I walk through the front door of Anne and Rackham's house, food in hand. It's a really nice place which is surprising to me because Jack lives here.
"Goddamn it!" Anne curses as I walk into the living room where all our friends sit.
"You lucky fucking bastards!" Thatch laughs.
That's when I glance up to the doorframe and see mistletoe, hanging proudly from the door casing, jumping out from beneath it.
"I got Thatch and Hornigold," Anne laughs. "There looks of disgust made it worth it."
"It wasn't fucking worth it!" Hornigold yells.
Ade comes in behind me, everyone expecting Edward to be in tow but he doesn't step through.
"Where's Kenway?" I ask.
"He found a packet of cigarettes back in the dorm and now he's outside lighting the box on fire." Ade sounds pretty amused by it all.
"That fucker," I curse under my breath.
He walks inside, all three of our poorly wrapped boxes in hand. "Merry Christmas!" he cheers, as Ade takes the boxes the sit them in the pile with the others. "I'm sorry about your trash can. There's kind of a fire in it."
"Watch out for all the mistletoe." Hornigold warns. "Anne means business."
"Of fuck," Edward curses, moving out from under the green leaves that hang above the door.
"You lot got lucky," Anne laughs. "Just put the food in the dining room."
I stop outside the doorframe looking at Edward. "You go first."
He nods walking through first, neck cranked up at the ceiling.
"You were right," he laughs, spotting more mistletoe. He sits the pot he took from me with the other dishes, pulling off the foil and wadding it up. I sit mine down beside it, avoiding standing too close to Edward or the door.
We enter the living room separately, smiling at Anne's sour look. "I will get all of you before the night is out."
"Good luck," Edward challenges.
"You too James. Even if it's the last thing I do."
"If one of you even try," I warn.
We all take seats at the table, no one wasting time as they dig into anything they can find.
I watch as Anne stands innocently, walking to the light switch and turning on the rotating ceiling fan. She leaves it on for a few second, long enough for it to spin quickly and something to fall off the edge, hanging. No one but me pays attention.
"Anne, can I talk to you? Privately."
She smiles widely, taking my hand and dragging me back through the living room. "Don't follow unless you want to see Kidd naked."
"Damn it, Annie," I curse, an echo of laughter bleeding out from the dining room that then becomes muffled when she shuts the door. "Have the others asked about Kenway and I's... relationship?" I don't like my phrasing. We're not in a relationship but that's the only word I can use to imply how we sleep together.
"I'm pretty sure Thatch thinks the two of you are gay but it doesn't bother him much. Hornigold is oblivious to everything. He probably thinks we did come back here to fuck," she laughs. "Ade is smart though and with the three of you living so close to one another, he's bound to find out something."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"They'll all see it when I get you two to kiss." She smiles like a devil. "How natural it will be for the two of you to just press-"
"Anne," I warn.
She laughs laying back into her plush bed. "You're going to hide this for the rest of your life's?" she asks.
"No, Kenway will start dating and he'll move on. Probably get himself a wife and she'll pop out a few babes and life will be good," I say truthfully, there is no need in arguing over an outcome that is evident.
"And you're okay with that?" Anne looks confused by it.
"I couldn't care less what Kenway does," I sigh.
"But what about you?"
"I've gotta find my way in the world and having him dragging me down won't help."
"Whatever you say James." She grabs my hand and pulls me back out into the hall and to the dining room. I attempt to stop before the door casing but she pulls me through to stand beside her under that damned plant.
Anne puts her hands on my shoulder and stands on her tip toes, ready to kiss me when I am. Out of habit, I put my hands on her waist and lift her up to give her a quick peck.
I sit her back down, as the others whistle like something exciting happened, and glance up to the ceiling fan to see the mistletoe now hanging from one of the blades right over Ade and Hornigold's heads.
"Look up," I say slyly, taking my seat beside Kenway.
Everyone's eyes drag up slowly, cautiously, like if they go slow enough maybe it'll disappear.
As soon as Hornigold gets it in his sights he puts his head down on the table, groaning. "I'm not doing it again," he whines.
Ade pushes his chair back and bolts up, moving to the far side of the room just shaking his head in protest.
"I had to kiss Anne," I argue. "You two aren't getting out of it."
"Actually," Edward interjects. "If that thing was on the ceiling fan then we all have to kiss the people sitting next to us."
"Damn you Kenway," a drunken Rackham grumbles, glancing at Thatch beside him.
Anne sits beside Rackham and me, giggling, glancing to Edward and I both. Fucking hell, Kenway's doing this on purpose. "I'll start," Anne says turning to Rackham and placing a quick kiss on him, he turns and bumps the corner of his mouth with Thatch, then Thatch to Hornigold who has slunk back further into his seat.
"This is idiotic," Hornigold seems to scold all of us before quickly kissing Ade who cringes a bit, probably wishing he never sat back down.
I Ade presses his pursed lips to Edward's, neither of them too pleased at the situation.
Kenway then turns to me, his lips not moving but I can see the smile in his eyes. He purses his lips and presses them to mine quickly, mimicking the actions of the others.
I turn to Anne and give her a quick peck like I did just moments ago and I now know Anne enjoys torturing me as such.
We all go back to our plates, Thatch sinking his teeth into a turkey leg, turning his head to the side to pull it apart with his teeth. Hornigold laughs at Thatch, though he has no more manners than the former man does.
Ade just seems amused by the whole situation, all of us unlikely friends, together, trying to be normal people.
I look at Edward, his stupidly handsome face looking seemingly innocent from the side as he eats a spoonful of mashed potatoes but I can see the wheels turning in head and something sly in his eyes.
Rackham looks at me with the glossed over eyes of a raging alcoholic. "It's Christmas Kidd and you don't even have your lass over?"
All attention seems to turn on me, some waiting to hear my reasoning, overs waiting for the excuse I'll make up.
"We had a spat and we spilt, knew it wasn't going to work out. I'm not a man to be held down." I flash them a smirk, the lie coming as easy as breathing.
"You at least got with her once in all that time you were together?" Kenway asks slyly.
"That's my business," I snap, sending him a warning glare.
"Little bastard," Thatch laughs, taking it as a yes.
"Takes one to know one," I say with a flinty smile.
Thatch laughs heartily, and high fives me from across the table. "Lad, after my own heart." Thatch would have been a great father. I don't know why that comes to mind other than he has a fatherly demeanor to him. "There's no shame in being a bastard," Thatch shrugged.
"Did you know your father, Thatch?" Anne asks, curious.
"No but I had a lovely mother to fill his place, though she passed some years ago to a disease I don't know the name of. It was an easy death, went in her sleep."
"I'm sorry, Thatch," Anne says softly, comforting him though he doesn't seemed pained by it, having already come to terms with everything and moved on. We always do.
"What about you, Annie?" He asks. "Your parents?"
She rolls her eyes huffing. "My father was cheating on his wife with my mother and when I was born he couldn't keep it a secret any longer so they divorced and he married my mum. We're not on speaking terms after I left for the Navy, ignoring their yapping about my 'well being'. I'm better off now too. They'd probably tell me that the company I keep isn't worth its salt and that's where they'd be mistaken."
"I'd drink to that," Hornigold smiles, taking a sip of his wine. "My parents are still together happily married but I haven't talked much with them as the years went by. What of you Ade?"
"I was orphaned, though you can't miss what you've never had. I got a nice foster family who raised me the best they could and I haven't thought to bother them." He seems unbothered by it but I know it eats at him.
"You wouldn't be bothering them, Ade. They'd be proud to see the man you've become," I say truthfully. I'd personally like to rub it in the face of that degrading woman at the orphanage I was at from my first year of life to my cousins death, that I've made it this far. "If you even think about your foster parents that's a sign they'd probably like to speak with you too."
"You seem to know some about foster parents," Ade says carefully as if not to spook me like a wild horse. "What about your parents, Kidd?"
"I'm a bastard in the truest sense," I shrug.
"And your mum-" Rackham starts and I feel a faint pang of guilt.
"Don't Jack," Edward says softly, cutting him off. He remembers our screaming match, the one that lead to me leaving and getting stabbed. "He won't even tell me."
Anne places a hand on my back and rubs it.
"Nothing to whine and groan over. I wouldn't be here if not for how things went and that'd be a bloody shame if I didn't know you lot." I smile, truthfully.
"Fuck having families," Thatch says loudly. "This is the only family we need."
Kenway pats my back roughly as the others smile and get a bit loud with their cheers of agreement. I smile, masking my sadness. They care about me and all I want to do is leave them.
"Everyone draw a number," Anne cheers, bowl full of strips of paper in one hand and a glass of whisky in the other, grasped in her small fingers.
Kenway and I sit in bean bags by a small, heavily decorated Christmas tree, across from the couch that houses Thatch, Hornigold, and Ade, respectively. Anne and Rackham lay on a blow up mattress completing our oblong circle around the gifts.
Some look lopsided, wrapped in wrapping paper and others are just unidentifiable shapes with news paper crumpled around it and tape haphazardly thrown on.
The metal bowl is passed around as we draw out papers waiting to look at them until the last one is taken by Rackham.
"Whoever got the seven is one lucky son of a bitch," Thatch laughs. "I got two."
"I'm five," Hornigold announces.
I look down to the small scrap of paper in hands and gently unfold it hiding my expression from the others as I see a 7 scribbled in Anne's flowy handwriting.
"I'm four," Edward announces.
Rackham's eyebrows draw together in frustration. "A damned one."
"It still confuses me how a one like you got a ten like Anne," Edward scoffs, causing laughter to flow through the room.
"You're one to talk, Eddy," Anne teases. "I'm three."
"I got the six," Ade exclaims.
The others turn to me rolling their eyes, knowing I'm the one who got the seven and will have my choice over all the gifts.
"You're the luckiest man alive," Ade laughs lightheartedly, taking a sip of his liquor.
Rackham looks over the pile of presents appraising them. He grabs the smallest on the stack, just a small box and Hornigold smiles. "I'd hoped you'd pick that one."
Jack pulls open the wrapping paper and reads the from of the box. "Beer scented soap?"
"You smell like it all the time any way," Hornigold chides with a small pleased smile. "And you should bathe more."
Rackham, glares at Hornigold but seems to take the joke in stride.
Thatch looks over the pile, knocking back his glass, as we begin chanting "thatch!" over and over in anticipation.
He grabs a box that's wadded up in newspaper; Kenway's box. I can only imagine what he'd have picked out and in a way I don't really want to. Though that doesn't stop Thatch from tearing it open greedily to find what lies underneath.
Kenway is laughing silently to himself, an undeniable smile turned up.
Thatch pulls out what looks like a pillow, shaped like half the torso of a man with an arm hanging off the side like you would lay on someone's chest. He looks at the tag, squinting to read the small lettering. "Boyfriend pillow?"
We burst into laughter. I roll onto my side, my knife holster digging into me as I hold my stomach that is way too full to be comfortable.
Thatch wraps the arm around his neck and leans heavily on its side. "At least it's comfortable."
He laughs with us, all a bit tipsy and lighthearted.
"If I get a sex toy I will shove it up each of your arses," Anne laughs, giving us all a mental image we didn't want.
She grabs a gift without any predetermination and pulls off the newspaper, finding a box with holes in it and a scratching sound emitting from within. The box shifts in her hands, what's inside, moving.
She opens the box carefully, worry etched into her. As soon as the box is opened a reddish rodent goes scampering across the floor into the dining room. "Who the fuck bought that!" Anne says through her laughter.
"I didn't know-" Rackham starts and she flicks his ear.
"I don't want a pet and you didn't even think to tell me which one was yours!"
"I'll get it," Edward says walking to the table, kneeling down to the frightened animal underneath. He reaches out to it, grabbing it's paw. It screeches, clawing at him, leaving scratches that aren't soon to go away.
"Fucking piece of shite, rat," he curses, pulling his hand back. "Tell me you bought it and didn't just find it."
"I bought it," Rackham, defends. "It's got all its shots."
"It's a ferret. Move Kenway," I say standing on the other side of the doorway, waiting for him to pass through. I walk in after he's gone and kneel down much like he did before. I click my tongue softly, holding out my hand waiting for it to decide.
You learn a few things about rodents when you run away from 'home' and sleep on the streets. One, if the rodents don't like you, you'll wake up with one less ear. And two, never leave a trace of food around you.
It moves toward me slowly, walking into my palm and nuzzling against my sleeve. I pull it to my chest and it latches onto my shirt.
"Kidd's a rat whisperer," Hornigold scoffs.
I walk to Anne trying to hand it to her but it stays latched on, it's nails piercing through my shirt fabric.
"You know what, James. Keep it. I have no room for a pet and it seems to like you." She motions for me to sit.
"Anne I'm no good with pets," I argue.
"You seem to be. Makes me wonder what else your good with." I know what she hinting at and I don't appreciate it very much.
"That means you get whatever I open."
Edward grabs a bag that looks like it's been put through the ringer, tattered and ripped in places. He pulls out the tissue paper that has been stuffed inside and smirks, looking inside. He pulls out a flask, stainless steel, a nice thing.
"I decided I need to lay off drinking," Thatch says with a bitter smile. "Thought one of you could have it."
"Good on you, Thatch," Edward commends warmly.
"That doesn't mean I won't still drink." He takes a drink from his glass to get his point across. "Just not all the time." He playfully hits Hornigold's shoulder. "It's your turn."
Ben grabs my box and I almost feel bad for the man... almost. He pulls the newspaper off and is met with the ugliest green Christmas sweater I could find online. He takes a moment to inspect it and I watch the exact moment he sees what the pattern is. He looks disgusted before turning to show to everyone. "Which one of you picked this out?" he asks, motioning towards the two deer having sex across the front.
"I couldn't let everyone like their gift." I smirk, slyly, petting the ferret that lay across my chest.
"Hey Thatch, this matches your personality better," he says throwing it at him.
"Put it on," Ade laughs.
Thatch pulls it on over his shirt, and looks content in the sweater.
"I forgot," Anne yells, getting up and running to her and Rackham's bedroom. She comes back with an armload of sweaters all largely oversized and the ugliest shades of red and green. "Put one on."
She tosses one to each of us. The ugly red thing I catch has a giant mistletoe on it and I can't help but think it's on purpose.
I slide it on, begrudgingly, the sleeves a full five inches too long and the hem reaching my knees. The sleeves are a little too long for Edward and it makes him look like a six year old as I assume mine does too. I have no idea where Anne got these but she got them with the intention to make us swim in them.
Ade looks over the two boxes left, one is Anne's and the other is his own. He grabs Anne's neatly wrapped box which I'm surprised no one has picked yet and pulls out a black frilly thong, the tag still on it.
"You've got a girlfriend, don't you Ade?" Anne asks innocently.
I didn't know his face could get so red as he lets out an awkward cough. This coming from a man who is more stoic.
"No and I'm thinking the flask it looking better and better."
"You can use it to hide your shame," Edward laughs and passes him the flask. "It just so happens I know a woman who will look perfect in this."
"Of course." Anne smiles widely, deviously.
I shoot her a glare, only causing her to smile back.
I grab the last box and open it, no longer worried about what's inside because I know I don't have to take it with me but when I see what's inside I wish I could. I lift up a bottle of Everclear 190. Anne takes it from me, smiling like a little girl waking up to find the presents Santa has brought her.
"Just don't drink it straight," Ade laughs. "It can cause blindness."
"Thank you so much." She stands and hugs him, his face turning that reddish color again. She takes her seat and gives me a pointed look that I can't decipher quick enough.
"Kidd, Kenway, look up just a bit." She laughs and my heart stops for a millisecond before I see Edward turn to me, smirking like a devil. I glance up and see mistletoe hanging off one of the branches on the tree.
Kenway's hand gently grabs my jaw, tilting my head back to his and gives me a quick peck on the lips.
Anne is shaking with excitement, hanging onto Rackham as she almost rolls off the bed. Thatch wolf whistles and Hornigold laughs along with Ade who still manages to look skeptical.
I sit as far away from Edward as I can without moving my beanbag and glare at the group. "What are you looking at?" I growl crossing my arms.
Kenway is a bloody son of a cur. What the others saw was too sensual. He touched my face, gently brushing his fingers over my jaw. His eyes looked right at mine like he's done it a hundred times before. I fucking hate his guts.
Anne crawls over Rackham, switching places with him to ruffle my hair.
"When's the wedding," Thatch bellows, his laughter holding true.
"Haha very funny," Edward says dryly, feigning irritation.
"Kenway, can I talk to you?" I say through gritted teeth.
He nods and leads me to the dining room, Thatch saying something about stealing his pillow back.
He grabs the sleeve of my sweater and pulls me through the doorway with him. "Mistletoe!" Anne yells and watches as I press a kiss to his cheek.
"His mouth Kidd," she teases and I shoot her a glare that could strike her dead.
I kiss him quickly and walk further into the dining room to stay out of ear shot.
"The ceiling fan!" I hear Ade yell.
I kiss him again, wanting to punch him instead, and drag him into the kitchen away from their prying eyes as their conversations pick back up and the ferret crawls up onto my shoulder.
My blood is boiling and he notices too. His hands rest softly on my shoulders, his left avoiding the ferret as his thumbs rub the place right under my collar bones in an attempt to soothe me. "I can't fucking take this," I say lowly, quiet enough so only he can hear.
"We've kissed before, Kidd. How is this different?" He doesn't pose the question like a joke, sounding like his confidence has taken a blow.
"The others aren't supposed to know and you act like you enjoy this way too much for them not to."
"I know we're not together and we probably never will be but even if I didn't know anything about you and this last month or so never happened, I'd still kiss you the same way I do now. Damn, Jim, if you would have kissed me on the ship I'd just shrug it off and kiss you back." His hands go to my lower back and pull me flush against him but I don't humor him, fighting against his hold.
"Back off Kenway." I put my hands on his chest and push him off me, his affection pissing me off.
"Fine," he says, putting his hands up defensively. "You can walk through the land mines first." He motions towards the mistletoe.
I walk back to the living room but his hands go around my waist, stopping me in the doorway. We catch the attention of everyone in the room, their eyes watching closely.
He dips me back, forcing me to grab the front of his shirt in fear of falling. He smirks down at me, looking right pleased with himself. "Don't you dare-"
His lips plant firmly on mine, kissing me with vigor as his tongue slips into my mouth.
The others cheer, getting loud and rowdy as usual. I drop myself, collapsing onto my back to get away from him, coughing and spitting excess saliva into a cup on the table, the ferret getting frightened, running off.
I hear Edward take a step towards me and whip around to face him, my fist burying itself in his gut. He catches my weak hand as I recoil and doesn't see my other as it swings at his face, connecting with his jaw.
He has no choice but to fight back, swinging at my face as I duck nimbly out of the way. He dodges my next swing and tackles me to the floor.
I notice Ade stand to attempt to pull us apart but Anne shakes her head. "Give Kidd a minute and he'll cool down."
Edward attempts to pin me down but I rip my hand free and catch him in the shoulder. He places a knee to my stomach and grabs my wrists, pinning me down.
I stop thrashing and glare up at him, noticing his jaw swelling just a bit. "Get off of me," I growl.
He lifts his hands, surrendering. He moves back to his beanbag, holding his face. "I forgot how hard you can hit."
"I'll get ice." Anne grabs my hand and helps me up, walking into the kitchen.
I sit back down by Kenway, glaring at him the whole way over, as I hold my stomach, a bruise no doubt developing. "And I forgot how heavy your fat arse is."
Anne walks back in with an ice pack and hands it to Edward, letting him press it to his face.
"Did you think you'd get a different reaction?" Ade asks with an amused smile.
"Unless you want Kidd to turn his anger on you I'd drop it," Anne teases.
The ferret crawls out from under the Christmas tree slowly, looking around before darting at me, slipping under the collar of my shirt. It nestles into my side, enjoying the warmth my skin provides. It's silky soft fur running across my bruise.
"What are you gonna name your rodent?" Thatch asks with an air of teasing, attempting to lighten the air that Edward and I made heavy.
"I don't know. I'll give it some time before I come up with something."
"Where are you going to keep it? You don't have a cage," Ade inquires.
"It'll sleep with me and I'll let it out to do its business. Simple. Speaking of which I think I should take it now and have a smoke."
"No you won't," Edward interjects.
"You're not my mother." I pull one out of my pocket and put it between my teeth just to spite him. I walk to the door, hearing him following me outside, the ferret clinging to my waistband, still tucked under my shirt.
He catches the door that I attempt to slam in his face, closing it behind him. I don't pay him mind, pulling my ferret out and setting it down beside me. It takes a moment to look around before walking a few paces out.
I pull out my lighter, putting it to the end of the cigarette and take a quick puff.
"Kidd you've gotta stop this."
"Stop what? Smoking or crushing your game?"
"Well, ideally, both." He shrugs, laughing awkwardly. "But this is about your smoking." He steps up behind me putting his hand on my shoulder.
The ferret skitters back over to him bitting at his boots, only stopping when he takes his hand off me. "I should have gotten a ferret a long time ago. He keeps you off me."
"It's a he?" He sounds amused.
"Aye and he'll be the only male in my bed for the time being."
"What is it about him, Kidd," He teases, walking closer. "Is he a better kisser than I am? Does he warm you up at night better than I can?"
He reaches up quickly to snag the cigarette out of my hand but only meets a face full of smoke that I blow at him.
"You can't distract me, Kenway."
"Kidd you're killing yourself."
"I know but it helps." I look down at the ground, ashamed of myself for having such a disgusting habit. "When I was younger and scared of being found out, I'd smoke. I'd do a few favors for the guy who owned the corner store and he'd give me some, simple as that. They made it a little easier." My tone is heavy, held down by the weight of my regrets.
"You don't have to worry about that now... Mary." He whispers my name to me, all quite like, similar to how a sinning man would pray. "None of us would let anything happen to you."
"Kenway, I wasn't worried for myself back then. It was more complicated than that and it's still a heavy burden to bear." I sigh, finally turning to him. "I'll stop." The cigarette between my fingers is dropped and I stomp out the last of its ashes. "But you shouldn't worry about it."
"Fine but if you ever need anything I'm here. How about this," he smirks, "you kiss me every time you feel you want one."
"This seems to help you more than it helps me."
"As soon as we find somewhere private, away from the eyes of our mates through that window, I'll give you a kiss and I have a feeling this time you won't pull away from me." He winks and walks back to the house, everyone in the window cowering.
"Cheeky bastard," I call after him and I know he smiles.
My ferret runs up my pant leg, seeking refuge under my sweater. I follow Kenway back in watching as everyone pretends to act natural, like they weren't watching our conversation.
There was nothing to see really, the most exciting thing was my ferret pissing.
"Kidd just smoked his last cigarette," Edward says proudly, patting my back as we take our seats.
"I'm proud of you," Anne says, sweetly.
"Is Kenway that persuasive?" Thatch teases.
"I don't know, Thatch," Edward shrugs, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I'm more worried about your noses. You know, 'cause it must have hurt pressing them against the window."
They laugh, knowing they're caught.
"I didn't know you lot were so interested in ferret piss or what was it you were looking for?"
No one speaks up and Edward laughs, amused.
"Well look at the time," Anne says quickly, looking at her wrist for a nonexistent watch. "It's late and you're all too tossed to make it home. I'll go grab blankets."
She lets herself out, swinging her hips hoping to catch someone's eye.
The ferret pops it head out of the top of my shirt, looking at me with its little black eyes. I pet his head, his soft fur almost velvety in texture. I'm gonna like having him around.
Edward reaches out to pet him, the little guy nipping at his finger, attempting to bite it off weakly. He runs up Edwards arm and nuzzles up against his jaw, using his stubble to scratch him like a scratching post.
"Oh I get it now, the little guy only wants me for my body," Edward says sarcastically.
"How sweet. You're co-parenting," Thatch laughs.
"With two dads he'll be the best at playing catch," Edward jokes, petting his ferret beard.
"You're not funny," I say dryly, holding out my hand so the ferret can skitter across my arm and back into my shirt. "Are you two ready to head to the docks tomorrow afternoon." I look up at Hornigold and Thatch, two people I won't be quick to forget,
"I don't have anywhere else to be," Hornigold almost sounds a bit upset, but tries his hardest to not let us see his disappointment.
"Things happen for a reason, Ben. What's meant to happen will happen." I nod in understanding to Hornigold. There comes a point when you need to change course.
Anne comes back in tossing blankets at us before helping Rackham up and back to their room. "Sleep well," she calls, closing the door behind her.
Hornigold and Thatch both make for the blow up mattress, leaving Ade to have the couch for himself. Ade faces the side of the couch leaving his back to the room, same with Thatch and Hornigold, both of their backs turned to Kenway and I.
Edward slides his beanbag up against mine, pulling me closer to him. "I've missed sleeping by you at night," he whispers, his voice barely audible.
"You'll get used to it," I whisper back just as quietly, his hand playing across my side.
"You look adorable in that sweater." He smirks, lifting my blanket just a bit, eyes trailing down me.
We're lucky people are out on the road tonight, it makes noise just loud enough to drown us out.
"Fuck off, mate."
He buries his face in my neck, kissing softly. "Merry Christmas," he says on a sigh.
"Merry Christmas."
I wake up early, no one else in the house awake. Edwards arms are wrapped around my waist, pressing himself tight against me. A more... personal part of him, poking at the back of my thighs.
It happens more times than I'd like.
He stirs awake as I shift away from him, his yawning in my ear sends chills down my spine.
"Morning," he mumbles.
I roll out of his arms, not listening to his groans of protest. I sit up, feeling a tightness in my chest. My breathing is labored, hard to inhale.
"Are you okay?" Edward asks, sitting up quickly.
"I slept in my binder." I take a full breath, as full as I can, and cough. The liquid that had settled in my lungs being forced to move.
"What does that mean? How can I help?" He looks alarmed, reaching out to hold me as that's the only thing he knows to do.
"I just need to get it off."
The others start to stir awake so we stop talking. I walk down the hall to Anne bathroom, shutting the door, leaving Edward to stand on the other side.
I take off the sweater and my shirt before pulling the binder over my head. I breath deeply, filling my lungs fully and exhaling, forcing myself to cough.
My chest hurts from being compressed that long. My breast ache and I can see the lines from the stitching pressed into my skin, a dark red color.
Edward knocks, whispering, "Kidd? You okay?"
I put back on my shirt and open the door letting him inside. He shuts it behind him looking at my chest, that is no longer bound, for more reason that one I think.
"Don't worry, Kenway every-"
He kisses me pulling me to his chest, slipping his tongue between my lips, his worry hitting me in waves. He pulls back looking at me, with his brow furrowed. "Stop doing shit like this to me," he chastises.
"If you didn't worry so much I wouldn't scare you so often."
He scowls, glaring a bit. I lean forward giving him a cheeky kiss on the corner of his mouth. His hand cups my cheek and guides my lips to his.
I've missed kissing him, his taste, his soft touch, all of it and I hate it. I hate that I enjoy his company and I hate that I enjoy him.
"Imagine what the others would say if they saw us like this." He smirks and looks me over. My breast, unbound and pressed against his chest. Our arms are wrapped around one another like lovers in our own right.
"I'd fall over and die before I'd listen to what they had to say." He buries his head in my neck, kissing softly, acting like he didn't hear me. "Let's go before the others wake up." I put my hand on the back of his neck, touching softly.
"Or we could just stay here and-"
I pull his loose hair, making him stop and draw back from me. I smirk at him. "Another time, Kenway."
I grab the oversized sweater off the floor and pull over my head, unable to see a difference with or without a binder on. Edward walks behind me and grabs my bandana, tightening it. I turn back and look into his light blue eyes, like the beach on a warm day. He smiles and leans forward, kissing me over my shoulder.
I walk out of the bathroom looking down the hall, everyone still asleep. Damn it's early.
I walk back into the living room, laying down on my beanbag, curling under the blankets. Edward follows a few moments later, moving his bag back to how it was when the others feel asleep.
Something that flashes across the screen of the muted TV catches my eye. I grab the remote off the floor and unmute it watching as a video of our base comes on screen.
-reports say that an unknown man attempted to plant on bomb on a naval ship this morning. It is unknown the true nature of this attack but we expect to have more details later.-
"Holy shit," Edward curses.
The others start to stir, Edward and I looking at each other. Something is wrong very wrong.
What do you think? I read another story about Mary Read that had her have a pet ferret and I found it so fitting I decided it add it in because the ending of the ferret in the other story breaks my heart. I hope you guys like it and I want you guys to name the ferret! Comment me a name and the one I like the most will be the new name!