Well it's been awhile but I finally managed to write up the next chapter. It's kind of a boring chapter since it contains Scroop just checking out Arch's ship and such. But there is a hint of desire near the end of the chapter which will evolve later on.
So enjoy the chapter!
Again, if you are uncomfortable reading male/male pairings...why the heck are you still reading this after four (five, counting the prologue) chapters of the same warning?
Chapter 4: Exploration of Captain Flint
A week had passed since Scroop's rescue from the Etherium. He was slowly getting his strength back due to the tea Arch always gave him each day. After the incident of Arch pinning him to the cot, he didn't want a repeat of that so he forced himself to drink the tea. To his surprise, the tea didn't taste as vile as he thought it would be. In fact it tasted a bit like peppermint and perhaps it was. He could live with the tea.
Of course he was still under the supervision of Arch who always checked in every hour which infuriated the pirate. Sometimes Arch would try to strike up a conversation with Scroop, which the pirate ignored every time. After several unsuccessful attempts to start a conversation, Arch had finally realized he would never get an answer from the Mantavor he had rescued. So for the next few days he would only poke his head into the room and then leave when he saw that everything was fine.
By the second week, Scroop decided he was well enough to try to move. Using the cot and other nearby furniture to steady himself, he managed to slowly walk around his room. After practicing for a few days, he felt ready to walk out of his room and explore the rest of Arch's ship.
One evening, Scroop slowly opened the door to his room and took a few quick glances down the long and narrow hall. Satisfied that it was safe, he stepped into the hall and went down to his left towards a door. Reaching it, he was surprised to find it opened just a crack and he could hear strange clucking sounds. Pushing the door open, he found himself in the store room. The clucking sounds came from a small crate standing on a large barrel. Peering between the cracks, Scroop saw strange animals inside. The animals had a reptilian body with claws and a long tail, but unlike a regular reptile they had feathers, wings on their backs, beaks and red combs on their heads. These creatures were called Opelnchic, an animal that was a mix of a chicken and an iguana. Scroop gave the crate a tap with his claw, causing the Opelnchics to squawk and flutter their wings in panic. He smirked and turned away to focus his attention on other barrels. Searching through the supplies, he found a crate filled with biscuits. Reaching in, Scroop groped around for a biscuit and brought it up to his face. He sniffed it and gave it a tiny lick.
Hardtack, just like the ones he used to eat back on the pirate ship. Comforted by this bland but familiar food, Scroop began to eat. As he swallowed he felt something sliding down his throat. He frowned and sniffed the hardtack. It smelled normal, but there was something odd about the taste and the feeling of it that he couldn't place his claw on.
Suddenly, something brushed past his legs. Scroop dropped the hardtack in alarm, looking down at the ground to search for whatever brushed against him. The creature had a long weasel-like body with a feline face and a black and orange pelt. The creature looked up, eyes half closed and growling. It was then Scroop realized that the creature wasn't growling…it was purring.
"Shoo," Scroop hissed, nudging it away with one of his legs. The creature pressed itself against his other leg, still purring and rubbing.
"Go away!" Scroop snarled, giving it a light kick. Even the kick didn't faze the creature as it latched itself onto his leg again. Finally Scroop reached down, grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and tossed it to one side. Whirling around, he stormed out of the store room and slammed the door shut behind him. Figuring that he had seen enough of the store room, Scroop turned his attention to the room that was across from his. Except for a desk standing to one side, the room turned out to be a room similar to his. Sniffing with disinterest, Scroop closed the door and headed towards the stairs which led up to the deck. The dying light gave little warmth on his exoskeleton skin as he stepped onto the open deck. He breathed in the brisk space air. Scroop had never liked being stuck in an enclosed space and after being stuck in a room for nearly two weeks, he relished being out in open air again.
A movement by the port side caused him to turn his head. Arch was tying some roping for the sails, his back turned towards Scroop. Arch then immediately began to climb up the ratlines up towards the sails. Scroop stepped back and tilted his head back, watching as Arch crawled up and down the masts, unfurling sails, tying some loose ropes. The more Scroop watched, the more impressed he became with how focused Arch was with his task, his agility and his speed. Something stirred within Scroop, something he hadn't felt for a long time, a feeling of desire.
Above in the mast, Arch finally looked down and spotted Scroop watching him. He gave a brief wave towards him and to Scroop's surprise he found himself slowly waving back.
With a brief nod, Arch turned back to his duty. Scroop gave a lustful smile.
He liked what he saw.
A/N: So is this love what Scroop is feeling? Nah...just plain normal lust. Love will come later.