Carter flipped and twirled his hilts in his hands boredly. It had been a few days since Galahad left and Douxie was still doing "research". He sighed, flopping against the bed.

"I'm bored." He announced.

"So sorry about that, Sunshine." Douxie said absentmindedly from his place on the bedroom floor. "What do you want me to do about it?"

Carter frowned, rolling over to peer at him from the edge of the bed. "Finish your research so we can go."

Douxie glanced at him. "In the middle of the night?"

Carter rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. You're stalling."

"I'm not stalling-"

"Yes you are." Carter huffed, putting the blade hilts down on the nightstand. "Douxie, I can't stress how important this is. We need to go soon."

Douxie looked back at the book in his lap. "I just feel like we're missing something."

Carter scooted closer to him, gently running his fingers through his hair. "We don't need all the answers. We'll figure it out on the way."

Douxie frowned. "That kind of thinking gets you killed. It's better to be prepared."

Carter snorted. "If you wait to look for answers you're gonna be waiting a long time."

He looked at him, pursing his lips. They held eye contact for a long while before Douxie sighed, closing the book. "I hate that that makes sense."

Carter smiled. "Oh yay, I win!"

Douxie snorted a laugh as he climbed into the bed. "Cute. Scoot over."

Carter made room for him. "Let's go soon."

Douxie clenched his jaw subtly. "Do you know where we need to go?"

Carter nodded slowly. "Yeah. Sort of."

He raised a brow. "Sort of?"

Carter sighed. "I have a general idea of which direction to head in."

"... Like?"

"Boat. Water." Carter listed them on his fingers. "Boston harbor."

"Huh." Douxie wet his lips, thinking. "That's much more of an answer than I was expecting."

Carter tilted his head. "Doubt me much, Blue?"

"What? No!" Douxie said quickly. "I'm not doubting you, Carter! It's just that-"

Carter laughed, cutting him off. "I'm messing with you, sweetheart."

Douxie sighed, burying his face in his hands, shoulders shaking with quiet laughter. "You're so mean."

Carter chuckled. He gently slipped his hand into Douxie's. "You love me anyway."

Douxie glanced up at him, smiling softly. "Yeah, I do." He tugged him closer, planting his lips on Carter's.

Carter leaned into the kiss with a small hum, smiling against Douxie's lips as the wizard gently cupped the side of his face. They moved their lips together softly, slowly, gently pulling eachother closer. Douxie slowly tipped Carter back, pressing him against the bed. They made out lazily, content and happy to keep the pace. Carter curled his hands into Douxie's shirt, tugging him closer. Douxie hummed softly against his lips, deepening the kiss.

They parted after a moment, foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling.

"I really do love you, Carter." Douxie whispered, gently rubbing his thumb over his cheek. "So much."

Carter smiled softly, leaning up to press a soft, chaste kiss to Douxie's lips. "I love you too, Douxie." He closed his eyes, taking in a breath. "I missed hearing your voice." He said quietly.

Douxie gently traced a finger over his hearing aid. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, love." He pursed his lips.

Carter shrugged. "It's okay. I'm getting used to it."

"I know." Douxie gently kissed his forehead. "You're amazing. You're just… handling everything so well."

"Flattered and thank you." Carter smiled, wrapping his arms around Douxie's neck. "Kiss me again."

"Happy to." Douxie said with a grin, before leaning in again to do just that.

They made out for a few minutes longer before Archie came into the room, griping at them to go to sleep.

"You two are really loud. You realize that, right?" The dragon-cat grumbled, jumping onto the bed.

Carter tossed a pillow at him as he settled next to Douxie. "Can't help it that we're happy."

Archie rolled his eyes. "Gods."

Douxie stifled his laughter, wrapping his arms around his soulmate, pulling him close. "Night, Archie." He got a grumbling response from his familiar. He pressed a kiss to the top of Carter's head. "Goodnight, Sunshine." He whispered through their bond.

"Goodnight, Doux." Carter pressed a quick little kiss to his collarbone. "I love you."

"I love you too, darling."

A few hours later, Douxie woke to Carter murmuring and shifting in his sleep. He propped himself up on his elbow, hand gently finding Carter's shoulder.

"Love?" He murmured groggily before remembering Carter couldn't hear him. "Dammit."

Carter jerked violently suddenly, gasping in his sleep. Douxie shook his shoulder, panicking a little.

"Carter?" Douxie sat up, unsure what to do. "Carter! Sunshine-"

Carter suddenly jolted upright, a scream catching in his throat. His breathing was shaky and uneven, and it took Douxie a few moments to realize he was hyperventilating.

"Woah, woah. Hey." Douxie held his hand out, letting a shimmer of light dance off his hand and float around the room. He moved in front of his partner. "Carter, hey." He made sure Carter was paying attention to his hands as he signed. "Are you okay? What was that?"

Carter took in a few deep breaths, steadying himself. "I'm okay." He signed shakily. "It was just… nothing. It was nothing."

Douxie stared at him. "You're kidding me, right? That wasn't nothing, Carter."

Carter pursed his lips. "Douxie… it was just a bad dream. I'm alright."

"Your dreams aren't usually just dreams."

Carter looked off to the side, opening and closing his mouth. He sighed loudly and ran a hand through his hair roughly. "I'm gonna get some water."

Douxie stared as he slipped off the bed. "Carter-"

Archie bat at his knee, glaring at him. "Douxie."

Douxie grit his jaw, hand curling into the blankets. "He's not okay, Arch."

"I know that. But it's like two in the morning and I think he just needs time to process."

Douxie pursed his lips. "I feel like I should check on him."

"Don't. He's going to be okay."

Carter leaned on the counter, sipping his cup of water gingerly. He didn't know how to explain to Douxie what he'd seen. He closed his eyes and took in a shaky breath.

He couldn't get those piercing red eyes out of his mind.

You are on a path of destruction. It had said, voice horrible and ringing in his head. You will bring nothing but pain to those you care for.

Carter bit his lip. Ever since the day he'd talked to his father, his unease had grown. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the way Vameus had spoken to him. If he did this, he would be one step closer to the truth.

He let out a sigh, putting the glass down on the counter. He knew he should probably tell Douxie about everything he'd been thinking about. Douxie had had his suspicions about Vameus too. This couldn't be a coincidence.

Slowly, Carter made his way to the bedroom again, resolving to tell Douxie everything in the morning. He stopped as a soft voice rang in his head.

"Tomorrow at 11 a.m. The harbor in boston. A boat will be waiting for you. It knows where to go."

Carter stared into the darkness, heart hammering in his chest. What the hell was that?

"A voice?" Douxie asked early the next morning, looking at him from where he was standing by the kitchen counter.

"Mhm," Carter nodded. He sat at the table, brows knit together with worry. "A girl's voice, I think. She told me where to go to find the boat."

Douxie pursed his lips. "Sunshine…" he sighed. "So we're trusting random girls who talk in our heads now?"

Carter frowned at him. "It's random, I know."

"We have no idea what that even was." Douxie protested. "There's a very slim chance we can trust "her"."

"I know."

The wizard sighed, rubbing his eyes. "But… I trust you. And we already decided we'd go."

Carter gave him a wan smile. "I love you so much."

A small smile pulled at Douxie's lips. "Feeling's mutual, darling."

They got to Boston in record time. Carter chalked it up to, "magic is weird, don't question it".

They were walking along the dock side by side. Archie was perched on Douxie's shoulders as always, keeping a keen eye out.

"She said at 11 a.m." Carter said, watching the water.

"Ten til'." Douxie said, checking his watch. "Which means we get to wait in the blistering cold for ten more minutes for a boat that might not even exist."

Carter cracked a smile. "It's not that bad."

"Yes it is," Douxie grumbled.

"I could hold your hand." He offered with a crooked smile.

"Funny."

"Look." Archie said, pointing a paw at the water.

To their left, a boat was shimmering into existence. It was an old wooden ship, with barnacles lined along the sides and bottom. It looked like it could capsize at any moment. On the prow was an old man with a ratty beard, dressed in a yellow raincoat and a very distressed looking fisherman's hat.

Carter and Douxie shared a look before walking towards the boat cautiously. The man watched them, his beady eyes following their every move carefully.

"A wizard, a demigod, and a dragon walk onto a boat." He said. His voice sounded like someone was trying to strangle a fish. "Sounds like the start of a bad joke."

Douxie laughed nervously. "Ha… funny." He cleared his throat. "Were you expecting us?"

The man grunted. " 'course I was. You think I wait around here all day for fun?"

"Right, well… we need to get to-"

"I know." He interrupted gruffly. "Hang on tight."

"Hang on tight to what-" Douxie started, but was nearly knocked off his feet when the boat shot into the harbor at warp speed.

Carter and Douxie held on tight to the ship's rail. Someone screamed as the boat started to pick up speed. Rain started to fall lightly, then harder, stinging as it hit them in the face. All the while, the old man was standing at the wheel, singing sea shanties as if the speed and the rain didn't bother him at all.

The ship came to a sudden stop, water splashing onto the deck. Carter would've fallen on his face if Douxie hadn't been holding onto him so tightly. He had an arm securely around Carter's waist, face white as a sheet as the boat bobbed up and down on the water.

"We're here!" Crazy announced, turning the boat towards a lone island. "The ship will stay here for only an hour. I suggest you hurry."

Carter managed to unclaw his hand from the rail, staring at the island ahead. It wasn't very big, with tall mountains surrounding the shoreline. A seemingly permanent stormcloud crackled and thundered over the center of the island. "Are those mountains for keeping people out?"

"Or keeping something else in." Douxie suggested uneasily.

Captain Crazy just laughed as if they'd told a funny joke. "Ay, I love wizards. Always so cautious. So entertaining."

Douxie stared at him, alarmed. "I really don't like this guy." He muttered to Archie who nodded in agreement.

Carter let out an anxious breath, turning to Douxie. "Let's go, Blue."

Douxie took his hand and they started making their way to the rowboat that was waiting on the side of the ship.

"Ahdada!" The captain suddenly shouted. "Only one can go."

"What?" Douxie demanded.

"Thems the rules."

"I'm not letting him go alone!"

"Douxie." Carter put a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be okay."

Captain Crazy laughed again. Carter glared at him.

"Carter, please. This isn't a good idea." Douxie begged.

"I need to do this." Carter whispered. He gently cupped Douxie's face and kissed him. "I'll come back."

"You better." Douxie said before kissing him once more. "Be careful, my love. Promise?"

Carter smiled at him. "I promise. He turned and hopped into the rowboat. "Uh… there are no oars."

"Nope!" The captain said gleefully before he waved his hand the rowboat dropped into the water and shot towards the island.