Ch. 8:
USUK
Arthur was really starting to regret not throwing Alfred overboard when he had the chance. Oh, he could still try while he was conscious but something told him the giant, aggravating ox wouldn't just lie down and take it.
He had decided to just have Alfred as his cabin boy so he could keep an eye on him and let him help with odd jobs around the ship. While he proved to be strong and a fast learner at how ships work he did his chores with either infuriating smugness or exasperated whining, Arthur had told him countless times to clean up his attitude but the brat only replied that his attitude is the least he could have when he was now a slave on the Joker that was heading to the island of Pasuta.
Though apparently he was the only one sick of his newfound cabin boy, the rest of the crew were fine with him as he helped take care of the ship, but at the same time Alfred saved his bad attitude for Arthur specifically.
"You're the one who wanted to keep him," Lukas said with no pity as he and Arthur sat in the captain's cabin, playing chess.
"I didn't want to keep him," Arthur growled, annoyed that his anger was causing him to lose the game. "I just didn't want to toss him overboard. I figured I owed him some kind of kindness after what happened."
He knew why Alfred was so sure Arthur wouldn't keep his promise and he supposed he couldn't blame the boy. He could still remember the day they met. A cheeky eight year old orphan who had tried to help them find the second Timeless, even though their search had been fruitless Arthur had liked the young boy's spunk and promised to come back soon and make him his official cabin boy. A promise he never fulfilled.
"You're taking him to France," Lukas said, moving his queen, "That's all you can do. I can see you're feeling guilty about the past and you might as well stop. You can't change it."
"The boy seems to think I can," the captain replied bitterly.
"No, he's just mad. Not surprising I'd be mad too. But he's young; he can't hold a grudge forever."
As Arthur lost the game he very seriously doubted Lukas' words.
"I'm not doing that," Alfred said bluntly.
Arthur glared at him, an action he had been doing a while now it seemed, he may not age but he was going to start getting wrinkles.
He had been sitting in his cabin, reading a book after his and Lukas' game when Alfred came in and said he'd finish tying knots and checking the sails. Upon asking if he had anything else to do before he could take a break Arthur casually said to make his bed which he forgot to do himself this morning.
And Alfred had refused.
Arthur closed his book with a loud snap and stood up. "I beg your pardon?"
"Beg all you want, I'm not going to do something as simple as make your bed? Can't you do it yourself? I mean…it be pretty sad if you can't."
"That's not the point," Arthur growled, taking a few menacing steps forward until he was right next to Alfred, annoyed by how he now had to look up at the youth.
"The point is that as my cabin boy you have to do what I say and I told you to make my bed."
"Well I'm not going to do it," Alfred snarled, "Your arms work, you can easily make your bed, you're old too so I bet you've been doing it all by yourself for years now."
Arthur wondered if Alfred had any idea about how strong his newfound captain was. Maybe he'd stab himself with a knife or some such to give this infuriating young man the scare of his life.
"If you don't want to do as I say and get a ride to France then by all means," Arthur took a step back and indicated to the door. "Leave."
Alfred glowered at him and Arthur grinned smugly, "Or do you realize that, no matter how long our trip takes-this is your best chance of getting there. If you've come to that conclusion dearie then I suggest you don't squander it."
Then with a dramatic sweep of his long coat Arthur exited the room, wondering what the chances are of Alfred doing as he said instead of trashing his room in a rage.
Out on deck Lukas was manning the wheel, he gave Arthur a small nod as his captain stood beside him, looking out at the scenery, to his delight he saw a familiar looking island only an hour or two away.
"We'll have to make this quick," Arthur told his first mate. "No doubt Antonio knows about this and he knows that island better than we do."
"And if it isn't there," Lukas asked quietly, his voice neutral as always but his eyes showing an amount of spite.
Arthur turned to look him in the eye, "Then we go to France and retrieve your brother."
"And get your cabin boy's friend," he added and Arthur snorted.
"By the time we get there I doubt he's going to want to be in our presence any longer than necessary. He'll jump out and head whatever way suits him, and I won't be waiting for him to come back. The arrangement is to simply get him to France then we'll be done with him."
Alfred hid just behind the door that led out to the deck, hearing Arthur's every word. He wanted to spring out and declare a few things:
1) That bed was hardly messy and he had been able to make it within seconds so again, Arthur needing his help wasn't true.
2) Did Arthur not understand why Alfred was acting this way, after what he had done?
And 3) Arthur had no right to claim he knew what Alfred would do. He didn't know the boy at all.
Eleven years ago
Alfred looked up at the captain of the Joker mournfully.
Hours ago Alfred had been huddling on the ground, scared for his life. And then Arthur Kirkland had picked him up, dusted him off, and asked him if he was okay. That was a question that Alfred hadn't heard in a long time.
Captain Kirkland and his first mate had decided to talk to the young orphan boy and tell him they were looking for a necklace that was very strong. Alfred adored the idea of hunting for buried treasure with real pirates and promised to help. He had spent all day digging into the sand and looking under rocks, staying by Arthur's side (Lukas unnerved him). Unfortunately as night came the first mate declared they had searched the entire beach and once again they were at a dead end. A fact that grinded Arthur's nerves, he had told Alfred goodbye and thanked him for his help when Alfred asked the big question:
"Can I come with you?"
True he didn't know the pirate all that well but there was something about him that promised adventure and, oddly enough, security. Alfred didn't want to let him go.
Arthur seemed surprised by the random question and Alfred quickly assured him he'd work hard and be the best pirate he could be.
His words made Arthur smile down at him like he was a silly child and patted his head, "The life of a pirate is a little too much for someone as young as you."
Alfred pouted; trying not to let the water works show. If he had to stay at the orphanage any longer he'd explode.
But then Arthur winked, "However, if you wait a couple of years, get a little bigger and stronger, I'd be willing to come back and officially make you my cabin boy."
His words sent a thrill through Alfred that made his heart beat faster and his smile gleam, "Really? You promise?"
"Cross my heart," Arthur replied, doing just that.
And then Arthur left. Back to his ship and back to the sky. And Alfred waited years with a hopeful heart that every time he grew, every time he got just a little stronger…The Joker would come and take him away.
He had reached fifteen when he finally accepted that pirates break their promises.
