Chapter 13: More than Meets the Eye

Three walked onto the Marauder looking back at the door as it sealed up. Sighing he strapped himself into his seat.

"Everything all right?" Six asked.

"Yeah. I was just…making sure of a few things," Three answered vaguely, looking at the door. Two noticed furrowing her brows.

"Something wrong?"

Three hesitated before nodding to her.

"Is something up with her?" he asked motioning to the closed door. Two glanced at where he was aiming.

"She's probably just worried because you're leaving," One commented. "Doesn't want her bed to be empty."

"Hey pretty boy. Lay off," Three growled quietly.

"Why because it's true?" One asked looking directly at him. Three rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you keep your nose out of people's business?" Three insisted.

"It is of our business. You're screwing around with a pirate heiress who we barely know," One growled.

"One," Two glared at him.

"You better keep that mouth shut if you know what's good for you," Three threatened staring him down.

Six glanced at One.

"Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea? Why is no one else worried about this?" One asked.

"She's not who you think she is One," Six intervened as he launched the Marauder.

"If Three pisses her off, her cold-blooded killer family is going to be right on our doorstep," One insisted.

"The only person who's pissing her off right now is you," Three narrowed his eyes. One swallowed hard looking at him.

"Don't blame this on me. You're the one making the moves on her."

"And you're the one telling her in her face that she's sleeping around," Two added coolly. One looked at Two in confusion. "And it's none of our business if she is unless she's interfering with something."

"Is that not who she is?"

"No," Three growled staring him down.

"But you have a thing," One insisted.

"We aren't having a thing," Three scoffed in amusement. Everyone looked at him and he furrowed his brows at them. "What a guy can't flirt from time to time?"

"Regardless. It is none of our business," Two repeated at One.

"Thank you," Three breathed.

"But-" One began.

"Look One…it's not like she doesn't have her share of baggage like the rest of us," Six intervened.

"Give me one reason why I should sympathize with someone who tried to kill Two."

"Is that what your problem is?" Three asked. "We all tried to kill each other at some point."

Everyone was silent. One looked at them in confusion.

"For one thing we blew up her ship," Three mentioned. "So, don't you think we owe her one?"

"So that gives her a free pass?" One asked.

"One…she was kidnapped and…beaten because of her family's line of work," Two warned. One looked at her in disbelief. "She even had her brother die in front of her."

Three looked away swallowing hard recreating the image of the scar along her neck.

"Yeah…so why don't you think before spewing out stupidity," Three growled quietly, not looking at him.

"I suggest you apologize to her as soon as we get back," Two ordered. One looked at her in disbelief.

"Are you serious?"

"Well, she's not exactly happy with you," Six agreed.

"We all need to work together," Two insisted, looking at Three. "Regardless of our opinions of each other. Are we clear?"

One swallowed as Two raised a brow at him for an answer.

"Fine…" One sighed, leaning back in his chair. Three glanced at him. Even if he apologized…One wasn't ever really going to feel comfortable with her. But…if those things are true…then they really don't know who they brought on board.

Vivian couldn't stand staying in her room. Her mind was still swirling from the nightmare. She hated this. It was hard to ignore it. She was more pissed that it happened ages ago, but it was still affecting her. She took a breath as she walked slowly to the bridge, trying to get her head on straight. She kind of wished she was with the rest of the crew getting real fresh air from the planet. She wandered onto the bridge, still looking a bit pale as Android and Five stood in the middle.

"Hey! You weren't going with them?" Five asked.

"Two wanted me to keep an eye on and the ship just in case," Vivian tried to smile. Android observed her as Five walked up to her slowly. Vivian swallowed as Five stared at her.

"What?"

"You…look a little sick," Five observed.

"I'm fine," Vivian forced a small smile. Halvor…Vivian face paled. She suddenly felt a rush of pain in the back of her head.

I want to know where your brother is…Vivian started shaking, putting a hand on her forehead.

"Viv?" Five asked.

"Her stress readings are increasing," Android observed. Five looked at Android then back at Vivian, placing her hands on her shoulders.

"Viv? Hey, come on. What's going on?" Five asked pulling Vivian's hand away from her head slowly.

"I just…got a bit of a headache," she replied.

"There's some medical supplies in the med bay. I suggest you make use of it before it gets worse," Android mentioned.

"Thanks…" Vivian breathed as Five walked with her slowly to the med bay.

Five watched as Vivian took some pain reliever pills for her head. She chugged the water, not realizing how thirsty she was. Luckily for Vivian the medicine worked almost instantly. Thank God for modern medicine. She sat on the medical bed taking a breath.

"Better?" Five asked in concern. Vivian nodded.

"Sorry…" Vivian breathed.

"Don't be," Five laughed. "You didn't look so good. What happened?"

Vivian hesitated before sighing.

"Promise you won't tell anyone," Vivian glanced at her wearily. Five nodded staring at her worriedly.

"Of course," Five agreed. Vivian swallowed looking down at her hands as Five sat next to her.

"I'm…a little more sensitive to certain things," Vivian stated.

"What do you mean?"

"I…see things I shouldn't be seeing," Vivian swallowed. "It's not all the time…just when things get stressful."

Five furrowed her brows puzzled.

"Wait what are you talking about?" Five asked confused. Vivian sighed, then slowly rubbed her eyes, thinking of a way to explain it properly.

"You know how you have nightmares and sometimes you feel like you're there? Like it's reality?" Vivian asked. Five nodded.

"Yeah," she agreed. Vivian looked at her wearily.

"Sometimes those dreams don't go away when I wake up," she sighed, smiling almost half amused. Five examines her curious and afraid.

"What do you mean?"

"When my father picked me up from that ambush, I was…different," Vivian swallowed then took a deep shuddering breath. "I started seeing things. My brother…the man who kidnapped me…"

She paused looking at Five.

"Sarah…" Vivian breathed scoffing at the ordeal. Five's eyes slowly started to widen.

"But wait…why?" Five swallowed.

"I'm not sure. The doctors never knew. All my injuries healed including my concussion. 'No side effects' they said," Vivian explained. "But Corey and my Father…they think it wasn't from the physical damage…"

Vivian sat there twisting her jaw.

"Why haven't you told anyone?" Fived asked confused.

"Imagine if a crew found out their pirate captain sees things that aren't there," Vivian scoffed in amusement then looked at her. "They would think I'm a liability or worse yet crazy. I don't want them to lose faith in what I can do."

"But what if something happens to you?" Five insisted concerned. "What if you hurt someone because you're seeing something else?"

"I won't hurt anyone…" Vivian breathed. "I promised to serve. All of you."

Five sighed looking at Vivian worriedly.

"But-"

"Please…I don't want anyone else to know."

Vivian grabbed Five's hand squeezing it. Five looked down at her hand and sighed nodding.

"Okay…"

Vivian smiled slightly at her, moving her hand and patting her back.

"Come on. Let's get something to eat. Maybe we can steal some of that chocolate pudding before someone else gets to it."

Five grinned as they hopped off the medical bed, heading out towards the mess hall. Vivian smiled as Five had a little pep in her step as they walked down the corridor. Maybe it was good that she got to talk to someone. Especially someone she trusted.

Vivian and Five played card games in the mess (after eating normal meals). They were betting containers of pudding instead of credit chips for each round and stacked them on the center of the table. That's when Android stepped into the mess hall to join them.

"Hey! What's up?" Five greeted as she picked up another card.

"The Marauder has docked. The others should be here momentarily," Android announced.

"Did they manage to snatch Four in the process?" Vivian asked.

"Yes, I believe so. But they did run into a bit of an impasse," Android replied looking at their card game. "Why are there so many pudding cups?"

"Viv is teaching me how to bet!" Five replied excitedly.

"Weird, I don't recall pudding being used in gambling games," Android mentioned making Five and Vivian laughed. "Usually it's credit chips or valuables."

"It is. But…" Five smiled then looked at Android sheepishly. "I wanted pudding."

Vivian smiled amused as she dealt another card into the center.

"Plus, I figured we'd start off with something small," Vivian explained with a smile placing another pudding cup in the center. "Your bet sunshine."

"I'm confused, wouldn't the others want to eat the pudding too?"

"We only took a few. Besides we didn't eat any of them yet," Five mentioned as she looked at her cards, placing another two pudding cups. Vivian raised her brows at her bet then grinned.

"Ooo someone has a good hand," Vivian commented motioning to her cards. "All right let me see."

"Read 'em and weep," Five smirked, placing her cards down for viewing. Vivian eyed Fives cards along with her own.

"Look at you with the winning hand! You're learning fast kiddo," Vivian grinned motioning to the 10 unopened cups of chocolate pudding. "Ta Da! To the winner! You may eat your grand prize."

Five squealed grabbing one of the cups. That's when Two, One and Six walked into the mess wearily. Vivian grinned at them.

"I hope I don't have to walk that much for a good long time," One groaned as the others followed him.

"Hey look who's back," Vivian greeted.

"Welcome back," Android greeted.

"Android you think we can take some R&R?" One groaned as he sat in a chair furthest from the table leaning back. "I don't think my body can take another mission."

"For the soreness I suggest the protein packets. It'll help heal your muscle mass. But I'm sure it's possible to find a place to relax. Any place you had in mind?"

"Just someplace where it's quiet and people aren't shooting at us," One scoffed in amusement.

"That's not much to go on but yes I'll try," Android smiled sweetly then nodded at Two. "I'll be on the bridge."

Android walked out as Two went to the fridge. She then looked at the mess table in confusion. Six nodded to Vivian but then looked at the pudding.

"What's this?"

"Is that pudding?" Two asked confused as she grabbed a bottle of water tossing it to One and grabbing one for herself.

"Nothing," Five lied, hiding her pudding cup away from them. Vivian smiled in amusement.

"You realize those are for everyone right?" Two reminded.

"We're just playing a game," Vivian chuckled. Six furrowed his brows.

"Who can eat the most pudding?"

"Texas Hold 'Em," Five corrected. Six gave her a strange look raising his brows at her.

"Well uh. Don't eat too much chocolate. You might get sick," Six mentioned as he exited the room shaking his head in amusement. Three walked into the room still in his gear.

"What do we got to eat? I'm starved," Three mentioned then did a double take at the mess table and the tower of pudding.

"What's uh going on here?" he asked, furrowing his brows at the tower. "Ooo is that chocolate pudding?"

He walks over grabbing one of the ones on the stack.

"Hey! Those are mine!" Five joked. "I won it!"

"Well I don't see your name on it," Three smirked as he grabbed a spoon and popped off the lid, sitting next to her diagonal from Vivian. "Besides you can't hoard all of the sweets."

"He's right Five. You can't have all the pudding. It's for everyone," Two agreed as she sat across from One in an opposite chair. Three smirked at Five.

"See?"

"I can try," Five muttered as she got up grabbing her own spoon. Vivian looked around.

"Where's Four?" she asked.

"Medical Bay. He ran into a bit of trouble earlier. So he's cleaning up," Three answered.

"Is he all right?" Five asked as she sat back down next to Three. Two put up a hand and smiled reassuringly.

"He's fine," she replied. "Any problems while we were out?"

"Pretty quiet if you ask me," Vivian smiled as she grabbed the cards and shuffling them.

"No giant space squids?" Three joked as he ate a spoonful of the pudding and swallowed it giving the pudding cup a look. "Ooo that's good."

Vivian smirked, kicking him playfully under the table. He grunted.

"What?" Three laughed. Vivian grabbed one of pudding cups looking at One and Two.

"You guys want one?" she asked.

"Maybe later, the trip kind of made me lose my appetite," Two mentioned. Vivian then looked at One with a smirk.

"What about you, pretty boy?" she asked. One looked up at her and furrowed his brows catching him off guard.

"Uh…" he started but before he could answer Vivian tossed him the cup where he caught it looking at her oddly.

"Consider that my apology," Vivian motioned to the pudding. One tilted his head in confusion.

"For what?"

"You know…" Vivian insisted, making a slap motion. One swallowed then looked at the chocolate pudding. "I uh…wasn't thinking straight."

Everyone looked between him and Vivian. He glanced at Two who gave him a go-on look. He cleared his throat.

"You know I'm uh…I'm sorry too," One stumbled. "I was out of line."

Vivian smiled slightly. One swallowed in uncertainty.

"So, uh. We good?" he asked. Vivian nodded.

"Yeah we're good," Vivian replied. "Just remember to be on my good side."

"Whoa, hold up, so you apologize to her but not me?" Three asked raising his brows at One.

"I uh-" One began but Three put up a hand.

"Just pulling your leg pretty boy," Three scoffed in amusement. "Besides, I get why you're apologizing."

"That would be?"

"What? She's hot. And you don't want to piss off the hot ones," Three joked. Two rolled her eyes amused.

"I'm gonna check with Android, see if we can get that R&R destination set up," Two smiled, getting up.

"I'll join you," One insisted as he got up, following Two out of the mess to the bridge.

Five looked between Three and Vivian, smiling a bit.

"I just remembered there's something I got to do," Five remarked quickly then grabbed another pudding cup. "Thanks for playing Viv!"

"No problem," Vivian laughed softly watching her as she left the mess hall. Vivian laughed to herself, smiling at Three as she grabbed a pudding cup and a spare spoon. She sat back down across from him. Three cleaned out the first cup, tossed it and grabbed another one.

"Man, this is good," Three commented, popping off the lid of the second one.

"Didn't realize you had a sweet tooth," Vivian teased as she ate some of her own.

"I'm sure once you get to know me, I'm full of surprises," Three smirked winking at her. Vivian chuckled under her breath. After his first bite he sighed, leaning forward casually.

"You look better," Three mentioned nodding at her. "You were looking a little ghostly earlier.?"

"Head has just been sensitive lately. I guess I'm still getting used to a strange bed," Vivian sighed smiling slightly. "Just haven't been sleeping well…"

"What is something keeping you up?"

"More like something wakes me up," Vivian corrected. She swallowed. "I had a bit of a nightmare…"

Three looked down as he noticed her hand grip around the pudding cup.

"Must've been pretty bad with how pale you looked earlier," Three commented finishing off his pudding and tossing the cup in the garbage. He then started putting the rest of the unused ones back in the storage. "Does that kind of thing happen often?"

Vivian hesitated as his back was turned as he stacked the pudding in their rightful places. She looked down at her pudding, spinning the spoon where she could see swirls forming. As Three finished he noticed her staring into her cup. Something was…off that didn't seem to match the person he's been bugging this entire time.

"You want to take a walk with me?" Three asked. "I was gonna get this gear off."

Three motioned to his guns and jacket. She snapped out of it, eating the rest of the pudding and getting up. Tossing it in the trash and following him out of the mess to his quarters.

Three opened the door of his quarters, then casually walked in with Vivian following behind him.

"Sit down, make yourself at home," Three insisted as he moved to the other side of his room. Vivian closed the door behind them and slowly walked in. She watched as he proceeded to stack his guns in their rightful places. She looked around his room, trying to clear her head.

"Whew, what a day. You know you're lucky you didn't have to do pick up duty," Three scoffed as he started getting his holsters unstrapped from his legs and onto their hooks along the wall. "We had to walk a good long walk just to get back to the Marauder. Although it was good to stretch out for once."

"Silver lining to everything," Vivian agreed. "I'm assuming Four came back willingly."

Three scoffed in amusement.

"Well he came back. That's as much as I can say," Three breathed.

"Android told us there was an impasse. You guys run into trouble?" Vivian asked.

"Oh, you know nothing we couldn't handle," Three smirked glancing to her as he tore off his jacket, tossing it onto the couch with his back turned to her. "You wanna drink? My treat."

He started grabbing the good Scotch from his cabinets, putting it on the counter with two of the metal glasses.

"Sure…" Vivian sighed, sitting down on the couch. "God knows I need a drink."

He poured Scotch into one then he poured into another one. He then smiled, handing her the spare glass to her.

"Here you go captain," Three winked at her as he took a sip of his own.

Vivian took a sip, swallowing and making a face and coughed slightly.

"You always keep the strong stuff?"

"Well I always take a bottle of my own," Three grinned as he sat on his couch next to her putting his feet up. "We don't always get the option to enjoy life when we can."

He takes another swig, swallowing it. Vivian took a sip of her own swallowing it. Three sighed, leaning his head back putting an arm along the back of couch behind her but not touching her. She glanced at him as they sat in silence for a moment. He noticed and smiled as she smiled back.

"Feels like ages since we've this place has been quiet," Three mentioned looking at her. She was twirling her scotch. He eyed her as she stared out seeming a little dazed. He furrowed his brows at her.

"That stuff too strong for ya?" Three motioned to her drink. Vivian snapped out of it, glancing at him and scoffing in amusement.

"No, no it's not that," Vivian replied, then almost finished off the scotch right there in one sip and making a face. She got up grabbing the bottle he had and put it on the table. Three straightened up as she poured another one for herself and a little more for him. Almost immediately started drinking it a little too fast.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Three laughed, grabbing the bottle from her and then putting a hand over her drink. "Easy with the good stuff. It'll go right to your head."

Vivian shook her head and swallowed hard as he topped his off and locked the bottle into the cabinet. He turned around watching her as she suddenly had her hands over her face.

"Sorry…" she whispered, hearing strain in her voice. Three furrowed his brows in confusion immediately making his way back to the couch, turning on his side and facing her.

"Hey hey hey," Three began. "What are you apologizing for?"

Vivian shook her head, as she moved her hands off her face. Three could see tears forming in her eyes.

"It's wrong of me to think this way," Vivian swallowed then took a sip of the scotch.

"Think what?" Three asked. Vivian glanced at him.

"I don't want to make you upset," Vivian mentioned.

"Oh, come on. It's gonna take a lot to get to me," Three nudged her. "Come on out with it."

Vivian hesitated, looking at him.

"Come on," Three insisted. She closed her eyes.

"…It's hard," she sighed, looking away from him. "Sometimes…I wish I couldn't remember things. Like you and the rest of the crew."

"Well I gotta tell ya darling it's not ideal," Three commented as he took another swig of the scotch. "But you know shit happens. We'll probably be back to our old ways before we know it."

He finished off his scotch putting it on the table then putting his feet up, sprawling out his arms along the back of the couch and leaning his head back.

"Back as Marcus," Three added closing his eyes. Vivian nodded.

"If you any of you remembered who I am…" Vivian scoffed shaking her head. "God you'd have me spaced."

"You couldn't've done worse than any of us," Three laughed softly. Vivian finished her scotch, putting it on the counter, leaning forward and putting her hands folded out passed her knees. "Besides I think we already tried that before."

Vivian swallowed.

"And despite all that I still came back and renewed our contract," Vivian scoffed in amusement shaking her head. "I must be crazy."

"Says the woman who snuck into my room, put herself in my closet and tried to shoot down the leader of this ship," Three grins as he looks at her. "Oh, I think that's a little more than just crazy."

"Then what would you call it?"

Three sat himself up, leaning forward with his arms along his legs.

"Well I think I'd classify that as insane," Three smirked. "But you know I'm not one to talk."

"Why?"

"Because I'm the one who flirts with the insane pirate woman on this ship," Three grins raising his brows. "Now what does that say about me?"

"Wild, dangerous and probably going to get yourself killed," Vivian laughed softly. Three looks up in thought.

"Yeah that probably about sums it up," Three laughed. She smiles at him and looks away running a hand through her hair. Three grinned, patting her back. "See? All you needed was some loosening up."

Vivian nodded, laughing a bit.

"Thank you…" she said quietly.

"Hey, you're welcome to blow off steam anytime," he offered. He moved his hand from her back to her opposite shoulder, closing in the gap a bit between them. Her heart almost started to race as she felt him literally sit right next to her.

"I'll keep that in mind," she whispered smiling at him. She dared to look at him for a moment then he just realized how close he was to her. His felt an adrenaline rush when he saw her eying him. He smirked.

"You know One did say something that got me thinking," Three mentioned. Vivian raised her brows at him.

"And that would be?"

"I don't know, said something like we have a thing," Three scoffed in amusement. Vivian swallowed hard turning beat red. He motioned at him and her. "You think we have a thing?"

Vivian shook her head laughing a bit.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"I asked you first," Three smirked, eyeing her. Vivian puts a hand on his cheek, smiling softly.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," Vivian commented. "In due time."

Three scoffed in amusement but then as she was about to move her hand away, he almost instinctively grabbed it. Vivian hesitated when she saw his hand grip onto it gently. She eyed him. Something about his stare…it was hard not to be drawn in.

"We can figure it out now," Three whispered as he closed in the gap. He pulled her in gently, starting to kiss her neck. She sucked in her breath as she felt his lips press into her skin. She bit her lip as he backed off only inches from her face looking at her lips. "I won't object."

Her skin felt warm where his lips were on her neck now fleeting into the cold air. Three winked at her.

"I promise I won't disappoint," Three sang quietly as he leaned in, his face so close to hers that she shuddered. She swallowed hard looking at his lips. She grabbed his hand with her one hand, gripping onto it, then put her other hand on the side of his face, making him close his eyes sighing.

"I don't think you will," she whispered.

"Well then what are we waiting for?" Three asked. She swallowed.

"It's late…" she whispered. "It's been a long day."

"Then let me help you unwind," Three insisted.

"Three…" Vivian breathed. He leaned closer.

"Come on sweetheart don't make me beg," Three groaned. "It's hard enough not to do something when you're right in front of me."

Vivian stared at him and then smiled. She leaned in, closing her eyes kissing him on his lips gently but felt him sink into it, getting himself closer to her, facing her directly and pulling her towards him. She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck hearing him moan. She backed off a bit, resting her forehead on his.

"I have to go…" she whispered. Three opened his eyes surprised.

"What? Why?" Three asked. Vivian eyed him. Kissing him again on the lips gently making him moan. He wraps his hands along her waist suddenly feeling her curves. She pulled off slowly.

"I don't want to spoil this…" she answered putting a hand on his chest.

"Spoil it how?" Three asked. Vivian sighs.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she gets up heading to his door, but he immediately follows grabbing her arm gently.

"Wait, wait, wait," Three objected quietly pulling her towards him. "Am I doing something wrong? Am I reading something…the wrong way? Because I gotta tell you this is the first."

"No…I mean not in the way you think," Vivian scoffed in amusement.

"You're not intimidated, are you?" Three asked, confused.

"No, I just…" Vivian sighed frustrated, looking down at the floor then looking at him. "Never mind…"

She heads to the door and he grabs her arm.

"Please at least tell me what the problem is," Three asked. Vivian sighs, turning to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She leans against his forehead and swallows.

"If I don't leave now…I'm not going to let you stop," Vivian breathed.

"What's wrong with that?" Three grins. Vivian eyes him, biting her lip.

"Do you trust me?"

Three looks confused at her.

"Yeah sure I trust you," he replied furrowing his brows. She then leans against him.

Vivian smiles, leaning up putting her hands along his jaw and kissing him on the lips. Three tries to pull her closer to him. She sighs in relief as she backs off, rubbing his cheek with her thumb.

"You don't have to go," Three groaned.

"I don't want you to make a mistake with me," Vivian begged. Three looked at her oddly.

"Viv," he sighed.

"Please," she whispered. "Trust me. I'm not just some random girl you can pick up on the bar."

She looked strained and embarrassed. Three sighed.

She gave him a hug. She could feel him lean his head along her shoulder, gripping onto her body like he didn't want to let her go. She closed her eyes taking it in. She didn't want to rush. She didn't want to be with someone in hopes it was something more, then find out that they just wanted her in before. His kiss…it was invigorating. But…she wasn't sure he would like what she really is. She had to be sure. Then he started laughing.

"All right darling suit yourself," he smirked. "But I'm telling you you're missing out."

"Then you can prove me wrong next time," Vivian kissed him then bit her lip as he closed his eyes.

"You sure you wanna go? I won't object."

"Thanks for the drink big guy."

She let go reluctantly, backing out from his room to the door. He stared, watching her down the hall, sighing.

"And…there she goes…" Three muttered under his breath. He watched as she walked, eying her feeling a rush remembering her lips. He rolled his eyes.

"I need another drink."