A/N: Yep, you saw that right. I'm back! And I'm still writing! *_*
Deployment was soooo long and boring but I got this chapter, most of next chapter, and a lot of the rest of the story fleshed out so for those of you worried I wasn't going to ever update again, HAH. I ain't going anywhere, I'm like herpes. :)))
I meaannn I'm not going to tell you that Brittana is forever, BUT... you should know... that BRITTANA IS FOREVER. And so are my feels. So I'mma keep on writing until this story is finished, and then I'll probably keep writing some more after that, who knows.
In any case, thanks for those of you still reading! Sorry it took so long to update, but the next one should be here pretty soon. As always I appreciate you guys for shouting out in the reviews while I've been gone. Also shout out to my author friends- you know who you are- who've been holding it down in the fanfiction world. You GO, Author Frans!
Okay, well, onto this chapter~
Brittany's not sure how she ended up in the- in her opinion (and probably any person who still has all their wits about them)- insane situation she's currently in; the thought of it boggles her mind, which is quite a feat considering the increased amount of fairly mind-boggling situations she's found herself in since running away from Lycas. The last few days seem to have flown by in a chaotic blur, and she's still not fully certain she didn't dream the events leading to her current predicament; but since she is, in fact, dressed in a flowing, custom-tailored evening gown, standing before Tina the Great, Empress of Lao and daughter of the late, notorious Gangshii Khan, she has to assume she did not.
"Prince Rory Flanning, of Gabs," Tina greets in her strange accent, setting Brittany on edge. She smiles predatorily, her already naturally-slanted eyes slanting even further, so that Brittany innocently wonders if she can still see out of them. Her round face, sharp eyes and wicked smile remind Brittany of an evil, overlord cat. Maybe Lord Tubbington's nemesis.
"Flannigan, Your… Imperial-ness," Kurt corrects politely out of the corner of his mouth as he dips into a deep, respectful bow.
"How very lovely to meeting you," Tina continues without acknowledging the correction. "You're much more dapper than the books having described." She looks at Brittany, who forces a nervous smile. "And this- your lovely bride to being: Brittany Pierce? Why does that name sound so… familiar?"
"My father is Duke Charles, of Lycas," Brittany provides; then, with a curtsy, she adds, "It's an honor to meet you, Empress."
"Ah, that must be why I know of you," Tina allows with a graceful hand gesture. The many gold bracelets encircling her wrist clink together from the movement, distracting Brittany for a moment. "It is an honor, as well. Lycas has been especially good to my empire; I take great caring in my contacts and trading partners."
Standing several feet behind and to the left of Brittany, dressed to the nines, Santana subtly rolls her eyes at Tina's words, inwardly scoffing, Shark piss. If that were true, we wouldn't have made it this far.
"And what brings you to the great Kingdom of Lao, to the Marble Palace, and to my company?"
"Just- celebrating our new marriage, of course," Kurt says through a fake smile and chuckle, wrapping his arm around Brittany and pulling her close. She leans into him, also forcing a smile, and Tina nods.
"Ah, of course! News of your impending wedding spread through my lands a few months ago, though I had not heard that you had cemented such an eternal bond. How lovely."
Brittany can only continue to smile politely, hoping Tina cannot smell her fear or see the nervous trembling of her hand where it rests on the crook of Kurt's arm. She glances to her right to find Sugar, dutiful and familiar in her role as personal attendant and looking more beautiful and regal than Brittany can ever remember seeing her, but equally as lost as she. Their eyes meet for a fleeting moment, and Brittany finds that Sugar's subtly panicked expression must mirror her own, for it conveys that they are both wondering the same thing:
How on earth are they here?
THREE DAYS PRIOR
Shashaiti Motta was born into a very wealthy family. Her father was one of the many Khedives who ruled over Callyst as a representative of the monarch, a king she was too young to ever remember meeting. Her father was known to be involved in the criminal underworld, particularly with gangs, and that put an unfortunate strain on him. When Shashaiti was nine, he was assassinated by a member of a ruthless rival gang known as the Cobras, and that's the only information Shashaiti was able to discover over the years of her life with her limited access.
After his death, her father's estate was ransacked and auctioned off, and Shashaiti was reluctantly sold into slavery by her mother to pay off the remainder of her father's debts. She did not spend long in the slave market before she was purchased by Charles Pierce to be raised and trained as his daughter's personal attendant. Despite her own noble history, Shashaiti did not mind being a servant to Brittany because she was well taken care of, well provided for, and Brittany had always been kind to her and treated her as an equal- it was the closest she could get to being royal, herself. Her bitterness at being sold into slavery by her own mother effectively severed any affections or ties she had with her old family and life. Over time she lost her identity, and Shashaiti Motta faded, replaced by Sugar, the loyal attendant to Brittany Pierce.
Being captured by pirates was not in Sugar's plan for her own future, but she had managed to survive and even do well for herself while in their care. She had started with the pirates' laundry, then risen to cleaning various areas of the ship and beyond, then to serving extravagant meals to the Captain and his important guests, and finally, into the ownership of Ira Del Diablo, the Quartermaster of The Tide Ripper.
Though Santana's style is very different from Brittany's, she is, like Brittany, not a cruel person. Perhaps a bit arrogant and self-entitled, Sugar thinks, but not cruel, and she doesn't mind the arrogance. It's familiar in a way she can't explain, and truthfully, her tasks serving Master Santana have been far easier and less strenuous than her previous tasks aboard The Tide Ripper. Santana frequently asks questions about Brittany's- and by default, her own- past, and honors her by using her given name from birth. She remembers more and pays much more attention to details that Brittany does not.
So it came as no surprise when Jake interrupted her sleep in the early, early hours to fetch her for questioning. She knew eventually the pirates would want more information about her and Brittany's history- she just would've rather it didn't happen during her sleeping hours. Once dressed and slightly grumpy, she was led to a large, private room in the tavern Master Santana was generous enough to allow her to stay in, and confronted by Captain Puck, Lieutenant Abrams, Master Santana, First Mate Kurt and Master Carpenter Mike, who were all gathered around a wide, rounded table.
"Shashaiti," Santana started in a gentle, non-threatening tone, causing Sugar to instantly relax, though still crabby from lack of sleep. "We have questions for you about Prince Rory Flannigan."
Surprised, for she had not expected to hear that particular name ever again, Sugar nodded. "What is it you'd like to know, Master?" Santana smiled gratefully at her for her cooperation before looking at Arty expectantly. The man pushed his spectacles up his nose before he spoke.
"Gabs is most certainly a trading partner to the Kingdom of Lao," He explained. "It's well-known that the two have an alliance, of sorts. Though, with the current economy and possible news of the marriage scandal it's unlikely that-"
"The point, Specs- find it," Santana grumbled.
Offended, Arty shot her a snubbed look before he cleared his throat and refocused his attention on Sugar. "My question, my dear, is this: do you know if Prince Rory has ever been to Lao? Would they recognize him if he were to make… shall we say… a visit?"
"He did visit once as a boy," Sugar confirmed with another nod. "But that was long ago. He's been infatuated with Lady Brittany since the age of twelve and has spent nearly all of his travels journeying to Lycas to woo her." She rolled her eyes to punctuate, earning a supportive grin from Santana as an excited energy instantly grew throughout the crowd of gathered pirates from her words.
After a moment, Puck rose. "Excellent work," he said, causing Sugar to blink at him, because she was fairly certain she hadn't done any work. At least- not yet. "Can you tell us what Rory looks like?" he added. "What color his character be?"
Sugar thought for a moment, trying to remember her last encounter with him, during which Brittany and herself had spent most of his visit making fun of his accent behind his back and avoiding him. "Well, he's deathly pale. Can barely speak intelligible words due to his strong accent. Rather a coopered spineless, I'd say. A ninny."
"A fairy," Santana gloated with a confident, matter-of-fact nod. "I told you. I've heard- things."
"Well, lucky we have a similar fairy in our midst," Puck grinned, placing a sturdy hand on Kurt's shoulder. Kurt spared a disinterested glance at his hand, looking far from amused. "Congratulations, Pony- you've been selected for a special mission."
Wasting no time, they had set sail almost immediately, heading out to open sea and hoping to intercept a Lycan ship on its way to trade goods in the nearby Phiny. Brittany had no knowledge of the reason. She felt exhausted, the meagre amounts of sleep she had been granted in port- though luxurious- not enough to sustain her after the many long hours toiling in the sun on repairs. Having been roused earlier to help Matt prepare the ship for sea didn't exactly leave her well-rested, either, and her only wish was to crawl onto the pile of ropes she used as a bed underway, far belowdecks. Instead she was standing on the main deck, the harsh bite of the wind sending shivers through her body, awaiting further orders from Matt after sailing the ship out of Phiny's warm, inviting harbor. The surrounding ocean was a dark, disheartening gray, and the sky was just a shade lighter, reflecting Brittany's mood.
"Here," Kurt had appeared by her side, handing her a steaming tin cup of dark brown liquid that smelled amazing.
"What is this?" she wondered, peering into the cup, watching the curls of steam rise from the liquid and disappear into the chilly morning air.
"Coffee," came Kurt's reply. "I remember your disappointment at my Pop's place at not having any, so I figured now would be as good a time as any for you to try some, given the current hour."
All Brittany could do to express her thanks was to smile and take a sip of the coffee. It was the perfect temperature as to not burn her lips, and as it went down her throat, Brittany could feel it warming her from the inside out. The taste, however….
"Too bitter?" Kurt laughed at her scrunched face, though she tried to hide it. He dropped a few cubes of sugar into the cup, and the taste improved marginally. He grinned as he watched her struggle to palate the steaming brew. "You'll get used to it."
He left her standing on the deck, clutching her cup and gazing out onto the horizon. The sun was just starting to rise, and Brittany couldn't help but think how beautiful the view was, and how lucky she was to be able to witness such a scenic-
"Well at least we know what Lycan ships not to attack," Puck joked good-naturedly as he sidled up next to her with his spyglass, and instantly Brittany's already-spotty mood sank completely into the frigid depths of the ocean below them. She forced a smile and a half-hearted chuckle, guilt still eating at her for her earlier slip. She appreciated Puck's well-meaning but off-center attempt to cheer her, but the memory of her mistake still left her with a sour feeling, and it wasn't the only thing bringing her down. Santana still mostly ignored her, and Brittany felt the pirate's cold shoulder resonate throughout her entire body.
Brittany wished she could talk to Santana about what happened, but she didn't even know where to start or what to say. Sorry I slapped you? But Brittany wasn't sorry. Was she? She didn't want the kiss... Did she? She still hadn't figured out her feelings, so explaining them to Santana without first understanding them herself would be pointless and a misuse of both their time.
She sighed inwardly, scanning the horizon again. They were close to Lycan waters. They should be spotting a ship soon-
"Any ship will do," Puck had reminded her.
"That's right- the Laoans know even less about the Lycan flags than we do," Arty agreed from his navigation spot, but Brittany had no idea what he was talking about. Laoans?
Arty offered her a gentle, understanding smile at the confusion clearly written on her face. "We want the Laoans to believe our ship to be part of the Lycan fleet," he explained softly. "It will bear us an invitation to their Kingdom."
Nodding, though without any clue as to the reasoning a Lycan fleet ship would earn more welcome than any other ship, Brittany asked, "So what must we take?"
"Flags, surely," Arty answered. Then, with an unsure look at the Captain, he continued, "Uniforms, perhaps?"
Puck nodded behind his spyglass. "For the crew, yes."
"Not for… all?" Brittany wondered.
Puck gave her a look. "I don't wear uniforms."
She cleared her throat, feeling silly- she couldn't picture Santana wearing a Lycan sailor's uniform, either. Trying to hide her blush, she nodded and agreed, "For the crew, then."
Puck smiled, closing up his spyglass before tucking it away in the interior pocket of his vest. "For the crew," he repeated in affirmation as he passed her. He paused to wave at Arty in a carry on gesture before his authoritative steps faded into the distance.
Shaking her head, Brittany wondered if the irony of the universe would show itself- of course the one time she actually wanted to find a Lycan ship, none appear-
"SHIP, HO!" Brett called down from his perch, startling Brittany; she supposed the universe, infinite in its sense of humor, decided to be fair that day. Especially when she noticed with relief that the flag the ship flew marked it as an actual cargo ship and not another warship.
They went through the usual timely boarding process. Brittany tried not to notice as Santana took charge, snapping commands to the crew that would allow The Tide Ripper to overpower the Lycan ship, which had grown steadily larger the closer they drew to it. In no time at all they were sidled right alongside the Adrenaline, and pirates were dropping boarding planks into place. In the next moment, Santana was grabbing her elbow and guiding her across those planks, onto the Adrenaline.
Their boarding party was met by the ship's Captain, and Brittany once again cursed her luck as she read the name embroidered on his coat and realized she knew him. Perhaps the universe was not so fair, after all.
"Such a pleasant surprise," Tina interrupts Brittany's thoughts, bringing her back to the present, and to the delicate situation she's currently in. Her eyes scan Brittany approvingly before moving to scan each of the four pirates standing near her. Most of the crew had donned Lycan sailor outfits, but as Arty pointed out, if Rory and his fiancé were to be travelling, they would bring a few important people from their estate- which is why Santana, Puck, David and Mike are currently dressed in extravagant, expensive outfits by her side. "Who are these eccentrically-dressed guests?"
"They are my royal… party," Brittany supplies awkwardly, and Santana takes the opportunity to sweep the large-brimmed trihorn hat- complete with giant feather- from her head to stoop into a bow. Brittany has to admit that the pirate woman looks incredible, dressed in a long, dark coat, white gloves, and black, heeled boots, with her shiny, dark hair done in a single thick braid and resting over her right shoulder.
Puck is dressed similarly, but with far more jewelry. He mimics the bow, taking Tina's hand in his own and kissing it in a grandiose manner, and Brittany doesn't miss Santana's eye roll. Tina begrudgingly moves her scrutinizing gaze to Sugar, who also drops into a curtsy.
"My cousin, from Callyst," Brittany offers, and at Tina's questioning look, she continues, "not by blood, of course."
"Of course." Tina pauses for a long moment, studying them. Brittany's sure their cover is blown, that Tina's figured them out as phonies, and she tenses, preparing to turn and run all the way back to the ship at Puck's word. She bites her lip, but Tina finally gestures for her guards to accept her and her entourage, and they lower their weapons. Brittany breathes a subtle sigh of relief, feeling overwhelmed, the memory of their recent bout of pirating still lingering on the edge of her mind. The last three days had gone by so fast, leaving her head spinning and struggling to keep up with the many events in motion around her.
"This," Tina starts as she moves to a pile of wooden crates stacked neatly beside David; she reaches out slowly and traces her fingertips along the edge of one of the crates, "…is a gift?"
"Yes, Empress," Kurt replies, bowing again. Brittany stares at him like he's grown a second head, and he straightens up awkwardly, trying not to be obvious about his amateur mistake. He clears his throat. "It's saffron, brought from distant Lycan plantations."
"Saffron?" Tina repeats, pleased. She smiles predatorily. "How… useful."
As Tina waves her hand, and several of her guards begin to carry the crates away, Brittany's thoughts race at the word useful, remembering how they acquired such a rare cargo.
"Woah. Where did they even get this?" Santana demanded as David's crowbar pried the last board from one of the crates they'd discovered in the Adrenaline's hold. Inside the crates were jars of meticulously separated saffron, a rare herb throughout many parts of the ocean the pirates occupied, but not unfamiliar to Brittany.
"My father's plantation," Brittany explained. "Saffron, right?"
"Yeah, it's saffron, all right," David growled, but not unkindly. "A plantation… no shit?"
"That explains why he's richer than Poseidon," Santana mumbled, picking up a jar and examining it. She shook it gently, and the tiny plants made a tiny rustling noise at the motion.
"Because the platinum mine didn't explain that," David laughed.
"'Course not."
Slowly, Brittany picked up a jar, gazing at its contents as well. "Why is it so valuable? I'm not sure what it does or what it's used for…"
"Ah," Santana laughed nervously, setting her jar down. "It's used in cooking as a- well," she scratched the back of her neck. Her eyes darted to David for help before involuntarily moving back to meet Brittany's. She began to feel her body heating up from the prolonged eye contact, and at the implication of her explanation. "It's an- aphrodisiac, of sorts." She swallowed, her pulse pounding madly, making her wonder what in the Great Ocean was going on with her body.
"What does that mean?" Brittany asked innocently.
David laughed, the sound filling the space. "It means people eat it when they wanna hump each other," he sneered, but not meanly, and with a knowing smile at Santana. For the first time, Brittany didn't feel afraid of him, and understood slightly why Santana kept his company so often. Then his words sank in, and Brittany felt a blush flare over her cheeks.
"Oh."
"This'll definitely be useful."
Even days later, the memory makes Brittany blush again in her place beside Kurt, and she fidgets uncomfortably, suddenly feeling too warm as Tina waves them forward.
"Come!"
She leads them through intricate hallways lined in gold, ivory, precious gems, and decorated with elaborate tapestries woven from the finest silks. Brittany knows because Tina brags obnoxiously as she guides them, and her and Kurt dutifully "ooo!" and "ahh!" at the proper moments, putting forth the maximum amount of effort to please the Empress. After a route that Brittany is certain is double the length it needed to be due to their many detours through extravagant rooms (to provide Tina the most opportunities to show off her riches) they finally reach the dining hall- a large, open room with marble floors so polished Brittany can see her reflection. A dance floor occupies the center of the room, with a low, flat table located near the head. Surrounding the table instead of chairs are plush mats and flat, luxurious pillows, which leaves Brittany bewildered, as she's never seen such a strange eating area. The room is lit by low-hanging crystal chandeliers adorned with candles, and a few elaborate sconces decorating the walls. It's dim and intimate, and Brittany enjoys the calming ambience.
"Sit- we first appetize," Tina offers, spreading her hands to indicate the table. She brings them together with a delicate clap as Brittany and her pirates-in-disguise disperse around the table, her bracelets jingling. Puck and David plop unceremoniously down onto the flat pillows; Santana sits far more regally, as does Mike, and Brittany and Sugar access their royal upbringings to lower themselves as gracefully as their unnecessarily eccentric dresses will allow. Kurt awkwardly sinks to a pillow, earning a fond smile and a judgmental look from Brittany, but Tina doesn't seem to notice his falter as she takes her place at the head of the table.
"Slaves- the wine!"
Immediately, several white men come forward, carrying heavy, colorful glass jars filled with a deep crimson liquid. They are dressed only in tight, royal blue velvet shorts trimmed in red, their wrists encircled with heavy brass shackles, the thick chains rattling as they move. Brittany notes that they are all in excellent physique, with sharply-defined muscles, their skin coated in a thin layer of what seems like oil; it makes their muscles gleam in the low light, and a quick glance at Kurt reveals her husband barely able to contain himself.
Brittany leans in close, keeping her voice low and teasing. "Do you need a handkerchief to wipe your mouth, my love?"
Kurt seems to shake himself out of his stupor at her words, and silently gazes down at the empty plate before him on the table. Brittany can see the obvious blush streaking across his cheeks, however, and it makes her smile in amusement. After a moment, Kurt regains his composure and addresses Tina. "Empress, if I may- you keep a- unique- collection of slaves…"
"Yes, I have been told," Tina agrees with a regal nod. "It makes me powerful to keep white men in chains."
Brittany's eyebrows furrow, disturbed at Tina's blunt words. She catches Santana's eye from across the table, but the pirate woman seems unconcerned at the Empress of Lao's admission as she sips heartily on her wine. She looks to Sugar instead, who thankfully shares in her worry, and the two exchange similar expressions that convey one singular thought- Tina is mad as hops.
"Long ago, it was white men who tried conquering the lands of Father," Tina continues without prompting, staring into the distance as though lost in her memories. "It was white men responsible for eventually, his death. They came, imposing beliefs and bureaucracies on my culture, a culture that functioning well for centuries before them, and functioning for centuries after their failure to conquer it. They should never having come here." She pauses to watch a ginger-haired male refill her wine glass, and she raises her hand to indicate him as she speaks.
"Now, these serve me, a reminder that they are not more superior than I. They have no names, except the ones I decide for them… I call this one Stick for reasons obvious," she chuckles, stroking her fingertips down the slave's tricep. Then, she turns, her gaze falling to Kurt. "It is humiliating them, once in such powerful positions, to feel what my people having felt under their campaigns, is it not? But I hoping never to have to deal with your people in this way…"
"Of course not, Empress," Kurt says with a nervous chuckle. "We come in peace."
"Very well," Tina says over the rim of her wine glass, and Brittany breathes a sigh of relief when she gestures to a corner, and a group of slaves begin to play instruments, filling the room with soft, pipe-heavy music. "Enough of such heavy talk," she says gently. "Let us appetize." She claps again, and even more mostly-naked men in chains appear with trays of finger foods. Brittany watches in fascination, wondering just how many unfortunate slaves Tina owns, when her eyes fall to a young man with dark hair, thick eyebrows, and whose features seem oddly familiar. It nags at her as she watches him serve Tina some sort of rolled-up fried pastry; she's almost certain she knows him from somewhere-
And then it hits her like a merciless wave. She presses her hand to her chest in reaction, staring down into her plate, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
"Brittany? Are you all right?" Kurt asks her discreetly, touching her hand that rests on the table.
"Oh, my god," Brittany gasps, her fingers tightening on the tablecloth. "He's-"
Tina catches Brittany's gaze, and with a fond, though sinister, smile, she reaches up to pet the dark-haired man's jaw tenderly. "My newest and present favorite," she coos. The man stands beside her, his eyes cast respectfully downward, subdued. He doesn't notice or recognize Brittany, but as Brittany continues to stare at him, she becomes increasingly more sure that the man is known to her. "Isn't he a fine specimen?"
"And, h-how did you acquire him?" Brittany wonders, trying to keep the horror out of her expression.
"Some of my scouts discovered him in wreckage weeks ago, and brought my Warbler to me. Isn't that right, pet?" Tina laughs. The sound of a tray clanging draws their attention, and within seconds Tina is on her feet, yelling at the slave who caused the commotion. Within moments she has the unfortunate blonde man by the ear and is dragging him across the room, calling one of her guards to assist her along the way. The man apologizes profusely, begging for forgiveness, but it falls on deaf ears as Tina drags him away, the dark-haired man following obediently at her heels.
Brittany takes the opportunity of Tina's distraction to turn to Kurt. "Oh, my god," Brittany whispers again, shocked and horrified. "That slave- he's Captain Anderson- from the Courage, the ship you captured me from!"
"Oh, Britt," Sugar says sympathetically, rubbing Brittany's arm in a soothing manner from beside her. Brittany's mind races in several different directions; she wonders if Sam is also here, also a slave to the crazy Empress of Lao. She wonders if Captain Anderson knows anything about the fates of the rest of the crew aboard the Courage from that critical night. She wonders how Tina can be so content with keeping people as slaves who'd never wronged her- surely Captain Anderson had never done Tina personal harm?
And then it hits her- hadn't her father done the same to Sugar, and to all of the other servants they kept in their estate? Didn't her existing company keep her currently as a slave? Her mouth tastes bitter at the realizations, that slavery exists so widespread across the world and touches every level of society. It's not a pleasant thought.
"She's certainly batshit crazy," Santana comments idly, as if reading Brittany's thoughts. Brittany meets the pirate's deep brown eyes, her own blue eyes burning with anger at the clear expression of amusement on Santana's face as she reaches for a fresh dinner roll from a basket that's being placed on the table by a tall, older man.
"How can you be so calm?"
Santana shrugs, taking a bite of the roll. She chews thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing. "We deal with touched bitches all the time."
Puck shrugs, too, from his seat next to Santana. "It's true."
Without reason, Brittany's anger ebbs and she's instead suddenly overcome with the desire to hear all of Santana's adventures. It hadn't occurred to her until just then that Santana has been a pirate for a long time, travelled on many voyages and experienced the world, and Brittany longs to know all of her excursions. Before she can help herself she imagines herself curled up with Santana before a fire somewhere, or on the beach of her conception of Argo, listening to Santana recount tales of her journeys.
Almost as quickly as it enters her mind, however, she forces it out, fighting the sudden hard blush that flares across her face. She clears her throat.
"You all right, Songbird?" Santana asks, a careless eyebrow raised, but her concerned tone belies the indifference her face expresses.
"Yes," Brittany coughs. "I think I swallowed too much water."
"Oh, no," Kurt says, ever the dutiful husband, laying his soft hand atop hers in genuine concern. "Are you all right, my sweet?"
Santana stares at her doubtfully, conveying that they both know Brittany hadn't been drinking any water. "Yes, Ku- uhh, my love," she croaks, her blush spreading as Kurt continues to fawn over her and Santana doesn't accept her excuse.
An instant later, Tina returns, without mentioning the recent interruption. The room suddenly grows tense and awkward, and Brittany finds herself reaching for her wine in response to the edgy atmosphere. The conversation stalls until Kurt picks up his napkin to wipe his mouth.
"Empress, this fabric is exquisite. If I may ask the thread count? Where did you acquire such remarkable craftsmanship?"
Delighted at his observation of her fine things, Tina explains, "In Gurk, on a trip many years ago. A merchant claimed they were woven from butterfly silk. He offered the right price for fabric."
"They are lovely," Santana comments, her tone mocking, but no one seems to take it in such a way except for Brittany, who frowns.
"Many thanks," Tina accepts. "But your dress, Lady Flanning, and that of your cousin- the fabric seems just as exquisite, no?"
It takes Brittany a moment to realize that Tina means her. "Oh-" Brittany starts.
"-Made from the finest tailors in Lycas, of course," Kurt cuts in smoothly. "The fabric was imported from Gurk, as well..."
Brittany sends Sugar a subtle glance, almost entirely sure that Gurk was not the island they ported in for their attire. As Kurt and Tina continue to converse about fabrics, she gazes down at her dress, absently fingering a fold of the material, a small smile coming to her lips as her thoughts drift away to how she acquired it.
It was two days after they'd ransacked the Adrenaline, making off with their uniforms, flags, and cargo of saffron, when they ported at a tiny island just outside of Lao-controlled waters.
"Phro," Matt had told her as she'd helped him moor the ship, tossing heavy ropes down to where he'd stood on the small pier.
"Why are we here?" she'd wondered once Matt had rejoined her on the main deck, and the two of them began to drop the gangplank.
"Supplies, I reckon," Matt said as he steadied the heavy boards.
"Supplies? I thought that was part of our purpose in Phiny."
"Not those supplies," Matt said tightly as the last board dropped into place and he began to lash them together.
Swift footsteps approached, and Santana strolled down the gangplank before Brittany had even had a chance to help Mike secure it in place; it wobbled as she strode purposefully down. "Songbird, with me," she snapped as Sugar followed hurriedly in Santana's wake, carrying a large, empty canvas pouch on her shoulder which was usually reserved for use in her shopping trips with Kurt. Brittany shot a questioning look to Matt, unsure where her duties lied, but once Santana reached the pier, the pirate turned to look up at her expectantly.
"Well?" Santana demanded, and at Matt's nod and shooing motion, Brittany nervously scrambled down the precarious gangplank.
"Wait," Kurt had called once Brittany had reached Santana's side, rushing up from the stairs that led to the galley. "I'm coming with you."
"I know," Santana sighed, clearly irritated, watching impatiently as Kurt moved- a lot more cautiously- down the unsecured gangplank.
"Look, I like this plan even less than you-" Kurt started once he reached the pier.
"Doubtful..."
"But could you at least try and be civil?" He gestured to Brittany and Sugar. "It's not their fault-"
"For fuck's sake, Pony, I'm not blaming them. I just resent the fact that I have to be the one to escort the three of you to purchase, of all things, clothing."
Kurt laughed. "Well you are the only woman present-"
"I highly doubt Princess Songbird, with her majestic and dignified background, has never tried on a dress," Santana gritted through her teeth.
"Yes, but you have the wherewithal to determine if our disguises will pass or not." Kurt readjusted his own leather bag on his shoulder and started off down the dark, narrow dirt road that lead into the center of town.
Sighing, Santana turned to look at Brittany and Sugar. "Well… come on, then."
She followed a few paces behind Kurt, and Brittany rushed to keep up, struggling to figure out what a dress had to do with Lycas, Lao, and whatever Captain Puck was planning. She started to piece together what was happening the closer they got to the market, and the more she figured out, the more she believed she was condemned to an early death. A later death than she had anticipated several times over the last few weeks, perhaps- but an early death compared to the overall longevity of her life.
"Try this one," Sugar said. "It compliments your skin tone, brings out your eyes. It's the perfect blend of nobility and innocence."
"You want to seem non-threatening to these people," Kurt agreed.
"No pretending there," Brittany joked nervously, "as I am very non-threatening."
Santana scoffed from her crossed-arm position in the corner, watching them with her scrutinizing stare. The intensity of her gaze made Brittany swallow, self-conscious as she accepted the gown from Sugar.
Kurt picked up a pile of garments he had laid aside. "I'm going to try these on."
"I don't know why, you already own more fancy clothes than any man I know," Santana mumbled.
"If I'm going to play Prince Rory then I need to look the part." Kurt shot her a look before spitefully marching himself behind a changing screen.
"Expedite," Santana sighed. "Shashaiti, try yours on, too. Let's get this over with."
"Yes, Master," Sugar said before obediently scooping up her garment and stepping behind a screen on the other side of the room.
Brittany couldn't believe how Santana and Sugar's close- and pleasant- relationship had formed right before her without her knowledge. Had she truly been so busy with Kurt and repairs to The Tide Ripper that she hadn't noticed?
"Well?" Santana said, though not as harsh as she had earlier that morning, and Brittany blinked. Santana looked expectantly at the changing screen a few paces away, and Brittany suddenly realized she needed to actually change.
She bit her lip. "Right." Picking up the dress Sugar had chosen for her, she moved behind the changing screen, her stomach flipping. She quickly and carefully removed her boots first, then the rest of her clothes, before stepping into the seafoam-colored garment. The fabric was soft as it brushed against her skin, and it felt familiar, reminding Brittany of the life she'd given up as she pulled the dress up over her shoulders. The bodice had laces in the back, like a corset, and Brittany couldn't fasten them herself. Carefully, she peeked around the corner, hoping to spot Sugar, but instead she spied Santana next to Sugar's screen, nodding approvingly at the orange cream-colored gown the girl was wearing, which complimented her tan Callystian skin perfectly.
Sugar bowed her head in appreciation before disappearing back behind the screen to change back, and Brittany chewed her lip with anxiety at the thought that Santana would have to-
"Do you require assistance, Songbird?" Santana asked, business-like, the sound of her voice making Brittany freeze. She was used to Sugar helping her in and out of her garments, but she had to remind herself that this wasn't her life anymore; Sugar was no longer her personal attendant, and she had to do as she was told.
Not trusting her voice, Brittany nodded; then, with a deep breath, she gathered her blonde hair off of her neck and turned, exposing her bare shoulders and the curve of her spine to Santana. She held her breath, practically feeling the pirate's steps as she moved closer, and an involuntary shiver rippled through her body as the woman reached her, her body heat burning into Brittany's bare skin.
Santana's hands were warm, firm and deft as they tightened the laces on the dress. Brittany couldn't describe the feeling of wanting Santana to keep touching her; of wanting Santana's hands to envelop her fully, and slide down her sides, her stomach, her thighs...
A final tug at the laces made Brittany jump, startled out of her inappropriate thoughts.
"There," Santana breathed, soft and low, but without stepping back. Brittany could practically hear her own heart pounding. Turning slowly, she met Santana's brown eyes, feeling her pulse racing at a worrisome pace.
"Does it look all right?" She stammered, feeling like a child with the way Santana made her lose her words so often, for no reason.
Santana barely spared a glance to the dress, losing herself in Brittany's eyes. Oh, she's sure the dress looked stunning, hugging Brittany's curves just right, but Santana was so caught in the moment she was afraid to look anywhere else.
"It's splendid, Britt," Kurt commented from over Santana's shoulder, and just like that, the moment was broken.
Even now, days later, Brittany's heart pounds thinking about the way Santana had gazed at her, like she was the treasure Captain Puck had talked about finding for as long as Brittany had known him. She looks up from her dress to find Santana watching her over her glass of wine, and she involuntarily licks her lips.
"Don't you agree, darling?" Kurt asks her sweetly, and suddenly the entire table's attention is on her. Brittany, embarrassed that she hadn't been paying attention, swallows, looking around at everyone staring at her.
She smiles, bashful. "What?"
Kurt and the rest of the table laugh as Brittany fights a blush.
"I think what my Lady meant," Santana starts, giving Brittany a fond smirk, "is that she prefers the color green over any other color."
Tina laughs at the statement, clapping her hands in amusement, and Brittany wonders if she does the behavior so often simply to show off her bracelets, which are annoying her to no end with their jangling racket. Brittany takes a bite of something creamy wrapped in a tiny slimy creature she's pretty sure was alive just a short time ago, furrowing her eyebrows at the unfamiliar texture and taste. The tempo of the music in the room changes, and in response, the Empress of Lao rises to her feet.
"Friends," she starts with a crafty smile, "it is customary in my kingdom for one to work up an appetite before feasting- with dance." She extends a graceful, jingling hand to Kurt and Brittany grits her teeth. "Might I, Prince Flanning?"
Kurt smiles nervously, rising and giving Tina an accepting bow. Brittany can tell he's slightly annoyed at Tina's continued misuse of his name- even if it is fake. "Of course, Empress, you honor me!" He pauses only to turn to Brittany. "You don't mind, do you, my sweet?" He gives his fake chuckle and kisses her hand gallantly.
Brittany giggles coyly and shakes her head, laughing, "Not at all, darling, just don't be gone too long."
"Like I could stay away from you!" Kurt teases, and Brittany giggles again and reaches up to tap his nose with her finger. Kurt turns and takes Tina's hand, and the two make their way out onto the dance floor.
Brittany watches them for a moment, fidgeting awkwardly. Sugar excuses herself to use the restroom, so she steals a glance at Mike, who's seated across from Kurt's empty spot, expertly prying open some sort of raw crustacean with a tiny blade. She leans in nervously. "Should I dance?"
"Definitely." He grins as the crustacean finally pops open. "But who will be your..." He trails off as he notices the pleading, helpless look in Brittany's eyes, laughing. "Ah. Come, then, Green Bean." He rises, wiping his hands on his napkin before holding one out to Brittany, who gratefully accepts.
"I owe you so much," she whispers through a wide, forced smile as they take the floor grandly.
"Nonsense," he counters, smiling equally as wide before dipping into a showy bow and pulling her close.
They dance, spinning and moving across the floor with ease. Brittany feels safe and relaxed in Mike's arms; she trusts him as a brother, and his dancing is also pleasant. She finds herself laughing and enjoying the time spent on the floor as the music picks up even more. Their pace increases with the tempo, and she can feel herself working up a sweat in the hot, acrid room, but she doesn't care, as she is thoroughly enjoying the beat of the music. For a while, she forgets that she's a slave under the order of murdering savages, masquerading in a dangerous lair of heathens.
Then the song ends, and Tina is at her side, casting an appreciative gaze at Mike and reminding Brittany of the reality she's currently living. "Such wondrous dancing! Tell me, who is this? I fear we have not been properly introduced…"
Brittany freezes and looks at Mike for help. "This is myyyyy-"
"Official Advisor," Mike supplies. He flattens the palm of his left hand vertically, then presses the knuckles of his right fist against it, stopping into a slow, low bow. When he speaks, it's in a language Brittany doesn't understand, but her fake smile remains plastered on her face as a flattered Tina answers him in the same language.
"Wondrous," Tina repeats after their short conversation, pressing her palms together, her bracelets clanking. Brittany's eyebrow twitches. "What a fine Advisor you have, Flanningan."
Kurt smiles his own fake smile and bows his head. "Many thanks, Empress."
"Lady Brittany, might I return your husband in exchange for your trusted and honorable Advisor?"
"You honor me, Empress," Brittany responds elegantly, and Mike winks at her surreptitiously over Tina's shoulder before turning up his charm and manners to the next level. He takes Tina's hand and leads her chivalrously back to the center of the dance floor, and Brittany realizes she owes Mike more than she previously thought.
The music starts back up again, and Brittany realizes she's standing awkwardly on the dance floor next to Kurt. "Um- dance?" she offers, and Kurt smiles apologetically. "No, Britt, much as I'd love to stomp all over your feet, I must actually use the head. It's why my dance with Tina ended… well, that and I'm sure she was about to have me thrown out the window if I stepped on her gown one more time." Kurt grimaces guiltily, suggesting as he hurries away, "Why don't you ask our fearless leader for a dance?"
Brittany nods, searching for Puck, who is still seated at the low table, working on what must be his fourth or fifth glass of wine- the slaves left one of the glass jugs on the table before him. His eyes are glued to a corner of the room, where two half-naked women are kneeling on an extravagant pillow, kissing and caressing each other slowly, in plain sight, as a form of entertainment. Brittany's eyes nearly fall out of her head- how did she not notice them before?- but she refocuses her attention and reaches Puck a moment later.
"Dance, Captain?" She asks shyly, unsure what the rules are for their disguises, or if it's proper conduct for her to ask her Captain for a dance.
Santana, who's seated beside Puck, laughs gently, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't waste your time, Songbird," she warns. She touches his shoulder. "The notorious Captain TigerShark is lost to us right now."
It takes several moments for Puck to notice Brittany's there, but once he pulls his attention away from the display happening across the room, he grins widely at Brittany before his expression turns to one of confusion. Brittany repeats her request, and Puck laughs.
"Naw, naw, I don' dance..."
Brittany nods, trying not to let her disappointment show. She makes to leave, but Puck continues, "but y'know who does the bes' dancin' I e'er seen?" He grabs Santana's shoulder roughly, grinning like mad.
Santana huffs. "Oh, hell fucking-"
"Manners," Puck hiccups.
"No. You are touched in the head. We are at a sophisticated party. I don't think it would be viewed as appropriate..." she trails off as Puck points to the corner, where the two half-naked slaves on display have amped up the intensity of their kissing, their bodies rocking against each other.
"What's you sayin' 'bout 'ppropriate?" Puck slurs with a lazy grin.
Sighing in defeat, Santana rises. "Come on, Songbird," she says gently, taking Brittany's hand. The touch sends a flutter through Brittany's heart as Santana leads her back to the dance floor. In her boots, the pirate woman is as tall as her, and she feels intoxicated by her scent and warm proximity as she pulls her into her arms.
Brittany feels her body waking up, her heart and pulse pounding and her skin heating from the feel of Santana's smaller, stronger frame pressed so intimately against her. Santana leaves a fraction of space between them, and with the sudden onslaught of Santana's presence mixed with her thoughts and memories from earlier encounters, her emotions and desires threaten to run out of control. She swallows.
"Ready?" Santana murmurs, and Brittany nods stiffly, feeling her stomach clenching, churning.
Santana's gloved grip tightens on her hand; she pulls her even closer, and Brittany tenses as the space between them completely disappears. "Relax," Santana breathes. "Let me show you how I dance." Brittany barely has time to panic before Santana's pulling her into a twirl, and all at once they are moving, sweeping across the floor at a fast, smooth pace.
Brittany is certain that dancing with Santana is what flying must feel like; she's breathless. Santana is different on the dance floor, and though Brittany has danced with a lot of different people with a lot of different backgrounds and upbringings at a lot of different social events in Lycas, she's never danced with someone quite like Santana before. Up until now, Mike was by far her favorite dance partner; but as she is swept across the floor and back again, whirling, rhythmic, fast- she thinks again, rightly so, that Santana is different.
"You okay?" Santana asks, sounding nearly breathless, and Brittany holds her tighter in response.
Maybe it's the wine messing with her head, addling her senses, but Santana has never felt things so fiercely before. The haziness of her mind due to the alcohol mixed with the sharpness of her senses due to Brittany's presence fills her with desire and longing so powerful she's never experienced it before. Brittany's beautiful, refined, ladylike… but the sinful way her soft body rubs against her at every turn has Santana imagining her in a very different setting. She struggles to breathe, to resist; it's like a slow torture and she almost can't take it.
The drums pound, the flutes play, instruments Brittany doesn't even know or recognize chirp and bang and weet their noise into the room, and all the while Brittany hangs tight to Santana, led and leading, back and forth, making Brittany's body feel alive in a way she's never felt before, awakening senses she didn't know she had, awakening her basest desires, and-
The music ends with several abrupt drums, and at the center of the floor, Tina claps triumphantly, bracelets still jingling. Brittany comes back to herself, suddenly remembering where she is, and she reluctantly releases her tight hold on the pirate woman in her arms as Tina announces the arrival of supper. Her eyes meet Santana's and arousal pulses through Brittany's blood, intense and aching. Brittany's felt desire before-
But not like this.
This desire is not sweet and innocent. It's desperate and passionate, primal. Brittany can only describe it as a hunger, one that she never recognized was within her.
Until now.
"Would you look at all this cat-lap?" David whispers conspiratorially in response to the spread of foods being laid out before them. Tons of fish of all sizes, in various methods of preparation- cooked, raw, fileted, whole- lay on golden platters, surrounded by other specially-prepared marine animals- some in shells, some with tentacles, some with spikes and claws. Bowls of rice, noodles, vegetables, soups, dips, and stuff Brittany's never even seen before fill the gaps in between. More finger foods, rolled up meats, tiny sweet pastries, spreads… Brittany can't believe she's being treated to such an extravagant meal. She has very little appetite- particularly for food she's certain was alive a mere few moments earlier and received little to no preparation before ending up on her plate- but she doesn't want to be rude, especially since her life literally depends on her performance. She forces herself to be courteous and gracious, lest she end up in chains right alongside Captain Anderson.
Brittany reminds herself to eat, because it's hard to think of anything else with the pounding of her pulse in her ears. She sits uncomfortably on the pillow, her thighs sticky with arousal, the intensity of which she's never before experienced. The ache between her legs is constant and nearly painful, and every move Santana makes across the table from her reminds her that it's there, persistent, unsatisfied. Brittany stares; she can't help it. The ache grows stronger every time Santana licks her lips, every time their eyes meet, every time the low candlelight flickers across her tan skin in such a way that it steals Brittany's breath.
Still, she has a role to play; she sips her wine- she must be on her third glass, and she's starting to feel light-headed- tuning into the conversation that Kurt is carrying with the sole help of Mike, the Advisor. Tina has begun to ask very focused and aggressive questions regarding a range of topics about Gabs, including politics and the trade economy. She inquires about Rory's father's health, and the state of affairs, and Brittany's extremely thankful that Kurt and Mike are so prepared for their disguises and know what they're doing, because she has no idea how to answer or deal with any of those questions.
She feels guilty, but who is she to speak on such things? Even if she knew the more intricate details of what they are discussing, it's not her place to discuss them, anyway. Her place in civilized world is to serve her husband... which is partly the reason she left to begin with. The entire experience only serves to remind her of what she ran away from, and why she cannot ever go back.
Kurt holds her hand gently on the table top, and she does her best to smile adoringly at him, ignoring Santana's subtle jealous glares from across the table, because she doesn't know how to deal with those, either.
After an agonizing meal Santana's sure Brittany spent teasingly licking her fork just to torture her, the slaves start clearing the table away, and Tina leads her honored guests into an adjoining room where the atmosphere is a lot more intimate. In one corner, a low canopy covers a stack of immaculate, luxurious pillows, which Tina lowers herself gracefully onto. Several other slaves bring even more pillows, long ivory pipes and bowls of crushed green leaves. As they all settle onto the pillows in a relaxed, comfortable circle, Santana knows that with Tina smoking and out of touch with reality, this is the opportunity she needs to slip away and carry out the rest of their plan.
Her eyes scan the room and find Brittany staring at her, her blues eyes dark and smoldering, and Santana's seen that look before, but not on Brittany. It makes her throat dry, and if she didn't have a mission to complete, her agenda would be to get high as a seagull with Brittany and fuck the girl into oblivion… instead, she takes one last long gulp of her wine, catching Brittany's eyes one last time, and rises. As she regrettably makes her way to the exit of the room, she taps David on the shoulder. Once out of the shadow of Tina's gaze, she strolls at an unhurried pace through the dining room, where the slaves are still cleaning up the plates of scraps, supervised by several guards. One of them gives her a questioning stare, and she smiles drunkenly at him, playing her part as 'harmless lush'.
"Head break," she slurs, pointing in the direction of the hall. The guard relaxes and nods stiffly, and she sways out into the hallway. Once she's past the entryway, she quickly moves from the open doorframe and into the shadows, pressing her back to the wall, slinking from sight. She pauses, waiting until she hears David's footsteps behind her.
Once he mimics her position next to her, they share a silent look that communicates more than words would. Santana leads the way, creeping through the shadows. When they reach the end of the hall, they slip past the armed sentries standing guard and quickly make their way quietly across the palace, to-
"The tallest tower," Puck had told them. "That's where the map will be."
Santana recalls his words as she slinks through darkened passageways and avoids guards, tailed by David. She's certain the map Puck spoke of doesn't exist, but in order to prove him wrong, she has to prove it doesn't, which is why she's currently stealing across the dark grounds of the notorious Marble Palace in the Kingdom of Lao, ruled by Tina the Great, one of the most feared Empresses in the world-
"Heard she eats the livers of her enemies," David whispers to her as they sneak across a courtyard to the tower, almost as if predicting her thoughts. She shoves his shoulder, rolling her eyes.
"While they're still breathing."
She sighs at his words, shaking her head at him. When they reach the steps leading up to the door of the tower, they crouch down and wait, surveying their surroundings and planning out their next move in hidden shadows.
The sound of footsteps- familiar ones- make Santana's stomach drop with dread, and as the footsteps slow, approaching her position, she raises her hand to halt the attack David is preparing. Immediately he sinks back down and, angrily, Santana rises instead, listening and timing the unsure footsteps. At the right moment, she rounds the corner she's edged up on, slamming her forearm across their intruder's chest, pressing them back against a marble pillar.
Brittany gasps in surprise at the contact, and at the pressure of Santana's knife-hand against her jaw, which keeps her unbalanced. She didn't expect to be caught so unawares, but…
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Santana demands in an angry whisper.
Brittany swallows, but musters her confidence. "Following you, of course."
The pirate woman sneers, dropping her arm from Brittany's chest. "Like hell you are. Go back to the party."
"No. If you are to be caught, you'll need a reason to be out. You are escorting me."
Santana pauses, and David chuckles. "She's right. Could use an alibi."
Brittany watches the pirate woman reach up to pull a hand through her dark hair before admitting, "Fuck. All right- but don't get in our way." Brittany sighs in relief, glad Santana didn't ask the obvious question of, escorting her where? Instead, Santana turns, motioning for Brittany to follow behind them, and they advance on the heavy doors leading into the base of the tower.
With a nod to David, they each grab a handle on the door and push, entering the tower quickly. Three guards stare at them in bewilderment on the other side.
"You, there- where go?" one of them demands in limited English, and Brittany smiles winningly at them, hiding the fact that she's scared out of her mind. The three of them advance closer, lowering their spears only slightly at her non-threatening presence.
"Hello! Yes, I'm looking for-"
Santana lunges, dodging the point of the left guard's spear and grabbing the metal shaft instead. At the same time, David kicks the right guard in the knee, and he crumples. Santana elbows her guard in the face, then wraps her arm around his head and flips him to the ground. He lands hard on his back and Santana kicks him in the head, knocking him out cold. David finishes his guard and the two of them quickly subdue the third guard while Brittany watches in amazement.
"Well, I guess that works, too," she mumbles. Santana smirks at her.
"Thanks for the distraction," David laughs, before falling into step behind Santana to begin the ascent up the stairs.
Santana doesn't verbally announce their arrival at the top floor of the tower; she pauses, and David- and surprisingly Brittany- both infer her meaning without question, a detail that does not go unnoticed by her. She signals quietly to David for him to take the right side again, and then they skulk up the final few stairs to the open room at the top.
They are instantly spotted by the three sentries standing watch, but she expected that- there was no other choice if they wanted to take the room. The sentry before her levels his spear at her, and Santana crouches, preparing for a fight, waiting for his move. He thrusts, and she easily avoids him. She waits for an opening, and when David drops his opponent to the ground, and the guard's armor pings against the granite floor, it distracts her own foe just long enough for that opening to come.
She kicks the guard's spear with the side of her heavy boot, and it rattles him for the precious seconds she needs to get in close and render him immobile with a twist of his head. He drops heavily, and her and David once again corner the third sentry.
The sound of a scuffle from her left makes her refocus her attention, and she leaves David to finish off the third guard as she investigates, her stomach sinking in fear. She maneuvers around a wide granite support column to find Brittany squared off with a fourth, previously unnoticed guard- an archer, judging by the bow slung across his chest. The sight of the blonde girl's naïve fighting position ignites anger in her that she can't explain; is she mad? She doesn't know how to defend herself!
As if to prove her point, the guard swings his fist, nailing Brittany in the face. She staggers back, and Santana sees red as she charges up behind the archer. She grabs the bow strung across his body from behind and pulls upward, using the curve of the bow to put pressure on his neck, strangling him. He's out quickly and she lets him fall unceremoniously to the ground. Still furious, she turns to Brittany, who has a bright red stream of blood dripping from her busted bottom lip down her chin.
"What the fuck is the matter with you?" Santana rages in a whisper, her brown eyes burning. She approaches, quickly pulling the white glove from her left hand as she moves. When she reaches Brittany, she cups the girl's face in her right hand; then, with her left, she reaches up to smear the blood from her chin with her thumb before bringing it to her mouth to suck it clean. Her eyes meet Brittany's as she rubs her thumb over her chin again, but slowly, the atmosphere between them suddenly shifting. Without thinking, Brittany darts her tongue out across her bottom lip, grazing the tip of Santana's thumb in the process, and Santana feels electricity shoot through her body at the act, her pulse racing from more than just the adrenaline in her bloodstream. Brittany struggles to breathe, her earlier arousal returning to her full force as Santana stares into her eyes.
"Here," David says, breaking their heated tension, and Santana remembers their mission. She reluctantly releases her grip on Brittany's jaw, turning to where David is investigating a stone pedestal in the back of the room. A sheet of glass fitted to the top of the pedestal protects what looks like a map, and as she pries the glass up with a knife, she shakes her head in incredulity- could Puck have actually been right about something?
David holds the glass pane up as she shimmies the canvas map out from under it, and then she raises it to her face, scrutinizing it closely. She scans the corners, searching for authenticity, only to find-
"This isn't it."
David huffs. "It's not?"
Frustrated, she tosses the map back onto the pedestal. "No. This is a copy. And poorly made, at that. Puck said there would be a crest, like an insignia, in the corner…"
"An insignia? Of what?"
"A winged snake, with a curved feather."
"Oh- like this?" David points to the side of the pedestal, where the insignia as described is engraved in the stone. Santana laughs in disbelief.
"Exactly like that."
They spend a few minutes examining the pedestal; they run their fingers along the insignia, along the edges, searching for any kind of weakness. They push and pull the pedestal itself, which doesn't budge. While they struggle, Brittany wanders to a corner of the room absently, and notices something scratched into the side of one of the support pillars.
"Santana," she breathes, and the pirate woman looks up quickly, fearing the worst. When she sees that Brittany is not in danger, she relaxes and follows Brittany's gaze to the sight of the scratches in the pillar. She smiles in amazement.
"Is that-"
"I think so."
The pirates rush over to investigate the pillar, repeating their inspection of the crest and the surfaces surrounding it, and this time, they do find a weakness- a tiny hole at the base, directly below the insignia. Certain that it's some sort of quick release, though they have no idea for what, they scan their inventory to find something to jam into the hole. However, all of their attempts find that they have nothing that will fit, and Santana quickly grows irritated again.
"Wait- will this work?" Brittany wonders, offering up a thick, metal pin that had been holding her hair up. Blinking, Santana accepts the pin, shaking her head in disbelief as she shoves it in the hole. A tiny click sounds, and Santana smiles in surprise as she carefully turns the pin. A scraping noise from the other side of the pillar fills the room, and David investigates.
"What the fuck-" he starts. "It's a door… with another staircase inside."
Santana pulls the pin out once she can no longer turn it, and rises, handing it back to Brittany with an appreciative look. Brittany returns her smile before carefully replacing the pin in her hair, following Santana to the other side of the pillar, back to the fake map. The floor before the pedestal had slid open to reveal a tight, winding staircase. One glance at the steps showed the whole set up in very bad repair and the hole was shrouded in total darkness.
The three of them stare into the darkness for a moment, blinking, before Santana shrugs. "Well, let's go down it."
"That's actually a terrible idea," David says thoughtfully.
Santana sighs, turning to grab a torch from one of the sconces on the surrounding walls. "I know, but- we need that map. We didn't come all this way for nothing. We won't get another chance, and once they know we're after it, it will be impossible to try again. I don't want to go back to Noah and tell him we fucked up." She pauses at the entrance, takes a deep breath, and looks meaningfully at Brittany. "Stay close behind me."
The staircase seems to go on forever, as they backtrack all the way down the tower and then some, sure they are below ground level after a while. Brittany stays close to Santana's back. She is, admittedly, terrified of the cramped, dark, dank space they are in, and of what they might find, and the pirate woman's presence is the only thing making her feel calm and safe- because David is certainly doing the opposite.
"Didja hear the rumor 'bout her able to conjure up demons from the underworld?" he asks casually, in a conversational, though quiet, tone.
"Everyone's heard that one," Santana remarks. "What else you got?"
Brittany wonders where rumors like that come from- surely there must be some truth to them, right? After all, Tina's father was not nicknamed Gangshii for nothing, was he? The more she thinks about it, the more on edge she becomes. Santana and David don't notice as they continue to nonchalantly toss atrocious and disgusting rumors back and forth about Tina the Great and her Empire.
Finally, they reach a landing, and Santana halts them, holding up her torch for a better view.
"See anything?" David wonders. (Brittany waits for demons from the underworld to come flying from the darkness, ready to rip out her liver-)
"No- but look sharp. I expect there's probably some sort of trap."
They move slowly and step carefully across the room, searching for a path or some way that they can continue on towards the map. They reach a ledge, and Santana climbs it before offering Brittany a hand up. David boosts her from the bottom and then climbs up himself, and then they continue onward. The walls are roughly hewn into rock, and they are damp with moisture, which tells them that there must be a water source nearby- or maybe even beneath them.
They reach a chasm, and a quick look at the bottom only reveals darkness. "Is this really our only way across?" David wonders out loud as he stands next to the crumbling, rotten remains of what was probably a bridge at one point in its life.
"Unless you can fly, I'm afraid so." Santana looks around. "We need an anchor… I don't trust that thing." She pokes the wooden remains with the toe of her boot and they splinter and disintegrate.
"Oh, why ever not? Doesn't it seem absolutely reliable and safe?"
"Shut up and help me find some line or something," Santana grumbles.
Brittany points upward. "Would that work?"
Santana looks up to find a skeleton, dusty and decayed, but hanging from a length of rope. She nods. "Yep, that'll work. Stand back."
She throws a knife and cuts the skeleton down, then untangles it from the line, handing it to David, who wraps one end around the handle of his small throwing axe. He walks to the edge of the chasm, searching for a good spot, and then expertly winds up and throws, his axe embedding in the other side into the wooden post anchored to the rock.
"You think that'll hold?" Santana asks doubtfully.
"Not a lot of options here, San."
The Quartermaster shrugs. "I suppose you're right. Well, let's get to it then. I'll go first, since I'm clearly the most eager to die."
She picks up a piece of wood, lights it with her torch, and sets it to the side, so that David won't be in total darkness. Then, she throws her torch across the chasm. It hits the other side and bounces once, but stays, and she listens for a moment before determining that nothing else was disturbed. She grabs the other end of the rope, handing it to David before stepping gingerly onto the decayed bridge. It creaks and moans under her weight, but holds as she shimmies across slowly, holding the guide rope. When she reaches the other side, she picks up her torch and looks around briefly, then turns back to David and Brittany expectantly.
"That's yer cue, darlin'," David grumbles, giving Brittany a little push towards the bridge. She swallows and grabs onto the rope.
"Watch your step," Santana calls helpfully, her smile belying her feelings of anxiousness.
Brittany edges across the bridge, trying not to look down or think about what stepping in the wrong spot might mean. As she crosses, Santana begins to calm. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't impressed with how well the girl is handling this whole excursion- maybe even someday she would make a good pirate.
She freezes at the thought- but for a moment, as Brittany inches her way along the rope, she allows herself to imagine it: Brittany, as a pirate, side-by-side with her on her adventures. Was such a thing even possible? Had she ever dared to dream that she might find someone who shares her passion for adventure, for sailing, for pirating? She had never thought of settling down because she'd never imagined a life outside of the one she now lives, and settling down meant giving that up to be with one of the tender-footed, green-sea'd females in port.
But to settle down yet still keep sailing? Was it such an impossible dream?
As she pulls Brittany to stand beside her on the ledge, and the girl smiles at her before brushing her blonde bangs out of her eyes, she realizes that maybe it's not.
The bridge does not hold so well for David's much heavier weight; several of the boards crack and break, falling to the emptiness below and never revealing when they hit the bottom.
"It must be nice never having to check on this fucking map," he complains as he inches across, the planks beneath his boots creaking forebodingly.
"Yeah, I bet the last person that did is probably our skeletal friend on the other side," Santana agrees.
"Funny, Santana."
"Cross the bridge, David."
Despite several close calls, David makes it across, unsticks his axe, and the three of them trek on to explore the other side of the chasm. A narrow path through the rocks is the only way forward, and as usual, Santana goes first- since she has the torch- followed by Brittany, with David bringing up the rear. They move slowly; the path curves around, opening into yet another chamber. Santana takes hesitant steps out into the middle of the chamber, searching, until she hears an audible click.
She turns, her eyes immediately dropping to Brittany's boots, which are stepping on an old, rusted wire- a trip switch. Her eyes widen, and her stomach drops in fear- she has no idea what to expect.
The answer comes in a rusted clanking overhead, and when she looks up, she's sure her stomach must've exited her body. She has seconds to react; in an instant she throws down her torch and lunges forward, slamming Brittany back against the rock wall and shielding her with her own body.
The giant metal guillotine drops inches behind her, in the spot where Brittany had stood moments before. She looks over her shoulder at it- it's badly corroded, and she realizes that the extra seconds it took to fall because of its rusted nature is the only reason Brittany's still alive.
"Davey Jones' locker, must you stumble into everything?" she hisses, panting, her eyes burning in fury. She looks up, meeting Brittany's frightened eyes. Their noses touch. Her gaze drops to Brittany's lips for a moment before she pulls away.
She takes a deep breath, trying to calm the racing, pounding of her heart. She's not used to being afraid- it's not a feeling she experiences on a regular basis. She's not afraid to die, and though she does experience nervousness before a raid or anxiety before a sea battle, it's not the kind of raw, consuming fear for another she had just experienced, and she doesn't like it.
Is this the price she must pay for her dream? To constantly worry about her partner in harm's way, sharing the same danger she places herself in? If so, she's not certain she's willing to pay it. She turns to look at Brittany, who's staring at the guillotine, looking visibly shaken.
Could she put Brittany in harm's way for the sake of keeping her by her side?
"Hooo, that was a close one," David jokes, trying to lighten the mood. He runs his hand carefully over the guillotine. "Looks like iron. Thank the Sirens that this place is so damp, eh? It seems time was on our side this time."
"This time," Santana agrees in a mumble, before she turns to pick up her discarded torch, which has died down to a few burning embers. She curses. "We're running out of time. Let's find a way out of here- carefully." She gives Brittany a pointed look, and the blonde drops her eyes, biting her lip before remembering that it's busted, and she hisses slightly in pain.
They examine the other end of the chamber, but to no avail. There's no path, and with the torch dying, there's not a lot of light to examine hidden passageways. Santana and David are quickly growing frustrated at their lack of options out of the chamber, when Brittany notices a tiny sliver of light coming from above their heads.
"You really are a Songbird," Santana comments in amazement as David carefully makes the crack bigger with his axe, revealing a hastily-sealed path. Brittany doesn't know what she means, but she's glad Santana's not mad at her anymore.
The new path is just barely illuminated from light somewhere unseen, which is incredibly convenient since their torch has reached the end of its usefulness. The dirt and pebble-strewn rock floor of the path quickly gives way to smooth stone and then to metal grating as they travel deeper. They are silent as they move swiftly, and then they hear voices talking in a foreign language.
Santana looks through the grates only to discover that there's a room below them, with two guards.
"Armory," David breathes. "What the fuck? What is this tunnel?"
"A fucking run-around," Santana seethes, clenching her fist. "A trap. A deception. They probably planted the tunnel to catch anyone trying to steal the map, and the map itself is probably in some other, unknown location. We've been wasting our fucking time."
"It doesn't have to be a complete waste of time," David says slyly, tilting his head towards the armory.
Santana nods. "You're right. On three."
She counts down, and then David kicks the grate out of the floor. The guards look up just as Santana drops through and lands lightly on her feet. She is still unarmed, so she grabs the first weapon she sees in the armory- a thin rapier- and readies herself.
The two guards snicker, and she doesn't blame them- who keeps a rapier in an armory?- but she also likes that they are underestimating her. She motions them forward, and just as they are about to engage her, David drops from overhead, landing on one and riding him to the ground. Then he jumps to his feet and grabs the second one in a headlock, putting him to sleep. Santana kicks the first one in the head for good measure.
"Nice timing- but I had it."
David raises a doubtful eyebrow at her weapon. "With that? You had it with that?"
Santana twirls the rapier. "What? I'm proficient in all weapons-"
He laughs, walking back over to the hole in the overhead, reaching up a hand to help Brittany down. She lands gracefully and then looks at Santana, who shakes her head in frustration. "We need to get the hell out of here before we are discovered. Let's grab what we need and head back to the ship. Hopefully Puck and the others have already taken leave of the party."
"Back to square one," David grumbles before moving to methodically and quickly scan the surrounding weapons and artillery and shove what he wants in his belt pouches and pockets. Santana starts on the other end of the room and mimics David, pilfering a few gold throwing knives in the process.
"You're stealing from them?" Brittany asks in disbelief as she watches Santana tuck a knife- adorned in an abhorrent amount of jewels- into her boot.
"We're pirates," David reminds her from his side of the small room.
"And if you'll recall, our entire purpose here was to steal the map," Santana adds, picking up a gold pistol. She tucks it into her belt, along with a box containing a few rounds, packing, and some tubes of gunpowder. "Which we have failed to get, so we might as well leave with something…"
"But they treated us with such respect- they trusted us," Brittany pleads.
Santana shrugs. Brittany stops and stares at her, and finally Santana pauses, exasperated. "Listen, Songbird- you saw how savage this woman is. You even pointed out one of your former comrades in chains, did you not?"
"So that gives us the right to steal from her?"
"She isn't going to go broke over this," David assures her, tucking a few different varieties of small rounds of ammunition into his belt to try to reverse engineer at a later time.
"Oh, and I fully intend to give this back to them," Santana smirks, holding up another knife, its blade wavy and tipped with a vicious barb.
Brittany sighs. She doesn't know that she agrees with their philosophy, their reasoning. Will she ever be okay with stealing and killing? Will she ever truly be a pirate? Maybe if she just takes one thing, it will help her get over her hesitation…
She looks around, her eyes scanning over various weapons and munitions- it is an armory, after all- and eventually landing on a tiny handle protruding from a darkened corner of the wall. The handle is gold, just like the majority of everything else in the room, but what catches Brittany's eye is the fact that it's not obnoxious about its presence, like nearly everything else Tina owns. It's modest, set back in shadow, easily overlooked- but with her curiosity piqued, she moves towards it, examining the surrounding wall. The drawer the handle is connected to is nearly unnoticeable, but Brittany carefully grips the handle and tugs, pulling the drawer open. It makes a scraping noise as it comes loose, and layers of disturbed dust flitter into the air.
"Quartermaster," she mumbles, "I think I found something."
"You did? Is it anything useful?"
Brittany doesn't answer, and, curious, Santana and David both stop shopping in order to learn what Brittany's discovered. When they look in the drawer, Santana's jaw drops.
"You've gotta be fuckin'-" David starts, outraged. "You mean we could've gone through this armory the whole fuckin' time? The map was right here?"
"This is a secret armory," Santana points out. She points out the insignia in the corner, marking it as the real, authentic map, or at least a good phony.
"We still could've gotten here easier than there," he continues, pointing back towards the hole in the ceiling. "Or did you like crossing the downiest bridge in all of creation?"
"Except that's not what they wanted us to do… All the stories, all the rumors surrounding this map speak of a hidden passage in a tower, and that's just what the Laoans wanted us to follow… they might have even spread those rumors themselves."
David sighs. "Probably because of all those booby traps, eh?"
Nodding, Santana gazes up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I definitely think they played a part in it, though judging by the- uh- upkeep, they never expected anyone to make it that far, otherwise they might've maintained them better." She chuckles.
"So what now?"
"We grab this map and get the fuck out of here, of course," Santana answers casually, rolling the map up carefully.
"And to think we would've walked up out of here without it," David shakes his head, giving Brittany a respectful look. Brittany smiles shyly in return.
Santana closes her eyes with relief, a smile crossing her lips. She sighs. "Brittany…"
"I could fuckin' kiss you," David laughs, sticking his tongue out at Santana when she gives him a glare.
"Save it for later," she growls, and David grins wider while Brittany just looks disconcerted at the turn the conversation has taken. "We need to make ourselves scarce."
"Aye, Quartermaster."
They search around for the exit, which is a locked gate near the front of the room. David cuts the lock off and they slide the gate open, revealing that they are located below ground; narrow, stone steps covered in dirt lead up to the outside.
"This might be an emergency exit through the gardens," Santana says idly as they hustle up the stairs.
"How do you know that?" David demands from the rear.
"Some of us know how to read maps."
When they reach the end of the steps, Santana's head brushes stone. She feels around and discovers that a circular plate covers the entrance to the secret armory, and she sighs. Of course this wouldn't be easy.
"David, help me with this."
"Aye."
With supreme effort, they manage to slide the stone cover off, and Santana pokes her head through to discover that she was right- they are in the royal gardens. They swiftly exit the hole, replacing the cover, and break into a run towards the edge of the grounds, where they can quickly scale the wall and rejoin the ship as originally planned.
"Not far from the ship," Santana calls excitedly as they pass a patch of rose bushes. "We'll be out of here in-"
She breaks off as they round a corner made of shrubs and find Tina the Great, flanked by a distressed Mike, standing before them. On either side of her is a wall of guards. She looks behind them from where they came- more guards closing in. David curses.
Santana feels the fear from earlier freezing her stomach as she subconsciously moves to stand in front of Brittany. She draws the long, curved sword she had just taken from the armory, but she knows it's hopeless-
They're surrounded.
OKAY, well, I apologize for a few things:
1. If this chapter seemed choppy. I was trying to capture Britt's drifting thoughts, lol.
2. Ending on sort of a cliffhanger? I guess that's kind of how all the chapters in this story end, though, so you really should've expected that. XD
3. That it'll probably be another year before I update... (syke, I'm gonna shoot for within 6 months this time, ahahaha... haha.. hah... hm. ._.)
Anyways, review if you want to say hi or tell me this chapter sucked or that Tina was real crazy or whatever. I had a lot of fun writing it so of course it's probably not the best. It's always the chapters that are the hardest to write that turn out the best, I think... idk. I'm not a writer, soooo I couldn't tell you. XD In any case, if you want to tell me how excited you are that Brittana were in the same room together this chapter, feel free! Next chapter some shit actually happens, sooo I tried to set up for that a little... ;)
See you next time, pals! :D