Chapter 6 – In the Arms of a Pirate
"Shh." Hayden whispers as he sneaks through the hole in his cell, just big enough to squeeze through. Cerbie hops out after him and runs over to Ben's cell where the boy lies unconscious, sitting against the wall with his hands cuffed above his head. Why they had him in cuffs when Hayden wasn't? Who knows. Hayden struggles between wanting to punish Ben for hurting his sister or freeing him and punishing him later. He might struggle to punish him later if Mal gets to him first though. However, before he can act, he's alerted by Cerbie's growl, the pup looking up the stairs and stood on guard. He quietly sneaks over to the stairs and climbs them softly, not making a sound. He lifts the door covering the stairs and carefully peaks out onto the deck. It's empty. Or looks to be anyway. Where is everyone?
That's another issue. He can't get Ben out by himself, even with Cerbie's help. She managed to bite away at the bars to make a hole big enough for him to escape by but taking down a whole crew? That's a bit bigger than what they could achieve. The moon is high in the sky and shines down on the ship. Going back now would only make things worse as there's no chance of hiding the hole now. Check the deck to make sure no one's up then try and get Ben out. Yes, that's the plan. He turns to Cerbie and whispers, "Check deck for anyone. If you find them alert me. If they're awake, then bark twice. If they're asleep then run back to me and tug on my pants leg (or trouser leg for the British). Bow your head if you got all that."
Cerbie bows her head and he takes a calming breath before emerging from the stairs, lowering the door behind him. He watches Cerbie run silently across deck, sniffing frantically in between runs as she reaches one end. That leaves him to check the other and he silently walks over to the stairs leading up behind him. He sees no one by the time he reaches the wheel and smiles softly to himself. He puts his hands on the wheel and doesn't dare turn it in risk of somehow moving the ship and waking everyone up. Memories of pretending to play pirates at four-years-old comes back to him and he smiles softly at the thought. "Yo-ho-ho." He whispers and jumps when two hands cover his own.
"You stealing the ship after I stole a kiss?" Harry whispers in his ear, sending chills down his spine. He lets him move his hands to a different place on the wheel, apparently having them in the wrong position. He feels the pirate's breath on his neck, closing his eyes as he tries to keep himself calm. "Silent treatment now? Thought you liked me." Harry says softly, breathing down his neck to purposely distract the boy.
"I do." Hayden admits without thinking. "But I'm not allowed to date, or my father would kill me." A pause. "Then he'd bring me back from the underworld and moan about how much paperwork he has to do now because of me and my hormonal disturbances in his life."
Harry laughs and grabs his hand to turn the boy around, putting his hands on the boy's waist, licking his lips as he undresses him with his eyes. Hayden notices the famous hook hanging at his waist but doesn't comment on it. "I think I'd be worth it. Promise. I've had a lot of praise before." He winks.
"Whore." Hayden chuckles and Harry takes no real offence to this as he kisses him again, holding him by the waist. Hayden gasps and runs his hands through the pirate's hair without thinking, barely noticing him not wearing his hat now.
"Mmm. Delicious. I may just have to keep you." Harry sighs when they break the kiss.
"And what date would you prefer to die on, because my dad is so going to kill you after stealing me away." Hayden warns.
"I'll take my chances." Harry grins excitedly and goes to kiss him again when a bark alerts him. He looks down and sure enough Cerbie's there, looking up at Harry to bark again.
"Yes, I see him, Cerbie. I know he's there, thank you very much." Hayden rolls his eyes at the pup who sits as she watches them.
He then yawns and Harry smirks. "Am I boring you already, love?" Hayden just shrugs. "Well, I can't let you back in that cell. You'd just sneak out again being such the feisty thing you are." Harry smiles at him and takes his hand as he leads him back down the stairs and down to the brig again, holding his hand all the way. For a moment, Hayden believes he's going to lock him up again but instead is led further into the ship through another door he didn't notice. He leads him to what is apparently the sleeping quarters of the ship where most are asleep. A few who are still awake look over but say nothing as Harry leads Hayden to a bed.
Without giving him a chance to object, he lies down on the bed and pulls the boy with him, covering them with a blanket. Hayden is unsure at first until he realises Harry is actually just intending to sleep with him and not in the sense his mind was heading to. With a tired sigh, he rolls onto his side and closes his eyes. He smiles when an arm wraps around his waist and he feels Harry press his body against him, the warmth and comfort feeling rather nice for Hayden. Cerbie jumps on the end of the bed and turns a few times before settling down to sleep, a natural instinct within her keeping watch over her master in case of any danger. However, none comes, and Hayden sleeps better than he has for the past few months, now having someone to hold him in his sleep. He doesn't realise how lonely he's been until now where just being held by a boy he barely knows is the most comforting thing he could ask for. And what spooks him the most is one simple fact: he doesn't mind. In fact, he craves it.