'The wind is strong today we may be able to see the coast as early as tomorrow morning.' Izzet mumbled while looking after his fishing nets. Joe and Nicky would sleep on deck of the ship, since Izzet's small cabin did not hold place for the 3 of them. They also didn't want to impose. Izzet was a quiet man, all of his steps and hand movements were very coordinated.

Nicky helped him where he would let them but Izzet seemed to prefer doing things by himself. Joe preferred this development since it turned out that the skilled swordsman was not made for a life on water. He was very seasick at stayed close to the railing at all times. As he sat down, head resting on the wooden rail beside him, Nicky came over to look after him.

'You don't look so good, you are pale.' Joe wanted to laugh it off, but Nicky seemed too serious for a joke. He put a hand to Joe's forehead, checking his temperature.

'It's only for a day, I will survive.' Joe closed his eyes. He was feeling dizzy again.

'Simoni told me that the pope just appointed a man to bishop who's openly sleeping with other men.' Nicky blurred out. He quickly looked over at Izzet but the fisherman didn't seem to have heard.

Joe sat up straighter. 'Really?'

'That's what Simoni said.' Nicky replied. He wasn't really sure why he had told Joe. He certainly didn't want to tell him like this, he had wanted to sound more casual. Now Joe was mustering him, trying to see into his head. 'Well at least now he's distracted from the movements of the waves' Nicky thought.

Joe didn't want to press the matter, but he couldn't help but ask. 'Why are you telling me this?'

There it was, Nicky felt the fear rising in his chest. 'Say it.' a voice inside him screamed. But all he could get out was. 'Thought it would get your mind of the seasickness.' And just like that he quickly stood up and hurried over to Izzet. Joe looked after him, his heart was beating fast. Nicky's heart felt as if it was about to explode. Joe sighed, looking back over the railing on the endless blue before him. Nicky would spend the next few hours contemplating how he would correct the mistake he just made.

As the sun set, Izzet said his goodbyes and moved to his cabin. The wind had picked up even more pace. And so, the two men found themselves alone on deck. They were sitting on the ground facing each other.

'Yusuf?'

'Yes?' Nicky looked behind him to Izzet's cabin, the light was out and all they could hear were the waves hit against the ship. Nicky looked back to Joe, looking at the ground as if he was searching someplace to hold onto. He moved closer to Joe, they were now sitting right in front of each other, their knees touching.

'May I?' Nicky whispered. Joe didn't exactly now what Nicky was asking of him, but he said yes, nonetheless. Nicky leaned forward carefully; eyes fixed on Joe's lips. For a split second he looked into Joe's eyes as if looking for some sign to back off. All he could see in Joe's eyes was a reflection of the need he felt himself.

The first kiss was tender, tentative as if testing the waters. Nicky draw back. Joe was unsure what would happen next, Nicky knew that he had to stop being hot and cold and so he said. 'I want to follow god's wishes, but I don't want to try to be anything I'm not anymore. I…' He glanced upwards to the black sky. 'I want to be with you, Yusuf, I really, really want to be. So, if you want the same...'

Joe pulled Nicky towards him, kissing him with a heat that immediately set something on fire in Nicky. 'That's all I want.' Joe said between kisses. He pulled Nicky flush against him. Both were now sitting on their knees, exploring the other persons face and body. Nicky felt Joe's tongue asking for entrance and he let him in.

Nicky was burring his hands in Joe's hair, trying to get Joe even closer to him. Joe's hands were exploring Nicky's back, running over every muscle they found, sending an endless number of shivers through Nicky.

As they broke apart, grasping for air, Joe pushed Nicky down on his back. As the gorgeous man lay on the ground before him, Joe climbed over him. As he was straddling a smiling and flustered Nicky, Joe got rid of his shirt. Their lips found their way back to each other, their need growing by the second. As Joe wanted to take of Nicky's shirt it suddenly started raining. The small occasional droplets quickly transformed into a massif surge of water. Nicky started laughing, pulling Joe back in to kiss him.

The joy on Nicky's face quickly disappeared as the first thunder and lightning bolt surged through the air. They hadn't noticed that the sea was getting wilder and a storm had taken them by surprise. As they got on their feet, Izzet came running out of his cabin.

'Help me get the sail in and hold on tight.' was all he said trough the growing noise around them. The 3 of them managed to get the sail down as a lightning bold hit the water only a few meters in front of them lightning up the sky and blending Joe. 'I'll never get on a ship again' Joe thought. Izzet had given them ropes and told them to bind themselves to the mast, while the fisherman tried to secure his cargo.

Nicky and Joe put the rope around them and the mast, holding on tight. The rain that had soaked them to the bone was the least of their problems now. They grabbed each other's hand, needing to feel the other person beside them. Nicky's other hand searched for his cross as the lightning bolt hit. The light and the deafening crack that striked the ship in that moment were immense. The ship broke in two right before their eyes, the ground before them rising. They saw Izzet holding on to the railing on the other side of the ship. The very next moment they already felt the sea on their backs, their side of the ship was sinking. Quickly Joe undid the knot that had bound them to the mast. They were now sliding down the wrack. Nicky was able to hold on to a wooden pole on the railing, while still holding on to Joe's hand.

'Nicolo!' Joe screamed through the ear-piercing noise of the waves around them. Nicky barely heard him. As he looked down, he saw why Joe had called out, his feet were tangled in one of Izzet's fishing nets. Joe tried to grab a hold of the railing while getting Nicky out of the net. Then the wave hit, and they were both under water, their hands were ripped apart. Joe felt like himself being turned upside down multiple times, he was not sure where up and down were anymore. He couldn't swim and worst of all, he couldn't see Nicky anymore.

Nicky tried to break through the surface of the water, but his movements only made it worse. Half of his body was caught in the fishing net. Instead of making his way to the air his lungs were desperately craving, he sank further down. 'No, Yusuf, no!' Nicky mobilized the last of his powers trying to get his head out of the water. He couldn't keep his mouth closed any longer and the water filled his lungs. He sank deeper, hand around his necklace, thinking about Joe.