Jim gaped at her 15..15... oh stars. "Uh.."
She looked down at him narrowing her eyes. "You don't know the people you tend to keep company with do you boy?"
He closed his mouth with a snap and glared at her "I know him...knew him...look it's a long story."
She pulled up a stool, sitting gracefully then stared him down. "I have time."
Jim sighed then began the story of treasure planet, she was silent through all of it, eyes widening slightly at some bits and scowling at others.
"So I just let him go, no fight, no angry words just let him go. I went back home, joined the academy, graduated, and decided to take a trip. The rest you know." She didn't need to know he was looking for the very man himself with the said trip.
She stood slowly moving the stool back. "What a tale Mister Hawkins." She started walking towards the stairs.
"Wait!" she turned slightly towards him "You said if I answered your questions you would let me out!"
She smirked "That I did, yet seeing as we are hovering over our final destination I see no point in it."
"You lied to me." Jim fell back into the wall.
"Not necessarily Mister Hawkins. If your answers had not been substantial enough in proving his intent we would have left the planet's orbit and taken you somewhere else in which case you would have been released. As I see it Long John Silver means you no harm so there is no reason not to deliver you to him. We will be landing shortly." With that, she left.
Jim was an adult. Jim was a MAN! Men did not pout! He was just...um...expressing his discontent with a slightly jutted lip. Soon after he growled and punched the side of the ship. Fucking pirates!
The landing was smooth though Jim had no idea what planet they were on. He heard a commotion on deck before BU came to get him.
"Get up," He growled out
"Get up." Morph parroted, BU just snarled at the little blob. Morph shrieked and dove inside Jim's pocket.
Jim stood slowly. "I think I'll miss you most of all Scarecrow." Jim wiped away a fake tear.
BU just huffed and grabbed him roughly pushing him towards the stairs.
"Hey! Watch the merchandise Big boy." Jim snapped
BU just growled and pushed him harder. Stumbling up the stairs Jim squinted. Two weeks in low light had not prepared him for the brightness outside.
"Oh Fuck" He put his hand up in front of his eyes before another shove had him scrambling for his balance again. He turned around to snap at BU before strong hands gripped him tying his wrists behind him and a bandanna through his mouth. Startled Jim tried to turn to see who had grabbed him but a bag was placed over his head before he could see anything. Shouting out muffled threats and curses he felt himself being picked up and hoisted over a shoulder. Trying to kick his attacker he felt a strong arm hold his legs close. Grumbling he knew he was well and truly fucked. He heard a short conversation before the sound of a bag of coins changing hands reached his ears.
"Please do try to be more careful Mister Hawkins." Jim noticed the Captain's voice and slightly turned towards the sound. He grumbled out a response as he felt himself moving again. Being restrained and in darkness was disorienting. He knew they only walked a short way before he was tossed into a skiff but after that, he couldn't tell what direction they were going or how fast. He tried to dig into his internal clock but even that seemed off. He felt morph slide out of his pocket and up into the hood with him. Casting his eyes over he could just see the shape of the shaking shapeshifter through the filtered light. He moved his head slightly bumping the little blob trying to say it would be alright. He didn't think the message got through but Morph did press closer to Jim's cheek. He sighed.
Way to go, Jim, where did all of this fit in?
Step 2: Jump on a ship with smugglers?
Step 3: get attacked by pirates and kidnapped?
Step 4: Be delivered to Silver bound and gagged?
OK, so the last part wasn't so bad, more along the lines of original step 4...no down boy. Remember, you're angry. And if you were angry before you should be pissed now.
Before he could fully fall back into his anger the Skiff shuddered to a stop and he was hoisted back onto the shoulder. He was carried up a set of stairs and into a building if the temperature change was anything to go by. Round a couple of corners before a loud knock sounded. The order to enter was barked from the other side. Once through the door, Jim was roughly thrown to the ground sliding across the hard floor slightly. Letting out a yelp then a groan he tried to curl in on himself. His hip had taken the brunt of the fall and it throbbed as he shifted.
The noise of people leaving and shutting the door made him nervous, He figured Silver was in here with him yet he didn't hear the telltale whir or hiss of his prosthesis. The hand at the back of his neck startled a yelp out of him as he was picked up by the back of his shirt and sat in a chair. The hood was removed and Jim blinked as his eyes were assaulted by light. Letting out a whine he closed them tightly although a moment later they snapped open as a familiar chuckle was heard. He was sitting in an office before a large desk yet none of that mattered. The only thing or I guess the only one who did was currently perched on the edge of said desk.
Silver, Jim felt himself relax instinctively then growled to himself. Pissed remember? Be pissed. He sent a glare at the man and began shouting through the gag. The man's response was to chuckle again.
"Good to see you too Jimbo." He smiled and shifted slightly on the desk.
Jim stopped speaking and just glared.
"If I take that off ya will you behave?" Silver asked
Jim rolled his eyes. No, Fuck you. Yet he felt himself nodding anyway. Silver gently got up and that's when Jim noticed. The reason he didn't hear any whirring or hissing was because Silver had gotten an upgrade. The leg didn't look as rough and seemed to move smoother while his arm almost looked normal. Well, normal as a metal arm could look. It had actual definition along with real fingers that were covered in plates that moved together seamlessly.
He untied the gag effortlessly and Jim licked his lips a few times. Silver offered him a glass of water and he gulped down a few mouthfuls before clearing his throat.
"Untie me" he croaked
"Now Jimbo..."
"Untie Me Now Silver!" he nearly shouted.
"Not until I know ye' won't run away." Silver replied with a shake of his head
"I won't. Stars I don't even know where we are, plus I'm sure you have your goonies standing outside the door." He jerked his head towards the door.
Silver glanced that way before looking at Jim and nodding.
Some of the platings slid back up his arm and a knife was revealed. He paused for a moment longer then nodded again and cut Jim free.
Jim pulled his hands in front of himself and rubbed his wrists. They weren't tight enough to leave lasting marks but he could still feel the itch. As Silver came back around to sit on the Desk again Jim turned his glare full force.
"Now don' look at me like that Jimbo"
"You. Put. A BOUNTY ON ME!" Jim shouted standing up and throwing his arms wide.
"Is not what yer thinkin' Lad. I think ye misinterpreted... "
"Misinterpreted! MISINTERPRETED! What's there to misinterpret Silver? You put a bounty on me!"
"Not an active one. More of an if found please return to' type one" he said raising his hand's palms out, Jim seethed.
"What am I? Your fucking pet?"
Silver stood and slammed his hand down on the desk his cybernetic eye turning red "No more of that. You listen to me now James Hawkins, I did this for yer own good. Do ye know how much I just paid 'em to deliver ye safe to me? I knew it was only a matter of time before ye ended up findin yer way in a pirate ship. And instead of letting em sell ye off to some trader, I put me gold out there to make sure yer scrawny arse got to me. Now if yer that unhappy let me know and I'll drop ye off at the next auction."
Silver paced around to the window looking out. Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly. "I can't stand to see ye hurt Jim. Yer just so...so young, an there be a whole wide universe out there just waitin to snap ye up and spit ye out. I don want you to end up like me. Ye have yer whole life ahead of you, an getting' mixed up with the wrong crowd, well it can take that away from ye." He rubbed his cybernetic arm sighing. Straightening up he sniffed and turned around. Shoulders back and a smile on his face.
"But don' you worry bout that, I'll get ye home nice and safe now. Y'll be back at that school of yers in no time."
Jim stood shocked. His anger had dissipated after seeing the slump of the bigger man's shoulders. Said man had just spent 15,000 gold to keep him away from trouble and here Jim was yelling at him. Before he could register what he was doing his feet were moving. Shooting himself forward he wrapped his arms around the other man holding tightly. Silver stood stiff for a few moments then let out a breath and returned the embrace tucking his nose into the younger man's hair.
"Ye grown lad. I don have ta bend in 'alf to look at ye anymore."
Jim let out a laugh followed by a sob, to his horror, it didn't stop at just one, soon he was clutching to the bigger man just crying. As much as he wanted to prove he was grown and a real man now something about the Ursid made him feel so small and vulnerable.
"Ah, there there Jimbo, no need to get all worked up now. Ye had a couple of tryin' weeks. That's alright, Ol' Silver's got ye now." He ran his metal hand up and down Jim's back as his organic hand held him close at the nape.
Soon the sobs petered off into sniffles where Jim saw a handkerchief in front of his face. Pulling back he took it, wiping his face and blowing his nose he refused to meet the other man's eyes. "I'm sorry. You
must think me such a child."
Silver just let out a huff "Nothin wrong with getting a Lil emotional every so often."
Jim sniffed once more. "Where did you get the money anyway? I don't even think I've ever seen 15,000 gold pieces." Jim looked up to see Silver with a blush on his cheeks.
"Well, actually. Um"
Was, was silver nervous? Jim tilted his head slightly studying the large man. Before casting his eyes around. The office he was in seemed to be lavishly furnished with large windows and rich wood floors. No wonder his hip hurt.
"Silver? Who's place is this?" Jim asked with heavy suspicion.
"Don't you take that tone with me pup." Silver automatically snapped back. "It's mine. Been ere about 2 years now."
"And where is here exactly?"
Silver sighed and rubbed between his eyes, " Come on den, might as well show you around while I jabber on. You comin' Morphy? Or ye just gonna hide from me the entire time?"
Jim looked over to where the hood was on the floor and saw morph peaking out still shaking.
"It's alright Morph, no more yelling I promise." Jim got down to one knee and extended his hand out.
Morph perked up and zipped into Jim's hands running through his fingers. Picking him up Jim laughed at the little guy. "Go on, Go say hello." Jim held out his hand to Silver. Morph paused his weaving and just looked at the bigger man.
"Ye still mad at me Morphy? Or ye just sad I left ye? I didn't know where I was goin' and it were nowhere safe for ye. Have ye not had a good time with Jimbo?" Morph looked between the two men before tentatively sniffing Silver's outstretched mechanical hand. Slowly sniffing his way up the new arm he finally got to Silver's cheek. Chirping happily he rubbed against it and began zooming around.
"And here I thought ye'd forgotten this ol' borg. What they been feedin' ye though, yer getting chunky." Silver poked the blob. Morph giggled then turned into a miniature Silver
"Chunky! Chunky!" Jim couldn't hold in his laugh. Silver put on a fake shocked expression.
"Ye callin' me fat Morphy?" Morph switched back to his pink blob form and zoomed off. Silver looked to Jim "I think he just called me fat. Little bugger."
Jim fell into a new peel of laughter. "Oh I'm sure he didn't mean it. You look good...I mean..um. You look better than before. I mean...shit." Jim buried his face in his hands feeling the heat rise to his face.
"Ye sayin' I didn't look good before?" Silver sounded offended. Oh great.
Jim looked up and opened his mouth to apologize but stopped when he saw the gleam in Silver's eye.
"Ah, I'm just messin' with ye Jimbo. I forgot how easy it was to get ye flustered." He stepped forward and ruffled the smaller man's hair. " Come on, let's go. Morph can't get in too much trouble around here. I'm sure he's just explorin'."
Silver lead the way to the ornate door throwing it open. "At ease boys, nothin' to worry about, head to your normal duties." The two beings outside the door saluted then wandered off.
Jim followed him through the door into a grand entrance hall, more rich wood flowed around him including a large staircase. Feeling his jaw drop Jim didn't notice Silver moving towards the front door.
"Come along Jimbo." Silver called holding the front door open. Jim scurried after him but paused as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight. In front of him lay a small patch of beach with a dock, but beyond.
"Wow." Jim breathed out taking in the view
"Welcome to Amphibia." Silver said coming up behind him. "It's not much, mostly swamplands but it's nice and quiet. Locals tend to keep to themselves."
Putting his arm around Jim he pulled him further into the light. Walking further forward on his own he looked around at the rolling hills of green surrounding them. From the looks of it, they were on their own island in the middle of a lake. Turning full circle Jim stood speechless. House...could he call it a house? The palace they had just come from was huge, easily twice the size of the Benbow. Taking a few steps back he got a good look at it. It was made up of two stories with what looked like a lookout tower extending out one side, made of sturdy rock with plenty of windows it felt less intimidating than Jim first thought. Looking back down he took a good look at Silver standing in front of it. Even though he should have the man didn't look out of place.
"OK, spill it. How did you get this place?" Jim crossed his arms and jutted out one hip before wincing. Right injured.
Silver just chuckled and came up beside Jim swinging an arm over his shoulders again. "Let's go to the garden and I'll tell ya, have some work to be done anyway."
Silver led him around the side of the house till they were in the back before him spread one of the largest gardens he had ever seen. Oh mom would kill for this. Silver steered Jim till he was before a bench then removed his arm. Letting the plates slide back he pulled out a pair of shears.
"Where did you get the new arm?" Jim asked as he sat down.
Silver turned toward one of the plants and began clipping off dead leaves. "All in good time lad. When ye let me go I honestly didn't have a clue where I was gonna go. I knew I would end up at the Lagoon Nebula but which cluster was still up for question. Needless to say, I floated around lost for a while, no crew, no real ship, no morph...no you" The last part was almost whispered and Jim thought it could have been the wind.
"Anyway" he cleared his throat. "Found me way here and settled on a planet called
Tortuga, Rough pirate planet that was. Everythin' an old Pirate like me could want." Here he petered off and looked down at the current plant he was tending to.
"I'm surprised you didn't find yourself a new crew and ship and hit the stars. Jim laughed.
Silver hummed. "I thought about it. I did. But once ye've seen the treasure of a thousand worlds. Well, most other scores just don't seem to stand up."
Jim sighed. "I'm sorry."
Silver tilted his head towards him. "Ye ain't got nothin' to be sorry for lad. If I had to do it all over again I would do the same thing. No treasure in the world is worth watching ye fall all over again." he sighed "Lord knows I dreamt it enough times." Clearing his throat he continued.
"Anyhow, I settled there for about six months before I decided to move on, It just weren't the life for me anymore. Stopped a few months on Izayoi Island, though from the looks of it some mad scientist had let his little experiments loose so I didn't stop there long. Finally, I ended up 'ere. Went to Newtopia the capital an worked for an Innkeeper there as a cook. Let me stay in one of the rooms long as I kept the customers 'appy. Nice man he was, tended to pick up strays kinda like you."
Jim chuckled at that bit and blushed, as much as he would like to deny it he knew he couldn't.
Silver moved onto the bushes still snipping away. "So there I was, just cookin' away when all of a sudden this lil ol' woman comes in. Boy was she something'." he chuckled shaking his head. "Said her name was Vemo, but eryone around just called her Granny Toadstool. She owned this ol' place." Silver looks back at the house and sighs. "Spunky ol' gal. God rest her soul."
"You scammed an old woman out of her fortune? Wow, that's new even for you." Jim sat back smirking not expecting a pile of dead leaves to be thrown at him. "Hey!"
"It weren't like that. She said it's the best stew she ever tasted. Offered to hire me as her personal chef. Honestly, I think she were lonely. In this big ol' house with just her lonesome. I couldn't say no to her. So I moved in. See she ran this trading company. Used to belong to her dearly departed. She barely had a clue what she was doin', runnin' it to the ground she were. I started working with her, gettin' her new contacts and the such." Silver paused as if lost in a memory. "Thing is that ol' crone weren't as innocent as she looked. Used to run some substances back in the day if ya get me drift." he sent a wink to Jim.
"Between the two of us, we got business boomin' again. Even got me out 'er trouble with the law. Had to do about a year an a 'alf for me troubles but it could 'ave been worse. Well, when I got out." Silver sighed and looked at his hands. "When I got out she was gone. Passed in er sleep they said." he took a deep breath and went back to his work.
" Left me erythin she did. Weren't expectin' her to but she did. Even got me in contact with someone on a planet called Wakanda. They said she had paid for a new rig for me as a surprise when I got out." He rubbed his bionic arm again. "Best woman I ever known. 'Sept for yer mam that is." He sent a grin over his shoulder to a stunned Jim.
"So this is all yours?" Jim asked looking around himself.
"Aye, Got a warehouse and me port over on the main island. Strictly legal business, though still keep a foot in them waters in case somethin' comes up. Oh like a young lad on a human trafficking ship." Silver placed all his clippings in a pile before slowly standing up and brushing himself off.
"She would 'ave liked ya, Jimbo. Would of coddled ye till ye couldn't breathe, but I think she would 'ave liked ya." He joined Jim on the bench and relaxed back into it.
Jim's brain was still trying to catch up with everything he had just learned.
"So you've really done it? You really gave up being a pirate?" Jim asked turning to look at the man.
"Aye, well. Mostly. Still 'ave some of me connections and shady businesses. But they under a different name." Silver sent a wink then laughed at Jim's glare.
"I couldn't give it all up Jimbo. Where's the excitement in that!" He let out a deep laugh that seemed to shake his whole body.
"Far be it for the dreaded pirate 'Long John Silver' to go on the straight and narrow." Jim rolled his eyes then a thought struck him.
"What kinda pirate name is 'Long John Silver' anyway? Who would name
themselves that? What does it even mean?" Jim looked over curiously.
Silver let out another bark of laughter. "I didn't name meself that boy. It got picked up along the way and stuck."
Jim just looked at Silver in confusion. "If you didn't name yourself then who did?"
"Ye don' wanna know boy."
Jim just scowled.
"Les just say they do their best work at night." Silver chuckled. Looking at Jim who still looked lost. He looked down at his own lap before giving the boy a wink.
Oh...OH!...oh...Jim felt his face heat instantly "I... wait..um" he stuttered out, he wasn't exactly sure what he was trying to say so he snapped his mouth closed and blushed harder.
Silver laughed even harder looping an arm over Jim's shoulders and pulling him into a side hug.
"I tried to tell ya that ye didn' wanna know."
Jim just turned and his himself in Silver's shoulder... "Fuck off"
Silver laughed louder. "Nah that was my nickname after we were done."
Jim burrowed further into the other man's shoulder. Bringing his hand up to playfully punch the man's gut.