Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own Rags and Pinters. If I did, I'd set them up in a nice lil one bedroom apartment in Grenich (Greenwich?) village. They would snuggle and drink tea in the morning, until Rags dragged Pinters to go shopping, where Ragetti would spend hours trying on different dresses. Pintel would shout at people for walking too loudly. Then they would go home and eat cake.

Teach me

"Teach me?"

"It's not summat ye can teach, Ragetti."

Ragetti leaned back on his elbows."But I'm not tough on me own, Telly. Summun needs ta make me tha' way. Summun needs ta make me like you."

"Ya dun wanna be like me, Rags." Pintel said, sharpening his cutlass.

"But I do. I wanna be tough 'n' strong 'n' not take all the crap what the rest gives me." He smiled, thinking of the lessons he'd give Twigg and the Bo'Sun.

Pintel held his flat stone still against the blade. "No need fer ya to be tough when I'm 'ere," he said, stealing a glance at Ragetti's face, lit by candle light. Even through the layers of dirt, Ragetti's good nature shone.

"N' I dun think ya'd be much good as a scalawag. See a dress ya deemed "pretty", or a "lil' fishie 'n' ya'd turn righta goo 'gain."

Ragetti "hmphed" but sat up and turned to face Pintel. "Norin' the insult, what ya mean I dun gotta be tough when yer 'ere?"

Seeing it wasn't likely that he'd get his cutlass sharp anytime soon, Pintel set it and his rock on the deck. "Cause I'll protect ya. From the cap'n, from the crew, 'n' anythin' else what'll try'n 'urt ya."

He turned all the way around to see Ragetti positively beaming at him. Pintel sighed. "Exactly why I dun tell ya these things." A slight pressure on his hand. Pintel looked down to see that Ragetti had slid his hand over Pintel's own.

"I like that." The slimmer pirate scooted closer to his friend. "Why, though? I mean, I dun do nuffin' fer you."

"Yer mad, mate!" Pintel said, wrenching his hand out from underneath Ragetti's. "You kep' me alive! You elped me get on me feet when we met in Tortuga. I'da been dead wifin a week iffin we 'adn't met."

Ragetti looked out into the water. "But it was all selfish-like. I only wen' up ta ye cause you were bigger'n me. 'N' I figures that iffin I made a friend outta ye, then you'd be me bodyguard of sorts. Guess I got what I was wantin', didin' I?" He turned away and clutched his knees to his chest.

Shifting boards told him that Pintel had stood up. However, he felt the boards sink down behind him again as Pintel sat down. He saw Pintels legs extend on either side of him. Ragetti's grip on his knees was lost as Pintel's arms round their way around his chest.

He was pulled back into an embrace, resting against Pintel's stomach. Pintel's lips pressed against the right side of Ragetti's neck a few times.

"I 'member 'ow you loved tha' afore this blasted curse took yer feelin'," Pintel said. "There 'asta be a way ta show ya I love ya, though."

Ragetti, crossing his arms lightly, grabbed Pintels hands. "There are lotasa ways, Telly. like this. 'N' us 'oldin 'ands. and ya wouldna been forced ta kiss the gunners daughter so many times if you didin' love me 'nough ta confront the Bo'Sun. But I know ya love me, 'n' I love you."

'As if ya didin' tell me every chance ya get. You'll 'afta 'elp me sometimes, though."

" 'Elp ya what?"

"Learn ta be a bit more 'fectionate. Just a bit, ya hear, I dun wanna end up in womans knickers."

Ragetti blushed a bit. "So, ya really wan' me ta 'elp ya?"

"Aye, and it'll be fer you, too."

"Ye do so much fer me already."

"Rags," Pintel said, leaning back so they were laying down. "Teach me?"

Ragetti moved so he was laying on Pintel and facing him. He kissed him softly. "It's not summat you can teach, Pintel. Anyways, yer doin' great."

Hope you enjoyed it.