This one's a sky-pirates au, warning for a bit of gore and blood.

…

Roderich stared down over his majestic ship, and smiled as his crew scurried about like ants, raising the sails and swabbing the deck. His ship, The Maria, glided through the skies effortlessly, bounding over waves of white clouds. A flock of storm petrels shot past above his head and the sun made the medals on his jacket glisten. A jolt ran through his bones as he took a deep breath, fingers bristling with excitement as he flexed them behind his back.

Ah, how good it felt to be on a hunt.

The esteemed pirate hunter, Commodore Roderich Edelstein, had never lost a battle to date. His cunning and skill had sent many lowlife buccaneers to the gallows, and now he was to face what he hoped would be a relatively easy task: the capture of Captain Héderváry. They were relatively unknown in this part of the sky, just a few rumours floating around taverns and passed from merchant ship to merchant ship.

Until last week.

He'd been wandering along the docks in the early morning light, smoking a cigar, when it happened.

The rising sun was blocked from his view as a great airship crashed to the ground. It missed him by mere metres, and he had to jump behind a barrel to avoid the flames of one of the great sails, torn and flapping uselessly. There was a thunderous roar, and Roderich poked his head out to find what appeared to be a burning pile of wood.

A single, bloodied figure crawled out and Roderich ran to him, almost tripping on the debris in the process. He grabbed the fallen man by the shoulder, pushing him onto his back. From what he could make out of the sailor's tattered clothes, Roderich knew the man was a merchant.

"What happened, good man?" he asked breathlessly.

"They… came out of nowhere…" His eyes were glassy, and every word was a struggle. Blood dribbled from his lips as he spoke. "We never stood a chance…"

"Who did it? Who did this to you?"

"Héderváry, sir, Captain Héderváry," the man shivered, small and frightened.

Then he died.

There were no survivors.

Roderich hissed as he remembered it. He couldn't let such a brutish pirate get away with slaughtering an entire innocent merchant crew. Héderváry would be no challenge at all. In fact, Roderich hadn't even bothered to bring his entire fleet with him, just a single ship. It was his best ship though, his favourite: large and built from the finest materials, carrying the imperial flag proudly. The Maria was his one true love.

"Sir," began his first mate, bounding up to the bridge to greet him, "we are making good progress, and will be arriving at the pirates' lair by nightfall, hopefully."

"Thank you, Antonio," Roderich gave a nod and Antonio ran off to bark more orders at the crew, leaving the commodore in peace once again. He gazed out across the sky, just as his view was blocked by a dark shadow.

Roderich jumped back as an enormous ship crashed into theirs, sending splinters of wood flying everywhere and nearly tipping The Maria sideways. This new ship pulled away as cannon began to fire. Screams cut through the air and the main mast gave a mighty creak as cannon blasted through it, and the thing came crashing onto the deck with yet more shouts.

Roderich pulled out his sword and scanned the deck of the enemy ship. There was no doubt that the horrible lowlifes staring back were pirates, and each time a gunshot hit its mark they would cheer sickeningly. He glanced at the bridge and froze at the sight of one figure in particular, who matched the descriptions given to him by terrified sailors and merchants he'd interviewed.

There he was.

Captain Héderváry.

The pirate leader's long chestnut hair tumbled from his headscarf, whipping around his face in the wind. His scarred face was pulled into a snarl and his baggy clothes hung loose, feet bare.

Roderich gave a snarl of his own as Héderváry swung onto his own deck and winked at him, sword drawn. He glared as the pirate circled him, grinning like he was nothing. Not even a challenge.

Well, he'd just have to prove the bastard wrong. Roderich pointed his sword at the pirate and lunged.

…

There was no one left.

Roderich wiped blood from his mouth as he looked around at the carnage, dazed and exhausted. He was the only survivor. Through the blur of blood and smoke, he saw Antonio's lifeless body, slumped face-down on the deck, and his heart filled with anger.

He prepared for one last assault, sweaty hand gripping his sword as he pulled himself onto shaking legs. No matter that he was surrounded by pirates. No matter that he was the only one left alive. No matter how hopeless things seemed, he had to get even a tiny shred of revenge.

Captain Héderváry stood before him, face pulled into a manic grin, sword glinting by his side. Roderich growled and leapt forward.

His blow was deflected easily by the pirate's sword, and Héderváry shoved him back. Roderich tripped and fell, too drained to defend himself.

This was it. This was how he died.

"I've heard a lot about you," Héderváry began, kicking his sword away and kneeling down in front of him, "the undefeated commodore. Sorry to break your winning streak, although not really."

There was a scuffle of feet, and a figure fell to the ground beside him. Roderich glanced over to find Feliciano, the cabin boy, curled in a heap and trembling at the feet of the pirate first mate, a small, slight man with long, blond hair. His sharp green eyes glared down at the boy, thin lips pulled into a smirk.

Roderich put his arms around Feliciano, letting the boy sob into his jacket. "Where's your brother?" he whispered.

"I don't… I don't know!" Feliciano wailed.

Roderich rubbed his back, unsure of what to say. He was never good in situations this emotional. Not that he'd have long to worry about it.

"What to do with you two," Héderváry pondered, pacing up and down in front of them. "Should I kill you and put you out of your misery? Or leave you for a warning to any other annoying pirate-hunters thinking they can best me?" He looked down and smiled at them; "yes, that's what I'll do. But then again, there only needs to be one messenger."

"Then let the child live," Roderich choked. This wasn't entirely a selfless deed; he knew he could never face going back to the royal courts after this, and be branded a failure. Besides, Augustus Vargas would never forgive him if he didn't keep at least one of his grandsons alive.

"Why should we?" Héderváry raised an eyebrow, "you're far more interesting?"

"Because if you don't," Roderich growled, "I will return with a fleet and destroy you."

"Oh, I'm shivering where I stand," Héderváry stared down at him flatly before grabbing him by the collar and pulling him up. Feliciano whimpered on the ground but Roderich remained silent. His eyes narrowed as he took in the pirate's face closely. Now that he thought of it, Héderváry's face was more smooth and rounded than most men's.

Héderváry was also staring at him closely. "Oh, you're far too cute to kill," and the pirate placed a soft kiss on his cheek, soft hair tickling his nose.

"You're a woman," Roderich gasped, pulling away.

"You sound so surprised," Héderváry flashed him a wink and pushed him against the foremast, "fine, you both can live. Feliks, fetch the boy."

The first mate hauled Feliciano to his feet and shoved him over to Roderich whilst more seamen tied them to the mast.

"I'm sure someone will stumble upon you, eventually. Just tell them Érzsebét says hello." Érzsebét grinned and leaned towards Roderich again. "Ah go on, one more kiss?"

Roderich hated himself for complying, but there was something irritatingly attractive about her, underneath her dastardly, evil aura. He brushed his lips against hers, making sure to nip at them, just to let her know she hadn't won just yet. But Érzsebét just smiled as she pulled away, flashing him a wink.

"Aw," she purred, "and now you have me hoping we meet again, but also hoping we don't, for your sake."

"I won't let you get away with this!" Roderich shouted, struggling against the ropes as the pirates started to abandon the wreckage, Feliks waving as he swung onto the deck. Érzsebét was the last to leave, lingering as she smiled coyly at Roderich.

"Until next time," she blew him a kiss, ignoring his threats, "sweetheart."

"I won't rest until you're hanging from a noose!" he screamed.

"I love you too!" and with that she was gone.

"I think she likes you," Feliciano commented.

"Shut up!"