Dean jolted awake as soon as he heard the sound of a bell ringing. He groaned and flipped over in his cot, trying to escape the noise. But the noise seemed to grow louder until he was up. The smell of salt water assaulted his nose and he could barely see anything around him due to the darkness. He tried to lay back on the scratchy uncomfortable cot, but the movement of the other men made it hard for him to sleep. He finally stumbled out of his cot and groaned when he realized it was the bell for the men to wake up and start working. He grabbed his white shirt from the day before and pulled it on before ascending to the deck.
The sun wasn't up just yet and lanterns lit the deck. Their low light helped the men see only a few feet in front of them and as Dean approached the side of the deck he could barely see into the pitch black water. Dean looked around until his eyes fell on Castiel, the man stood tall, his uniform on and in perfect shape.
Approaching him, Dean could appreciate the fine detail in Castiel's uniform. The silver details were not thread, but actual silver and Dean licked his lips at the idea of a little extra cash he could get from those. The collar of the uniform jacket was high and covered most of Castiel's neck, all the buttons silver and the embroidery near the edges matching. The front of the jacket fell to Castiel's waist, but the back fell to the back of his knees. His pants matched the jacket in color, but were much more simple than the rest of his clothing.
Dean stood beside Castiel and sighed looking at the men who were lumbering about, still waking up. They had just left the port the day before and they were still getting used to the new ship. The air had a slight chill that Dean hadn't noticed when he was wrapped up in his blanket, his body heat keeping him warm.
"So do you have orders or do you just wait to come across any pirate to raid them for the name of the Government." Dean sneered. Castiel glared at Dean and shook his head.
"You believe that we are only out to harm you. We are protecting the world from scum like pirates, who murder and pillage like vikings." Castiel growled. "But if you need to know, we are to take a few prisoners from Frantsiya." Dean frowned confused before Castiel clarified for him.
"France. Sorry, I forget that half my crew from my homeland are gone..." He sighed.
Dean wondered where the rest of the crew had gone, he would of heard of knew strangers in town. And even if they did jump ship, why had they? Was Castiel so cruel of a captain that they felt the need to leave? Or did some of them die along the way? Dean couldn't help but think of the paper he had written down all their names and next of kin on. Was this normal for Castiel to just lose men? Dean couldn't help but think what kind of situation he had gotten his men and him into.
"What kind of prisoners?" Dean asked. Castiel didn't answer instead the captain yelled at a few men to start lowering the sails as they needed to be off.
"You should do your job Dean. I'm not paying you to ask questions." Castiel stated walking off.
Dean gritted his teeth and translated the orders for his men so they would start working. He was irritated with the cold faced captain, and it wasn't just because he worked for the Government. He was unfriendly and acted much superior to Dean. Even though he was young, Dean had his fare share of hardship. He was tired of older men acting like they knew more than him simply because they had lived longer.
The entire day Dean spent trying to avoid Castiel. He helped out with adjusting the sails and even took the time to peer over the deck to the waters. The day went by quickly and as the sun began to set Dean decided he would investigate Castiel's quarters more thoroughly. He figured the man had to be keeping some goods in there, away from the crew. His fingers twitched at the thought of taking Castiel's sword and working to remove the gems off the hilt.
Castiel was busy giving orders on proper conduct to Dean's men, who didn't understand him, so Dean knew he had time to sneak away. Inside the lower deck he quickly crept pass a few sleeping men who were taking naps so they could stay up at night to watch the ship. He tried to not make noises, and he made sure his boots didn't scuff at the wooden planks or make too loud of a stomping noise.
He shut Castiel's door behind him and made sure to be quiet when closing it. He quickly began to search the desk, hoping to find anything gold or worth anything. He didn't find anything and he swore looking around in a frenzy. He knew he wouldn't have much time before Castiel would notice him gone so he had to be quick.
Dean ran over to the bed and began searching under it, and in the pillows. He then turned to the bookshelves and began taking out books, hoping to find a hiding space for items that Castiel could have. He slammed the books back in each time he didn't find one and he was growing more frustrated.
His blood ran cold as he heard footsteps coming closer to the room and he quickly hid behind the bed, between it and the wall with the window. He could hear the click of Castiel's clean, well kept boots on the ground as he entered the room. He slammed the door shut and began mumbling to himself in his native language. Dean poked his head around the side of the bed making sure Castiel couldn't see him.
"Eti glupyye lyudi ne ponimayut vazhnost' etogo." Castiel grumbled as he removed the sword from his side and placed it on the desk. He worked off his jacket, and Dean's attention went from the glint of the sword hilt to the undressing man. "I chto chelovek pobezhal...Eto to, chto ya poluchayu za nayem piratov."
Dean wasn't sure what Castiel was saying but he wasn't really paying attention. The man threw his formal jacket onto the bed, causing Dean to hide back behind the bed once more until he heard Castiel sit at his desk. He looked around to see Castiel working, Dean only being able to see his back curved as he leaned over the desk. His light blue-gray shirt sleeves were unbuttoned and rolled up past his elbows and whenever he reached to grab something Dean could see small flashes of inked skin that peeked out from just above his elbows.
Dean wondered if he could get away without Castiel seeing him but he knew that he was stuck. If Castiel found him he would surely be kicked off at the next port with no way to get home. He thought if he could easily leave when Castiel got dinner, but he remembered the night before when Castiel had eaten in his quarters instead with the other men.
He swore under his breath as Castiel stood but instead of coming near Dean the captain ran out hearing commotion. Dean took this chance and he rushed out, ignoring the sword that was laying on the desk, just wanting to get out. He ran pass a few men who were waking up from the commotion on deck and Dean ran up there to see what was going on.
Castiel was in the middle of two men, one of Castiel's and one of Dean's, who were bloodied and obviously had been fighting. Dean rushed over to help Castiel just as one of Dean's men, a man named Benny, swung at the captain.
"Woah! Hey!" Dean yelled grabbing Benny, wrapping an arm around his chest under his armpits and pulling him back. "Calma tú féin!" He growled.
Benny fought against him but finally stopped when Castiel pushed his own man away. The captain turned to Benny and Dean, pure fury in his eyes as he stared them down. Benny shrunk back, but Dean stood tall, ready for any yelling that would come from their boss.
"If you can't keep your men in order for even one day, then I will find a new crew once in Frantsiya." Castiel growled. Dean shoved Benny behind him and stepped up to Castiel, both men close to each others height so they could stare each other down.
A few of the men murmured unsure, they weren't ready to see a fight between their captain and first mate. Castiel was the first to break the silence as he slammed his fist into Dean's face, knocking the surprised man to the ground. Dean sprawled out clutching his face and he was ready to get up and hit Castiel back when he remembered Castiel was the captain and he couldn't do anything to him.
"Keep your men in line." Castiel warned him before storming off to the lower deck.
Dean laid there as the men began getting back to their work and he groaned as he could feel blood falling freely from his nose. He was surprised at how strong Castiel was, and he knew he would have his work cut out for him if he wanted to steal from him. One false move and it was possible Dean might just be beaten to death by that man.
Dean sat with Benny, eating their dinner which consisted of hard bread and fresh caught fish. They were allowed to fish when the ship was still in the water, and they had caught some for themselves so they decided to cook it on deck, being mindful of the fire. They talked and joked about the horrible captain they had and his men who seemed to act so elite over the others.
Dean and Benny had been friends since they were teens. They had met in Bobby's bar, both young men having experienced enough in their life to be just as hardened as any of the aged sailors in the bar. Benny ran from his home, his father abusive and his mother a street whore. Dean was alone to care for his young brother, as his parents had died early in their lives. Their mother died when she gave birth to Samuel, while his father died in a fishing accident when Samuel was two.
Dean and Sam were almost ten years apart in age, and at sixteen Dean had been tired of caring for his six year old brother. Bobby tried to help out the best he could but he had his own family. He was married to a wonderful merchant named Ellen and they had a strong willed daughter, Jo, who was a few years younger than Dean. That year Dean left for the first time. He joined Benny on a ship, and both men had become close friends and inseparable.
At age seventeen, Dean had started to court Jo. She was only fifteen, but both were in love...young love. It was just a small crush and as soon as it went anywhere it died out. Dean and Jo stayed friends but they were never the same again.
When Sam was eight, Dean left him more often for longer trips but they could live in a better part of the village now that Dean was earning more. Dean worked for different ships, for fishing, pirates, even work ships. He did everything to help make sure Sam had everything he needed. Dean even worked on land for a while, in England. He worked in factories there, but soon left after it started to affect his health. Sam never knew about the factory work, since it was very dangerous and Dean didn't want Sam to worry about him.
Growing up Dean recognized that he would pay attention to men sometimes, not as often as women but sometimes there would be men that caught his interest. As Dean grew older, his preferences changed. Women grew his attention but he would have just as many dreams about men, sometimes more. He had never actually been with a man, but at the age of 23, he had been with plenty of women. He enjoyed women, but he still wondered what it would be like to be with another man.
Once Dean even favored the idea of asking Benny to be his first, but Benny met a wonderful woman, and Dean realized he wasn't even into men. He never trusted anyone else, none of his men he could ask, he didn't want to seem weak. He simply resigned that he could live his life without experiencing a night with a man.
The next couple days went by uneventful. Dean still watched Castiel, learning his patterns and Castiel still acted his cold, controlling self. They reached France by the fourth day at sea, very good for even the large, fast ship. Dean had only been to France once, and he was glad to see a port. He thought about perhaps some Frenchwoman he could tempt to bed with, but then wondered if they were allowed to leave ship for the night.
Castiel was the first off the ship and he didn't even tell the others what they could do or where he was going. Dean thought this was interesting, and his curiosity got the best of him as he sneaked off after Castiel. He really wanted to know who these prisoners were and why they needed to carry them back to...wherever. He never even learned where they were taking them. Maybe they were to be executed and thrown into the sea...that seemed plausible. The Government could make anyone disappear.
Dean followed Castiel through the city, avoiding the gaze of anyone who may question why a poorly dressed man was following a Government paid official. They might have been concerned he would rob or assassinate the man. Castiel wove deeper into the crowded streets and he stopped outside of a run down stone building. Dean hid behind another building in interest and watched Castiel entered the building.
Dean waited a few more minutes before slinking into the dark doorway and finding himself in a narrow passage, lit only by a single electric torch at the front of the passageway. He proceeded with caution, looking to see if there was any doorways that Castiel could of ducked into but he found the passage kept going. It took him a few minutes to realize the passage was sloping down and he found it odd that it would be leading underground.
He was starting to wonder just what kind of place this was when he was greeted by a large gruff man coming from a door at the end of the passage. He stopped in his tracks seeing Dean and narrowed his eyes. Dean swore and tried to act like he was supposed to be here. The man shook his head and pushed him back.
"This is a private party. Get lost." He growled. Dean looked passed him at the door and he knew he had to see what was there.
"I have a friend. He came here. I need to give him a message." Dean lied. The man didn't buy it and he made a movement to his waist as if he was reaching for a dagger. Dean stumbled back and grinned. "Easy there. I promise I'll be quick. When I say friend...I'm more of his servant boy. I just bring him messages from important people." Dean said hoping that this would go over better.
The man seemed to mull this over before nodding. "Go ahead. But be quick." He growled.
Dean nodded and slipped passed him, making sure he didn't get stabbed in the back by the guard. He entered through the door and stopped as bright lights blinded him. He shook his head and squinted looking around the room. His eyes widened at what he saw, he was definitely in the wrong place.
The room wasn't too large, but it was adorn in rich gold and silver items. Chairs made from the finest woods and silks were littered around the room, with men of important standing resting in them. All the men in the room wore uniforms of different countries...if they were wearing clothing at all. Dean was surprised to see several of the men, many older, enjoying the company of several prostitutes on fine wooden beds, silk and fabrics covering the most likely soft mattresses. He shook his head at the obvious disregard for modesty and he searched the room for Castiel, silently praying he wouldn't find him too with a lady of the night. He did not need that image in his mind, he shuddered.
He found Castiel conversing with another man wearing the same uniform. As Dean came closer he could hear they were speaking in Castiel's language, which meant the other man must have been from the same country. Castiel turned to see Dean approaching and his face fell from his smile to a frown.
"What are you doing here?" Castiel demanded standing from the chair he had been lounging in.
"I came to find out what you were doing. You just left us without instructions." Dean growled getting in his face. Castiel narrowed his eyes and scoffed.
"You are all grown men. You don't need me to hold your hands."
Dean could see many of the men in the room turn to them, some with hands on their swords. He gulped realizing he needed to be cautious. He ducked his head down and nodded.
"What about the prisoners?" He asked. Castiel sighed and sent a side glance to the man who was standing beside him in the same uniform.
"I was just discussing with my friend about them. This is why I came here." Castiel stated.
"Right, that's the only reason." Dean said looking back at the men on the beds with the women. Castiel seemed to be offended by this idea and he shook his head in disgust.
"I can guarantee you that will never be the reason I come here." He growled. Dean was surprised by the angry retort, it was obvious that Castiel was disturbed by this suggestion.
"Now if you please, return to the ship. I will have the prisoners there tonight and we will leave then." Castiel said. Dean knew he was being dismissed, and he bowed his head before leaving the room.
A/N - Eti glupyye lyudi ne ponimayut vazhnost' etogo. - Those stupid men don't understand the importance of this.
I chto chelovek pobezhal ... Eto to, chto ya poluchayu za nayem piratov. - And that man ran off...this is what I get for hiring pirates.
Calma tú féin! - Calm yourself!