Jim woke up refreshed. He rolled over and stretched relishing the feeling of the smooth sheets around him. He had been at Silver's for a few days now and every morning still couldn't believe that he was here. Silver had offered to take him back to school till Jim told him he was free and taking a few months off. It seemed to please the old spacer when he learned that Jim was coming his way anyway with only a bark of laughter and a groan of:
"Why didn't ye tell me Jimbo, I coulda saved me coin?"
Stretching once more he got out of bed, same as ever his prick seemed more interested in the day than he did but just like all the rest, he ignored it. It wouldn't be right to do that here. Especially when he would be thinking about the owner of the house. Taking a wash and throwing on his clothes he took calming breaths before he felt all parts of him relax. Walking down the hallway he fell into the childish need to slide down the banister as he did every morning. And like every morning the response was quick.
"Yer gonna crack yer head open one of these days." Silver called from the kitchen.
Jim just laughed and entered the room. "And on that day you will tell me 'I told ye so'" Jim grinned when his impression got an eye roll.
"Sit down an eat yer breakfast pup. We got business to do today." Silver placed down Jim's plate before going back to make his own.
"You know, Thanks to you mom makes me cook at the in when I'm home." Jim stabbed a sausage and took a bite out of it
Silver chuckled. "Does she now. Well, that just means ye were paying attention when I was talkin' to ya. "
"I always paid attention, Hell I practically held onto every word...I mean...just ignore me I'm still tired." Jim groaned into his plate. Holding his tongue around silver was getting more difficult.
Silver chuckled again, Jim had come to realize how much he made the older man laugh.
"So what's this business?" Jim asked hoping to change the subject
Silver allowed it "I have to go to one of me merchants, I haven't heard from 'em in a bit and it's startin' ta get a bit worrisome. I figured ye might like to come along and explore a bit, if not I'm sure the lads wouldn't mind you hanging back."
Jim repressed his shudder. As much as it was good to be around Silver again his crew still gave him the heebiejeebies. The house was large and one portion had been turned into a barracks of sorts for the coming and going crew members of his fleet. A few stayed at the manor full time as his personal crew but most were only here a few days at most.
"I'll go. It will be fun to see you in you're new element." Jim picked up the plates and took them to the sink for him to wash. It was an old habit by now and he did it without thinking.
"Alright, once yer done with that go get changed into something more respectable." Silver stood and started moving out of the room.
"Er..well" Jim rubbed the back of his neck
Silver paused and turned around "Yeah?"
"Well, I only have the one set. I've been washing them in the shower and letting them dry overnight."
Silver sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Why didn't ye tell me?"
Jim laughed. "You essentially had me kidnapped and held hostage! Not like I could tell Pirates. 'Oh hold on a moment, I have to go grab my luggage'."
Silver glared at him. "I didn't have ye kidnapped, and if ye had said somethin' earlier we could have seen what the warehouse had when we visited it the other day."
Jim blushed, yeah, he hadn't been thinking about it. "Sorry."
Silver sighed and turned around. "Alright. Get yer boots and wait for me by the skip. I'll be out in a minute."
Jim ran upstairs to comply tying up his boots and slipping a groggy morph a piece of bacon. "You coming with?" The shapeshifter looked up at him with tired eyes and nodded. Jim looked down concerned. "You feelin' ok morph?"
The little pink blob nodded then yawned again. "You're gonna stay here and rest." He looked around till he saw a small dish, "Here, hop up." Morph pulled himself into the dish then melted into a puddle.
"Oh boy, you sure aren't feeling good are ya buddy?" Morph just melted further.
Pulling on his boots he hurried downstairs. "Hey Silver I think Morphs sick he..." he trailed off as he stared at the man at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes darted to the new tricorn hat atop his head down to the red leather jacket that seemed to move like a second skin as the man turned around. Who said men can't have great asses. He shook his head and made sure to look up straight into Silver's eyes filled with amusement.
"Me eyes are up here Jimbo. Now what's that you say about Morph?"
Jim blushed looking down at the dish. "I think he's sick, he's been tired a lot lately and today he didn't even want to get out of bed for bacon."
Silver came over holding his hand out, Jim softly tilted morph out into the waiting palm.
"Hmm, not even for bacon? What's goin' on Morphy?" Morph just looked up with tired eyes. Jim heard a slight whir and click followed by Silver humming. Getting closer he gently pats the blob.
"Is he gonna be ok?" he asked softly
Silver grabbed the dish and gently placed the shifter back into it.
"Aye he should be right as rain in a few days, If I'm thinkin' right it should be just about time for his shed. He only does it every few years but it looks like he hasn't in a while so this one will be a bad one for him."
Silver walked back upstairs with Jim on his heels, Walking past the lad's door he kept going to the end of the hall opening a larger door. Jim followed him into what appeared to be the man's rooms. Silver handed Jim the dish while he roamed around grabbing a few things, in the middle of the large bed he started to roll up some blankets making a nest form with pillows. He grabbed another smaller dish filling it with water then going to his bedside table. Looking at Jim he paused.
"Don't tell Mrs. Carrow about this, right?" Jim just nodded, in all honesty, he tried to avoid the old housekeeper as last time he had tried to help he got swatted with a broom.
Silver opened the lower drawer, pulled out the contents then pressed something inside. Jim scooted closer looking down, what he saw made him laugh out loud till he placed a hand over his mouth. Silver had a secret stash of snacks.
"Think you could make me one of these?" he bit his lip to not laugh again.
"Not if yer gonna keeps laughin' at me. Mrs. Carrow put me on a diet, and that just don't work. See an ol' space bear like me needs his snacks." He dug through the assortment till he came up with a pack of crackers. Closing the hatch he replaced his things and closed the drawer. He turned around a lot closer to Jim than either of them thought. After a tense moment, he cleared his throat and backed up.
"All right, give em 'ere." Holding out his palm again Jim just gave him the whole dish.
Walking over to the little nest he gently poured morph into the middle. Opening the crackers he placed a few within reach. "Now Morphy, we're gonna be gone a few days but Mrs. Carrow will come to check on you alright."
Jim watched biting his thumb nervously. "Are you sure it's safe to leave him?"
Silver sighed and looked between the blob and the door. "I gotta go Jimbo, If it weren't so important I could blow it off. But if ye want ye can stay, Last time this happened he was miserable for about a day then good as new. But it weren't as bad as this time. Do you remember him getting sick when he was with ya?"
Jim shook his head. "No, and if he was sick with mom she would have told me."
Silver's brow furrowed even further. "That means he hasn't shed in about six years. Usually, he would go anywhere between two and three years."
Looking at morph in the little nest Jim made up his mind. "I really want to go with you but I can't leave him. Can I go next time?"
Silver slightly relaxed "Of course Lad. Honest, it does me heart good knowin' ye'll be lookin' after 'im. Come and see me off?"
Jim nodded following the Ursid out. "I'll be back Morph" a tiny squeak was the only response.
Standing next to the Skiff Jim rubbed the back of his neck. "How long will you be?"
Silver slung an arm around the younger man "No more than a few days. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away, get in contact with my merchant then jump, skip, and hop right back home." he looked towards the house brow furrowed. "Ye just look after Morph ok?"
Jim nodded before pulling closer wrapping his arms around the larger man. "Be careful?"
Silver blinked willing his body to move. Enveloping the smaller man he sighed. "Always am Jimbo." after a moment he pulled back clearing his throat. Jim pulled back and blushed.
"Now no burnin' me house down while I'm gone alright?"
Jim Stood tall and saluted him "Aye Aye Captain" after a moment a smile broke through and he began to laugh. "See ya soon."
Silver had to force his body to climb into the boat. It felt like he was leaving the lad all over again. Shaking himself he started the boat and headed off making sure to look back. Jim was at the end of the dock waving at him with a big smile.
As soon as the Skiff was out of range Jim's arm dropped and so did his smile. He knew Silver would be back, this was his home after all. But still, that piece in his chest ached as he thought of the last time he saw the man leave.
Trudging back to the house he decided to write his mother, not that he would send it mind, even though Silver said he was free and clear didn't mean Jim wanted to invite the navy to the other man's doorstep.