WARNING! This fanfic contains explicit sex of an erotic sci-fi homosexual nature (USUK). Violence, language of both a sexual and swearing nature will be present, and multiple other eluded to shippings. You have been warned.
Starships
Chapter Seven
By Pixiedust291
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Alfred didn't speak as he led Arthur back to the medical bay, for that Brit was glad. As the glow of unsated desire faded, Arthur was left with only embarrassment. He'd sworn an oath long ago, and not only had he broken it, but he continued to brake it by allowing Alfred to tempt him. "I'll see you tomorrow Captain Kirkland," Alfred said before leaving him with Toris.
At that moment Arthur wasn't sure if he wanted to return to Alfred's quarters or not. It was clear his ability to deny his advances wouldn't last long, and therefore he could never put himself in a vulnerable position again. He wondered if he refused to go if the American would tie him up and drag him anyway.
Toris led Arthur back to the medical bay and, once he was inside, cut his hands free. The men were arguing again when he entered the room. He didn't care to find out about what. They fell completely silent when he came in. He made his way to one of the far bunks, hoping to get away from all the commotion. He heard some of them whispering. He laid down on the bunk and put his hands behind his head. A moment later he felt the mattress shift as someone sat down.
"You look like crap."
Arthur smiled at Vash's tone "You can't see me."
"From the way this place smells I don't need to see people to know they look like crap." He chuckled "So, how are you doing?" His voice was pitched low so as to not be overheard.
"Fine, I guess." Arthur replied. He didn't mind Vash's company, but right then he really just wanted to be left alone.
"Where do they take you?" he asked. Arthur decided not to answer. "Your men fear you are being tortured."
A bitter laugh escaped Arthur's throat before he could stop it. "I am, but not in the way they are thinking."
"Oh." Vash's tone was pungent with understanding. He was by no means a stupid man, and Arthur had guessed he already knew about his sexuality. "It might help if you spoke to them. Told them everything will be ok and all that tripe. Laid some ground rules maybe, like shut up and leave everyone alone."
"Haven't I already been doing that?" Arthur challenged.
"Yes, but you're their Captain."
Their captain. It seemed so absurd "I shouldn't be," Arthur murmured.
"Whoever your talking to, it he trying to get you to switch sides?"
Was Alfred doing that? Arthur was sure the man would mind if he joined their lot. "I guess something like that."
"Will you?"
"No." Arthur answered, but to his own ears his voice did not sound convincing.
Vash was quiet for a long time, Arthur waited, knowing he had more to say. "You're trying to be loyal," he said, "and that's not a bad quality. However, as far as I'm concerned, the idea of loyalty often gets mixed up with the idea of duty. The two do not necessarily go hand in hand."
"It seems that way to me."
"That is probably because you have been brainwashed sense you were small." Arthur started at the man's words. No one had even dared say anything like that to him. It was his respect alone for the man next to him that kept him from challenging Vash outright. "Let me break it down for you. First, you have your men. They're worried about the prince- not because they give a damn about him, but because what happens to him will affect what happens to each of them. They only are concerned about you for much the same reason. If you are being tortured, they fear they are next. As their leader you may have a duty to do what you can to ease their fears, but does that mean you owe them loyalty?" When Arthur didn't answer Vash continued "I'll tell you right now, just about any one of them will push you out of an airlock if it means saving their own hides. They have no loyalty to anyone but themselves."
"Is this little pep talk supposed to make me feel better?" Vash ignored him.
"Second, we have the prince. Do you know where he is or what they have done with him?"
"I only know what they've told me, which is that he is on board and safe."
"As Captain of the guard, maybe you have a duty to find and protect him. But let me ask you this: do you think if he finds a way to escape he would stop for a second to even think about you? Or anyone else?"
Arthur didn't even have to consider it "No." he sighed "Are you saying that I should ignore both loyalty and duty?"
"I'm saying that in my opinion, your loyalty may be misguided."
"You don't think Francis deserves it?"
"I'm not even talking about that idiot. I'm talking about your very Planet."
"You don't think they've done anything to earn my loyalty?"
"They created you Arthur. Then placed you in a private academy where they taught you everything you would need to know. Haven't you ever wondered what it would have been like if you had been born rather then created?" Arthur has banished such thoughts long ago when he was a child "I'm saying, if I were you, I'd wait and see how the Regency responds to the ransom demands before deciding where your loyalties lie." He moved to get up but Arthur caught his arm.
"And you?" Arthur asked.
Vash was quiet for a moment before answering "If you're asking if I'm loyal to you... yes."
"Why?"
"You'll find that even though loyalty and duty do not always coincide, loyalty and respect often do."
A smile spread over Arthur face. He released Vash and whispered a fleeting "Thanks."
