Whew ! Finally got this chapter out. Hope it's good.


Chapter 8

Francis wandered about the deck looking for Gilbert, a huge idiotic grin plastered on his face. He had excellent news to share with his new friend and he couldn't possibly wait another second without blurting out his victory to the entire ship.

"Excuser moi, have you seen Gilbert ?" Francis asked an old sailor who was washing the deck.

"He's probably wi' that Matthew bloke in the medical room." the old man said tossing his head in the general direction of the medical bay.

"Ah. Thank you." Francis said and then rushed off to find Gilbert.

Sure enough, once he arrived at the medical bay he spotted Gilbert leaning against a thick wooden post, observing his blonde lover work with an injured crew member.

"Psst ! Gilbert !" Francis whispered, not wanting to interrupt Matthew's important work.

Gilbert turned around, and followed Francis out of the medical room.

"Vat's going on ?" Gilbert asked once they were out on the deck.

"The first night I came here I made a bet with Arthure." Francis said excitedly.

"Und ?" Gilbert raised a pale eyebrow.

"I won the bet. The terms were that the winner get's anything he wants from the loser for an entire day !" Francis said very quickly.

Gilbert grinned like an evil person hatching an evil plan would.

"Und vat, pray tell, are you going to do when this day comes ?"

"I don't know yet. I have to think about it."

"Do you have any ideas yet ?"

" Some." was all Francis said.

It became obvious to Gilbert that he wasn't going to get a clear answer from the Frenchman so the silver haired albino just frowned.

"How boring. You tell me all this and then leave out the best part."

Francis just shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't have any good ideas yet." he said simply.

"Bah ! Vatever. So, vat's for dinner tonight ?" Gilbert said, changing the topic.


Arthur nervously paced about the kitchen, impatiently waiting for Francis to show up. He had lost their bet earlier that day and now he was worried. Very worried about what Francis would want from him for a whole twenty-four hours ! What would he ask for ? Arthur had no idea.

Just as Arthur started pacing again the door opened and Francis came in, his arms full of potatoes.

"Ah, there you are. Listen, we need to talk." Arthur strode forwards as Francis dumped his load onto the counter.

"About what ?" Francis asked.

"About the bet of course." Arthur said, desperately trying to make himself sound as calm and collected as possible. He was very, very nervous at the moment.

"Oh. What about ze bet ?"

"Well, you get whatever you want from me for an entire day frog. I'd like to know what you have in mind." Arthur said irritably.

"I don't know yet."

"What do you mean ?"

"I don't know what I want from you yet."

"But-"

"That day doesn't have to be tomorrow right ? So I can take my time deciding what I want to do."

"I guess so."

"Help me please." Francis said changing the subject and he tossed Arthur a potato.

Arthur caught the potato clumsily and gave Francis a confused look.

"And what am I supposed to do with a potato ?" he asked.

"Peel it of course. Unless you have anything better to do." Francis said as he started to peel his own potato skillfully with a knife.

"Why should I-" Arthur cut himself off realizing that Francis was completely right. Things had been pretty calm these past few days and Arthur had nothing to do.

"Fine." he grumbled and started to peel the potato with the knife that Francis gave him.

Francis beamed and the two worked in companionable silence for a while.

Arthur often looked over to see what Francis was doing because peeling potatoes wasn't something he did very often. The slender long fingers lightly gripping the knife, the peel of the potato sliding off in a long thin ribbon. Arthur tried to do the same but he cut his finger in the process.

"Ouch !" he grimaced bringing his bleeding index finger to his lips, sucking at it little.

"Are you alright ?"

Francis put his potato and knife down, approaching Arthur.

"Fine. Just a little cut. I have suffered much greater injuries than this before." Arthur said.

"I'm sure." Francis smiled, but he took a look at Arthur's bleeding finger anyways and, grabbing a handkerchief, dabbed the blood away.

Arthur blushed despite himself. Francis delicately dabbed at the blood, slender fingers gripping Arthur's hand with a feather light touch. This man was so gentle.

"Voila, ca devrait allé maintenant." Francis smiled again, his blue eyes softly shining.

"Oh please, you don't need to baby me." Arthur retracted his hand quickly, still blushing.

"No, it was my pleasure." Francis smiled and he walked to a wash bucket, cleaning the bloodied piece of cloth.

Arthur noticed the beautiful and intricate design on it as well as the initials AB.

"That's a beautiful handkerchief." Arthur commented.

Francis looked up.

"Thank you. It's very dear to me." Francis smiled melancholy.

"Oh. I see." Arthur said, his curiosity piqued.

The design was very effeminate and Arthur wondered if the handkerchief belonged to Francis' lover.

Arthur shook this thought out of his head and he and Francis returned to peeling potatoes. This lasted a couple of minutes and then a knock came on the door.

Arthur knew that only two people on the ship were polite enough to do that so it was either Ludwig or Matthew.

"Come in !" Arthur called out.

The door swung open to reveal Matthew and Ludwig.

"Captain, we found a drifter. He's on the ship now. He is greatly undernourished and he has severe wounds and burns." Matthew reported, Ludwig giving a solid nod to confirm Matthew's words.

"Oh, well then make sure he's properly tended to. I'll leave you two to do that. Francis you will make something for the drifter to eat."

"Yes Captain !" the three men said and they hurried off each with their assigned tasks.


Matthew had been at it for seven hours already, the man in the medical bed breathing with difficulty. Matthew had spotted the poor man in a tiny rowboat, completely unconscious and with very bad burns all over him and cuts all over him. He and Ludwig had hoisted the man on board and immediately taken him to the medical bay.

Judging from the state of the man he had probably been out on the sea for about two weeks.

"Give him more water." Matthew said and Ludwig dripped some water into the unconscious man's mouth, making sure he swallowed properly.

"Birdie you should take a break." Gilbert said coming up from behind him and placing a hand on Matthew's shoulder.

"No. I can't. He needs constant medical attention." Matthew said as he replaced the bandages on a particularly badly burned area.

"Matthew..."

"No."

"Fine then I'll stay and help."

Gilbert sat down in defeat and the three men worked for another hour before the man started to his breathing sped up and his eyes opened.

"MI FA MALE !" were the first words the man screamed out before bursting into tears.


Translations

Excuser moi - Excuse me

Voila, ca devrait allé maintenant - There, it should be okay now

MI FA MALE - It hurts


I wonder if you can guess who our mystery drifter man is...

Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. Hope it was good ^^