Watching Me

He'd heard there was a natural hot spring somewhere on the island. Last he'd heard of Anne and Kidd they were going to find it. Apparently it's in a hard to reach place. They could take care of themselves he was sure but half the island knew where they were headed, they weren't the only ones missing. He had to go collect a few heads and make an example. So he set off for the spring as well. It was indeed difficult to reach, specially because Anne and Kidd had set traps along the way. He couldn't help but laugh at the men he came across caught in some trap or another. Also there was a lot of climbing and jumping, he was glad Kidd was teaching Anne the ropes or she'd never make it to the spring.

Of course the men were there to see Anne or perhaps they would stumble upon the two in a compromising position, after all they thought Kidd barely a boy out of his teens. They wanted to know what Kidd had that they didn't. I could give them a list but I would never betray Mary's trust like that. I was a man on a mission for treasure and glory but I would never sell out a friend. That's what she was, wasn't she? A friend? Sometimes he wasn't sure, sometimes he felt closer to her then he ever did his wife. The woman was certainly an enigma, but one he was game to conquer.

He'd finally made it to the spring and he can already tell that many of the men hadn't made it. Actually only two had and they looked rather a bit disappointed. Sneaking up behind them he could see why, Anne and Kidd were seated with their backs to the men and seated with some distance between them. He reaches out with his dual hidden blades and pokes the points into each mans back right around where the kidneys would lay. Both men go ramrod straight and turn only their heads to look at him. With a low growl he reaches up grabbing each by the collar of their shirts and pulling them a short distance off.

"You dare invade the privacy of others in such a way? Say I tell Kidd of your adventures, you think he'd let you live?" he watches them expectantly and they tremble and shake. He throws them away from himself and huffs.

"Get out of here and I'll spare your mangy lives." both men nod vigorously and run off in the direction he'd come from. Returning to the spring he can see that Anne has left the water and is mostly dressed already.

He can hear her speaking to Kidd clearly "I'll head back, release all the poor arses that tried to follow us here. This place was wonderful, thank you for bringing me Kidd." pulling on the last of her clothes she leaves in another direction. Kidd seems more relaxed then she had earlier, her shoulders are more relaxed and she's sunk deeper into the water.

Soon enough she's turning in the water and leaning her arms on the edge of the spring and resting her chin on her arms. It takes him a few moments to realize she is looking right at him. "Ya can come out Kenway. Aye know you're there." is all he needs to hear before he is stepping out of the trees and lifting his shoulders in a shrug. She's smirking at him and laughing, he doesn't mind. He stays put at the edge of the clearing and just watches Kidd relax. She doesn't seem to mind his presence or that she caught him sort of spying on her. Which is odd because he certainly expected more then just peaceful acceptance.

After a while of Kidd just relaxing in the spring she finally moves to stand and twists her hair over one shoulder. "Come closer Kenway, aye thin' we shoul' talk." he nods and walks closer.

"Wha' are ya doin' 'ere any way Kenway?" she asks as she cups the water in one hand bringing it up to let the water within run down her shoulder and arm.

He shrugs and shuffles closer "I knew where you were headed and a few male individuals were missing. Thought I'd do something about that." Kidd throws her head back and laughs causing him to look baffled.

"Ya know Kenway, we had it under control." he nods and they stand silently watching each other for a short time.

"I saw that, yes. I didn't mean to intrude or spy on you both. I'd actually intended to leave shortly after I dispatched those two miscreants, but you called me out and here I am." he shrugs and rubs the back of his neck.

Kidd looks amused before turning her back to him and looking at him over her shoulder "Aye know tha' Kenway. Was aware o' the deviants an' took measures. Anne was goin' ta take care o' those two, but you arrived an' we knew tha' too." she wades further into the heated spring and sighs as some tension seems to leave her form.

He watches her quietly for some time before she looks over her shoulder at him again her face full of amusement "You're watchin' me Kenway. Don' rightly recall invitin' you to stare." He clears his throat and turns his face away closing his eyes.

"Ya ain't blushin' are ya Kenway?" she laughs at him as he turns his body sharply so that his face is no longer in her view.

"No." is all he grunts out as she laughs harder at him.

"Not ta worry Kenway, aye won't tell a soul. Em sure it woul' ruin your reputation." she laughs and heads towards the opposite side of the spring. He rubs his face with both hands and groans which makes her laugh again even though she isn't looking at him anymore. Once again he finds himself watching her, she's beautiful. She's wading around the spring and just relaxing as if not a care in the world. He thinks he might be half in love with her. Now there's a thought, love? Did he love her? Maybe he did, he shrugs and begins to watch her again.

She's not in the hot spring anymore, she's standing by her clothes and she's watching him now. "You're watchin' me again Kenway." then she throws her head back and laughs as he throws his hands in the airs and storms off to where he came from.

The End