I'm sorry guys! It took me too long to write this, trying to keep Adam in character, and look; I'm just writing what I'm told to write. Talk to the characters about updating.
Disclaimer: It's fanfiction for a reason!
Adam almost groaned with relief as the meeting wrapped up. His father shook hands with all the men, and Adam stood up to join him. He smiled politely, and privately thought to himself, I'd almost rather be back in the Navy being shot at, over this.
John glanced at his son, seeming to measure him. "Well you're better than Dean at least."
Adam flinched when his father turned his back. So he was better than Dean he could barely sit through a meeting. Sam participated in meetings. Adam sneered; even now he was under his brother's legacy. With that thought in mind, he walked out of his father's meeting room, heading upstairs. He already pulled at his dress clothes as he mounted the stairs, eager to get into his civilian garment, anything to get rid of the clothes that stood for his brother's and father's legacy.
He paused at the doorway to Sam's room, peering into the dark room. He could image Sam turning to look at him, ask if Adam needed something or if Adam wanted to play chess. Adam felt a ghost of a smile, Sam was such a scholar. He rested his hand against the doorframe briefly, and turned away. He walked down the hallway to Dean's room, and shook his head. He had a lot memories of Dean, often of he and Sam pulling some prank or other. He may've hated his brother's legacies, but he didn't hate them. If he was honest, he didn't hate their legacy so much as he hated being forced to replace them.
Once in his much more comfortable attire, Adam hurried down the stairs, passing servants as he went.
He stepped out into the courtyard, and felt the air, and smiled. A small one, but it was more genuine than any he'd given during that meeting. The guards paid him no mind as he left the property to enter town.
Adam strolled down the street, careful to stay unrecognized. A look down here and there kept his face obscured. Finally he reached the place he was heading. The docks.
Adam stood still for a moment, letting the sea air wash over him. He breathed in a lungful, and closed his eyes. Oh this felt so much better.
He slowly opened his eyes, and scanned the ships docked, as if checking for new arrivals. He didn't know why he bothered. He was heading for the third pier from the left, to the ship docked there, with its golden flag and pure white sails.
Adam made his way over, not seeing any new ships. He stopped and took a look at the N.V. Gloria. She was a large ship, her sails rolled up, though Adam could picture the fabric rippling in the sea air, white as new snow, the colors, a flag that almost seemed to glow gold, flapping furiously in the wind.
Then there was the figure standing on the ship, his back to Adam.
"Permission to board!" Adam called, and he whirled. Adam grinned up at the face of Michael, his Commanding Officer from the Navy, and friend. Michael was a good Commander, and he'd made sure Adam was treated fairly. He could've gone easy on Adam, but he'd given him jobs he'd given other men. He could've gone hard on Adam, but Michael made sure Adam was treated the same as the rest of his crew and troop.
"Any time my lord!" Michael called back, a grin making his face much friendlier. Adam hurried up the plank to join him.
"What have I told you about that?" the blond asked his hair ruffling like Michael's darker brown. "Just call me Adam, please Michael."
Michael smiled at him; it was friendly but filled with a trace of knowledge. "I'm sorry Adam. But when shouting at you in public, I think I should observe formalities."
Adam rolled his eyes. "Well we're not in public any more, we're not shouting either, and I am done with talking like an educated bore."
Michael laughed softly. "Well I missed you too."
Adam smiled, Michael always said that, but it didn't make it untrue, and it didn't mean that Adam didn't like hearing that someone appreciated his company. Missed him, not Sam and Dean. Not that this was Sam's fault. He'd been kidnapped after all. Dean was the idiot for going after him. Adam looked away, good mood evaporating. Sure he was angry at Sam and Dean for leaving him like this, but he missed them too. They may not have been close to his as they were to each other, but he missed wrestling with Dean. He missed Sam's friendly lectures about whatever subject Adam wanted to hear his taller brother speak about.
"Adam?"
Adam jerked out of his thoughts. "Oh, sorry Michael. I was just daydreaming."
"Looked like it was a less than pleasant daydream." Michael replied. "The meeting went poorly?"
"It was doomed from the beginning to go that way." Adam replied. "Mastings is refusing to hand over anyone related to The Loki, or any information."
"We'll catch them Adam." Michael rested a reassuring hand on Adam's shoulder. Adam nodded in thanks, suddenly unable to speak. Michael pulled his hand back, and studied him.
"So, what does the Governor's son want with a Commander in the Navy?" Michael asked.
Adam grinned. "I had to be sure you weren't going to pull a Roman on us, go power hungry or something."
Michael paused. "I kept hearing about Roman but no one ever told me the story behind that, and I joined right after… whatever it was happened."
"You've never heard about Dick Roman?" Adam almost grinned at the name, but was too startled as Michael shook his head.
"Only bits of it. He was discharged, and found dead later."
Adam crossed his arms. "Roman was a Commander, had two very good Deputy Commanders, they were rising fast and my father had heard nothing but good things about them." Even in a story the words my father tasted bitter. "Well Roman caught a pirate, and you know the tradition. Well Roman was going to kill women and children as well. Deputy Commander McLeod freed them against orders before they could be executed."
Michael looked impressed. "Was he caught?"
"No, he confessed." Adam made a face. "After Roman threatened to whip all of the men until one of them confessed."
Michael let out a breath. "How insane was he?"
Adam shook his head. "Dean told me this story and said that Roman decided that he could make decisions like that. He flogged McLeod, and left him on the island where he caught the pirate. Deputy Commander Singer, his other Deputy Commander, retired when they got back, after the investigation. Roman was discharged from the Navy, and was found dead later. It was assumed that some members of McLeod's men struck back."
"Singer." Michael repeated the name softly. "He became a ship repairer didn't he?"
"Yes. He was close to Sam and Dean." Adam looked at the wooden planks, their patterns as familiar as the ones in his bedroom. "He left with Dean. Like Dean he hasn't been seen since." He was the man they went to visit when they couldn't stand to be the Governor's sons anymore. Adam was usually left behind.
Michael glanced at him. "I didn't mean to bring them up."
Adam shook his head. "You didn't know they'd come up. Plus you should know that story. Even if it is the Winchester Bay Colony's Navy's little secret."
"Secret?"
Adam grinned. "It doesn't look very good that a man like Roman got power now does it?"
"True enough." Michael agreed. "What happened to McLeod?"
"No one really knows." Adam replied, his blue eyes meeting Michael's brown ones. "The crew docked and didn't have the resources to go back to look for him. I know he and Singer were close though, they'd been in the Navy together for several years."
Michael smiled. "So have I."
"Yes and look where you got yourself." Adam agreed.
"Yes, watching over wayward sons of Governors."
"Hey!"
Michael looked amused by Adam's indignant tone. "It's true."
Adam muttered about other wayward sons needing more watching. "So what were you doing?"
Michael beckoned him over. "I'll show you. One of the riggings is damaged; I was trying to figure out how to repair it."
Adam followed him, to look at the part of the ship. As he looked up, it occurred to him that the sky was darkening.
"Crap." He hissed, and Michael glanced at him, a mild expression on his face.
"I don't think the damage is that bad."
"No, it's late, my father will want me home, and he'll complain about me walking back at night, alone, in the dark."
"I can solve that." Michael replied. "I'll walk you back."
"I'm not some maiden that needs escorting!" Adam insisted.
"No, you're not. You are the Governor's son and you need protecting. I am a Navy Commander capable of doing so." Michael replied, and Adam felt a familiar anger rise, but it had never been directed at Michael before. Sam and Dean had taught him to dual he could take care of himself!
"Also, you're my friend and I'd like to spend more time talking to you." Michael added, glancing at Adam as he strapped his sword to his waist.
Adam would admit that, and nodded. "All right."
"I haven't heard about the project to increase the City Guard, is it still going?"
"Which one?"
"Either one."
"The good one was dropped." Adam replied, "The other one… I wish it would be dropped."
Michael listened as Adam complained about the faults in the man's logic, the obvious failures, and the way the man refused to give up as they walked through the darkening streets.
Michael offered his opinion on the matter, and Adam paraphrased it and Michael shook his head, as Adam and made it more vulgar. Before they knew it, they were at the Winchester house.
Michael gave an overly dignified bow, and glanced at Adam. "Your house, Madame."
Adam gave him a dark look, his face half lit by the street lamps, thus adding to the effect.
Michael smiled at him. "My lord?" he offered.
Adam took it, as guards had moved over. "Thank you Commander. Walk safely."
"I intend to." Michael replied, glancing at the guards. In a lower voice he added. "Visit more often, I could use the company."
"I'll try." Adam hissed back, and then moved away, slipping back into his heir to the Governor posture.
Michael bowed once more and then turned and walked away.
Oh I wish I could visit more often. Adam thought to himself. He lets me forget about missing Sam and Dean.
Speaking of that, he'd have to find out what the latest rumors about The Loki were.
XXX
PB: SOUND CHECK!
Casey: * mutters * sound check says you need shut up.
PB: What was that? * ears twitch *
Casey: That Anime wrote this to Let Me Be Myself by 3 Door Down and Ever the Same by Rob Thomas.
Me: Boys, play nice.