting for. None of them but Subaru had been able to tell, or they would have insisted on trying to keelhaul the man while Arashi had still had him 'restrained' -- before Fai had a chance to find out if the ninja lived up to his reputation. He'd been looking forward to breaking the news all night, not that his knowing little smile did anything but set Kamui more on edge.
The nervousness mounting in his eyes as Fai's grin brightened at him made his voice even sharper and more ill-humored than usual. "Did you get a solid grasp of his abilities? Maybe plans for the general assault to retrieve the Princess? Anything?"
"Why, he is the assault to retrieve the Princess, Kamui," Fai answered. This time, he was the only one giggling. "Why would anyone in the Ninja Union think they needed to send more manpower than Kurogane?" At the sound of the name, six pirate faces fell paler than Subaru's shirt, and the only thing to be heard throughout the chamber was the occasional swish of his hanging coat against the wall when the ship swayed on the waves. "Quite an honor, isn't it?" he went on, every second that he watched them panic feeling his smile grow. "An honest-to-goodness legend, coming out of retirement just for us."
"So you're saying you didn't let him get away," Sorata muttered, sweeping the bandana off his head so he could start pulling out his hair properly.
Fai didn't bother to correct him.
"Did you know about this?" Kamui didn't wait for the response before he charged towards the door, pulling his cutlass from his belt -- making Fai grab his arm on his way past. The tempestuous little first mate struggled for a second, but a hard squeeze sent the message that he wasn't going anywhere. "Would you fucking tell me when we've got Kurogane on our ship instead of fucking fucking him?!"
Well, that was a silly question.
Fai relaxed back on the pillows, keeping his grip on Kamui's forearm despite the other pirate's threatening fist, and shook his head lightly. "Not you. I'd like him taken alive, and without any unnecessary structural damage, if you don't mind. Besides, didn't the boy crack your rib?"
Purple eyes that were very good at glaring indeed only locked on him until a violin case clicked shut across the cabin. Even Kamui didn't have to be reminded that, with Fai sitting out this round, the Sumeragi was the only one who could subdue that lord among ninja without wrecking the entire ship. And wouldn't you know? Subaru was already throwing on his coat. Poor Subaru. He tried admirably to look annoyed as he cocked his hat on his head and stalked toward the door, violin in hand, but he'd never been good at 'annoyed' even back when he'd had moods other than 'somber'.
At least he'd have a chance to get back to brooding for a bit, rather than dealing with all these pirates in his room.
continued in...
6: Athwartships
7: Futtock Shrouds
8: Hornswaggle
9: Well, Blow Me Down [ full - explicit/ edited - PG 13]
10: Davy Jones
**************************************
AUTHOR'S NOTES
**************************************
Happy birthday, beltenebra! Chapters 6-8 will be posted as they finish beta, by the end of next week if I have my way of it. I hope you're liking your Fai!
Many thanks to sumeria as always for her beta assistance, and for pointing me in the direction of the spark Fai was missing. As sometimes happens, I've built a mix list around said spark to listen to while I worked, which people are free to download here.