Now how did this happen?
This was…not the way I had planned.
My head smacked against the main mast of the sea ship as I swung around the timber from a rope knotted around my ankle. Dizzy as I was from the sudden…displacement, it was nearly impossible to make out individual figures below me from my newfound perspective. My shotgun started slipping from my belt, and I snatched at it with my hand to prevent it from falling onto the deck where the mess of bangaa stood. The prowled below me, laughing and jeering at my current situation, all while waiting for me to drop like in some cat-and-mouse game.
"Bwahahaha! Lookie at this! We don' even need to tie him up since he can do it fer himself!" One cackled. I growled at them, and put a hand to my head.
Bloody damn.
With first-class seats on a priority airship, Nono and I had reached the skycity in record time. Unfortunately, we docked on a smaller Aerodome, which sat on the opposite side of the island's main shipyard. I got out quickly, with the moogle hurrying along beside me at an awkward running-hop that moogles used when they were in a rush.
"Ah- Ffamran! I can't go that fast, kupo!"
"Are you sure it's the main Aerodome?"
"Of course! I wouldn't forget that, kupo!" I paused a moment to breath, and to allow Nono to catch up with me.
"Okay, why don't you wait here then? I'll go ahead and…save Fran." I said. The moogle crossed his arms and gave me a questioning stare.
"Have you thought up a plan yet, kupo?"
"Of course!" I beamed. "Silly moogle, would I forget something so important?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, kupo." My shoulders drooped. "You have in the past, Ffamran." He retorted, and I waved a hand at him.
"Past is past. Now is now. And now I make haste." I started running again, and turned backwards, pointing a finger at him. "Wait there." The moogle sighed as I ran off, shaking his head and making his pom-pom jingle.
"Ffamran…He doesn't even know what a mess he's in." He murmured, lifting his head as a pair of officers walked by. "…Kupo."
Truthfully, I was still devising a plan as I raced down the streets. The only certain thing was the weight of a gun against my hip, and the fact that my nerves were failing me the closer I got to the shipyard. As a Judge, I'd gotten what, two lessons in combat? The rest I learned from bar fighting, which I was equally untalented at. I still had bruises on my face to prove it.
The aerodome stood out not against the sea this time, but the sky. Waves of clouds were this structure's backdrop, and a selection of hovering airships with radiant glocair rings working to keep afloat.
Even comparing those now, the ship I'd escaped with was still the most magnificent. And it was not in sight, which meant that it was anchored inside. Along with that damn viera.
I checked the rounds in my gun and willed my legs forward. The rest of my body followed in a daze.
The hangers were lively, unlike the one at the Port. I glanced through the viewing windows each time I passed, but none were the airship I desired. I put my hands on my hips and swiveled my head. Would bounty hunters really keep a hostage in such a crowded place? It didn't seem…intelligent.
But when I meandered down to the end of the hall, there were a pair of rather large doors, blocked by a single sign that read 'Personnel Only'. Of course it was just there as a deterrent, anyone could get inside if they really wanted to. And I, for one, definantly wanted to. I quickly glanced over my shoulder, then dashed through the doors.
It still seemed unintelligent for the bounty hunters to come to such a place. Though, I saw that it could made for a decent battleground if need be.
Numerous sea ships stood in this hanger, some completed, others halfway in progress.
"A shipyard." I murmured. Not a single glocair ring in sight. Though, the hanger doors were open slightly, as if someone had left a block in the door for a quick escape. I unclipped my gun Hollister, and started into the hanger. The ships wooden hulls towered above me like buildings, reminding me of the many times I'd run from the authorities by escaping into the desolate alleyways of Archades. But the 'authorities' were already here, and they could easily have been watching me from above on the ships. I tried to be stealthy, but in truth, I did not know what stealthy was. I'd seen it in plays, but the hero had always been more versed in combat as well, so when his play did go awry-
"BAH!" A giant lizard bolted out from behind a pile of timber.
"Ahh!" I fired my gun sloppily, and the shot hit the timber, causing an avalanche of planks that we both had to scrambled to dodge. The bangaa leapt at me from on all fours, reaching with clawed hands for my legs as I scurried away.
"Get back 'ear!" He snarled.
"I'll say no to that!" I cried, finally having regained my footing to maneuver at a more comfortable pace.
So much for being stealthy.
I ran aimlessly, leaping from small boat to bigger boat in an attempt to gain higher ground, and locate my attacker.
Finally, I clambered onto a ship that was elevated high enough to see across the hanger. Oh. Attackers.
At least three, then including the one that had charged me, bangaa stared at me from the opposite ship. The pale-skinned(scaled?) one saw me first, and jabbed a finger my way. The largest bangaa, a dark green with mottles spots and scars, slowly turned to look at me. He fixed his beady eyes on my face, then my gun.
Behind him, sitting cross-legged on a keg as if watching a dull play, sat none other than Fran. If not for the twine of rope around her wrists and ankles, I would have though her of an accomplice. She seemed much too comfortable.
A loud scraping sound came from behind me, as my pursue clumsily heaved himself onto the deck of my ship. I spun in place, searching for some kind of escape route. Something quick…something stylish.
One of the ropes dangled from the mast, swaying as if waving hello to me. I pocketed my gun, and took the rope in both hands. The bangaa finally leveled himself out on deck behind me, heaving as he stumbled to his feet. I hurried a few paces back, then ran straight for the edge of the ship. I leapt off the deck, fell for an awful moment, then the rope snagged taut and I cut through the air, straight for the other ship.
It was an amazing sensation, swinging through the air like on some vine in a forest. Until I realized how fast I was going, compared how little room left I had to stop. The other ship's mast closed in on me quite quickly, and my eyes became wide.
The bangaa laughed heartily as I ricocheted against the mast, scrambling to catch the ropes before I swung back onto the lower ship. I swung back, smacking against the mast. I kicked my legs, trying to get a foothold with the rope as I'd seen in the plays, but only succedded in tangling myself. I gritted my teeth in frustration. I felt like I was wrestling with a viper. And then my hands slipped. I flipped backwards, but did not fall. A burning pain covered my ankle as the ropes knotted tightly around the skin, and I came to an abrupt stop- upside down.
There was utter silence among the ship, except for the fourth bangaa's heavy breathing as he clambered on deck.
I managed to glance at Fran, and her lovely narrowed eyes. I could practically hear her thoughts, 'May I ask what you are doing, stupid hume?'
Then, the headhunters roared to life in fits of wild laughter.
My shirt kept falling over my face, and I would snatch it and tuck it under my belt. And I still was swaying, my head knocking against the wood painfully. I had imagined myself appearing a tad more…graceful.
So bloody damn…
The female, brought to her knees by a fit of laughter, couldn't even speak. So she couldn't even try to detain Fran now.
Things happened fast after that.
The viera gave a fierce yell, and brought her shin into the soft flesh of the bangaa's neck. Her screech was drowned out by the cutoff of air, and her brothers spun in surprise. My eyes snapped open with the sound, and I was startled to see that Fran was free of her binding, and racing towards…a bow?, propped up against the side of the ship. Either that or she was so nobly fleeing.
"Gwah! Ye' idiot! Get 'er!"
"Oh no you don't!" I cried, aiming my gun down at them. A few gasps, but they were unnecessary as my shot missed them for quite a distance. But I'd caught their attention long enough for Fran to take out another unsuspecting headhunter with her newly acquired weapon. The large bangaa turned, lifting his razor blade in her direction. Now, that was not very polite. Attacking a lady- no, just a woman, was bad enough, but doing it without any notice? Couldn't have that, could i?
I squinted one eye closed and fired again and this time, a scream followed. I'd aimed for the largest of the three, since he was the largest target, and my shaky aim had landed true, though…
"He shot me in the arse!" He hissed. "Dangling from the mast upside down as well! Ye'll pay you rotten hume!"
"Brother, the contract!" One warned him. He hissed, lifting a massive, misshapen razor blade. Now where was he hiding that all this time!
"His bounty won't be worth the satisfaction I get with killin' him!" even though all the blood was rushing to my head, I was sure my face went white pale as the headhunter said that. He swung the blade into the mast, severing the rope, and my body went slack, falling.
Just as quickly as my stomach went numb, I jerked to a stop as an arrow planted itself through my shirt and into the wood. My eyes flashed to Fran, who was standing erect with a quivering bowstring between her arms, one eye still closed to aim. My skin hadn't even been scathed.
My shirt started to tear, and I dropped awkwardly onto the deck before I could catch myself. But it was only a five foot drop instead of twenty. Even so, the bangaa took advantage of my displacement, and drove his foot into my side with a fierce kick. My shotgun went rolling out of my hand, coming to a stop just out of reach.
"Yer soft, rich boy." He sneered.
"And you're all hide." My witty remark earned another kick. I was able to put my arm in between his foot and my side this time, which seemed smart to protect myself, until I heard a snap. My eyes went wide, and I startled scream escaped my mouth.
"Eh? Broke something I guess." He looked over his shoulder, at the apparent fight between viera and remaining bangaa, before he turned his attention back to me. Within that time, I had stretched my arm out and clasped my shotgun once more. Just as his beady eyes met mine, I stuffed the barrel into his chest and fired.
To this day, I remember Ba'Gamnan's scream with satisfaction.
But not what followed. In fact, much was…a blur.
A grayish green liquid, which I could only assume was the reptile's blood, splattered onto my arm, drenching the gun as well. As the bangaa went limp, then dropped heavily over my legs, my vision was flickering with doubles.
I felt strangely lethargic. I'd never killed another…talking thing before. Many monsters, but none of them made fun of me. If was an odd feeling.
Luckily, I didn't experience it for long. Sadly, I passed out right in front of Fran, who must have been having very mixed feeling towards me at the moment. I didn't really save her like I'd planned, but if it weren't for me she would never have gotten away.
So, who knows? Maybe I improved our relations after all.
I stirred, my bare legs brushing against a thin sheet. Thin, and damp. Uncomfortably so. I was still used to comfort. My naked skin should only come into contact with fabrics that were soft. As if the Gods had heard my plea, the sheet was pulled away, and soon replaced by a dry, soft blanket. Heavier then the last, but cool against my flushed body.
I groaned aloud, surprising myself as well as the person beside me. I tried to open my eyes, but as soon as I did, a cool towel was passed over my face, blinding me again. I waited patiently for it to pass, then blinked my eyes wide.
Fran met my gaze, then dismissed me just as quickly. I heard the splashing in a tin basin as she wrung the towel.
"You are awake."
"I am also naked." I informed her, as if she didn't know.
"You were running a fever. I had to undress you." I raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure there weren't any…ulterior motives?" The viera stood, and walked over to the far end of the…ship? Yes, I vaugly recognized this entirior from the one other time I'd been inside it. The hallway, with the bed, and the mysterious back rooms I had yet to explore.
Fran stood up not long after, with a pair of leather breeches and a cotton shirt. To top it all off, there was a vest of tan and black leather. They were new.
"For you."
"I'm flattered." As I sat up, her hand flew to my back. I was shocked at how quickly she moved, and even more surprised that she'd noticed me tipping backwards before even I did.
"You should not move just yet." I noticed her lips curve upwards. A…smile? "Your body is not accustomed to illness, is it?" I sat up slowly, balancing myself before she let go.
"I contracted a cough when I was young?" I tried.
"The headhunters also broke your arm." She explained, looking at the splint over my forearm. I looked to it as well, in sort of a daze. After a long pause, she spoke again.
"I wish to…thank you." I grinned sheepishly. "I did not expect you to do that for me." I looked away, rubbing my hand past the knot on my skull.
"I'm glad it was a surprise, but…I had planned it to be more…graceful."
"You will just have to work on that, won't you?"
"I guess so-wait, I've been meaning to ask you, " She eyed me warily as I sat up. "Since you like my ship so much, why don't you become my second-hand?" She blinked slowly, and I kept that charming smile glued on my face. Her reply finally came.
"You are an odd hume."
"Odd? I am a great many things, but odd? That is offensive." Then, her hand went to my chest, and she applied a steady pressure until I was flat on my back again.
Her hand was a cool relief against my sweaty skin. I could feel her fingernails on my torso, imagining where each finger was…What had I been asking her again?
Her hand drew up to my shoulder, and my body gave an impulsive shudder against her cool touch. I should have been embarrassed, but I didn't mind that she noticed.
"Rest now." She told me. I was already half-gone away. Her next words were drowned out in the fog of sleep.
She was being friendly with me, wasn't she? She had to be! Taking care of me like that, smiling at me. Yes, I made a good fool of myself in my attempt rescue, but I had still managed to save her.
I pulled my glowing hand away from his torso, and let the sleep spell drain from my fingertips.
He'd shown me that he cared. The hume demonstrated a strange emotion, one of devotion, despite our apparent discontent for each other. I had stolen what he thought was his own ship. Instead of just reclaiming it and leaving me, he actually tried to aid in my escape.
Had i…misjudged him?
No and yes.
He was ignorant to the outside world, which could have contributed to his hasty decision to rescue me. He thought it to be simpler than it actually was. I owed him nothing, in fact, he was in my debt even more. I had now saved him twice. Once upon our meeting, and yesterday, after he fell into a stress-induced illness. Apparently without money, as a brief check of his pockets proved, I was forced to buy medicines with my own money. He owed me payment in gil as well.
I looked back over my shoulder, as if to verify he was still sleeping.
Yet…He had come for me.
But what was all that nonsense about me becoming his…second hand? I did not even know what the boy was doing here, outside of Archades playing his fools games. And no sooner had he awoken, still naked and bruised, triying to charm me into his game as well. But I feared that if I asked him about it when he wakes, I would never hear the end of it.
