The Captain's Charm
Being a pirate, many aspects of life that the majority of people would consider absurd became normal. Be it the massively strenuous exercise that was performed daily to properly operate a ship, or the sudden surge of aggression and adrenaline that occurred when rivals boarded or attacked your home, everything was different when living on the sea. The moment someone steps aboard a ship with the intention of becoming part of the crew, they leave normality behind them and have to grow to be different.
Freed Justine, Captain of the infamous ship Raijinshuu, was a testament to this.
For most men, being bound to a chair by ropes tied too tightly in the cell of a port town's jail would bring fear. They would listen to the rumours that state jailers were not kind to those imprisoned and would happily lash out physically against them, forcing the captured to make themselves humble and weak to avoid this.
But Freed was not most men. He was a Captain and had faced worse that the simple minded small town folk who had imprisoned him – temporarily of course, even if they didn't yet know that – could possibly begin to imagine. He didn't see the fact he was bound where he sat, despite being caged, as a form of intimidation, but an unintended compliment as to how scare of him they were. He didn't see the silence as sickening or concerning, it was simply a respectful stage for when he eventually chose to speak. His face showed no fear or worry, instead a smirk was plastered upon it as he looked towards the closed door through the bars of his cell.
It was all a power play, the moment his interrogator entered the room, he would be forced into eye contact with a man unlike most. The interrogator would feel uncomfortable and Freed would be established as the one in charge immediately, a useful position to be in when bound and in a cage.
The reason for his arrest had been somewhat irritating. The Raijinshuu had docked in Hargeon, one of the many high-class port towns on Fiore's coast that he used to gather supplies and to allow his crew any excitement or entertainment they so needed that his ship couldn't offer. He had disguised both the ship and himself, claiming to be from a foreign land taking workers to the capital city. He'd altered his appearance accordingly, foregoing the luxuries of his regular clothing for more simple attire that could blend into a crowd. It was a disguise and cover story that had worked countless times and on countless men, many of whom wanted his head on a stick.
Despite the effectiveness of his disguise on most, someone had seen through it. Not anyone who was hunting him, or even anyone of real importance, just some insignificant blonde knight. Freed would have put it down to luck, but the moment the knight looked at him, Freed could see that he knew who he was. He'd considered fleeing, but when the blonde started to push his way through the crowd and he knew it was too late. If Freed ran, he'd draw too much attention on himself and perhaps his crew would be dragged into the mess along side him; a situation much harder to deal with than his own imprisonment.
The Captain absently hoped he hadn't killed someone the blonde knew, and this was revenge of some kind. He really didn't have time for that.
He sat in silence, eyes never leaving the door as he gently tested his bounds. They had been tied down by a different, less diligent member of the jail's workforce who had also spat at him in another failed attempt of intimidation, a small mark of wetness remained on his lower thigh where the spit had landed. The ropes were tight, but even the slight wiggle room was somewhat offensive; his reputation deserved better than that.
When the door eventually opened, Freed was presented with the sight of the blonde man who had led to his capture. Now given more time to look at him, he noticed the scar along his face, his impressive height and, most importantly, his face. He didn't have the sneer of superiority that the other workers had. He was different, something Freed could work with.
"Mr Justine." The blonde began, voice forced into a high-class tone. "The reason you're here-"
"Captain." Freed interrupted, smirking slightly. "If you're going to kill me because of my title, show me a little respect and use it."
Freed's eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed the mans reaction. The blonde had halted and seemed not to have expected any form of resistance, but the way he dealt with it made Freed grin. Instead of sprouting off a tirade which would have lead to Freed being covered in spit – the people on the land seemed to have an obsession with their saliva – the blonde simply brushed it off and spoke calmly. This only further proved Freed's initial assumption that his capturer wasn't the typical knight.
"Captain Justine." The blonde corrected. "You're here as a traitor to the kingdom, for alleged acts of piracy and countless instances of unlawful violence. Because of this, your crimes will be brought to the attention of the law-master, who will decide your fate. With the weight of your crimes, if you're discovered to be guilty, it's likely that you will face punishment through public execution."
"I'm fully aware of what the state wants to do to me. It isn't the first time I've been arrested, probably not the last." Freed's grin was evident in his voice. "What I'm not aware of, Mr Dreyar, is why you're here."
"Why I'm- how d'you know my name?" The blonde demanded, voice slipping into a hoarse, rumbling tone.
"Your colleagues are not discrete." Freed chuckled a little. "They apparently didn't believe that 'Laxus fucking Dreyar' had managed to capture the most wanted pirate to sail the seven oceans in living memory." The blonde's eyebrow seemed to twitch slightly, spurring Freed on. "If it's not too bold to suggest, I think they see you as a lesser man than themselves. Their inferior, perhaps."
Watching the man before him become agitated was a fantastic sight. The blonde had an incredibly expressive face which first became contorted by slightly narrowed eyes, then his mouth showed a slither of his teeth, and finally his eyebrows curved and met in the middle. It was honestly spectacular to see, in such vivid detail, that the large man was unknowingly falling to putty that Freed could use in whatever way he wished.
The blonde picked up the key to the Freed's cell and unlocked the door, entering it. Freed didn't look away as the large blonde got closer so that he was standing tall before him, still maintaining eye contact with him. When Laxus crouched down, clearly trying to emasculate Freed, the pirate could feel the breath on his face with how close they were.
"I don't think you fucking understand." Laxus growled deeply, the previous tone having dropped for what Freed assumed was his real voice. "There's a pretty high chance you're gonna be hung, so don't piss off the people who might be able to save yer life."
There was a moment of silence between the two men, Freed maintaining the antagonising smirk. That seemed to further annoy the blonde man, who's chest was heaving ever so slightly as he glared down the bound man before him. With every exhale, Freed could feel the mans soft breath against his face, most probably another form of intimidation.
"Hanged, not hung." Freed corrected with a grin. "And should I tell you why I'm nor concerned by it? It's because it's not going to happen."
"Really? And how d'you figure that." Laxus grunted after a moment's hesitation.
"Because you have no evidence. Right now, all you've done is arrest a man who you claim is wanted, but you can't prove it." Freed almost chuckled. "You and I both know who I am, but they don't. Your colleagues sounded quite resentful when they found out it was you who found me, would it be so far fetched to think they would utilise the lack of evidence so that they wouldn't look incompetent compared to you."
Laxus' obvious expression of anger faltered slightly, before his eyes narrowed a little more. He stood up tall and walked to the back of the cell with an audible sigh, Freed's eyes never leaving the man. He leant against the cool metal bars and crossed his arms, looking at Freed with a soft glare on his face.
Freed waited in silence, meeting the gaze but softening his expression slightly so it wasn't quite as antagonising. Though it was rare, the few occasions he had been arrested and put on trial, he had made sure never to give anyone of influence any form of evidence as to who he was, so they couldn't lawfully kill him. He had always managed to escape imprisonment before this way out was needed, but it was always important to have a backup plan. He doubted he would need to use the backup as intended with Laxus, however.
The silence lasted for a while. Freed had no doubt that Laxus was thinking over his predicament, trying to come up with some sort of evidence against Freed, but he would come up with none. The town of Hargeon wanted him more than most, so he was infinitely more careful. He would be a free man by the end of the day, no doubt.
"If I may, I have a solution that can benefit us both." Freed continued, the blonde looking down to him with a raised eyebrow. He didn't say anything, most likely to regain power in the conversation, so Freed continued. "I will give you undeniable means to have me charged, hanged and put through whatever form of bodily mutilation your law-maker deems fit, all of which you will be credited for."
"You're gonna sentence yourself to death?" Laxus snorted indignantly. "I ain't fucking stupid, you'll just sell me some shit to make me look like an idiot."
"I can assure you that's not what I want to do; I'll even confess to my crimes before the city if needed. And I don't think you're stupid, Mr Dreyar." Freed grinned a little as he watched Laxus shuffle. "But, for my confession, I want you to answer a question about yourself. And do so honestly, I'll know otherwise."
Again, the cell was filled with silence. Laxus considered the offer for a moment before speaking again.
"You'd give yourself a public execution for a question? Why?"
"Call it a dead mans wish." Freed chuckled. "So, do we have a deal Mr Dreyar?"
Laxus took some time to answer. He kicked himself off the bars he was leaning against and slowly paced back and forth in the cell. He seemed to be in an intense inner quandary, Freed assumed mainly that Laxus didn't trust him and expected him to go back on his agreement. If Freed had misjudged the situation then that doubt would be justified and Freed would have escaped before he had a chance to pay his part of the deal, but he felt confident in his analysis of the other man and how he could be used to his own advantage.
Eventually, Laxus stopped pacing. His face seemed somewhat haggard and troubled, suggesting to Freed that Laxus had decided that he would have to take the lesser option of two evils. Thankfully for the Captain, that lesser evil worked in his favour.
"Swear to God if you're playing me or something."
"Captain's honour." Freed grinned. "So, in return for my testimony, I want to know why you're here."
Another fantastically animated scowl appeared on the mans face, though this time it was one of confusion. It was obvious why, the question was vague and the reason for why he asked it made no sense to anyone other than to Freed, so the blonde was obviously quite suspicious as to what he was answering. Freed wasn't bothered, he knew Laxus wouldn't back down once he made his mind up.
"What d'you mean?" He grunted.
"I mean, Mr Dreyar, why are you here? In this town, this profession, this cell." Freed smiled. "As far as I can see, you're a rejection of everything this town stands for. It's full of pretentious socialites head-to-toe in expensive clothes and jewels. You're a blunt, unadulterated man who doesn't mince his words and wears a coat that must be at least as old as you are. You could conform to this town, you don't.
"I've been aggravating and disrespecting you since you entered. If that happened with your colleagues, they would have beaten me to a bruised pulp. You didn't. Logically, it would have been the best way to get some information from me. The fact you chose not to shows you don't want to be like them. Again, you're rejecting this town and the people with your very existence."
On Laxus' face, there seemed to be a look of realisation forming. Freed watched this with a small amount of curiosity, he had expected that Laxus' denial was done as a constant and intentional act of rebellion. If his contrast with his environment was done subconsciously, it painted Laxus as less of a brat than Freed had expected.
No, he was more of an adventurer. Perhaps he just wasn't aware of it yet.
Laxus shook his head and moved towards the door of the cage, giving Freed the impression that their conversation was over, and he would have to revert back to his plan of escaping. When Laxus picked up the stool resting behind the door, returned to the cage and sat himself a small distance away from the prisoner, Freed smiled. He was starting to get under Laxus' skin, now he needed to execute the plan that was quickly forming with the new information he had about the man.
"Town's full of snooty guys, I just ain't one of 'em. And I ain't about beating up prisoners, whoever they are." Laxus continued. "So what?"
"To fight against your environment like this takes conviction. Nobody could handle that for their whole life." Freed grinned again, looking at Laxus through his hair. "I don't think you're rebelling against what this town stands for. I think you've just prepared yourself to leave it."
"Look kid." Laxus' voice rose nearly to a shout suddenly, and Freed took delight in having ruffled his feathers so much. "You don't know shit about me-"
"The second you saw me you knew who I was. With this disguise, I've walked beside men who would happily rip apart my stomach and watch me bleed out if given the chance. Some of them would be justified in doing so." Freed leant back against his bounded chair. "You, a man who has no reason to know me, could identify me across a busy market square. You knew me Mr Dreyar. Or, perhaps you know what I stand for and what I can offer you."
Standing up again, Laxus began to walk around the cell. As he ran his hand through his hair and slicked it back, Freed felt a small semblance of guilt. He was essentially ripping apart this mans life with realisations that he didn't yet know. But the ends would justify the means.
In the few seconds of pacing, Laxus had considered every possible reaction to this situation. He considered storming out and leaving the prisoner alone, taking his work-mates lead and landing a few punches on him to channel away his annoyance, or just sitting in silence and guarding him as he had been instructed to do. Instead, he steadied his breath to calm down, returned to his place on the stool and looked at the prisoner while hiding his inner confliction.
"Offer me what?" He said as his face contorted into a slight glare.
"Do you have family here? Or anyone you're connected to emotionally?" Freed demanded, holding back the smirk on his face.
"No, not anymore." Laxus looked away slightly. "Why?"
"That sword on your belt." Freed nodded to hilt of the weapon. "Is it just a little toy they give you to make you look tough or can you use it?"
"Course I fucking can. I'm a knight."
"Then here's my proposal." Freed spoke with the smallest of glimmers in his eye. "You can either insist I carry out my side of the deal, have me confess and killed but run the risk of me escaping on your watch and deal with the repercussions. You can live your angry life as you see fit, fighting a losing battle against a society you so obviously don't belong in. Or, you can do what you clearly need to do, and escape this hellhole and join me."
The Captain watched Laxus' face as he processed the offer. It seemed to flash through multiple emotions at once, ranging from anger to exhaustion, but what it settled on was what gave Freed a sense of hope. Tiredness. Perhaps tired of his situation, tired of the battle against fitting in, tired of denying himself.
He opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself. Freed watched as a sneer painted itself over the other mans features again, most likely a final defence against the offer. The pirate knew this wasn't the end, Laxus was on the brink of taking the risk and just needed one small push.
"You're fucking with me." Laxus concluded. "You'll have me help get you out, then either kill me or just leave me here."
"Laxus, if I wanted to leave I could have. Same with killing you." Freed spoke with confidence, but the Knight clearly didn't believe him. "These ropes are used in fishing nets, the water made them frayed and split. Given a few minutes, I could tear them apart against the corner edge of the chair. This cell is old and barely used. The lock on the door is rusted and barely functioning, I could easily smash it off with a knife. When you dragged me here, I saw a window overlooking the sea. Water levels were high, I could smash the window, swim out and be on my ship within the hour. I'm as much a prisoner here as you are."
"Nice plan. You don't have a knife." Laxus crossed his arms again.
"Left boot, resting beside my ankle." He nodded to his left leg. "Check if you want."
Laxus hesitantly stood up and walked towards Freed, almost tentative in his actions. He slowly crouched down, making sure to tug on the ropes tying Freed's legs to the chair to make sure they were firmly in place. When he was sure that they were, he reached for the laces of the man's boots.
As Laxus slowly undid Freed's footwear, the Captain carefully picked away at the loosely sown square of fabric in the inside of his right sleeve. Once the small patch of white linin had been worn away enough, he caught the small razor that he had hidden there before it fell to the ground. He slowly began to cut through the rope around his arms, making sure not to alert Laxus as his left hand was freed. He slowly reached for the small, paper thin but effective dagger he kept attached and hidden in the inside of his belt; something the guards probably should had taken away.
Once Laxus had opened the mans boots enough to check the inside of his leg, he saw the knife Freed had spoken of was not there. He growled a little, not happy he had been taken for a fool. He shot his head up to look at Freed.
"You think you're funny-"
The blade of the thin dagger was pressed against the underside of his chin, not hard enough to draw blood but enough to make a point. The entirety of the pirate's upper body was free as he leant forward, a smirk on his face. Laxus looked up at him with what could possibly be fear in his eyes, but Freed noticed a small hint of excitement.
"If you're going to join me, Mr Dreyar, you going to need to trust me a little more. I don't lie to my crew." Freed taunted slightly. "Now do you believe that I could have gotten out of here, and killed you, without needing to offer you a place on my ship?"
"Yes." Laxus said through gritted teeth after a few moments.
"Good." The pirate pushed the blade up slightly, forcing Laxus to look directly at him. "Then you must also realise that my offer was genuine. My ship leaves tonight, with or without you. So, as I said, are you going to spend the rest of your life unfulfilled and denying yourself satisfaction for the lust for adventure we both know you have. Or are you going to do what your heart is telling you to, join the Raijinshuu and start a life you can be proud of?"
The blonde knew what he had to do. He knew he was going to second guess himself if he didn't act quickly. This wasn't going to happen again in his life and he needed to take the opportunity that was given to him. That's what his grandfather would have wanted.
He reached for the small dagger on his belt and tore it through the ropes keeping Freed's legs tied to the chair, the other man looking at him first with curiosity and then with a grin. Both men stood up when the Captain was fully released, Laxus returning the dagger to it's position and Freed tucking his inside his belt. Freed looked at Laxus, a small grin on his face.
"So you'll join me?"
"Well, I guess so." Laxus nodded.
His mind was racing and his blood was pumping. He had just sold his life to that of piracy, danger and unlawfulness. He could no longer be a citizen of any kind anymore, he was an outsider who going to experience a new kind of life entirely. And damn if it wasn't a great feeling. The exhilaration only spurred him on as he smirked, looked to Freed and spoke a word that sealed his face.
"Captain."
