Yay! I'm updating. Thanks reviewers. I'm now actually going to reply to
them for the first time in a long time. To reviewers:
lilitaliandragon: He is, isn't he?
Anmras: Just say I'm evil, but I'm not about to tell much about Jack, Ana, Elizabeth and Will. Maybe one more chapter about them at most but not right now.
Reese Sparrow: Hehe. I don't think I'm doing a very good job of keeping her character consistent, though. Oh well, most people act different around different people.
Mayya: I'm updating now!
Karin: *grabs Will* *cough, cough* Anyway, it's Reph not Raph. I like crazy names that I just happen to come up with and no-one else probably has. Don't worry, I'm not going to kill him. At least I don't think so. I'm not planning much ahead.
Elizabeth: I'm adding more now, happy? Don't worry, it will be very long when I'm done with it. I'm still near the beginning. I have Jack and Ana having a daughter 'cause it's so cool to have a hot-headed female rather than a male and Will and Elizabeth just wouldn't have a quick-tempered child.
Emma Laraliean: I'm trying!
Sparrow Quill: Oops. My love triangle is sort of somewhere in-between the entire plot and completely a sub-plot. *Looks sheepish* I just don't like to have an entire romance story. It gets boring. So I always put it in with something else. I've decided that Reph isn't going to be that big so it's not like a really annoying love-triangle. I guess it sort of is a bit in this chapter but you can tell who Tori favors. Glad you're enjoying it!
***
Disclaimer: I only own Nick, Tori and Reph (unfortunately). Believe me, if I owned Will I wouldn't be writing this right now. I'd be...well...*cough* *cough*
***
Tori came up on deck the next morning to find Gibbs gazing thoughtfully up at the sky. "Storm comin' in from the north," he told her.
Tori looked up. Sure enough, dark clouds were beginning to gather above. The sun, which was shining brightly, was starting to get covered. "Hmmm..." she absently took the tiller from Gibbs.
She'd been able to steer a ship since the age of seven. She was quite an experienced sailor and one most of the crew looked up to. She expected Gibbs to leave once she took over but he didn't. He leaned on the railing watching her with a hawk-like expression. Tori ignored him. The old sailor was the closest of all the crew to her family but she still didn't like him standing there like she was doing something wrong. Finally she couldn't stand it anymore. "What?" she asked, rounding on him.
"Just wonderin' what's goin' on between ya and Reph. Ya used ta be so close. Did ya two 'ave a fight?"
Tori went very quiet. She didn't feel like discussing this with anyone. For a moment there was silence. Gibbs still watching her avidly and Tori shifting slightly. Finally she said, "I don't know what yer talkin' about."
Gibbs shrugged and walked off but Tori had the distinct feeling he knew exactly what was going on. She sighed. She would be much happier if her business was her own and only hers. That was the problem with living on a ship. It was hard to keep things from anyone. The wind whipped at her hair. She took a band from her pocket and tied it back, thoughtfully. The beginnings of a big storm.
She didn't mind storms all that much. Tori liked adventure and challenges and storms were her favorite battle. However, she felt uneasy now. Almost as she did before raiding a ship. She'd never told anyone but she couldn't stand killing people. Long ago, when she was twelve, she had been cornered by a sailor and had run him through with a dagger that was up her sleeve. She would never forget the look of horror on the man's face when he realized he wouldn't live to see another day. It had haunted her dreams for years and since that day she had never killed anyone if she could help it. She preferred to knock out or wound her victims. She had never told anyone about this. Jack had a kind heart and would rather hurt than kill but he would kill if he needed to without showing any regret to it. Anamaria was worse. She didn't care what she did. She'd just whip along slashing everything in her path, human or other.
Tori drew her thoughts off her parents. It made her sad. The uneasiness that could have been mistaken for a stomachache was growing into anxiety. She didn't know why. There were steps behind her. She turned around: Nick. He was looking awkward and shy as usual. He was wearing a sword. Undoubtedly, Gibbs had given it to him. "So ya've finally come out of yer cabin," Tori snapped and then immediately regretted sounding harsh.
"Aye," Nick didn't seem too annoyed at how she was acting towards him. Maybe he was just getting use to it.
Tori watched as he leaned against the railing watching the waves. He suddenly seemed a bit more relaxed now. Maybe being on a ship was doing him good. "What'd ya come up for?" she asked.
"Oh...uh..." Nick colored slightly, "Just to see if there was any work that needed to be done."
Tori raised her eyebrows, "We've got a crew. We certainly don't need a landlubber ta help. What makes ya think ya know anythin' 'bout a ship?"
Nick blushed more furiously. "My father taught me a thing or two," he mumbled.
"Hmmm." Tori concentrated hard on the sea. She'd just seen the edge of a rock poking out from the water and knew she had to avoid it all cost.
There were footsteps behind them. Nick turned. Tori didn't. She had just gotten by, by a hair. She could see the jagged point to the side. "Tor."
It was Reph. He didn't even acknowledge Nick. "What?"
She turned, her hand still on the tiller to keep it steady. "Did Gibbs say there was a storm comin' on?" Reph asked.
Tori nodded. "Did he say how soon?" Reph continued. He seemed to be pretending that the night before had never happened.
"He didn't. I'm guessin' 'bout an hour or two," Tori told him.
"That soon?" Reph raised his eyebrows, "We'll need all hands on deck. I'll let them know."
"Does that mean I can help?" Nick asked.
Tori jumped. She had almost forgotten he was even there. Reph eyed him with disgust, "If we needed one person and ya were the only one, we wouldn't use ya. There's no place for landlubbin' bastards aboard this ship."
"Reph!" Tori yelled.
Nick flushed dark red. Before Tori could stop him, his sword was on Reph's throat, "Take the back!" he demanded.
Reph gave a dark menacing smile. "Want ta fight, do ya?" he asked, his voice low and soft.
In a flash, their swords were locked. "REPH! NICK!" Tori screamed.
She was fairly helpless as she still had to man the tiller. They were circling each other: Reph like a dog after a kill, Nick red but equally determined. Reph lashed out first, quick and without warning. There was a loud clang as Nick parried. Tori went on yelling but they ignored her, both looking daggers at each other.
The sky was darkening. The storm was coming on even sooner than she had expected. Still holding onto the tiller, Tori kicked out trying to hit one of them so that they would come back to their senses. They were too far away. Nick was doing well considering that Reph was one of the best swordsmen among the crew. Of course Reph didn't know that he practiced two hours a day and cursed as Nick easily blocked yet another of his quick and stealthy blows.
Then there was a turn of tide. Reph managed to cut Nick across the cheek. Blood spilled down Nick's face. He gritted his teeth and lunged forward only to collide with Gibbs who had stepped between them. "None of that, now," Gibbs scolded.
Nick sheathed his sword again, looking so angrily at Reph that he didn't even look embarrassed. Gibbs turned to Reph who was equally as angry. "Who started this?" Gibbs asked, in a low voice deathly.
"They were just practicin'," Tori called out the first thing that came to mind. She didn't want either one to get in trouble, "Seein' how well they could do."
Gibbs relaxed somewhat. "Be careful next time," he ordered, "Look what ya did."
He pointed to the cut along Nick's cheek. Nick clapped a hand to it, trying to stop the flow. "Here, lad," Gibbs produced a bandage from his pocket and handed it to Nick who took it gratefully. Gibbs observed the sky again, "Storm should be comin' in a few minutes," he stated, "I'm goin' ta get the crew."
With that, he disappeared. Reph followed him, leaving Nick and Tori. "What did you do that for?" Nick asked her.
His cut was still bleeding badly and he winced slightly. "What?" Tori didn't meet his eyes.
"Say we were just practicing."
Tori shrugged. "You did it so we wouldn't get in trouble," Nick stated even though it was more of a question.
Tori didn't reply. "So I wouldn't get in trouble," his voice was very soft, "I started it."
"But he provoked ya," Tori turned to face him, "In my mind that's starin' it more than what ya did. Ya were just protectin' yer honor."
"Thanks," he said, softly, blushing again, "I..."
He didn't get any farther. The crew was coming onto the deck and Gibbs was shouting commands. Apparently it was going to be a fierce storm.
***
Like it? I didn't expect to write it like that at all. It just sort of happened. I like it though. Nick finally stands up for himself. YAY! Yeah so please review. I will write more soon. I promise. If you have any suggestions or constructive criticism, please review and tell me what it is. I like to please my readers.
lilitaliandragon: He is, isn't he?
Anmras: Just say I'm evil, but I'm not about to tell much about Jack, Ana, Elizabeth and Will. Maybe one more chapter about them at most but not right now.
Reese Sparrow: Hehe. I don't think I'm doing a very good job of keeping her character consistent, though. Oh well, most people act different around different people.
Mayya: I'm updating now!
Karin: *grabs Will* *cough, cough* Anyway, it's Reph not Raph. I like crazy names that I just happen to come up with and no-one else probably has. Don't worry, I'm not going to kill him. At least I don't think so. I'm not planning much ahead.
Elizabeth: I'm adding more now, happy? Don't worry, it will be very long when I'm done with it. I'm still near the beginning. I have Jack and Ana having a daughter 'cause it's so cool to have a hot-headed female rather than a male and Will and Elizabeth just wouldn't have a quick-tempered child.
Emma Laraliean: I'm trying!
Sparrow Quill: Oops. My love triangle is sort of somewhere in-between the entire plot and completely a sub-plot. *Looks sheepish* I just don't like to have an entire romance story. It gets boring. So I always put it in with something else. I've decided that Reph isn't going to be that big so it's not like a really annoying love-triangle. I guess it sort of is a bit in this chapter but you can tell who Tori favors. Glad you're enjoying it!
***
Disclaimer: I only own Nick, Tori and Reph (unfortunately). Believe me, if I owned Will I wouldn't be writing this right now. I'd be...well...*cough* *cough*
***
Tori came up on deck the next morning to find Gibbs gazing thoughtfully up at the sky. "Storm comin' in from the north," he told her.
Tori looked up. Sure enough, dark clouds were beginning to gather above. The sun, which was shining brightly, was starting to get covered. "Hmmm..." she absently took the tiller from Gibbs.
She'd been able to steer a ship since the age of seven. She was quite an experienced sailor and one most of the crew looked up to. She expected Gibbs to leave once she took over but he didn't. He leaned on the railing watching her with a hawk-like expression. Tori ignored him. The old sailor was the closest of all the crew to her family but she still didn't like him standing there like she was doing something wrong. Finally she couldn't stand it anymore. "What?" she asked, rounding on him.
"Just wonderin' what's goin' on between ya and Reph. Ya used ta be so close. Did ya two 'ave a fight?"
Tori went very quiet. She didn't feel like discussing this with anyone. For a moment there was silence. Gibbs still watching her avidly and Tori shifting slightly. Finally she said, "I don't know what yer talkin' about."
Gibbs shrugged and walked off but Tori had the distinct feeling he knew exactly what was going on. She sighed. She would be much happier if her business was her own and only hers. That was the problem with living on a ship. It was hard to keep things from anyone. The wind whipped at her hair. She took a band from her pocket and tied it back, thoughtfully. The beginnings of a big storm.
She didn't mind storms all that much. Tori liked adventure and challenges and storms were her favorite battle. However, she felt uneasy now. Almost as she did before raiding a ship. She'd never told anyone but she couldn't stand killing people. Long ago, when she was twelve, she had been cornered by a sailor and had run him through with a dagger that was up her sleeve. She would never forget the look of horror on the man's face when he realized he wouldn't live to see another day. It had haunted her dreams for years and since that day she had never killed anyone if she could help it. She preferred to knock out or wound her victims. She had never told anyone about this. Jack had a kind heart and would rather hurt than kill but he would kill if he needed to without showing any regret to it. Anamaria was worse. She didn't care what she did. She'd just whip along slashing everything in her path, human or other.
Tori drew her thoughts off her parents. It made her sad. The uneasiness that could have been mistaken for a stomachache was growing into anxiety. She didn't know why. There were steps behind her. She turned around: Nick. He was looking awkward and shy as usual. He was wearing a sword. Undoubtedly, Gibbs had given it to him. "So ya've finally come out of yer cabin," Tori snapped and then immediately regretted sounding harsh.
"Aye," Nick didn't seem too annoyed at how she was acting towards him. Maybe he was just getting use to it.
Tori watched as he leaned against the railing watching the waves. He suddenly seemed a bit more relaxed now. Maybe being on a ship was doing him good. "What'd ya come up for?" she asked.
"Oh...uh..." Nick colored slightly, "Just to see if there was any work that needed to be done."
Tori raised her eyebrows, "We've got a crew. We certainly don't need a landlubber ta help. What makes ya think ya know anythin' 'bout a ship?"
Nick blushed more furiously. "My father taught me a thing or two," he mumbled.
"Hmmm." Tori concentrated hard on the sea. She'd just seen the edge of a rock poking out from the water and knew she had to avoid it all cost.
There were footsteps behind them. Nick turned. Tori didn't. She had just gotten by, by a hair. She could see the jagged point to the side. "Tor."
It was Reph. He didn't even acknowledge Nick. "What?"
She turned, her hand still on the tiller to keep it steady. "Did Gibbs say there was a storm comin' on?" Reph asked.
Tori nodded. "Did he say how soon?" Reph continued. He seemed to be pretending that the night before had never happened.
"He didn't. I'm guessin' 'bout an hour or two," Tori told him.
"That soon?" Reph raised his eyebrows, "We'll need all hands on deck. I'll let them know."
"Does that mean I can help?" Nick asked.
Tori jumped. She had almost forgotten he was even there. Reph eyed him with disgust, "If we needed one person and ya were the only one, we wouldn't use ya. There's no place for landlubbin' bastards aboard this ship."
"Reph!" Tori yelled.
Nick flushed dark red. Before Tori could stop him, his sword was on Reph's throat, "Take the back!" he demanded.
Reph gave a dark menacing smile. "Want ta fight, do ya?" he asked, his voice low and soft.
In a flash, their swords were locked. "REPH! NICK!" Tori screamed.
She was fairly helpless as she still had to man the tiller. They were circling each other: Reph like a dog after a kill, Nick red but equally determined. Reph lashed out first, quick and without warning. There was a loud clang as Nick parried. Tori went on yelling but they ignored her, both looking daggers at each other.
The sky was darkening. The storm was coming on even sooner than she had expected. Still holding onto the tiller, Tori kicked out trying to hit one of them so that they would come back to their senses. They were too far away. Nick was doing well considering that Reph was one of the best swordsmen among the crew. Of course Reph didn't know that he practiced two hours a day and cursed as Nick easily blocked yet another of his quick and stealthy blows.
Then there was a turn of tide. Reph managed to cut Nick across the cheek. Blood spilled down Nick's face. He gritted his teeth and lunged forward only to collide with Gibbs who had stepped between them. "None of that, now," Gibbs scolded.
Nick sheathed his sword again, looking so angrily at Reph that he didn't even look embarrassed. Gibbs turned to Reph who was equally as angry. "Who started this?" Gibbs asked, in a low voice deathly.
"They were just practicin'," Tori called out the first thing that came to mind. She didn't want either one to get in trouble, "Seein' how well they could do."
Gibbs relaxed somewhat. "Be careful next time," he ordered, "Look what ya did."
He pointed to the cut along Nick's cheek. Nick clapped a hand to it, trying to stop the flow. "Here, lad," Gibbs produced a bandage from his pocket and handed it to Nick who took it gratefully. Gibbs observed the sky again, "Storm should be comin' in a few minutes," he stated, "I'm goin' ta get the crew."
With that, he disappeared. Reph followed him, leaving Nick and Tori. "What did you do that for?" Nick asked her.
His cut was still bleeding badly and he winced slightly. "What?" Tori didn't meet his eyes.
"Say we were just practicing."
Tori shrugged. "You did it so we wouldn't get in trouble," Nick stated even though it was more of a question.
Tori didn't reply. "So I wouldn't get in trouble," his voice was very soft, "I started it."
"But he provoked ya," Tori turned to face him, "In my mind that's starin' it more than what ya did. Ya were just protectin' yer honor."
"Thanks," he said, softly, blushing again, "I..."
He didn't get any farther. The crew was coming onto the deck and Gibbs was shouting commands. Apparently it was going to be a fierce storm.
***
Like it? I didn't expect to write it like that at all. It just sort of happened. I like it though. Nick finally stands up for himself. YAY! Yeah so please review. I will write more soon. I promise. If you have any suggestions or constructive criticism, please review and tell me what it is. I like to please my readers.