A/N: Currently seeking someone to maybe help me edit this? I always feel like I miss something or the story is confusing at parts. If anyone is interested let me know. But here we go another chapter out, one I'm not feeling too good about, but I hope you like none the less. Thank you all for reviewing, favoriting, and following as their adventure continues.
If nothing else in life, Mary Read prided herself in being able to keep men at an arm's length. She slept with one male whore when needed, and had one simple rule: spill the seed on the belly not in it. Of course sleeping with men was much more dangerous in that aspect, as well as getting them to shut up about the fact that she lacked a cock in-between her legs. Ladies were simple, a few kisses and gifts and their lips were sealed. Men needed paid with gold and a bit of trust though all of this was thrown out the door when Rackham went on screaming James Kidd was in fact a woman.
Mary was stuck on his ship with Anne, worried for her friend and forced to sail with him as her own ship was being prepared. Contracts didn't wait for ships to be fixed, and Rackham promised her a trip as long a she kept her distance from Anne which went without saying. So she sat at the tavern in a tiny sea side town while Rackham got pissed and Anne sat in his lap trying to get him to pay attention to her.
Her rum was filled again by the pretty bar maid and she grumbled, hating the fact that she had to keep up her dress of a woman while Rackham was around. Or course men would come over and question her until they realized it was Kidd they were talking to and they'd scamper off to get their hand on an easier woman.
Although the one who sat across from her and picked up her hand was different. His hair as black as ink, skin clean and well washed, a nice scruff coated his cheek, and above all else his eyes could have been Kenway's which left Mary slightly breathless. She'd come to find out his name was Richard and he was from Wales, just like Kenway another fact that would lead her into his arm later that night.
"So the Demon Kidd turns out to be nothing more than a very smart woman, I applaud you. My name's Richard, quartermaster to a merchant who has feared you personally for the past four years."
"That so? Ya want an award for servin' a man who fears me? What can I do for ya?" Mary asked him, taking another long sip of her rum and watched Anne leave with Rackham, not even bothering to look her way.
"I'd like to talk to you lass, I have a deep respect for you unlike most then men here. Half of them fear you and the other half want to rape you."
"I'd like to see them try. How do I know which side ya stand on Richard? Buy me another drink mate."
"I assure you I stand on neither, I want to talk is all, get to know the infamous Mary Read. Another drink for the lady Jessie!"
"I ain't no lady," Mary snapped to him watching him chuckle and apologize as she grabbed her new drink and drank away. He was too pretty, just like Edward but she knew why she wanted his company. She missed him, the stupid git had sneaked his way into her life and now thoughts of him wouldn't escape her.
"Of course not, I meant no harm. Perhaps we should start from the beginning, how did you become a captain?"
It wasn't a question on why she dressed like a man, or why she didn't know her place wasn't on a ship. He wanted to know of her rise to fame as a pirate and it intrigued her, or perhaps the rum did. All Mary knew of that night was drinking far too much and leaving with him to go back to his ship to have a look around and give him some standard advice on how they could put their cannons up properly to create a better defense. Then her hands had been in his hair and his own in her trousers.
She woke with a pain in her head, enough to feel like a hammer bashing against her skull. It wasn't until she felt a finger brush her cheek did she rise and look down to him in horror as memories came back to her. They'd fucked like she hadn't fucked in so long. Her panic set in as he sat up with her, kissing her even though she pushed him back gently.
"What's wrong Mary? I told you I wouldn't speak of this last night."
"Did ya…where did ya spill?"
"What do you mean? I was under the impression you wanted this as much as I did?"
"No I did I mean, did ya spill inside me?"
"Where else would I have?"
His words caused her to jump from the bed and begin gathering her clothing, shoving him away and holding a knife towards his face when he tried to come at her again.
"Yer a nice man Richard, but leave me be."
"I think your overreacting, you surely won't get pregnant from this one night Mary."
Mary could laugh now, thinking back on the turn of events that played out that day. Just one night, with one man that had looked like a dark haired version of her Kenway and she was knocked up the duff. Really she should thank him, being tied up against the mast of the Navy ship headed to Kingston but she still felt anger in her veins. Of all the stupid mistakes she'd done in her life this might be the worst, but at least maybe it would save her life for a little while.
"So was it a mistake?"
"Hm Richard? Yes and no I suppose. Kept me from being hanged didn't it?"
"Bit jealous, you slept with him because he looked like me."
"For fucks sake man, he didn't look like ya, just had blue eyes. I liked them."
"You've liked my eyes for years but we've never ya know, done the deed."
"Yer an arse Kenway, that's why," Edward let out a chuckle at Mary's glare she shot his way, reaching over and gently punched her arm.
"Fair enough lass, I like to think I know better now."
"Ya getting there," Her laughter filled the air as their boots crunched against the sticks laid out on the trail. They'd been hiking most the day to reach the plantation where Mary's babe was and he'd managed to get out who was the father. "How far long now? Climb a tree and have a look Kenway."
"Yes, yes hold your trousers lass," Edward rolled his eyes, jogging over to a tree and began to climb it's limbs to have look over the jungle around them, spotting the plantation only seemed to be but mile ahead. His heart was racing, for his one great fear once they got in there. What if the babe had died? It'd have been his fault, he and Anne had seen her but left her here and if she was dead then surly it'd be his fault.
Leaping off from the limb he landed on the ground next to Mary who seemed unimpressed with him and Edward grinned, grabbing her shoulders and shoving her forward. "Onward Mary, isn't far now. Getting nervous still?"
"A bit."
"She'll know who you are, surely."
Mary simply looked over to him before setting off in a jog toward the plantation. He was quick to follow though, ducking down behind the stone walls that guarded the fields. She was tugging her hair down, a slicing her thumb to stain her lips red. He reached over, unbuttoning the top of her shirt so her cleavage would be exposed since there was no corset to remove like there had been all those years ago. "Ya are going to get them bells silenced alright? When ya do whistle three times and I'll take out them guards watching the house."
"Here," Edward leaned over, running his hand through her hair and laying it over her shoulder, helping her dap ash onto her eyelids before pulling back and feeling his breath leave his lungs. "You look beautiful."
"It'll get the job done then eh? Get goin, stop starin at me Kenway."
A chuckle left him as he crouched down and ran down the length of the wall until it stopped, just past the white house and everything opened up into fields with black men and woman hard at work. Edward couldn't recall which shack the babe lived in, only that it was to be here surely which meant they had to take over the whole of the farm.
Hiding in the crops and nodding to the dark skinned workers who would simply move aside for him as he'd reach out, his hidden blade giving man after man a sweet kiss watching them chock on the steel before setting their bodies in the crop. The first bell was sliced, silenced just before a soldier ran at him. Edward jumped back, grabbing one of his swords and slashed the man across the chest, watching him fall to his knees and die in his own pool of blood. The second and final bell however proved far wittier then him. He hadn't seen the guard walking up in the tower, hadn't paid him a lick of notice and as he silenced the second bell he heard the gunshot and felt a scorch of pain shoot through his left arm, diving off into the crops and landing on his back as he bit down on his lip to keep form screaming out.
The gun would alert the soldiers at the white house which would either give Mary time to get in or cause them to lock it down either way. In a turn of luck it seemed they were more set on killing him then with protecting whoever owned this damn thing. He felt hands grab his shoulders and his blue eyes darted up, locking with a large man who held him up, "Get in the shack."
Edward nodded, not going to question the slave who was helping him but only doing as he said. He ran into the shack, finding a woman cooking and he looked to her, holding his bleeding arm and leaned against the wall mumbling a string of apologies only listening to her snap at him in a language he wasn't so sure he knew. She was standing by him soon, taking his arm and examining the wound and went to grab something in a small bottle, pouring it over the hole. Stars exploded in his vision as the sounds of gunshots echoed outside until nothing fell but silence. "I hate being shot, been shot once before in the leg," He told her only getting a glare in response as she wrapped up his arm with what she had and as the door to the shack slammed open he jumped in front of her with a pistol pointed to the person who entered.
"Kenway put it down, it's done."
Mary was absolutely covered in blood and looked like she'd just fought a war, a war he should have been helping her fight. The man who had told him to come in here ran in after Mary and grabbed the woman behind him and hugged her as Edward took Mary's hand and walked out of the shack and looked as slaves all over were looting the men in red coats and the white house was ablaze. This hadn't been in the agenda, they were just going kill guards and get out. Surely his shot hadn't caused all this.
"What, what happened? For fucks sake Mary what did you do?"
"What did I do? I think ya let everyone know we were here or don' ya remember that? Been shot again, ya were a whining brat last time tha' happened."
"Mary this was personal wasn't it."
"Owner of this here plantation, man that doctor sold my babe to. He was the captain who took me in to Kingston, who beat me for days and tied me up on his mast. So yeah Kenway it became personal. Ya see his home though? He's all tied up on his bed waiting to die."
His brows furrowed, reaching out to her with his right arm and touched her arm, feeling her jerk away from him. "There's more to this isn't there?"
"Not now Kenway, I want my babe."
"No you're doing this again, telling me only pieces but leaving out most of the tale aren't you?"
"For fucks sake man let it rest!" She screamed at him, before storming off back into the shack and coming out with the man who was leading her further down into the plantation then they had gone. He followed at a safe distance, entering a large building that seemed to be falling down. Inside was two little white girls sitting in the laps of their black mothers but one woman sat far from them, holding on to a doll and Mary was bent down in front of her, taking her hand as they spoke whispers to one another. Something wasn't right, the way Mary reached over and pulled the woman into the hug only assured him something had happened to the babe.
"Mate, what's goin on?" He asked the man who stood with him, who had brought them here after helping them through so much.
"Four days ago, men dressed like you came here and took Cilly's babe from her, she had a prison babe like her sisters."
Edward thanked him and walked over to where Mary was rubbing the other woman's back, and leaned down beside them reaching over and placed his hand on her shoulder. But as Mary's gaze met his own he stood and left getting the picture. His arm was throbbing but whatever the woman had poured over it was numbing the pain and he should be thankful for the most part. Edward decided to sit outside the shack and watch the white building burn, and it burned until it was nothing left but embers and the moon was rising above it and his own eyes had closed as sleep had eluded him into its grasp.
He felt a hand shake him, looking up to Mary who reached down and helped lift him up, being gentle not to touch his arm which was not so numb anymore and with every move he made pain laced through him. "Find your babe?"
"Seems my mentor has. She's alive, two and a half. Her name is Amara and that was the woman who has been raising her, she even remembers ya and Anne. Says ya brought her a flower and gave her a very large purse of gold."
"Aye, all three of them, didn't know which was yours so Anne and I took it upon ourselves to try to give them all a chance."
"She's fond of bread and likes sugary things and absolutely hates her hair bein' brushed."
"Spent some time talking then?"
"Calming her I suppose. She knows I want her back and said as long as I let her say goodbye she'll be happy. Suppose they have some time before a merchant come in lookin for sugar and finds the fire and the salves freed."
"Ah Tabai then."
"Aye, he's known about her just like ya thought. Time to go see my mentor Kenway, and get ya arm looked at."
"I can't get it."
"Relax Annie, load it up again and take ya aim."
The city of Nassau was alive and healthy, everyone running around and doing as they pleased. Edward sat leaning against a palm tree with Mary's pipe in hand, smoking as he watched her try to teach Anne to shoot a pistol. He'd taken care of Rackham, made sure he was right passed out so he'd leave Mary alone with Anne for a while. Rackham had become obsessed with the idea of James Kidd wanting in Anne's knickers and wouldn't leave Mary alone whenever she was in town. Vane was no help either, allowing his quartermaster to do as he pleased.
"Annie don't listen to him, aim a bit higher than you think is needed."
"Shut it Kenway."
"Edward, James hasn't lied to me yet I'm sure he's telling me everything I need to know," Anne smiled clearly trying to flirt with Mary but the woman was too busy sending death glares his way. He puffed on the pipe and watched Anne sigh in defeat and go back to trying to shoot the target they had made for her.
"James go on, show us your Demon aim eh?"
Mary went to storm over to him only to have Anne grab her hand and smile. Edward filled the pipe up as he watched Anne go on and on about needing help with the aim but her hands kept wondering over Mary's arms. "Jim, show me again."
"Alright, pay attention though," Mary mumbled, her arms wrapping around Anne from behind and laying her hands on the other womans. Either Mary had no idea Anne wanted her, or she was just ignoring it because he noticed how instead of listening to what Mary was saying Anne was too busy watching her speak and nodding along.
He rose from where he sat and walked over to them, shoving Mary aside and stood with his own arms around Anne but instead of her staring dreamily at him she turned red and stared at the gun as he spoke.
"Fancy Jim do ya lass?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about Edward."
"He thinks your gorgeous, was telling me so last night when he came about for a drink but he's worried about your feelings for Rackham."
"Oh but…I love Jack but you see…"
"Ya want to fuck Jim don't you? I can help you."
"Why would you help me do that?"
"I have a thing for helping woman who aspire to be more than housemaids. You're going to be a pirate Annie, best get on with the fucking then we can help you with plundering. James!"
Mary was retrieving her pipe and smoking it, turning to give him a hard look before walking over to them both. He couldn't help but try not to laugh at how Anne was staring at her and by now Mary could clearly see it in the other woman's eyes.
"Jim, Anne here want to know somethin."
"What is it Annie, you haven't fired yet like you sh-" Mary was shut off as Anne dropped the gun and wrapped her arms around Mary's neck, pressing her lips against the other woman's and Edward had to turn away and cover hismouth to not laugh out loud. "Anne!"
"Jim please don't be shy, Edward told me everything and-"
"Anne go get us some rum," Edward turned as Anne who was now bright red was running off to the tavern and soon he felt a body crash into his own, laying against the sand as a fist met his face. He reached up to grab her hands but Mary was to quick, landing another blow straight into his nose and this time he punched back, feeling his knuckles smash into her jaw.
"Fuck are you playing at Kenway!"
"It was a joke!"
"Stop messing with Annie like that! Bad enough I had just gotten her to stop touching me and now you've gone and done this!"
"Lighten up Kidd!" He screamed back at her feeling another blow to his cheek and soon he was leaning up, throwing her off of him and grabbed her foot as she kicked him, twisting her leg and punched her in the back of the head. It wasn't until Mary went still did there fighting stop, both of their faces covered in purple marks and bleeding from the nose.
"Where's Rackham? He doesn't let her be gone this long."
"Did ya have to punch me nose," Edward whined, leaning back and pinching the bridge of it watching her do the same.
"Coulda punched ya groin but then I'd have gotten stares from men. You boys don't do tha' to one another. Where's Jack?"
"Shed, locked up."
"Give me the key then, Anne will be back soon."
"May have thrown it in the swamp, don't hit me."
"Charles will have a field day, come on Edward time to go get him out," Mary stood up and Edward groaned, unpinching his nose and happy to fine the blood had stopped. He took her to the shed and leaned against it as she began to pick pocket, well try to.
"What kind of assassin can't do this?"
"One that is about to unman ya."
"Sorry for punching ya."
"No need, was a fair fight. What did I tell ya before, don't be treaten' me any different. Ah there we go," Mary opened the door only to stand up and grab him, throwing him in the shed and slammed the door shut. "RACKHAM! Kenway here was trying to sleep with ya Annie, here he is mate."
Edward stood in shock as he looked over to find Jack getting up from his drunken state of sitting on the floor and lunged at him. "Fuck sake Kidd."
Edward found the pain too much to bare and the walk back to his ship tonight wasn't going to happen, or according to Mary he was being a little bitch. He found himself leaning against the door to a shed, watching Mary attempt to pick the lock while cussing it out simultaneously. The slaves had been very kind to them, especially Cilly who had brought them food, water, and blankets for their stay in the garden shed. Finally the door swung open and Mary stood giving him a smirk.
"Took you long enough."
"Been a long time since I've done that, thank ya very much. Go on get in, I'll make ya bed."
He followed her in, watching her rearrange bags of sugar to be pillows and laid their blankets down on the dirt floor. He sat down, watching her kneel down in front of him and gently take his arm and began to unwrap it, examining the bullet wound and pocked it. He hissed, slapping her hand away which only earned him a glare as she reached into her sachet and pulled out a needle and thread.
"Want me to go get ya some rum?"
"You did this once without it, can't be too bad."
"Manning up on me are ya Kenway?" She smiled to him, starting his stitching and by the third stitch he had to grab her arm and shake his head. "Want that rum?"
"Aye lass."
"I'll be right back then, hold ya wound up tight for me don't need ya bleeding out."
"Not going to bleed out from a shot in my arm, am I?"
"Hold it tight Kenway, I'll be back," She poked his forehead, laying her needle and thread down on his thigh before taking her leave to find a bottle of rum for him. The pain in his arm wasn't as horrible as his leg had been but he was thankful when Mary came back and bit off the cork for him, letting him get a bit of a buzz before she grabbed the bottle and poured it over his wound causing him to scream out and her to giggle.
"I'm glad this amuses you so much."
"Don't ya remember the last time ya got shot? In the leg, and ya fell asleep on my ship."
"You got attacked by a fleet and fucking just took them down like some pirate queen didn't ya?"
"Demon Kidd now, not a queen get the names right," Edward raised the bottle to his lips taking another swig as Mary resumed her stitching, wiping his blood off as the needle poked through his skin. He hissed, wanting the rum to make him pissed instead of this happy buzz he was feeling. He watched her work, her hair had fallen down into pieces from her black bandanna and she was biting her lower lip in concentration. The more rum he swallowed the less the pain could be felt, as well as the more his eyes refused to leave Mary's face.
After some time the candles were burning low and she was finishing up the exit wound, tying it tight and the rum was long gone as he leaned against the wall in a fit of giggles. Edward felt amazing, quite sure he could use this arm to go win a brawl even. To make matters better Mary was fixing her things in front of him so he did the most sensible thing in his drunken mind.
Edward reached across to her, his hand reaching under her shirt and cupped her breast as he let out a chuckle. Mary seemed to kneel there, finishing up throwing the needle back into the sachet.
"What are ya doing Kenway?"
His thumb brushed over her nipple, fingers kneading the soft skin as he leaned up to get closer to her.
"They're not very big now are they?
Mary looked up to him, her dark eyes narrowing and soon he felt her hand grab his groin and he froze staring at her hidden blade that was just right there, all she had to do was unleash it and he could kiss his manhood goodbye.
"Aye, this ain't very big either now it is?"
"If ya give me five minutes it gets bigger."
Mary let go of him and grabbed his wrist, yanking his hand from her shirt as she stood, grabbing a blanket and threw it at him.
"Get some rest."
"Lay with me Mary."
"Before you admitted ya feelings to me when ya got pissed all ya wanted to do was flirt with me. Well not that ya trying to commit to me I can't imagine what you'll do now."
"I can warm ya, you wouldn't even have to do anything in return."
"Ain't that an odd thing to say? You'll pleasure me but I can just sit in ya lap and do nothing in return."
"Mm, yes."
"Fine," He froze, his blue eyes darting up to her as she walked back to him and straddled his waist. His mind was fuzzy and the feeling of Mary's thighs straddling his own was enough to ruin his state of mind. Edward tilted his face to the side, feeling her lips press against his neck and groaned as her teeth raked his skin. He was trying to focus, his bad arm rest by his side but his other moved to the front of her trousers, his hand sliding in and gently pet the hair he found there.
"Mary," He breathed out, feeling her suck and bite his neck knowing she was leaving a mark.
"Kenway, pass out now."
"A-Aye…"Edward looked up to her as she pulled back and felt her fingers pinch his neck and everything in his vision went black.