Dirk shifted against the mast of his ship, its rich purple sails billowing above him. The sun bore down on him, burning his olive skin. His mouth was dry and when he swallowed, he felt like he was swallowing sand. Every movement he or the ship made sent a jolt of pain through his body. He had had his neck hung for almost six hours and as he brought it up, he winced in pain. His eyes found Jake English, who was just now walking out of his quarters.
Rage bubbled up inside him and his eyes narrowed. "What do you think you're doing English? Don't you know a captain's quarters are sacred?" He shouted but his voice came out scratchy and lifeless.
Jake raised his eyebrow at the outburst and smirked, walking towards him. His guns clinked in holsters as he swaggered over to the mast. "What was that Strider?" He stood in front of Dirk, hand on his hip. "I didn't hear you."
"What were you doing in my quarters?"
"Your quarters? Oh, I'm sorry to inform you but you are no longer the captain of this vessel."
"What?"
Jake sneered at him and boy, did that piss the blond off. He strained against his bonds, snarling at the Englishman. "You prick! How dare you!" He shouted, glaring at him angrily. "How dare you g-"
"How dare I? How dare I?" The brunet bristled and looked over Dirk, green eyes darkening, "well I'll tell you. You belong to me, Strider. You are a slave. Slaves do not own anything. Not even the name they were given at birth. Anything that you own or thought you owned, belongs to me now, including your ship and everything on it."
"I don't belong to anyone who hasn't fucked me."
"You disgust me."
"Good."
They docked a few days later on a small island off the coast of Spain. Dirk had been untied from the mast after the sun had set on the first day. He had then been stripped of his coat and shirt and thrown in the brig. The only thing that he was allowed to keep was his pants and boots, for hygienic reasons.
Dave stumbled down the ramp and fell into the water with a splash. Roxy snorted and started to laugh as she walked down the ramp, clutching her empty rum bottle. Jake shoved Dirk down the wooden plank, the blond falling into the clear blue waters of the sea.
He gasped as he broke the surface, glaring up at Jake. The brunet just grinned at him. He stood up in the waist deep water, pants sopping wet and falling down his hips. His nice leather boots were filled with sea water. He trudged onto the sand and took off his boots to pour out the water. He brushed his hair out of his face so that it wasn't plastered to his forehead. Dave leaned up against his brother as he emptied out his own boots.
"I hate you," muttered Dave, emptying one of his boots over his brother's head.
"No you don't."
Dave huffed and smacked the back of Dirk's neck. The elder hissed swatted playfully at Dave's behind. They quickly fell into a game of playful swats and smacks. The two slipped on the wet sand and fell to the ground, grunting in unison. Dave landed on top of Dirk and rested his head on the other's bare chest with a sigh.
"Does he own us?" asked Dave, his voice barely above a whisper.
"No," said Dirk, combing his right hand through Dave's hair, "he only owns me."
"But I heard you say that you didn't belong to anyone who hadn't..." He trailed off, tracing patterns on Dirk's ribcage.
"Which is true," Dirk sighed, "he's probably gonna do that tonight
Dave looked up at him, "Well you belong to me but we never did that."
"You're my brother," recoiled Dirk, "that's disgusting."
Dave lowered his head, pressing his nose into the elder's sun burned neck. Dirk patted his shoulder and pushed the younger off of him.
"Let's go, Strider!" called Jake, beckoning the two men over to him. The brothers stood up and walked reluctantly forward, frowns on their faces.
The three pirates were pushed ahead and told to follow the winding dirt path. Dirk took the lead, bare feet sliding in the moist sand. Dave was pressed next to Roxy, trying to keep her on her drunken feet. Jake came up next to Dirk and handed him his boots.
"You forgot these," Jake said.
"How nice of you English," Dirk sneered as he stopped to put his boots on his dirty feet.
"I am a gentleman, Dirk."
"Right, like I'm supposed to believe that."
"Believe what you like," Jake sighed and rubbed his temples irritably. "About what you said earlier..."
Dirk continued on his way, swatting away a few bugs that were swarming around his arms and torso. "I recall having said lots of things."
"I meant the 'owning' thing that you mentioned," replied Jake as he drew out his sword to cut at the large leaves that hung above him. His swings were shitty and unpracticed. Dirk wrestled the sword away from him and cut the leaves away with practiced ease.
"What about it?" Dirk glanced over at Jake, swinging the sword again.
"Is it true?"
Dirk groaned and stopped walking. He looked at Jake and replied, "Wanna find out?"
Jake scowled, "You know, all I want is a polite conversation without you mucking it up with those /awful slurs/."
"Pirate."
"That's no excuse!" retorted Jake.
"Yes it is," snorted Dirk, "it's a valid point."
Jake cursed at him and trudged ahead, body stiff with anger. Dirk cocked his head to the side, watching the Englishman. He smirked and followed after him.
"You not gonna hit me?" teased Dirk as he fell in step with Jake.
"I will." Jake scratched at his growing stubble and cast a sideways glance at Dirk. "Later. I'd hate to embarrass you in front of Dave."
Dirk let out a small laugh and clapped Jake on the back. He leaned in closer, lips brushing the shell of the man's ear as he whispered, "Can't wait, master."
Jake sputters and whipped his head around to look down at Dirk. The blond smirked triumphantly and sauntered away from the Englishman. "Oh blast!" The officer yelled and jogged forward to catch up with Dirk.
The blond looked up at Jake and rolled his eyes. "Afraid I'm gonna run off?" He asked.
"Certainly not but you do have my sword," replied Jake with an indignant sniff.
Dirk sighed through his nose and handed the sword back, crossing his arms over his chest. Jake looked down at the path, scuffing his boots against the dirt. They walked in an uncomfortable silence, Dirk biting his tongue and Jake chewing on his lower lip.
"Jake!"
"Jade?" the Englishman questioned, eyes widening in surprise as he was brought into a tight hug by a young tan girl with bright green eyes. "Jade, what are you doing here, love? Why aren't you with your grandfather?"
Dirk stared at the officer, lips pulled into a sneer. "Now, isn't this something! Gonna have yourself a mistress when you already have a wife?"
"She's my sister, you insufferable swine!" yelled Jake, glaring at the pirate.
"Even better," growled Dirk. He looked at Jade and winked at her. "Why don't you drop your dead beat of a brother and come swing with me? I'll show you a good time."
Jade flushed darkly, "Who are you?"
"Captain Dirk Strider of the Derse Dreamer," he announced, stepping forward and taking her hand. "At your service, mademoiselle."
She started to giggle but it fell into a sharp gasp as Jake's fist met Dirk's face. She screamed as Jake fell to the ground, his body over Dirk's. He pulled out one of his pistols, pressing the barrel to the blonds' forehead.
"Don't you ever touch my sister again, you filth," Jake warned.
He ignored Jake's warning and instead said something that would ruffle his feathers. "You punch like one of the whores on Tortuga's docks.
Jake tossed his pistol aside in favor of punching the blond in the nose. Dirk bucked up, trying to get Jake off of him. He tried to reach for the other's discarded pistol but it was too far away. Jake's fist met his face again and his grunted in pain. He was vaguely aware of Jade screaming bloody murder as of the sound of feet beating along the dirt path. Dirk flailed his arms and smirked as his fists found purchase on Jake's cheekbone and nose.
There were more shouts now and then Jake was being hauled off him. Dirk coughed and rolled over, spitting blood. He continued to couch as he struggled to regain not only his breath but his strength as well. He'd hardly eaten in the last week and it showed in his struggles. Dave and Roxy were by his side, picking him up off the ground. His chest heaved and he could already feel his face bruising. He narrowed his eyes or best he could with his left closing rapidly due to swelling.
Jake breathed heavily across from Dirk, lips parted and eyes narrowed. There was a bit of blood dribbling out his nose and a beautiful bruise flowering on his cheekbone. He attempted to wipe the blood away with the back of his hand, smearing it rather than actually wiping it away. His eyes locked with Dirk's as he did so. "Get him inside, Equius," commanded Jake, "see that his injuries are treated and that he is fed and clothed in a slave's garments."
"Yes sir," Equius replied as he stepped forward. "And what shall I do with the other two?"
"Leave them to me."
Equius nodded and grabbed the back of Dirk's neck, grasping his sun burn painfully. He gasped out in pain and bit his tongue to shut himself up. The large black man with dreadlocks that had blue ribbons and beads sewed into them gave him an apologetic smile. He was lead inside and Equius abandoned him.
