"Welcome aboard Madame de Montespan!"
The Frenchman welcomed Arthur, as he led the British to his log.
"How did you even get this ship? Last time I checked you were broke".
Francis chuckled, their reunion had been at least 3 years ago, many things had changed since that time.
"Well for your information, cherie, I'm no longer bankrupt. But I did steal this ship from Antonio".
The Brit nodded, until he acknowledged what the Frenchman just said.
"From Antonio!? The captain of the Spanish armada you mean?"
He couldn't believe that Francis was able to steal a boat from that man, who was feared in his country and hated by many.
"Oui, I might have taken his little Italian brothers hostage in order to get this ship".
The British pirate widened his eyes to then smack the Frenchman's head with a map he found laying on the captain's desk.
"Are you out of your mind, frog? That's why that Spaniard is coming for us! You don't mess with those little brats".
Francis snatched back the map from the Brit's hand to open it up on his table.
"We'll take care of that later, mon amore. Now take a look at this!"
Arthur glared at the map extended on the table. The location of this mystical city covered in gold was right in front of his eyes. As the legend was told, El Dorado was actually called Manoa and it was at the northwest corner of a legendary lake. Lake Parime to be exact and according to this map, the lake was in the north of Brazil which was Portuguese territory. Not only they were going to face the Spanish on their way and once they arrive, with the Portuguese, what a great journey.
"What am I going to get once we find the city?"
He asked, already certain that he was going to set foot in this fantastic golden city.
"Calm down mon cherie, first we must find the lake then the city. If we do make it alive, avoiding slaughter from our enemies and locals. I promise to make you the queen of El Dorado".
The Brit blushed, this git really had a way with words. Still, he wasn't going to be anyone's queen, especially not the Frenchman's.
"You wanker, you think taking over a city is that easy? First we'll have to conquer the place".
Francis sneered, pushing Arthur against the wall and lifting his chin.
"Then I'll make you my queen".
The British raised his leg to kick the Frenchman's genitals, making Francis fall on the floor, hugging his knees.
"That was totally unnecessary!"
He complained and Arthur with a smirk walked back to the desk where the map was.
"This is what we're going to do, frog. We'll split in half all the riches we find in that bloody city if we survive the trip. I don't plan on staying in the middle of nowhere in south America with you forever and don't even dream about me being your queen".
Arthur didn't want to get emotionally attached with Francis again. Sure they kissed just not long ago but it meant nothing to him. This was what always happened, the Frenchman will try to have his way with him and he would fall every single time. Last time it ended with them having a duel in a pub and this time could even end worse. The Brit hated himself for still having feelings for the frog. He couldn't help but remember the first time that they were together, he was barely 16 when they first met.
"That was harsh, mon cher".
The English was getting triggered. Harsh? He was harsh? To be harsh is playing with his feelings and then screwing random women when he arrives at port, then mentioning he has a son like it's no big deal. But even harsher was what he did when they were younger.
"Leaving me in that ship after you promised me all those things was harsh".
Arthur didn't want to continue this discussion. It just brought back too many unwanted memories. He still remembers when they first met working on a pirate ship as powder monkeys. Both young, lively and ambitious, leaving their hometowns in search for adventures and signing up for a life at sea. The job wasn't easy or safe, they were treated harshly and would not always get paid, but they were happy together. Until one day, when they arrived at port in the Caribbean, Francis hopped on a French pirate ship, leaving without notice and abandoning him in The Mad Grail.
"I thought you already forgave me for that".
The Brit remained in silence for a few seconds. They met as adults again when they were both captain's. As soon as Arthur learned that the ship approaching him was Francis' he fired at them and that's how they began a brutal fight, ending with the Frenchman's ship sinking. The Brit was too soft hearted and allowed captain Bonnefoy to stay on his ship and decided to drop him at the first port they arrived. And so they did, but on their way to land, he had fallen in love with Francis all over again, and for what? Only to discover that he had a son and another woman in his life.
"I don't want to do the same thing again, you make me too sad, Francis".
The Frenchman remained in silence, Arthur was right. He had hurt the Englishman way too much and when things were going great, he would find a way to ruin it and break the Brit's heart. Maybe it was time for them to move on from their romance in the past. Francis wasn't sure if he could do that. After all, he brought Arthur to the mission in hopes of reconciling with him.
"You'll always be my first and only love, mon cherie".
He nuzzled against Arthur's neck and tried to hold back his tears, could it be that the Brit didn't love him anymore? Francis wanted to make things right between them, he wasn't going to let the Englishman slip away this time. He was determined to win back Arthur's love.
"G-get off me, wanker!"
He blushed slightly, looking down in Francis and wanting to hug him, but he held back. He wasn't going to get another heartbreak, not anymore. Love was such a complicated subject for the Brit. He had given his all to the Frenchman and received nothing in return. His foolish heart now wanted to fall again for the same man that harmed it so much, who could ever understand the heart?