(Warning: Violence, Blood, and Partial Nudity ahead)
As Kaidos stepped lively upon the top deck, he rejoined his group. Krystal had already made it a point to annoy the crew, trying to befriend as many people as she could. Kaidos snickered as he ruffled her long black hair, loving the rise and stomp the little child made in protest. She was only a child after all, but she had nowhere else to go. And had decided, apparently, that Kaidos and Reverend were her family now, and Kaidos sort of just rolled with it at that point. Reverend put up a small fuss but was won over eventually. Kaidos clapped the reverend on the back, getting an annoyed grumble from the behemoth of a man.
"Ready to set out, Timmy?" Kaidos baited gently up at his older friend. He meant no ill will towards the Reverend, and that is perhaps why he put up as much as he did with Kaidos' shenanigans and only scolded him for more serious things, like when Kaidos flirted with men who clearly were more of the violent type or when he would get so drunk he would not be able to stand upright. But Kaidos never once bashed his faith, nor disrespected the holy man outside of flirting with him a tad more than he liked.
"We are all clear Captain!" A squeaky voice sounded from the crow's nest, a little tentacled fellow apparently named Onus. Kaidos stepped lively as he went up to the Captain, who was standing at the helm with Doppler and Arrow. She gave a curt nod to Kaidos as he hopped the railing, smirking cheekily.
"Ready to raise this creaking tub, my friend?" The feline captain quipped up to Arrow.
"With pleasure as always Captain. All hands to stations! Step lively!" Mr. Arrow's voice switched from a pleasant rumble to a snarl to the crew as they scampered about, unfurling the sails as they caught the energy from the sun. Kai watched and studied the different crew members, no two looking the same. As the ship rose up from the docks, Kaidos felt as if he was going to be swept off of his feet until he looked down and realized that was exactly what was happening; he was floating in the air! He whistled a sharp tune as he cast his magic to hold the reverend and Krystal in place to keep them from floating up and away while Kaidos wings beat to try and keep himself in a single place. Krystal seemed to giggle all the more like an excited child would, while the reverend tried to cling to whatever was nearest to him. Doppler had a similar reaction, as he started to float and making noises of panic.
"Oh dear me!"
"Mr. Zoff, engage the artificial gravity!" The captain barked out to a large slug looking man, who responded in a language that Kai recognized as Flatula. With a pull of a lever, Kaidos felt the gravity return to normal as he landed with grace, letting down his two companions gently. Doppler, on the other hand, crashed to the ground as he turned end over end before faceplanting onto the deck. Kaidos snickered before seeing Mr. Arrow bellow 'Take her away!' into a little metal cylinder. As he looked up, he could see the solar sails glimmering with light and he knew what was coming, his tail swishing back and forth with excitement and accidentally knocking Krystal onto the ground.
"Brace yourself you lot. You too, Doctor." The Captain warned them all in a sharp tone. The doctor only murmured something under his breath, but Kai felt it; they were about to take off. He did as the Captain recommended and braced himself for what was coming, his tail wrapping around a nearby post as the crew scrambled about. The force of the ship blasting off into the open space was breathtaking, and painful for some as it sent the Doctor flying backward, slamming him into the wall behind him. Kaidos marveled in ecstasy as he scampered forward, leaping into the shrouds as he looked out into the beauty of the endless horizon. He couldn't help it; this was what drove him forward, what called to him; the thrill and excitement of exploring and adventure. As they passed a pod of Orcus Galacti, Kaidos heard the telltale whirring and clicking coming up into earshot. As he turned and looked, he saw Silver and Morph on the deck. Silver looked like he fit right in, now wearing a dark brown long leather coat and matching tricorn that framed his thick brows wonderfully in Kaidos' opinion.
" 'Tis a grand day for sailing, Captain, and look at you! Why you are as trim and as bonny as a sloop with new sails and a fresh coat of paint." Silver called up to Captain Amelia, taking off his tricorn hat and swooping into a bow. Kaidos couldn't help but snicker as he could see straight through his attempt to butter up the Captain and from Kaidos' limited view, so did the Captain; she had a scowl on her face that made even the Reverend shudder slightly. Kaidos almost felt sorry, if it had not been for the fact he found that coat on Silver quite dashing.
"You can keep that kind of flimflammery for your spaceport floozies, Silver." The Captain snipped back, her voice so cold it could have frozen over magma. Morph started to try and mimic the Captain before Silver scooped him up into his hat.
"You cut me to the quick Captain. I speak nothing but me heart at all times." Kaidos clambered over somewhat as he stretched his palm out into the cold air of space, his tail wrapped around the line. All of his life he had dreamed of this adventure, and the feeling of freedom wrapped around him.
"And, by the way, isn't that your new helper aimlessly footing about in the shrouds?" Captain remarked but Kaidos did not hear her as he had clambered higher up, moving about the rigging like an acrobat. Silver stumbled over his words as he watched the little horned fellow dart upwards as he were at home where he stood. He sighed heftily as his eyes went back to the Captain.
"Ahhh a momentary aberration Cap'n, soon to be addressed. Kai!" He barked upwards, making him turn his head as he looked down. Silver made a 'come here' motion with his fingers and Kaidos swung himself and flipped twice over before soaring gracefully and landing, winking at Silver. Silver stared for a moment, slightly gobsmacked before shaking his head slightly and smirking down at Kaidos. He loomed over him slightly, but Kai's eyes glimmered brightly. He was ready to face whatever this cyborg had to throw his way. Silver gave a small leer and chuckled softly.
"I got two new friends I would like ya to meet." Silver said. Kaidos looked about but saw no one as he looked back to Silver with a perplexed look.
"Say hello to Mr. Mop and Mrs. Bucket." Silver tossed a bucket and mop into his arms as he roared with laughter. The crew also snickered as they watched the two of them. Kaidos grumbled softly; he had to say something back so he did not look soft in front of the crew, and to show Silver he wasn't afraid to mess with him.
"Aww, yippee, just what I wanted, how did you know?" Kaidos snickered back as he twirled the mop in hand, making the ursid blush slightly before roaring with laughter as he walked off back to the galley.
The sky had started to darken as Kaidos mopped from stem to stern, quietly humming to himself as he worked; after all it would not do any good to be foul about the work. But even so, he could feel the eyes of the crew searing into his back. His companions had gone elsewhere on the ship, leaving Kaidos alone with the rest of the crew. As he sloshed the water back and forth, he could hear murmurs from behind him. As he turned to look, a few of the crew members were whispering as they were leaning on a barrel as a makeshift table. They stopped quite suddenly as they saw Kai watching them. One of the larger ones glowered down at him, making a nasty sneer.
"What are you looking at weirdo?" He garbled out in a thick and dark voice. Before Kaidos could answer, what was the head separated on its own octopus-like legs and scampered down and onto the railing, the body half leaning back with a similar glare.
"Yeah, weirdo!" The head quipped in a higher-pitched voice, making a nasty face in his direction. Kaidos ignored it and went back to mopping until he heard something like a hiss and a quiet snarl from above him. As he looked up into the shrouds above, he saw what he could only describe as the hellspawn child of a crab and a spider, descending down. He was extremely tall, even taller than Silver as he landed almost silently onto the deck, staring down at him with buglike eyes that seemed to glow with a demonic light. Kaidos tilted his head, holding his shoulders back, despite the sickening feeling in his stomach.
"Cabin boys should learn to mind their own business" the creature said in a hissing dark voice, glaring down at him. Kaidos pressed his lips for a moment. 'The hells this guys problem?' he thought to himself.
"Why's that? Got something to hide sweetie?" He said with a playful smirk, winking at the bug creature in front of him. That seemed to set him off as he snarled and snatched Kaidos by the collar, shoving him against the mizzen mast. The crew started gathering around, getting rowdy at the sight of a potential fight. Kaidos gripped the creatures clawlike arm, staring him down with the same expression. Usually, flirting with his fighters made them so uneasy they would drop him like he was poisonous. The force of the shove caused a small groan to escape his body.
"Maybe your ears don't work so well." the creature snarled as he slammed him again, in what Kaidos thought was an attempt to ragdoll him a bit, get him to kiss his feet. All six of them. But Kaidos only smiled more as he stared deep into those terrifying orbs, groaning slightly as he adjusted himself within his grip.
"Oh honey, you should take me to dinner first before pulling shit like that." Kaidos retorted up at the aggressor. He smiled as he saw a look cross his face of shock, disgust, and rage as he seemed unsure of what to do with him. But it did not last long before the creature took his razor sharp claw and slashed his chest. Kaidos didn't think it was too deep for immediate concern, but it was enough to cause Kaidos to yell in pain and drop the act. He grumbled as his eyes grew brighter, his wings stretching out to their fullest length as he casted his spell. The bug like man dropped him, covering his head with his appendages as he heard screams and demonic whispers as if his skull had been dipped into the river of the damned, sounds only he could hear as the other crew looked on in shock and horror. Kaidos dusted himself off as he slowly approached him, the whispers getting louder as he got closer. His eyes widened with shock and horror as he placed one foot on one of his legs, smirking darkly at him.
"My ears work fine, yours however wont for some time" he said in a low and quiet voice. The creature snapped his claw around his ankle, yanking him with enough force to slam him to the ground as he stood above him, holding his other claw like a blade around his throat. The crew jeered for his blood to be spilt, and Kaidos feared that this monsters eyes would be the last thing he ever saw.
"Any last words, cabin boy?" he growled. Kaidos braced for the pain when he heard it; gears. Before it could slice him open, Silver's mechanical hand clamped down around his claw, while he held a purp in his organic hand. Kai gasped softly as he watched, still dangling from his grip.
"Mr. Scroop," he said in his salty voice, biting into the purp as if he was simply inconvenienced with this whole matter.
"Have you ever seen what happens to a purp.. when you squeeze real hard?" He said with a swallow and a drastic sharpness in his voice as he squeezed and twisted Scroop's arm backwards, causing him to yell and drop Kaidos like a sack of those purps. Kaidos landed with a thud, unable to stand. Those gashes hurt badly, and his ankle felt like it had been fractured. As he looked up to the two behemoth humanoids, glaring at each other, he heard the heavy footsteps coming forward.
"What's all this then?" bellowed out Mr. Arrow in his commanding voice as he paced forward. Silver had let go of Scroop and everyone fell silent. The only noise that could be heard was his heavy steps and Kai's soft groans. Red was starting to stain his clothes, and he was worried how torn open he actually was.
"You know the rules. There will be no brawling on this ship." He declared in his clear voice, Kaidos vision going a little bleary as he heard murmurs of 'aye sir' from some of the crew.
"Any further offenders will be confined to the brig for the remainder of this voyage. Am I clear, Mr. Scroop?" He stopped as he stared Scroop down. Scroop seemed to be on the verge of retorting back but stopped as Silver's mechanical eye shone a light brightly into his face, glaring at him.
"Transparently." he said in a menacingly soft voice. Mr Arrow moved away and gently helped Kaidos to his feet, right before Kaidos nearly sank right back down as he hopped on his one good foot.
"Mr. Silver, take Mr. Goldweaver down and see that his wounds are tended to. Last thing we need is a damaged cabin boy." Arrow passed Kaidos off to Silver, whom basically picked him up like a groom would pick up a bride. Kaidos feebly struggled, trying to tug his shirt so the gashes did not seem so deep. But Silver held him firmly and carried him back down, walking through the galley and to an adjacent room that Kai guessed to be Silver's quarters. It was small, with a bed that looked far too small for the large Ursid, with a chest where Silver kept his things. Silver set him delicately down, trying to tend to his wounds. Kai grumbled and struggled, using his magic to make his eyes glow a scary bright gold, but it seemed to not phase the old spacer for a second.
"Lad, I've seen every trick in the book, you ain't gonna scare me. I saw what ye did to Scroop, you got some real power when you flex it. But I suppose ye tired yerself out and ya can't use it again. Now stop, yer gonna make it worse. I gots to take this off so I can sees how bad he gotcha lad." He said sternly, causing Kai's eyes to widen in fear.
"N-no I-I'll be fine..." Kai tried to stand but his ankle gave and he landed on the bed again, wincing as he tried to cover the gashes.
"Yer making it worse boy! Stop your squawkin and lemme take a look, or so help me I will make ye." He growled as his cyborg eye shifted from yellow to a deep orange. Kai shivered but nodded, trying to tug off the shirt. He panted as it felt like a thousand needles were being shoved through his skin, his arms dropping as sweat gleamed off of his forehead.
"I-I'm sorry.." Kai whispered softly. Silver did not seemed to notice as his mechanical arm shifted into a small dull blade. Kai tried to squirm backwards, but Silver's organic hand held him still.
"Relax lad, I am gonna cut this away so I can get to it without hurtin ye. Hold still." He said in a gruff but softer tone. Kai nodded as the blade went up under the cloth and ripped it cleanly. Silver stopped for a moment, seeing blood seeping through what seemed to be bandages, ever so carefully and tightly wrapped around Kai's chest. Silver looked at Kai, but Kai's eyes were averted, looking at the wall.
"J-just d-do what you need to do." he said, his voice trembling as his whole body seemed to shiver and shake. The spacer's organic hand tenderly unravelled the bandages, taking great care to not touch the wound. As it fell away, he saw the bleeding gash but his eyes fell onto Kaidos' bare chest, marred with two jagged and thick scars, one under each of what would be the pectoral muscle. His chest itself seemed to be softer, not as toned or flat as a normal man's should be. Silver looked up into Kaidos' eyes, realization smacking into him like the weight of a cannon blast.
"P-please Silver...D-don't tell anyone... No one knows." Kaidos whimpered in a voice unlike his own, scared and quiet. Silver brought out a bottle of clear liquid and what looked like a needle and rags. Morph and Emerald waddled through the door, having heard the commotion from the galley. Morph made worried noises as he nuzzled Kaidos' face, Emerald carrying what seemed to be a spool of some kind with thin thread. Silver took it from him and started to clean the wound with a rag as he doused it with the clear stuff. It stung like hell, and Kaidos bit into his fist to keep from making any noise.
"Sorry lad, I have to clean it before I start. Ive seen Scroop tear through leather hide like it was made of silk. It hit deep lad, I'm gonna have to stitch it." Kaidos only nodded as Silver passed the bottle. Kaidos nodded and chugged it, the familiar burn of cheap alcohol searing and soothing his nerves. Silver started to work, but at least the liquor had dulled some of the edge. Silver paused and looked up, his brow set with a gentle look in his organic eye.
"You know... you are not the first I have ever seen. I sailed with a lovely lass who had a bigger cock than any fellow I had met. She was simply given the wrong body by the gods I suppose. Yer no different lad. You are just as much man as any of that lot up on deck. More I reckon.." Silver said, going out on a limb as his eyes seemed to wander down Kaidos' figure. He could tell that it was made into a man's but there was still some extra softness to his chest, curves at the hips that he hid with a belt and breeches, thicker thighs and a... lack of anything visible downstairs. Silver continued to mend and stitch, staying focused. After all, he could not let the cabin boy fall into harm under his care. Kaidos groaned as he watched him stitch, relaxing slightly despite the pain.
"Where the hell did you learn how to do that?" He said. The older spacer looked at him with what could only been described as a sort of bittersweet look.
"I have had to patch me own wounds lad, as well as my fellow spacers. You tend to pick up a thing or two when ye have been roaming the galaxy long as I have." He said as he finished, biting off the excess thread. Kaidos gently touched it; it was cleanly done, not a bit jagged or rough. He winced as Silver pulled him up to sit up straight, but turned a dark red as he held Kaidos' face in his thick fingers, his own face only a few inches from Silver's as he cleaned the gash across his face with the rag. Kaidos relaxed slightly as his touch was warm, his fingertips rough and yet soothing to him. Silver had to stifle a laugh as it looked like a kitten trying to push its face up against a warm surface.
"Should I let ye friends know?" He questioned as he did not yet move away. Kaidos responded with a small laugh.
"No I would rather not get berated at by my dear Reverend or have Krystal admiring my battle wounds at the moment. I will hear plenty of it later I am sure." He sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, only imagining how livid the Reverend would be if he found out he got this scraped up.
"Aye those two seem to be a handful! But lad... didn't anyone ever teach ye how to pick your fights more carefully? Your pap?" He said gently as he put away the supplies into the chest. Kaidos only responded with silence, unable to look up. Silver noticed and frowned a little.
"Not the teaching sort?" He inquired, his tone careful as he watched the young man's face, those bright eyes made of jewels so hard and serious for the first time since he met him. Those eyes seemed to burn with the same intensity of a sun, and yet were bright and filled with light as if the stars had been melted down and poured into those orbs. Silver shook away the thoughts as he awaited the bards answer.
"No... more of the 'ashamed you were ever born and sending you away so no one even knows you exist anymore' type." Kaidos responded with a flat tone, wringing his hands a little.
"Oh... Sorry lad." He said in full earnest, gently petting his back as Kaidos melted into it, relaxing. He needed rest after that bad of a scuffle. Kaidos simply shrugged, the weight of the liquor and the exhaustion from the adrenaline leaving his body causing him to sort of flop onto the bed. Emerald crawled up and cooed as he nuzzled up into his neck. Morphy too seemed to rub his head as he looked to Silver with concern. Silver gave a little nod.
"Morphy, keep an eye on the pup while I attend to things. Rest lad, I will be back later I just have to take care of something. You can stay here whenever you like boy. I'll take care of it." he said as Kaidos slowly drifted into an unconscious state. Silver stood up straight and started to walk away, looking back once at the small figure that trusted him with his secret, and with... with his beautiful body. Silver groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, and as he looked forward towards the galley and closed the door, his cybernetic eye shone a dark red. There certainly were things he needed to take care of.
