Warnings:
This is a pirate AU with semi-realistic ideals about same sex relations. There's dodgy grammar work. It isn't really serious at all. I hope the people that read it enjoy it.
This wasn't the way that Percy wanted to go out. He wasn't a religious man by any stretch of the word but he was a God fearing man all the same. Still as he stared at the barrel of the flintlock pistol he wished he was. Maybe then God would answer his prayer of 'please God no, let me live, I'll become pious if you spare me today'. He had no valuable and money since George cared for them when he traveled and when the ship was captured by pirates he was beaten by the crew for being poor. The other passengers were robbed and now they were getting rid of the poor hostages.
"Any last words, boy?" the lout holding the pistol asked as Percy focused on the man.
"If it's the same to you, sir, I would like to be shot rather than drown," Percy stood at the end of the plank unmoving glaring at the lout.
Roaring laughter filled the ship as it spread from those in ear shot to the back of the crowd. Percy wasn't dead… yet. He breathed a mental sigh of relief. He kept his expression and body relaxed as he tried to say focused on the man not the gun. The lout frowned and his shoulders tensed and Percy immediately knew that he probably expedited his death.
"Would ye now? I'll be glad to oblige ye…" the lout cocked and checked the loaded pistol.
Percy felt something warm go down his legs. He pissed on himself. He was consoled by the fact that he would probably be dead soon. If he wasn't shot dead he would lose consciousness once he hit the water. He didn't need to touch or go into the water to know that it was very cold. Still he felt his ears go red as the lout smiled and he saw a wet spot developing around Percy's crotch.
"Big words but your body shows how scared you are, boy. Bullets are for men not scared, wet around the ears, pathetic little babies like you. Jump of I'll send you down myself!" the lout ordered putting away the gun.
"Either get him off my ship by shooting him or making him jump. There are other captives to be dealt with!" the captain barked and Percy could swear the voice sounded familiar.
"I'll give you ten seconds and if you aren't in the water by then you'll get your lead," the lout snarled.
"Oliver?" Percy shouted unable to stop himself and he recognized something in that voice.
"Percy?! Get him off the plank and deal with the rest of them. You're coming with me, Percy, and no one follow us, got it? We can ransom him with his brothers since they're well off and if not he can have his date with the sea later!" Oliver yelled as Percy heard footsteps move away from the plank to clear way for Ollie.
Percy was grateful that he was unable to speak from many different factors. Mortification from the lack of bladder control. The boy he definitely did not have a crush on in childhood seeing him like this. Anger at Oliver for condemning the other passengers. Rage at the bastards who took his friend away and made Ollie into this monster. He was shocked and disappointed that Oliver was the one who ran this ship.
"Long time no see, Perc. Apologies about how you've been treated thus far. Why don't we get you out of those clothes and into some clean ones?" the handsome stranger asked as he held out his hand.
Satan take him but Percy couldn't help but stare. Ollie hadn't changed much other than growing up to be the most handsome person that Percy had seen in his life. He knew it was unnatural to find other males attractive like that but Percy resigned himself to having natural and unnatural feelings. He resolved never to act on them but little else. Seeing Oliver in person though made his knees weak and he could feel the resolve crumble just a little.
"Of course, Ollie. It's been years- we have a lot to catch up on,"Percy was genuinely surprised his voice didn't shake and that he was actually coherent.
The smile Oliver gave him made his heart beat faster. It almost made him forget he was on a plank, had just soiled himself, and that his Ollie really was a pirate captain in the Hogwarts fleet. He was happily in denial before this point. Oliver was a common name and his Ollie was a boy of uncommon beauty if nothing else. He ignored the fact that Captain Oliver was said to be angelic as a child and just like Lucifer- the first fallen angel- he was said to lost his wings and grace and gained something more befitting the devil.
As he stepped onto the deck with pants he took the offered hand. Oliver's hand felt warm and real as the captain led him away from the other captives and the crew. He saw the stares of the others and a small part of him wondered if it was better he jumped. He was definitely still red. It was a long quiet walk to the captains cabin where Oliver rummaged around a wardrobe as Percy stood not knowing what to do. After picking out some clothing he laid it on the bed and closing the door he stayed turned towards it.
Percy looked at his profile from the back. Deeply tanned skin, wide shoulders, thick arms with fine and taut muscles, coarse palms, and scars all over the visible skin. He wondered how many scars his old friend had and if he would ever tell Percy how he got them. He stopped realizing that he was looking way too hard at Ollie and looked closer at the clothes on the bed.
There was no under garments- those were even here too personal to share. A thick black leather belt lay beside black pants that looked to be expensive. The shirt was a light cream colour, short sleeved, with black buttons on the top so the collar could open a bit. He quickly stripped wanting to get out of his soiled clothing. The wet pop of the pants and under garments sent him blushing anew. He changed in breathed in the smell of sea salt, a hint of fish, and something sweet and spicy.
Oliver laughed as he heard Percy smell his clothing. It was nice to see Perc again though he wished it was in better circumstances. He could tell that he had a bad first impression killing the other captives and essentially almost killing Percy too. Perc was glaring at him when he first saw him. This was an absolutely dumb idea but if it was choice between almost anything and Perc it was Percy he would choose. He missed the other boy but the fleet was his home now. On any Hogwarts ship he was with family in a portable home.
"What's going to happen with me, Ollie?" Percy asked after he had dressed and they were staring at each other intently and awkwardly.
"The boys will try to ransom you and if they pay you're free to go. Otherwise I'll get you away from here and convince the boss that you will pay for it out of your own pocket," Oliver said as they both sat down on the beds edge.
Percy couldn't help it. He lost it at the second part. Yet even as the hysterical laughter faded just a little he trusted Ollie. As children his life was saved by Ollie too many times to count. Ollie took the brunt of the blame for the stuff he did alone. The adventures in the forest, the nights the got lost, Ollie made sure that they were near water, had food, and Percy spent most of the night curled up in Ollie's arms with his face in the other boys chest. Oliver took care of him but Ollie had clearly changed from the boy he knew to the man he saw today. His Ollie would never condemn captives being thrown to their death but they both had changed.
"Perc. I know it's hard to believe but I'll make it true. You were my best friend as a child and I keep my promises. I will always protect you if it's in my power or ability," Ollie said softly not coming closer but there and real as if he never left Percy's side.
Percy couldn't help it. He cried as all of the… well everything hit him at once. He thought he was going to die this morning. He even steeled himself and tried to accept the sudden verdict. He just pissed off the lout with the gun because he hated the water. It wasn't out of faux bravery or stupidity but fear of the sea.
"It was dumb of you to mouth off, Perc," Oliver said after Percy stopped crying.
"I can't stand being in the ocean- on it is okay but in it? Never. I would rather have been shot then drown. He might have shot me in the head so it would be a quick death," Percy slumped suddenly feeling exhausted.
"He wouldn't have been that nice," Oliver said.
"Well the blood loss would have knocked me out before I drowned. Good enough reason for me to still do it," Percy grimaced though thinking of where the lout could have shot.
"This is why you needed me when we were younger. You always got into trouble thanks to that mouth of yours," Oliver grumbled good naturedly as he ruffled Percys' hair like he used to when Percy managed to get out of trouble alone.
"They weren't being fair," Percy defended his past selves actions.
"And I'm sure you're always fair as an adult, hmm?" Ollie teased.
"Hush you! Of course I'm not. I missed you- you were like another older brother to me despite us being the same age. Now…" Percy stopped, deep in thought, and blushed.
Oliver chuckled. He knew exactly why Percy stopped speaking. They were both different people now- strangers that were childhood friends. The boy just drew him in and something about him made Oliver want to protect him. It was a trait that clearly hadn't been lost as the moment Percy said his name something in him remembered the young boy he protected.
Percy had never dared to think of a man in a romantic sense. He was courting a governess that he had met on a trip. They were a few weeks from actually confirming an engagement. No males had ever really caught his attention after Ollie. He had odd dreams he would never admit to with… males. Yet it was improper and he never really was interested for more than a day if that.
He loved his governess after a fashion after a long spell. At least he was fond of her and they were compatible. It was a respectable match too. She was already past the age of child bearing and looked comely enough. She confessed to loving him and he decided he could lover her back. It was love enough for the average couple.
The world didn't need any more Weasley offspring in any case. His brothers and sister were already on the job and he had plenty of nieces and nephews to spoil if he felt paternal. He couldn't count the number of them on two hands. Yet as he glanced at Oliver he felt something stir and wondered if he could love Oliver like his governess.
"What are you thinking of, Perc?" Oliver asked after Percy realized he was staring at Oliver too long again.
"You. It's amazing how everything has changed and a lot of things actually haven't. I mean we finally meet again and save me yet again?" Percy said smiling.
"Just another day in our lives I think!" Oliver grinned unable to stop himself seeing Percy smile.
"Thanks for everything. Don't you think it's time to go to your men now?" Percy asked as he daringly touched Oliver's palm with his fingers.
Oliver nodded and took Percys' hand and held it with his own, "Of course! Is it okay if we hold hands until the door?"
Percy smiled even larger and Oliver felt his own heart rate speed up. He felt even more nervous as they approached the door. They both stopped at the door and waited. Neither of them wanting to let go but finally after a long moment Oliver did and his arm went limp. Oliver took the lead as usual and as he opened to door it wasn't like they were old men but children walking out in a strange world together.