Yes, I realize this is way to late. I kind of got grounded and couldn't get onto a computer until now. So sorry, the next update will be a bit sooner to make up for it.

Now have some more drama. And a bit of fluff.

Chapter 4

With every step he took, the shards sank deeper into his flesh. They weren't very big, but that didn't stop them from hurting a whole lot. He didn't even fully understand why he didn't just remove them. The captain shouldn't mean this much to him. But still, the thought of that gun to the Captain's head hurt more than the shards in his shoes.

Why did it even matter? He was sure the man had slept with more people than just him. Was it really that big of a deal that he was of the same gender as the captain? Looking at how the people on this ship reacted, he guessed it was. The crew had to show they were tough and manly. And sharing your bed with another male didn't fit into that image. He shook his head. So he had just ruined the captain's manly reputation with the rest of the crew?

No wait, this wasn't his fault. The Dutchman had taken the initiative in this matter. Even when Matthew had said no he hadn't left him alone. This was the captain's fault. So… why did Matthew still feel the need to cover for him?

xXxXx

That night Matthew was sitting at the small desk in his room, studying some maps. His feet were half out of his shoes, so he wasn't standing in the glass anymore. The rest of the crew was out drinking or something. He didn't really care. Nor did he care what the captain was up to. As long as they didn't come in here, he didn't give a shit what they were up to. He could just sit here all evening, looking at the maps, nobody to bother him.

But the minute that thought crossed his mind the door swung open. Matthew quickly slipped his feet back into his shoes, trying not to show pain on his face. He did not look around, but from the corner of his eye he saw the captain closing the door and approaching him.

He could pretend not to notice and continue to stare at the maps, but he could not ignore the hands he felt on his shoulders seconds later. They slid down, rubbing over his arms. He felt lips on his ear, then on his neck.

Matthew turned his head away.

The captain tried again, but with the same result. He sighed. "Something wrong?"

Matthew kept staring at the desk. "Can we just… not tonight?" He asked.

"But everyone is gone. We don't have to be silent today." Lust was audible in his voice. Matthew understood. He was getting tired of having to hold back all the sounds he wanted to make as well. And he wanted to hear the other as well. But after what had happened between him and those crewmembers, he just wasn't feeling like it. Not to mention he didn't want to see the captain's reaction when he saw his bleeding feet.

"I'm not feeling well." He lied.

A sigh and a kiss pressed to the back of his neck. "Go to sleep then." He reached past Matthew and started to fold the maps. "Is there something you need?"

Matthew shook his head, but due to the captain's soft tone, he couldn't help but lean back and let his head rest against the other. "No, I'll be fine." He said, enjoying the feeling of the captain's fingers, which were running through his hair. It still amazed him how gentle the man could be when they were together. When you saw how the man was shouting out orders to his crew, no-one would ever expect that from him. Also in the bedroom was he pretty rough (and it felt amazing). So to have the captain touch him in this gentle manner felt somewhat like a privilege to Matthew.

The hands travelled down and to the front of Matthew's shirt, playing with the top button. "Can I at least help you get undressed?"

The Canadian almost uttered a 'yes' without even knowing it, but quickly swallowed the word when he realized what the other was saying. Matthew stood up. "I know it won't stay at just 'helping'." He said as he faced the Dutchman, a small smile on his lips. "Just go."

And so he did, but not before giving his lover a long and sweet kiss goodnight. "Sleep well, Matthew."

"Sleep well… Lars." The name still felt a little foreign on his tongue. He was used to calling the man 'captain', or 'sir'. But he had been told to just use the man's first name when in private.

The captain left and Matthew sank down on his bed, listening to the disappearing footsteps. One the footsteps had faded away, Matthew removed his shoes, taking a look at the damage. His feet were bleeding from the many little cuts that the shards had made. Some of them were still sticking to the bottom of his feet. He removed them, refusing to make any sounds of pain while he did. Then he disinfected the cuts with some strong alcohol and bandaged his feet.

Looking at his feet, he frowned. His thoughts drifted to the guys who had threatened him and the captain. When they returned to the ship, would they come to check if he was sleeping with the captain or not? Or just drop by to torment him some more? Last time he hadn't been able to defend himself, and if they decided to visit him while he slept, he wouldn't stand a chance either.

He did not want himself to be that helpless again when he was faced with them. So he went to the only chair in the room and screwed one of its legs off. This would be suitable to defend himself with. He would screw it back on in the morning.

He got ready for bed and crawled under the covers. Somehow his bed felt cold. He missed another presence beside him. An arm around his waist, someone to share his body heath with. He clung to the piece of wood that was once part of his chair and tried to push those thoughts aside. It was hard though. He wished he hadn't turned down Lars' offer. Nobody else was here. The others would never know for sure whether he did or did not sleep with the captain this night.

It still took him a while to finally fall asleep. He was a bit restless though, tossing and turning, holding onto the chair leg as if it were a lifeline.

xXxXx

Matthew was stirred awake by a noise. He heard the door of his room closing. So they had come. There were footsteps approaching his bed, and the Canadian was instantly wide awake. After tightening his grip on the piece of wood he was still holding onto, he quickly sat up and swung it at the intruder, only to stop in the moment before the wood would connect with the other's skull. In the half dark, he could only just make out the captain's face.

Oh crap.

Seconds passed in silence. Matthew felt like he was frozen in this position. His hands raised above his head, the chair leg only inches from Lars' face.

It seemed like an eternity before the Dutchman carefully took a hold of the thing and took it out of Matthew's hands.

There was a small silence again.

"I came to check on you. Care to explain why you wanted to bash my head in?" The captain asked, sitting down on the bed next to Matthew. His voice didn't sound angry. It was more like worry.

Matthew put his head down on the other's shoulder. "Not you." He mumbled.

The captain rubbed a hand over the Canadian's back. "So they've been rough on you, huh?" There was no doubt about who he meant with 'they', and Matthew nodded.

"A bit." He said. He glanced up at Lars' face and did not like the disapproving expression he saw. "I-I'm sure I'm just overreacting though. They probably go rough on each other as well… I'm just not used to it?" Matthew tried to talk his way out of it.

The Dutchman still didn't look completely convinced, but apparently decided to drop the subject for now. He wrapped his arm around Matthew's waist and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "My bed feels empty without you. I couldn't sleep." He said.

Matthew blushed a bit and looked at the captain, leaning in closer so their lips met. "Stay?" He asked. Lars did not even have to think about that and nodded. He crawled into bed with Matthew, pulling him close. The Canadian's bed wasn't as large as the captain's, so they had to be even closer together than usual. Neither of them minded.