The Characters in this Fanfiction are human versions of the characters from Hetalia: Axis powers set in a pirate AU. I do not own the characters.
Warnings: Human names used of course. Slight course language and also a blood warning.
It took Gilbert a while to get use to the company of Mr Bonnefoy.
Lovino seemed to remember the Frenchman from previous visits and avoided him like the plague. When Francis had decided to invade the ships galley to cook some French cuisine, Romano had made it his point that Antonio knew the little Italian would not be setting one foot into the galley until that perverted Frenchman was off the ship.
"Hey Gil~" Antonio beamed and tried to usher the boy to the kitchen. "Come try Francis' cooking, you will like it I promise"
Gilbert looked unsure, he still did not fully trust that man. "Do I have to?" Gilbert whined and started to act difficult. "Why can't Lovi just cook for us….I bet the Frenchmans' food will smell like his strong cologne…" Gilbert pouted.
"Gilbert please behave" Antonio sighed. "I don't want another repeat of how Romano and Francis get along…"
"Maybe there is a reason for that.." Gilbert grumbled but finally let his Captain lead him to the Galley.
Antonio sighed holding onto Gilberts wrist and smiled hopefully as he lead him down the stairs. "I mean.. if you get along I won't have to feel bad inviting him onto my ship.. I don't get to see people from home often and Francis really is a nice guy once you get to know him.." Antonio tried to explain.
The Captain had grown up with Francis, he was quite used to how the Franchman acted. In some sense he was rather immune to Francis's less savory antics. But then again he had always been rather blind to the negative traits of the people he cared about or at least he chose to ignore them.
As they entered the galley Gilbert had moved slightly behind his captain. The smell of the cooking made Gilbert forget his distrust for the moment and he looked up to see what the Frenchman was doing.
"Ah~ Antonio~ I had started to think you had forgotten about me cooking you lunch, and after I went to all that trouble to bring your favourite things all the way here" Francis sighs feinting hurt playfully.
"Oh come on Hermano~ you know I love your cooking, and I know my little Albinito will love it too" Antonio smiled and ruffled the boys white hair.
Francis laughed then tsked slightly. "I feel sorry for poor little Lovino~ having to cook in a kitchen so poorly stocked, I suggest next time you do repairs you upgrade your kitchen."
Antonio rolled his eyes. "This is a ship.. Not a palace or lords estate.. Trust me you get use to it… Ah… but I guess you never will since you spared no expense when you commissioned your new ship..~" Antonio chuckled lightly, no sign of jealously or insult just stating the facts.
"Ah~ but my ship is not a 'pirate ship' per se~ it was a early birthday present from me to moi~" Francis winks and smiles serving up two plates for Antonio and Gilbert.
Gilbert who had already been distracted from anything that was being said by the wonderful smell of the food, looked in awe. Even the restaurants Antonio had taken Gilbert too on special occasions didn't serve food that looked as glorious as what the Frenchman had plated up. How on earth could such a perverted old man like Francis cook food that looks and smells like that!
Antonio noticed the bugged eyed and oddly quiet behavior of his ward and chuckled slightly, happy his plan to at least try and get people to get along with Francis was working. "Well Albinito are you not going to try your helping? Usually you are impatient when food is being served~" Antonio pleasingly smiles taking his own plate from his friend. "Thankyou Hermano~"
"Eh.. I was just trying to figure out if it was food or a flower arrangement.. It's edible right?" Gilbert says trying to look not that impressed by the others presentation taking ahold of the plate of food.
Francis is confident in his cooking and casually watches the other two as he works on the other dishes he has going on in the kitchen.
Gilbert tasted the food hesitantly. "…!" His eyes lit up and he smiled with the fork still in his mouth. "Ah…!" Takes another mouthfull. "T-this is…. Actually… really really good…" Gilbert grinned blissfully and continued to eat the heaven-like food. "I might not fully trust you yet Francis… but even awesome me must admit this food is awesome… I will for now, say I would put up with you for this cooking…."
Francis quirks a brow "Ah…~ I am not sure if I should fully accept that as a compliment.. You are my toughest critic besides Lovino so far~"
Antonio plays with Gilberts hair while the boy is distracted by food, he always found it amusingly soft. "For Gilbert.. That is probably the highest compliment you could receive from him.. He doesn't often say anyone else besides himself is awesome~" Antonio petted the boys hair affectionately happy that Gilbert was slowly starting to get use to Francis.
Francis smiles slightly as he notices even more how attached Antonio is to his Cabin boy, glad his friend has some company so far from home. "Ah ah~ I cook for a hobby~ And like with any pleasurely persuit I hope to one day perfect my craft, tough critics only spurr me to work harder next time" Francis winks.
Antonio nods "I miss those days of only doing things like cooking and sword fighting for recreation, but then again.. This life does have it's perks~!" Antonio beams. "So Gilbert, you want Francis to visit again don't you?" He asks hopefully.
Gilbert looks between Antonio and Francis and gives a small concentrating look. "If he promises to cook again and not wear so much scented stuff then I wouldn't care either way… so okay…" Gilbert decides and polishes of the delicious lunch.
The happiest grin spreads from ear to ear on Antonios face and he ruffles the boy hair and Gil leans into it slightly. Use to this sort of affection since that was how his father used to show it too. "I am happy to hear that Albinito~ you are making life a lot more easier~ and you are so very cute when you eat food you like by the way Gil~" Antonio pinches the boys cheek and Gilbert whines in embarrasment as his Captain gives him a smiling cooing face "I am not a baby or a pet dammit! Awesome me will not be called cute!" Gilbert growled slightly with a frown and a light blush.
Francis chuckles. "Ah~ Antonio, as much as you adore youngesters you are terrible at raising them" The Frenchman smiled with a sigh and filled up the boys plate. "You are always so concerned that they like you so you spoil them~"
Gilbert had stopped talking now more food was now given to him.
Antonio pouted and then frowned. "I am quite capable of looking after my crew regardless of their age…and you can't act as if you are better at handling children then I am."
Gilbert finally spoke up. "Awesome me is not a child anymore! You should treat me like the rest of the crew..ppft.. Actually! Awesome me is one of the best sailors you have~! No no! The best! Kesesese"
Francis rolled his eyes. "Lets just hope he grows into his ego"
"One should always hope…." Antonio smiled.
O
The Spanish ship left Francis at port to meet up with his people and get back to the life that Antonio left behind all those years ago. Antonio decided it would be best to spend some time with Gilbert.
Antonio smiled and passed the boy his sword. "Today you are sparring with me Albinito~"
"Eh?" Gilbert raised a questioning eyebrow. "You mean with live steel and not just those blunt hunks of metal you call training swords?"
"Si~ I think you are ready for that Gilbert~ You are quite good with a sword…. Much better then I was at your age." Antonio grinned proudly. "And you can practice all you wish with a blunt sword.. But until you feel the danger and movement of live steel you will not be fully capable in battle. Sword fighting can be fun but it's not all fun and games Albinito~"
Gilbert nodded excitedly. This ment that Antonio was no longer treating him like a child. That he would finally be able to use a proper sword and help pull his weight whenever they attacked a ship. He could barely contain the grin on his face.
"Ja.. Awesome me can do that~ Kesesesese~"
Gilbert took a firm grip on his sword as Antonio lead him to the most open part of the deck. The sailors that were mulling around as the ship was happily sailing slowly far out in open water instantly recognised a mock battle with live steel and gathered at a safe distance to watch the little training session. Gilbert tried to calm himself, he knew being to eager would be dangerous.
Antonio took his stance. "Now Gilbert..remember, we are not playing for points so don't actually aim for vital spots. This is just practice~" Antonio smiled.
Gilbert nodded taking his own stance. "I would rather you not go easy on me Captain~" Gilbert grinned. "I want to test how good I really am~"
"Is that what you really want Gilbert?" Antonio tilted his head thoughtfully to the side. "Ah~ if that's what you really want then I best not disapoint you" Antonio smiled and raised his sword.
Gilbert smirked in a successful manner. "Ready when you are Captain~ Niyo Niyo~"
Antonio was quite good with both the pistol and sword. He was light on his feet and if it was the first time you met the Spaniard while during battle you would not suspect him to be the oblivious happy go lucky guy he was while in good company.
He met each of Gilberts swings. The boy himself was an aggressive fighter, he was strong and had a lot of energy. Something Antonio knew all to well when trying to drag the boy to bed to sleep. The last thing Gilbert lacked was confidence, but that was also his downfall a lot of the time. His pride led him to cloud his judgment in a battle and count less on strategy, although if he really wanted too, he quite good at planning attacks and defending.
The two watched each other carefully. Waiting for the other to move first, when Antonio showed no sign of doing so, Gilbert chose to start it swinging with the live steel memento. Antonio blocked the blow with a smile and pressed back, the sound of colliding steel echoing around the contours of the ship.
The two were fighting rather evenly and Antonio knew he better start taking this seriously as he was requested to do least he be humiliated in front of his crew. The Spaniard started moving faster to make the boy work harder, Gilberts face started to show more signs of concentration.
After Gilbert managed to parry a rather skilled blow Antonio smiled and chuckled. "Ah~ You are getting better Albinito~ but you are still clumsy on your feet~" Antonio chuckled and slapped the other on the backside with the broad side of his sword.
Gilbert let out an undignified squeal and blushed at the booming laughter around him.
Gilbert growled and came back at his Captain swinging blow after blow, Antonio struggling for a moment to keep up with the unpredictable child. Antonio might have had the reach advantage but Gilbert was relentless, such strength for a young teenage boy.
But being raised with a fencing background and then under a rather fine pirate swordsman of an ex-captain, Antonio had the upper hand. He swooped low with his blow and in his momentum Gilbert wobbled slightly but managed to dodge.
Gilbert left an opening when he dodged and Antonio took the mark aiming his sword to graze the others leg to win the duel. But luck was seemingly not on the albinos or Spaniards side, the boy was focused on not falling over and making a fool of himself and stepped right into the others swing.
Gilbert yelped slightly as he felt the metal slice into his leg his eyes widened in shock, the feeling was shockingly bizarre. It almost felt like a burn, it stung and sent horrid stabs of pain through his body. The cheering and commentary style shouts from the crew nothing but a blurred sound. He gasped at the odd feeling and looked up at his Captain with an instinctive venomous expression as the adrenaline surged through his body.
Antonio was the first to notice the blood. The sight of the wound and the horrid look Gilbert was giving him was more then enough for the older man to drop his guard.
But the young boy did not loose sight of his goal, if anything this spurred him on.
Antonio had aready started to drop his sword when the boy rushed him.
Gilbert knocked his shocked Captain to the deck with a blow from his elbow, Antonio was caught out by his worry for Gilberts safety and paid for it, crashing to the ground with wide eyes. Gilbert pointed his sword at the other with a grin.
There was a general stunned silence from the crew. What the hell just happened?
Gilbert smiled trumpantly looking down at the other. "Heh.. You need to take awesome me a lot more seriously when fighting against me! Niyo Niyo" The crowd was silent now, a few now focusing on the blood that was starting to pool at Gilberts feet.
"Albinito…." Antonios voice cracked lightly.
"You started to joke around.. Like you were fighting a child… and that made you lose.. A-and.. I…" Gilbert then abruptly collapsed as the adrenaline wore off and he legs gave way. He sat next to his captain looking confused as the pain started to come back, putting his hand quickly over his thigh as he notices the blood. "A-ah…." He grumbles slightly as he feels things starting to get cold and blurry.
"Ow! Dammit… how could awesome me be bleeding like this! It's just a cut…awesome me isn't in pain or anything….."
Antonio had sat up quickly and held the others shoulder. "Gilbert! Let me see!" Antonio said firmly but obviously worried.
It's fine Captain…I barely feel a thing" He smiled lopsidedly leaning against the other, closing his eyes shaking a little as shock from the pain and blood loss started to set in.
"Gilbert!" Antonios worried voice seemed racked with so much pain and guilt. "Gilbert! Please…."
They were not close to land.. If Gilbert lost too much blood…..
There was so much blood….
… please let me have missed an artery…
Antonio felt his heart sink as the thoughts rushed through his mind.
…please don't leave me too….
Gilbert could not remember much of what happened next. A blurr of people… of hurried orders and distressed words. He remembered being carried at some point and it all felt better.
Did I do well Captain…? Did awesome me show you all I am an awesome fighter too? Even with my bad eyesight… A great Captain like you..and like my Vati…..
O
If Gilbert had asked what had happened exactly before he came around later, he would have found out he never stopped smiling a soft victorious smile.
The first thing Gilbert noticed when he woke up was the throbbing pain in his thigh. He hissed and curled up in the blankets. He opened one eye painfully and tried to take his bearings.
I am in the Captains bed….? He thought to himself as he tried to control the pain.
"G-gilbert?…you're finally awake…" Antonio sighed with relief and Gilbert blinked as he felt a hand touch his forehead.
The boy had almost died and had been unconscious for a great deal of time and Antonio looked like an emotional wreak but Antonio had not left Gilberts side until he had woken up, sitting by him with a concerned look, stroking his forehead making sure the other wasn't showing any signs of getting worse.
"What….? U-urk…" Gilbert whined. "W-why was I sleeping….it hurts…"
"You blacked out from the pain and the blood loss Albinito…." Antonio smile softly in a tired and appologetic manner. "I managed to stitch you up as best as I could with the help of the doctor…. But you kept moving so it took us both to do it….ah.. But I must admit it is hard with out anything for the pain…" Antonio looked like he was about to cry from the mix of the relief he had not lost Gilbert at his own hands and the fact that the boy was in pain and probably hated him now.
"I'm so sorry Gilbert… I …. should have been more careful…I could have killed you…I almost k-killed you" Antonio lent down and rested his head against the others in sincere apology.
Gilbert had never seen Antonio like this before.. His eyes seemed even sadder then the day he had met him. He reached his hand out and petted the others hair and he noticed how hard the other was gripping the bed with his fingers.
Gilbert bit his lip. He had to be strong otherwise his Captain might start being even more upset. "A-ah…it's ok….c-come on..it would take more then that to kill someone as awesome as me~" Gilbert smiled and patted his Captain on the head. "I must admit you got me good… but.. I won match point." Gilbert grinned.
"….Gilbert… you hard headed little .. brat…." Antonio laughed and the tears fell down his cheeks happily. "I should have known it was impossible to kill a little demon like you.." His smile softened and he held the other close being careful of his wounded leg. "Gilbert.. I forbid you to scare me like that ever, ever again." Antonio hugged the other tightly around the shoulders resting his head in the crook of the boys neck. Antonio had seen a far few people he cared about die but nothing had come close to the feeling of almost losing his Albinito.
"Awesome me will promise to try.." Gilbert hugged the other back with a blush, feeling warm all over his heart sped up a little. He had never felt this weird feeling before .. He wondered if he was getting a fever.. Yes.. It was probably just relief he was okay he thought to himself.
This chapter took a while to write as I went on two week vacation. I also wrote too much so I split it into this and the next chapter! Which means I already have two pages of the next chapter done!