Ch. 11:

USUK

Arthur couldn't believe he was he was admitting this. But he preferred when Alfred yelled and insulted him.

Now the boy was even quieter than Lukas, he did all his chores without saying anything. Arthur even tried to stir him up by telling him to do more household chores like making the bed or folding his clothes. At one point he even demanded Alfred tie his boots. The boy just did as he was told and left, not one sound uttered. And every time he saw Alfred, the longer he didn't hear that loud boisterous voice he was reminded. He failed him.

Arthur had thought it was a good sign when they arrived at Pasuta to help them find the Timeless. But then there was nothing, they had wasted time, even if it wasn't a lot of time, that could've been used to get them closer to France. But Arthur knew it wasn't just that. Alfred was still mad that Arthur had broken that promise, hadn't come to take that orphan away like he had swore years ago. He had let Alfred down.

And for some reason…that really hurt.

Things changed one morning, Alfred had delivered Arthur's breakfast and made his bed; without looking to the pirate he turned to leave when Arthur jumped up from his chair.

"Alfred, wait!"

The cabin boy turned to give him a questioning stare. Arthur was left wondering why he did that.

"Uh…um…you need to make my bed." And then he turned around and ripped the blankets off the bed, tossing the pillows around as well, he knew it was a childish thing to do but the boy's silence was starting to scare him.

He turned to be greeted by an angry glare, but a quiet one. Alfred only sighed and walked over to make the bed; Arthur stared at him in dismay. What would it take?!

The bed freshly made Alfred turned to once again leave when Arthur reached out and grabbed his arm, "Wait."

Alfred turned to glower down at the pirate but his eyes quickly turned to confusion when he saw Arthur's desperate expression.

"…Talk to me."

If Alfred had planned on obliging him Arthur wouldn't know, because then a sudden blast rocketed through the air, sending them on edges as the ship suddenly vibrated violently.

"We're under attack," Arthur spat; he quickly grabbed his trusty rapier and hurled himself out the door.

He gawked at the large ship that flew beside them in a lazy spiral, it wasn't the Matador, it was a ghostly gray; he had never seen this ship before.

"Vikings," Lukas spat next to him. Arthur hadn't heard him walk over.

His first mate was decked out for battle and his crewmen were quickly doing the same.

"Get the cannons ready," Arthur ordered.

Suddenly the air vibrated with an amplified voice, "Hello gentlemen and gentlemen! You guys are the Joker right?"

Arthur stood at the bow, glaring up at the ship, "Who wants to know?"

A figure appeared at the bow of the large ship, Arthur could just make out spiky hair, and he could feel the cocky grin aimed his way.

"You can call me Mathias, Captain Mathias. And we came to play."

Ropes dropped down from the ship and just like that they were swarmed, Arthur and his men quickly fought back, Arthur keeping one eye out for this Captain Mathias as he easily fought back the three pirates trying to best him. He made his way to the helm; Lukas was fairing well, his arm a blur as his blade sliced through the air.

"Where's Alfred," Arthur demanded, back to back with his first mate.

"I have no idea," Lukas replied, still calm as ever. "But I think the boy grabbed a sword."

Arthur was almost sliced in half after hearing those words. What was the boy thinking? Did he even know how to use a sword? Arthur supposed it was a possibility, he hadn't seen the boy in years. Who knew what he had been up to all that time.

Lukas and Arthur had just finished off their foes when an appreciative whistle caught their attention. A man, wearing a stormy blue garb that could only belong to a captain of a ship, stepped onto the helm. Arthur recognized the bizarrely spiky head of hair. And by the way he swaggered toward them, this Mathias breathed confidence.

"I heard you can't die," Mathias spoke to Arthur casually, like he wasn't attacking the other man's ship. "That true?"

"You won't get a chance to find out," Lukas stepped forward, sword arm raised. "Go handle more pressing matters, Arthur. This isn't going to take long."

Mathias looked like he had just noticed Lukas but his eyes gleamed when he looked the Norwegian over. "Cute," he grinned.

Arthur left the Viking to be punished for that poorly worded comment. He made his way across his ship, cutting down any man who tried to distract him. He needed to find Alfred.

Finally he recognized a familiar and tall figure. Alfred was squaring off against a tall burly looking man who looked down at the boy with hard, terrifying eyes. Fear pumped its way to Arthur's heart, he scrambled toward the two. Even if Alfred was talented with a sword the one he held might as well have been a letter opener against that man who looked to be made of rock.

The man lifted his sword and Arthur's adrenaline did his thinking for him. And his adrenaline had him jump in front of Alfred, taking the sword straight through the chest.

He heard a strangled cry behind him but Arthur was focused on the blade that had gone right through him, and the shocked man holding the weapon.

Arthur glared up at him and grabbed the hilt, slowly pulling the sword out of his flesh as he spoke: "If I were you… I'd tell your captain…to get off…my…bloody…SHIP!"

Free of the sword Arthur took a step back, and the shocked man backed away as well. Suddenly a loud yell distracted the entire ship.

"Oh wow," Mathias crowed, he was easily holding Lukas back. "The stories were true! You're practically an Immortal!" He grinned down at Lukas, "This was fun but I think play time's over: Retreat!"

As the Danish's men recovered their wounded and dead men Mathias leaned forward to whisper something to Lukas. Whatever it was it made the first mate blush and scowl. And then Mathias was climbing up to his ship along with his men, promising to play again soon.

No one relaxed until the Viking ship was a dot in the sky.

"Assess the damage," Arthur ordered to his more able-bodied men as he clutched the bleeding gap in his chest. "Everyone else, get down below for the doctor to see."

Arthur finally turned his attention back to Alfred who had fallen on his rump during the attack.

"Are you alright," Arthur asked him. Alfred stared up at him in utter horror. It was a look that Arthur didn't care for in the least. He quickly looked away from the boy and headed to his cabin where Lukas waited.

"That was insane," Lukas stated as he stitched up Arthur's wounds. "Completely insane, say what you will about Carriedo but at least he had a better reason to attack us besides 'just because'."

"Indeed," Arthur agreed. "And somehow I'm sure he'll be back to 'play again'."

Lukas shuddered, a first, and Arthur's interest was piqued. "What did that Danish whisper to you?"

Despite himself Arthur laughed, "And I suppose you'll gut him like a fish next time you see him?"

And to his surprise Lukas smiled one of his rare smiles, "Naturally."

Arthur had to give Mathias credit, he was insane but it took skill to bring a little mirth out of his first mate.

After the stitching was done Arthur was ready to take a long nap. Unfortunately life had other plans.

"Captain," the crew member who had been charged to assess the ship came in. "It's not good. The cannonball they used was bigger than most. And they knew exactly where to hit. We need to land as soon as possible."

Arthur groaned, "Of course we do."

"There's a small ship yard not too far from here," Lukas informed, surveying the large map on Arthur's wall. "It's a little out of our way, but I'd rather take a detour then plummet to my death."

Arthur nodded, "Then let's set sail for there immediately."

But his second crew member wasn't done, "Your cabin boy is placing on the port, sir. He's not listening to anyone either."

Arthur stood up, holding back a second groan. Alfred was probably pissed that their mission would be delayed again. He recalled the terror in the boy's eyes as he walked out of his cabin. Alfred may not even want to see him...

He was in fact pacing up and down the port, chewing on his nails and looking as fidgety as a cornered deer.

"Alfred," Arthur spoke up, making the boy halt. "I'm sorry to say that we have to make a detour and get the ship fixed up and-"

His words stopped when he was suddenly in Alfred's arms.

Arthur gasped, Alfred's arms wrapped around his torso, his head buried in Arthur's shoulder. The Brit realized the boy's shoulders were shaking with silent sobs.

"Who cares about the stupid ship," Alfred demanded, "You were stabbed in the heart!"

"Actually it was more to the right," Arthur tried to jokingly assure. But Alfred only made a pitiful whimper and tightened his grip.

"I…I have ancestors who were wizards," Arthur began to explain. "I have their magic in my blood, I can't cast spells but I'm practically invincible. I stopped aging when I turned twenty, and if I can be killed it hasn't happened yet."

Alfred was still holding him like child with its teddy bear. And frankly it was starting to embarrass him.

"For someone who doesn't like me, you are certainly trying your best to break my spine via hugging." He tried to laugh but it came out sounding awkward.

"…I was scared," Alfred finally breathed. His hands fell off Arthur but his face was still buried in the captain's shoulder. "I was so scared."

Arthur's skin was turning hot. Odd, it was a cloudy, cool day.

"I thought you hated me," Arthur couldn't help but say, even if it did turn the conversation south.

"I never hated you, Arthur. I was just mad. Do you have any idea how long I waited for you to come back and get me, to spend the rest of my life with you on your ship? Every day I woke up thinking you'd give me the family I really wanted… Of course I was really mad at you. But that…that doesn't mean I want you to die. I'd have no idea what I'd do if you did."

The blood drained from Arthur's face. What the bloody hell was his cabin boy saying all of a sudden? He quickly came to the most obvious conclusion.

"If something happened to me Lukas would still go to France. Don't worry about-"

Alfred stood up straight and took a step back, his face raw with hurt as he stared at Arthur. "Is that what you think this is all about?"

"What else could it be," Arthur demanded. This was too much, he wanted to sleep, not confront all these confusing thoughts and feelings.

Alfred's eyes were downcast, and it looked like the light had left them forever. "Nothing, I guess…"