Chapter IV
The Lady who Became a Pirate (Part III)
The bulky mean looking bald man and his associates had been quite confident at the beginning of the game, but Relena had somehow managed to ignore their malicious whispers and giggles even as they stared at her and – at the end – she proved that there really was something called beginner's luck. Heero allowed himself a small smile when her opponent lost his final die and Duo pulled her out of her chair and into a hug even as shocked as she was with her own flawless victory. 'Do ye still think she's not useful?' the captain asked Chang when the Chinese man stepped beside him.
'They underestimated her.' was his reply. 'Do ye still think learning to gamble is pointless?'
He gave Heero a raised-eyebrows glance before walking away and Quatre patted the captain's shoulder with a sympathetic smile. Their eyes then fell on their adversary. The man was pale, but still huge and the glimmer of madness in his eyes did not bode well. 'What are you going to do with his life?' the blonde pirate asked.
'It's Relena's victory. I think she should decide.' He said that loud enough for the others to hear.
'Oy!' Duo hurried towards him with a frown. 'It's me debt! It was me life on the line!' Heero raised his eyebrow and the braided man leaned closer. 'I wouldn't mind the lass keeping the prize, Heero, but ye can't give it to 'er. She'll let 'im walk!'
'Then so be it. He lives to see another day.'
The bald man turned to Relena then and the budding rage in his eyes seemed to suddenly be tainted by a sliver of hope. 'I believe in second chances.' She told him.
'Let this not happen again.' The captain eyed both their adversary and Duo seriously before leaving. 'I'm heading back to the ship. Let Chang know we set sail at dawn.'
'Aye, aye, Capt'n.' the braided pirate mumbled displeased at the turn of events, then watched with no small amount of surprise as the monstrous man, who had wanted him killed, bowed to the young lady that had spared him before leaving the tavern followed by his reluctant and protesting comrades. 'There goes a head I would've liked to chop off…'
'I'm sorry, Duo.' Relena told him, genuinely apologetic, despite the fact that she clearly would not have approved of him beheading the man.
'Ye saved me life, princess.' He dismissed her apologies with a wide grin and threw an arm around her shoulders as he led her back to her seat. 'That's a small price to pay. Now, this deserves a drink!'
'Aye.' Quatre agreed pulling up a chair followed by Trowa and the reluctant new recruit Schbeiker. 'You'd make a good pirate, Lena.'
'You really think so?' she asked, trying not to sound too hopeful or look too pleased, but at all their agreeing nods she could not help but smile.
XXX
Sally watched from the bed as Wufei sunk deeper into the bathtub, resting his wet head against the edge with a sigh. He had confessed to her once, during a particularly rough day at sea, that baths were what he missed most from life ashore. The water seemed to relax him and – even though nights were never completely quiet in Tortuga – so did the silence. She knew him better than anyone and, even though she did not know exactly what they were, she knew she could trust him and talk to him about anything. Even about things Sally knew he did not wish to talk about.
'That girl that's been travelling with you…' she paused waiting for a protest that never came. 'Is she Heero's…'
'Nay.' he cut in before she could finish.
'So he hasn't…'
'Nay.'
'Oh…' she lamented. 'I thought he had finally found someone he could trust enough to…'
'Sally.' His tone was grave though not harsh. 'I don't wish to talk about Yuy's…whatever this is.'
'I'm sorry.' Sally waited a moment, smiling at the already expected response, and resumed as soon as he had relaxed again. 'How long will she be sailin' with ye?'
'A few more days.' That topic seemed to cheer him up somewhat. 'Just until we reach Port Royal… That's where she was headed when we rescued her and that's where Heero promised we would take her.'
'Ye're docking at Port Royal?' she shifted worriedly, disentangling her legs from the bed sheets. 'Place is swarming with privateers these days… Half the East India Company seemed to be there last I heard.'
Wufei did not seem at all preoccupied. 'Heero isn't scared and Winner will provide us with a viable strategy if needed.'
'Winner?' she teased and smiled knowingly behind his back. 'What happened to "good-for-nothing landlubber"?'
'He's still a landlubber. A weak one, but not in the head. He and Yuy make a good team.'
'Aren't ye afraid he might steal yer post?' Sally kept poking. She knew he would never talk unless she did and he definitely needed to. He needed to voice his thoughts in order to straighten them.
'Winner's too soft to be first mate. The first mate's the one who yells at people so the captain doesn't spoil his benevolent image.'
'I would've never thought of Heero as benevolent.' She commented amused.
'Only a benevolent fool rescues a strange woman and takes her home without asking for anything in return.' Wufei complained clearly unhappy with his captain's decision.
'He's just, Wufei. Ye would not serve under any other kind of man.'
'I served under Lowe.' He corrected her.
'Lowe was just.' Sally replied sombrely. 'He just wasn't good.'
Wufei did not reply to that and she left the bed to join him in the tub, smiling at the half-hearted frown he gave her. She took way too many liberties with him for his taste… Not that he was going to protest. 'Ye want the girl to leave… Do yer comrades agree with that?' her smile widened when he snorted.
'They're giving her lessons…As if she could become one of us.'
'Ye think she's weak.'
'I think Winner's weak. This woman… She's not like the rest of us.'
'Ye need more hands, Wufei, and ye said she hasn't paid for her rescue yet…' Sally studied his thoughtful face for a long time. He was a tough nut to crack, but she knew that if she planted the seed it would sprout whether he realised it or not. 'Does Heero want her to leave?'
'Are we back to that already?'
'Does he?'
Wufei snorted. 'Heero's turning out to be just as weak as the rest of them.'
'We owe our lives to him.' She reminded him.
'Aye...' he conceded.
'Ye could do this one thing for 'im, Wufei. It might be a good thing for her to stay… A very good thing.'
XXX
Heero was at the helm, trying – yet again – to enjoy a little bit of afternoon quiet as they made their way to Port Royal. Schbeiker was mopping the main deck and the captain was keeping a cautious eye on him, though the new recruit seemed to be doing a fine job ever since they set sail. Heero was still not fully convinced having a former member of the Royal Navy on board was a good idea. He did not agree with Chang, who believed Schbeiker was some sort of spy for the East India Company, but he could not agree with his easily trusting crewmembers either, that was why he had assigned the man swabbie for the time being. Schbeiker had not complained and the captain had begun feeling he deserved a promotion.
'Did ye call me, Capt'n?'
'Maxwell, I want ye to keep an eye on Schbeiker. Have 'im do some minor tasks here and there, see how he does.'
'Why me?' Duo questioned, making Heero raise an eyebrow at him. 'Not that I'm not honoured by yer trust, eh? It's just that…little Schbeiker's a bit of a rum fella.' He stepped closer and lowered his voice. 'He hides between the crates at night as if he's afraid we might kill 'im in his sleep…and during the day he barely says a word and he never ever meets yer eye. Ever.'
'What he means to say, Captain…' Quatre approached them chuckling. 'Is that he's as afraid of Schbeiker as Schbeiker's afraid of us.'
'Oy, Quatre! No one said anything 'bout being afraid! I was just pointing out to Heero a few of Mr Schbeiker's very fine qualities.'
'Right.' The blonde pirate kept laughing.
'So? Will ye watch 'im, Maxwell? Or should I ask Howard?' when the captain raised his eyebrows again it was in expectation.
'I'll guard 'im with me life, Capt'n.'
'They're a good match.' Quatre commented as he watched his braided friend make his way to the quiet Schbeiker.
'Aye… One's a blabbermouth and the other's nearly speechless.'
'That's what I like about the sea… There's a place for everyone here. No one can tell us who we're supposed to be… Here our differences bring us closer together.'
'You're a romantic, Winner.' Heero saw it fit to inform him.
'Maybe that's why I'm here on behalf of Ms Darlian.'
The captain turned to him fully, taking his eyes off Duo and Schbeiker for a moment. 'Is she aware?'
Quatre had the decency to blush. 'No, she isn't… I think she wants to stay, Heero. I think all she's waiting for is an invitation.'
Heero said nothing as he turned back to the main deck. The braided pirate was already taking advantage of his new position and irritating the new recruit by pointing out dirty spots on the wooden deck. Schbeiker looked cross and seemed to be having a hard time holding his rusty tongue.
Then the captain heard Wufei curse and noticed the Chinese man trying to help Trowa fix a broken halyard. He had forgotten his spare hair tie at Sally's – not that he had told anyone – and, now that the one he had been wearing had snapped, the black strands always seemed to be getting in his way. It was when Heero saw Relena approaching. She offered Wufei a ribbon, which he accepted reluctantly after a long pause. As Chang returned to his task with a scowl the young woman met the captain's eyes and smiled.
XXX
'Port Royal!'
Relena barely heard Trowa's shout over the howling winds. She stumbled on her way to the railing as their vessel veered unsteadily over the agitated waters. In the distance, she could discern the pier and the tiny people that rushed about mindful of the upcoming storm. The realisation that she would soon be just another one of those tiny people watching the Peacemillion sail away should have been comforting, especially with the ship being so violently shaken by the raging sea, but all she could feel was apprehension and dread. She did not even want to imagine meeting her brother and his wife, she did not want to think about how awkward it was all bound to be. What if they had already gotten news of the attack on her ship? What if they thought she was dead? They had never even met… What if they were relieved they would no longer have to be her nannies?
She turned to the quarter deck where Heero stood behind the helm with Wufei beside him. They had serious looks on their faces and seemed to be arguing. Relena knew it was too late to ask them to turn back. She did not have the right to, after all she was not a part of the crew… She was just a temporary passenger.
'Are ye alright, ma'am?' Schbeiker asked her in a surprisingly soft, surprisingly human tone. It was so unexpected, it took Relena a moment to answer.
'I'm all right, yes. Thank you.'
The new recruit gave her a nod and a small smile and went back on his way. Relena watched him curiously from afar. She wondered what kind of story laid behind that one. It was when she realised she had been so busy learning about sailing and gambling she had not heard any of the amazing tales the crew surely had to tell her. Even though the captain himself had told her she should.
'Seen a ghost, lass?' Howard was suddenly beside her, leaning casually against the railing even as the ship rocked violently.
'A ghost?' she asked him with a confused frown.
'Me old ship used to be haunted by the ghost of a wild chicken.'
'A wild chicken?' she giggled half-amused half-sceptical.
'Aye.' He nodded serious. 'Once we docked at Madagascar to careen the ship and me crew traded some goods for a couple of wild chickens. Or so the locals said they were. I tell ye, missy… They looked like normal chickens to me, but normal chickens don't haunt no ships after ye eat them. Nay!'
'Is the Peacemillion haunted too?' Relena asked more excited by the prospect than actually scared.
'Aye… She's haunted by the ghost of the old shipwright who built her.'
'And who was that?'
'He was the richest most handsome and powerful pirate that's ever lived.'
Duo, who was disentangling some rope near the main mast, snorted at that. The young woman gave him a curious glance, but he started singing one of his shanties and did not seem to have noticed her interest. She turned back to Howard. 'Was it Captain Lowe?'
It was the old pirate's turn to snort. 'Lowe…' he tsked. 'Lowe wouldn't be worthy of kissing the feet of the amazing famous unique incomparable Capt'n Mike Howard.'
'What? You built this ship? You?'
'Aye. Isn't she a beauty?'
Relena shook her head with a chuckle. 'It is impressive enough that you have built her, Howard. You don't need to use that many adjectives to make others see that.'
'Thank ye, lass.'
She was ready to ask him how the Peacemillion had ended up in Lowe's hands when a bigger wave nearly sent her to the floor. Duo was thrown against the mast and Schbeiker would have fallen face first on the deck if the braided pirate had not seized his arm. Howard was the only one on the main deck who seemed unaffected by the rocking of the ship, he chuckled to himself as he watched the new recruit and the official blabbermouth share an awkward moment in the aftermath of the big wave.
'Back to yer posts!' the first mate's shout restored the serious mood. 'Be ready to drop anchor!'
'Ah…' the old sailor clicked his tongue and turned to Relena who still held the railing as if expecting to fall over board at any moment. 'Seems we'll have to risk docking at Port Royal… It's either the privateers or the storm… If I were the capt'n I'd rather brave the storm, but it seems he's got something else in mind.' Howard smiled cheekily at the young woman. She had been too busy trying to stay on her feet to notice Heero's worried gaze on her. 'Are ye alright, missy?'
'I…I'm all right. Yes. Thank you. I just…' Relena could still feel her legs shaking from the scare. 'Need a moment is all.'
'Well, then… If ye are fine, I should return to me post before our dear first mate decides to come down here instead of just glare at the back of me head.' He chuckled as he walked past the lady and she gave him a reassuring smile.
Her distraction had not prevented her from hearing what Howard had said and, as she looked up to see a deep frown on the captain's face, she could not help but wonder if she was worth all the trouble she was putting them through. She hoped nothing bad would happen to any of them in Port Royal because, if it did, she would blame herself forever.
XXX
Duo was the first in line to leave the Peacemillion. There was something about the new queer recruit Schbeiker that was driving him mad and he had not been to Port Royal in a long time. Fellow pirates he had drunk with once, probably in Tortuga, had gone on and on about the fancy wenches and the high quality spirits and the braided man was fairly sure he had never needed them most. A stormy night sounded like the perfect night to get drunk and do something crazy. The only problem was that Heero seemed to catch on to his plans as soon as they had crossed his mind.
'Schbeiker's staying with the ship which means you're staying as well.' The captain informed, dragging the braided pirate away from the ramp just as the rest of the crew started making their way down to the docks.
'Pardon me, Capt'n, but can't ye find someone else to be Schbeiker's nanny tonight?'
'He won't need a nanny for much longer and you're doing a fine job, Maxwell. I'm sure ye can get as drunk on the ship as ye had planned to do ashore.'
'Ye know there ain't rum on the ship, Capt'n.' Duo laughed at Heero's suggestion.
'I'm not stupid, Maxwell. Do yer job tonight and maybe next time I'll let ye enjoy Tortuga unsupervised.' The captain gave him a meaningful look before turning to leave.
'Aye, aye, Capt'n…' the braided pirate mumbled and stood in the drizzle, defeated, watching the others disappear into the streets of Port Royal.
Over her shoulder Relena could vaguely discern Duo still on the main deck getting slowly soaked. 'Couldn't he come?' she asked Quatre who was walking slightly ahead of her.
'We were lucky the storm emptied the streets because this town's supposed to be swarming with privateers… Heero's being cautious leaving him behind. If he got in trouble here we might all end up with nooses around our necks.'
'Oh…'
'What are you going to do now that you're here? Where are you going to go?'
His question caught her by surprise and Relena had to take some time to think about her answer. 'I was coming here to live with my brother and his wife…'
'And do you know where their house is?'
She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears as the drizzle turned into a downpour. 'Pagan did…' she said, though she was sure Quatre could no longer hear her, and let the tears roll down her face at the memory of the old butler. For now, she would follow them to whatever tavern or inn they were headed and, once she was warm and dry, only then would she figure out where to go and what to do.
XXX
By the time Heero and Chang found a shady enough tavern for pirates to frequent with some sort of security, they were all soaked to their bones. Thankfully, the owner arranged them a table by the blazing fire. Quite a feat considering how packed the establishment was with all of Port Royal's drunkard, gamblers and other low life seeking shelter from the storm. Quatre threw a small pouch in the middle of the table as they took their seats.
'That's all the coin we can spare.' He informed them.
'Ye don't need to remind us, Winner.' Wufei told the blonde with a grimace. 'Schbeiker is reminder enough.'
'Only a mad man wants to take part in a broken organization.' Trowa commented quietly to Relena who was trying very hard to stop shivering in her very heavy very wet dress. After all it had been through, the outfit was so dirty she doubted her brother would recognise her even if he knew what she looked like.
'Only a mad pirate bears the great quality of loyalty.' Howard added his own wisdom as he seized a jar of ale from one of the serving girls.
'We can head back east once we set sail… Loot some ships down the Spanish trading route. Heero suggested, trying to restore the peace so he could enjoy a relatively quiet night by the fire.
'I thought we were searching for Romefeller's lost treasure…' Chang leaned back in his chair feigning disinterest and arched an annoying eyebrow at the captain. 'What happened to that plan?'
'You were the one who said we did not need the gold.' Heero hissed in his ear.
'Well, maybe I don't like the fact that we've helped someone for free.' The first mate whispered back and the two fell silent, glaring daggers at each other.
Howard leaned closer to Relena, so close she could smell his alcoholic breath. 'Bet two days of swabbie duty on Chang.'
'I…' she shook her head, trying to find the words to tell him she would not be on board anymore, but Quatre cut in, shaking the old pirate's hand.
'I believe in Heero.'
'Four days says they fold.' Trowa whispered from the other side of the table. 'If ye lose ye pay two days each.'
'Ye don't even have swabbie days, Bart'n.' Howard protested. 'Ye are the captain's pet monkey.'
Relena's eyes widened as she turned to Trowa. She was sure that, had he been Duo, he and the older man would have already been on the floor throwing punches at each other, but the official lookout merely snorted and turned away. Quatre sighed and gave her a reassuring smile. 'What was that about a lost treasure?' she asked him quietly.
'It's a long story.' He told her, pouring the two of them a cup of whatever vile drink Howard had appropriated when the ale was over. 'Suffice to say there are rumours of a treasure lost somewhere in the Pacific, guarded by sirens and a half-woman half-monster creature the Greek called Scylla... A creature so frightening all those who ever laid eyes on her turned their backs and fled. We want that treasure. Well, not just us…'
'There isn't a single pirate who wouldn't like to lay his hands on Romefeller's gold.' Chang's masterful tone informed her, and all eyes turned to the captain and first mate.
'Who won the bet?' Relena looked from one of them to the other curiously.
'Howard did.' Trowa informed in a monotone and Heero scowled.
'I'll be lookout one day and strategist the next… Arrr!' The victor chuckled merrily and downed his drink in celebration.
'Try not to fall on yer head.' The captain warned him, crossing his arms, and when he turned to Relena she knew it was going to be important. 'What do you know about sirens?'
'Ah… Mmm… Nothing really.' She answered truthfully.
'Howard? Would ye care to enlighten her?'
'Well… Sirens, eh?' Howard was still chuckling, amused at Heero's sourness after losing his glare contest with the Chinese man. 'Sirens are beautiful…'
'Howard.'
'It's what I heard.' He raised his hands in self-defence. 'They look like women and they sing like nothing ye have ever heard… No man has ever resisted the lure of a siren. Entire crews driven to their doom, ships launched against rocks… Others go mad and end up jumping off their ships, going to Davy Jones' locker of their own free will.'
'And who tells the stories?' Relena asked with a confused frown.
'Women do.' It was Trowa who answered her and suddenly all eyes were on him. The quiet green-eyed pirate shifted in his seat self-consciously. 'It is said women are immune to the charms of sirens.'
'Oh… So…' she met the other's eyes and they all seemed to be waiting for her to say something though she was not completely sure what it was. Relena searched Heero's eyes, hoping he would rescue her, but he did not look very happy with developments. She did not understand why. 'Would I become a pirate?' she asked. 'Would I become part of the crew?'
They exchanged confused glances. Wufei frowned unhappily and Howard grinned. 'Of course, ye would!'
'Then I will help you.' She beamed at them, relieved not to have to wander all over Port Royal in search of a brother who, for all she knew, might as well hate her. Maybe she should have thought harder about what she was doing and what she was getting into, but it was not as if she had a lot of options.
'What about your brother?' Quatre, who was clearly rationalising the situation way better than she was, asked with a frown.
'I have never met him… If he's heard about the attack he probably thinks I'm dead anyway, so…'
'It's not very elegant for the dead to pay visits to the living.' The blonde pirate nodded in understanding and they shared a smile.
'I think we should drink to that.' Howard commented filling up his cup. 'Aye, Capt'n?'
Heero met her eyes and Relena felt her heart sink. She could not read him. He was like a blank page. He raised his cup. 'Aye.'
XXX
After a terrifying night locked up with Schbeiker in the sleeping quarters of a violently rocking ship Duo was happy to see the sun again and the rest of the crew. Even Wufei, with his nearly permanent scowl and unfriendly attitude, but he was especially happy to see Relena who he was starting to regret not having said a decent farewell to. He had been sure he would never see her again.
'Hey, princess! Prince charmin' not show to ride ye into the sunset?'
'Maxwell.' Heero grimaced and shook his head at the braided pirate's poor choice of words, while the other dirty minded pirates laughed and Relena tried to ignore her burning cheeks. 'Miss Darlian's going on account.'
'That true?' his eyes widened and sparkled as he turned to her and the young lady beamed back at him.
'I'm a pirate now.' She said and screamed when he picked her up and twirled her around. 'No! Duo! You'll drop me! Stop!'
Howard chuckled at the scene and saw the worried lines on the captain's face ease lightly. 'Something the matter, Capt'n? Today's a day to celebrate.'
'Aye.' He agreed however unaffected. 'Once we've left Port Royal without ropes around our necks.'
The older man seemed to agree with that. 'Prepare to set sail!' he shouted the captain's orders. 'Duo, ye lazy bilge rat, put the lass down before ye make 'er sick!'
Heero made his way to the quarter deck, trying to tune out the commotion. It was a good thing he could rely on Chang to set the others straight. Quatre had been right… Relena had only been waiting for an invitation, an excuse to join them. He had not really believed his strategist, he saw no logical reason why someone like her would want to become one of them and yet… He had let her get to him, he had thought it would be only temporary and now that it no longer was he was not completely sure how to handle it.
'Schbeiker must have some clothes that'll fit ye.' The braided pirate was telling her. 'At least until ye can buy some.'
Relena met the captain's eyes as Duo went on and on. She looked worried and was clearly wondering what had come over him. Heero looked away before she managed to unsettle him, if she already hadn't… Only time and the sea would be able to cure him of her influence.
GLOSSARY:
East India Company (EIC) - probably the biggest trade-specialized company of the time, though - of course - to be able to trade safely they had to fight pirates and other outlaws so they had their own private army, etc.
Halyard - the rope used to raise and/or lower the sail.
Careen - to tilt the ship so the bottom can be cleaned and repaired.
Go on account - to become a pirate.
Bilge rat - the rat that lives at the lowest level/deck of a ship.
