"Yikes, what a battle!" Accomplishment and exhaustion seemed to reign over the pirate boy. Hervey leaned on the boat's sturdy, wooden rail, as they headed back towards the pirate's nest to converse with their shipmates.

As for what would happen after that, Hervey would have liked to know.

His comrade, Sigurd, agreed with a nod. "Yes, it's been too long since we've had a break."

"Yeah, I know it! Always somethin'…" For a lingering moment, Hervey's eyes turned towards his partner.

Sigurd's emerald eyes strayed across the distant waters. Sluggishly, the man began to lose himself in thought, and as the wind moved through his hair and clothes, his soft eyelashes closed shut like the wings of a butterfly.

Unaware of his current captivity, Hervey watched as Sigurd inhaled the salty air around him. The smaller boy did not know why or how he was dominated by Sigurd's charm. Yet the unfamiliar, uplifting feeling almost scared him.

Not like you'd ever hear me say this stuff out loud. I mean, duh, I'm a man; I have an ego to attend to!

Instead of merely observing, Hervey attempted to strike up a conversation, "Hey, Sigurd?"

"Uh, yeah?" The green eyes turned to him.

"After all this is over and done with… what do you plan on doing? More pirating?" He added, hopefully. After all, spending time with Sigurd seemed to be the top of his priority list.

"Actually…" The negative tone in Sigurd's voice dropped Hervey's enthusiasm. "There are other things I need to deal with."

The redhead laughed. "Other things? Like what? You got a family to return to, or something?" How he enjoyed teasing his partner.

"Nah, it's something else. Extra baggage I need to clear up." As if readying himself to leave, the taller man maintained his usual, prim-and-proper posture and turned away.

Hervey had a tendency to speak, act, and all of the above without thinking. "Whoa, whoa! Hold it! Baggage, like what? We're pirates! We have no regrets, no responsibilities - well, not many, at least..."

"Hervey, I really do enjoy pirating. But after we get back home, I'm going to have to leave."

"…What?"

Time stopped to make way for Sigurd's speech. "I'm going to Middleport."

[Sigurd; a man of his word, a gentleman, and an unbreakable sense of loyalty for his close friends. However, he may be too busy standing up for a friend to stand up for himself. For instance, if he made a mistake, it'll go to his head, and he'll eventually succumb.]

[Hervey; cocksure, rarely takes anything seriously, always believes in himself. Says exactly what's on his mind, and so he may come off as a little hot-headed. For instance, if his best friend made a stupid proposal of leaving him for a lifetime, he may interfere.]

[Unfortunately for Hervey, Sigurd also shares a strong sense of stubbornness.]

"You're not going back to-" Speaking before thinking, as usual, Hervey's attempt to stop his friend succeeded. "I mean, that fleet could have you executed! Or worse, I mean there's no telling what those pervs'll-"

Clearly, Sigurd was afraid of the future at hand, because his once stern voice wavered. "I need to go through with this. You don't understand, it was my choice to start with."

Hervey's slender body began trembling. But why? Was it anger or fear that took root? And since when had his heart started to sting? "There's no freakin' way…"

Noticing his friend's obvious distress, Sigurd attempted to calm him with words of reassurance. "I know what it means, but I have to. I guess I feel like this is something I need to confront."

"But by yourself?" Hurt, Hervey backed away from the offender. "You know how stupid that is?"

Sigurd said nothing. He looked on towards the waters again, perhaps hoping it could wash away sadness, fear, and sins.

Jerking the attention of his comrade back to him, Hervey yelled, "What are you thinking? You're a moron for even THINKING about going back to them!"

Sigurd chuckled. "I knew you'd get pissed at me. That's why I was just going to leave without telling you. But you're…"Abruptly, Sigurd cleared his throat; perhaps allowing himself to stop and think. "...stupid for making me speak my feelings like this."

"I just don't get you." The level of his voice dropped, as he noticed how Sigurd was speaking truthfully. It made him feel respected; respected by someone who meant the world to him. "First you're full of energy, and you're all happy to be pirating and stuff. Then you're all like… wanting to go back to before?"

"Not necessarily. I'll just have them do what they want with me, then I'll come back." The charcoal-haired man leaned his back against the edge of the boat - to stand beside Hervey.

"But… how much of you… will there be left… for me?"

Quick with words, Sigurd laughed before his comeback. "Who's speaking nonsense now?"

"Tch, I know that sounded corn-sauce and everything. But seriously, I-" Whoa. Too much, too soon, Hervey. Just shut up. "Aw, dang it."

Side-by-side, they merely stood together. The scenery was familiar, and their union was familiar and comfortable. So why was Sigurd avoiding eye-contact?

Again, Hervey found himself watching the other. I wonder if he even notices that I watch him. Probably not. He's always zoning out. I like to think it's because he's comfortable with me. But maybe that's wishful thinking…?

As he observed, the brown-eyed pirate noticed Sigurd's tall, slender body shaking.

"You're scared." Hervey simply stated.

"Scared? Why should I be?"

"Well, I dunno! You tell me! I like the honest, manly, heart-to-heart talk with you!"

Thoughtfully, Sigurd paused. It was as if the witty man had a loss for words.

I should say it… I should say it right now. The smaller man desperately wished for courage. Why can't I?

The exhausted Sigurd sighed, turned to Hervey once more, and smiled weakly. The green-eyed man then left his side to return to his cabin.

Yet Hervey did nothing to stop his friend.

Am I the one who's scared?