Author's Note:Third part of the pirate AU. This isn't very long.
Wufei scanned the horizon, as he always did, feeling the bob and sway of his ship beneath him. It had been just over a year since he had left Duo on the beach that fateful day, and not an hour passed when He had not thought of the braided boy — a man now — who had loved him. Kauri had done better than drop him off at the nearest port; she had taken him almost to Kingston, dropping him on a beach not far from the city. He had walked to the admiral's office, gave an edited account of his journey, and was reassigned to duty. Since then, his new ship, Justice, had brought down more pirates than the Dragon had under her Wings. Twice in the last year had the Death's Scythe been spotted and twice had Wufei issued the order to stand down as his crew rushed to do battle. The Death's Scythe had stayed out of shouting distance both times. Wufei's rival, Yui, had gone on a seeming frenzy of extermination, bringing down twice as many pirates as Wufei himself did. Once, when they were both in Jamaica at the same time, Heero, in a rare good mood, had invited Wufei over for a bit of fun with a couple of pirates he had taken as hostages from a ship with an all-female crew. Wufei had winced, sickened, and declined. It would have done him little good to go over there and see a familiar face.
One of his crewmen ran up and threw a sloppy salute. "Sir, there's a schooner off to starboard flyin' signals," he reported.
"What kind of signals?" Wufei asked, turning away from his post.
"Parley, cap'n," the man replied.
"A schooner, you say?" The man nodded. "Did you make out the name?"
"The Ante-something, sir."
Wufei thought for a long moment. Decided, he nodded and said, "Let them approach. I want to see the captain in my cabin. She can bring two others. They are not to be harmed, harassed, or disarmed."
"Yessir!" the man paused. "Uh, you said, "she?""
Wufei nodded. "I've met this ship before. The captain is a woman and most of the crew. Tell the men not to try anything," he grinned wryly. "They may be women, but they'll slice you apart the same as any man."
"Aye, aye, sir!"
******
A short time later, there was a knock on Wufei's cabin door and it swung in to admit the visitors. Wufei glanced up, expecting to see Kauri and her first mate, at the least. Instead, he saw Tsuki, her first mate and, surprisingly, Quatre and Trowa.
He nodded curtly at them. "Lady. Gentlemen." He gestured. "Take a seat, please, Tsuki."
"Thank you, Wufei," she replied, the exclusion of Quatre and Trowa in the offer not lost on her. "We have to talk."
Wufei nodded and signalled for his first mate, who was hovering at the door, to leave. "What's happened?"
"Do you know a privateer named Heero Yui?"
Wufei raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Why?"
Tsuki sighed. "He captured our ship. He took Kauri and Midori. We don't know if they're alive or dead."
The captain rubbed his temple and nodded. "I know. They're alive, don't worry. He invited me over for a bit of fun with them last time I was in port."
Tsuki's hands clenched on the desk. "That bastard!" She dragged her emotions back under control and continued. "But that's not all—"
"He's got Duo, too!" Quatre blurted out, butting in.
"What?!" Wufei leapt to his feet. "That bastard! That arrogant, unjust kisama!"
"That's why we need your help," Tsuki cut into his tirade. "We have a plan, but it'll only work if you help us."
"Why are they here?" Wufei asked bluntly, indicating the two men standing behind her.
"Because we — I'm sorry," Quatre said. "I spoke without thinking. Kauri and Duo explained to me later. I never got a chance to say I'm sorry. I was an idiot. An insensitive idiot. Even so, I shouldn't have said anything. Duo was so in love with you it was painfully obvious, and when I saw his heart breaking after you left, I just could bear it. He left soon after, and he's gotten quiet and listless and sometimes he would start drinking and go and hurt himself and Hilde would bring him back to the island and he—"
Wufei held up a hand. "I get the picture. You're sincere. I'll help. Now," he said, leaning forward, "What's this plan?"
******
Heero's lips curled in a cruel smirk as he watched the bound pirate struggle back into consciousness after having spent a goodly part of a week locked in the hold, being beaten into unconsciousness every time he moved. Heero knew why Wufei had been taken with this particular pirate; he himself hadn't realized Wufei's taste ran to boys, or he would have invited him over for a bit of fun more often. This particular specimen was very fine. Nice hair, lovely ass, and those gorgeous violet eyes that sparkled so angrily before their owner was knocked out. He would have fun with this one . . . .
A croak came from the boy on the floor as he looked up, a large bruise purpling one side of his face, swelling the eye. Heero bent down and raised his head further. "What is it, my new pet?" he cooed.
"Wh—where am I?" Duo managed to croak out.
"Oh, somewhere safe," Heero gestured flippantly. "In the tender care of Her Majesty's navy. I'm taking you to a friend of mine. You probably know him — Captain Chang Wufei?"
Duo's one working eye brightened. "'Fei?"
"Yes, you'll see Wufei again," Heero snarled, soothing tone gone. "After you help send him to Elysium, you'll see him there!" He slapped Duo hard across the face, sending the already-wounded pirate sprawling across the floor. Heero grabbed him by the front of the shirt and hauled him effortlessly up to dangle in the air. "Now, my pretty," Heero gritted between clenched teeth. "Let's have a little bit of fun the two of us." (1)
******
Some of Wufei's crew had looked askance after he had emerged form his cabin after a long meeting with the first mate of the Antelope and the two from the Sandrock, but none dared go against his orders, so that was why the Justice was now skimming the waves, the Antelope close behind, in an interception course with the Wing. If there was one thing Wufei could count on of his enemy, it was that Heero would stick to the course given him by the admiral. For nothing would Heero deviate from his mission. For five days they had been chasing him, the captains sleepless with the thought of what must be happening to their friend. Finally, after days of worry and constant adjustment to get the maximum speed possible, Wing hove into sight over the port as the sun flamed on the western horizon. By now, the two crews knew more or less what was going on. Wufei had already lost two crewmen in the past week, mainly because they didn't follow the "hands-to-yourself" policy set aboard the Antelope. He didn't mourn their loss.
A piece of sailcloth covered the embossed nameplates on the Justice and the Antelope, and neither were flying colours. As soon as the Wing came close enough, the two ships peeled apart from each other, the Antelope appearing to drift to one side as the Justice cut into the wind and fired into the Wing. They were warning shots and not intended to hit; they served their function, however, and turned the ship towards the Justice. As the Wing began to pick up speed, the Antelope, being much smaller and lighter than either of the galleys, sped forward towards the side of the Wing. The crew of the Antelope hadn't changed much. The ship's doctor, Brodie, had stayed with the Justice, but Wufei had taken his place at the helm of the Antelope. With its decreased crew, it moved quickly and with minimal orders. Every person knew what they were doing and who they were doing it for.
Surprisingly quickly, the crew of the Antelope was swarming up the side of the Wing, with a remnant of the element of surprise on their side. In the near dark, the women and two men slashed their way through the Wing's crew. Wufei ignored most of the battle and made a beeline for the captain's cabin. He paused outside the door, finding it locked, but a sharp cry from inside decided him. He centered on the doorway and focussed all his power into a single kick, crashing through the wood and ducking through the door he had made. The sight inside stopped him.
Heero looked up slowly from the bunk. Duo was stretched supine (2) on the bed, a nasty bruise discolouring the side of his face, and similar bruises around his wrists. More bruises mottled his rib cage, visible because of the fact his clothes were lying on the floor a few feet away. A wide smirk appeared on Heero's face as Wufei's ire rose, his whole body tensing up. He took a step forward, a growl rising in his throat.
"'Fei?" a croaking whisper came from the bunk. Duo moaned and turned his head slightly. A painful smile came to his bruised face. "'Fei. . ." he sighed again, and closed his eyes.
"What did you do to him?" Wufei's voice came out as a low growl.
"Do?" Heero gestured flippantly. "Oh, nothing, we were just having a bit of fun while waiting for you to come along." A perverted smirk grew on his face. "This little pirate's an excellent lay — but you knew that already, of course. The sounds he makes are utterly enchanting."
With a howl, Wufei rushed forward, raising his sword. Heero sidestepped the attack and snatched his own sword up with frightening speed. The two enemies faced off in the small room, blades clashing against each other and then leaping apart. They were equally matched, and the fight lasted a while. But in the end Wufei's rage was his downfall. He allowed his emotions to cloud his vision, and Heero got in the strike that he needed. With a cry of pain, Wufei dropped his sword and pressed a hand to the bleeding gash on his right forearm. Smirking, Heero sheathed his own sword and strode forward as Wufei collapsed to his knees, facing the bunk. Heero gripped Wufei's throat in one hand and smiled.
"I've enjoyed dancing with you, my friend," he said in a low tone. "But I'm afraid the song has ended." His hand tightened. "So long. Good . . ." he words ended in a gurgle of blood. A shocked look in his eyes, Heero's grip slackened as he fell forward, revealing Duo standing, shaking and in pain, behind him, his hands still gripping the hilt of the knife that had severed Heero's spinal cord. A sweet smile spread across his face before he fainted, collapsing to the floor in the puddle of blood spreading from the dead privateer. Wufei dragged himself to his feet and staggered to Duo's side, collapsing beside the pirate.
That was how they found them, much later, when the battle was over and the crew of the Wing was dead to the man. Quatre and Trowa, Kauri (now free) and Tsuki, entered the captain's cabin to see Duo and Wufei in an unconscious embrace and Heero, blood in a pool around him and eyes glazed in death.
*******
The bright sun was the first thing that registered on Duo as he swam up into consciousness. He opened his eyes and blinked several times against the sun. A cool hand smoothed his forehead and a face hove into view, eyes dark and concerned. Duo smiled. "Wufei . . . I must be dead, then, to see such an angel."
Wufei chuckled. "A few seconds awake and already you're sweet-talking me into your bed." Duo struggled to sit up, but Wufei's hands restrained him. "Shhh, you're not better yet," the former privateer said. "Lay still."
Duo obeyed, lying down until his head stopped swimming. Wufei helped him into a sitting position and he could take in his surroundings. "My room . . . at Quatre's . . . but, he said you could never come back to the island . . . ."
Wufei smiled sadly. "Quatre saw the error of his ways. In fact, I may never have to leave the island again. And neither will you."
Duo's brow creased. "What — how —"
Wufei smiled again. "The Wing sank and the Justice is on its way back to Kingston."
"The Justice? New ship?"
"Aye."
Duo frowned again. "What happened? How did we get here?"
"You don't remember anything?" Wufei asked concernedly. "You were captured by Heero . . ."
Duo eyes went wide as the memories came flooding back. "He — he attacked the 'Scythe. And . . . he killed Hilde and . . ." His words dissolved in a sob. Wufei leaned over and held the pirate captain as he wept for his first mate and his crew. After a while, the sobs disappeared and Duo pushed gently away from the embrace. He sniffed. "He was horrible. He did such disgusting things . . . and then you came and saved me,"
Wufei grinned wryly. "I think you saved me. He had me by the throat when you stabbed him,"
"Oh yeah," Duo's eyes flicked to Wufei's arm. A white bandage was wrapped around the nasty slice. Duo let his eyes roam all over the former privateer. Gone were the dress uniform and pressed pants. Wufei was dressed in plain pirate's clothes. His sword belt was hanging from a chair nearby. "So . . . what happens now?"
"Now," Wufei said, "We live happily ever after," and leaned over for a kiss.
*******
Your Majesty,
It is my grave duty to inform you of the loss of two of your most promising young captains and their ships . . . . FIN
Notes:
(1) My god, Heero's being a right bastard today.
(2) I always wanted a chance to use that word. And no, it's not dirty.