HUD: Guess what? Today is the one year anniversary of this story! So I wanted to get something else up quickly to celebrate. :) Hope you enjoy!
Loki Laufey stood on the shore of Havana, his back to the sea and his crew. Behind him were Arthur Penn and Jesse Tenny, each loading the goods Goldie and Anthony had gathered during their time in the markets. The captain had his hands resting on his hips, just above the jut of double pistols tucked in his sash.
The sun was low behind him, barely a smear over the water, but still throwing beautiful and dark light. Goldie and Anthony were nowhere to be seen.
"Cap'n!" Loki turned, holding the scarf around his face tighter against a sudden gust of sea air. Arthur Penn waved him over, wiping his face on the edge of his sleeve. Loki stepped back onto sand, his boots sliding. In only a few strides he crossed to Arthur.
"What can I do for you, Arthur?" Loki asked, careful to keep his tone neutral.
"We're 'bout done here," he answered. Jesse moved to join the conversation.
"Aye; jus' waitin' on rum," Jesse added. Loki nodded - he'd noticed that himself. Food and shot and cloth had just been dropped off when he touched shore. Goldie always saved the best for last, so to speak; Loki assumed that was what held them up.
Still, something didn't quite sit well with him.
Goldie was never late.
"Go on with one boat," Loki said. "The two of you, to make loading the pulleys faster. Leave Jesse's, it carries only cloth. I shall wait here for the rest and have it all loaded for your return."
Arthur shuffled slightly, kicking a small hole in the sand. Loki quirked an eyebrow. "Is there a problem, Mr. Penn?"
"No, sir," he answered immediately, but his tone was sullen. He paused, casting a glance over at Jesse who seemed to be just as nervous. "Permission t' speak, Cap'n?"
Loki crossed his arms over his chest but nodded. "You may."
Arthur shared a look with Jesse once more before he looked at Loki. "We jus', well, mayhaps you should go with Jesse and I'll stay 'ere, t' do the loading."
Loki pressed his lips together thinly, the expression lost behind his scarf. "What are you insinuating, Mr. Penn? That I cannot handle rum or Havana?"
"Neither, sir, neither," Penn quickly amended. He smacked his lips together and turned to Jesse again. "Jesse, I - "
"Captain," Jesse began, drawing Loki's attention. "We're just concerned fer ye; last time ye ended a wanted man." Jesse gestured to Loki's disguise, similar to what he'd worn to visit Amora the day before. "Why, look'it yerself! Ye can't even walk down th' street now."
"We dun' want anyone noticin' ye in a bad way, Cap'n," Arthur added. Loki looked back at him, then Jesse again, before finally sighing.
"Alright," Loki said, smiling fondly when both of his men perked up with relief. "Stay here, Arthur; Goldie shouldn't be any longer."
"Aye, Cap'n!"
Loki helped Jesse push the boat into the sea and took up the other oar as they rowed. Jesse didn't speak, and Loki was content to drift with his thoughts as they floated. He forced himself to remain calm - Goldie was never late without reason. He had to have a good reason, a damn good reason, as far as Loki was concerned.
Goldie had been Loki's first mate for quite some time; Goldie had seen him at his worse, when he struck out against any ship flying the Union Jack, military or not. Were one to ask, Loki would have no choice but to admit his early wrongdoings, the acts and deeds that landed him the title of Dread, of mankiller, of devil man. It was a dire necessity, to keep his enemies at bay and prevent new ones out of sheer fear. It worked gloriously, and his reputation proceeded him at lengths.
Jesse grabbed the length of rope dangling over the edge of Sleipnir and tied it around a ring on the harpooning boat. Once the boat was secure, Loki climbed the rope ladder quickly and swung himself on deck. A few of his men cheered, waving from their various positions. It always warmed Loki, to know his rapport with his crew was respectful, cheerful, even. Loki handpicked his crew from every port he went to - aside from Anthony and a few others, he hadn't needed to take on new men in years.
Loki waved two men over to help load the goods after he swung the pulley over to the edge of his ship. He sent one down to help Jesse and remained aboard to divide and catalogue what was purchased.
The sun disappeared as they worked, and once everything was aboard, Loki could just see the stars twinkling in the sky.
"Put these below deck; Goldie and I shall divide it later," Loki said to Albert Jones, a tall man with dark skin and bright eyes. He handed over the parchment he'd been writing on as well. "Put this with it."
"Aye, Captain!"
"My thanks," Loki said absently as he swung himself over the railing and joined Jesse once again. He hastily untied the knot from the boat and shoved away from the hull with more force than he intended. If Jesse noticed, he didn't say anything.
"We must make haste, Jesse," Loki murmured, taking up his side of the oars. "We've lost the light of day."
Jesse nodded and managed to keep up with Loki's intense rowing. They navigated the crowded waters with ease without the added weight from their previous endeavor. Slowly the shore came into view, and when Loki could only see Arthur, still alone, he couldn't ignore his feelings anymore.
"Fuck," Loki hissed. Jesse made a questioning noise. "Goldie has not returned."
Minutes passed agonizingly slow as Loki and Jesse rowed, the only sounds the water lapping around them and cresting with each stroke. Loki fought to keep his breathing even, his posture relaxed, his mind focused on his task.
Arthur moved to grab the bow of the boat and helped them hoist it onto the sand. Loki took a steadying breath and readjusted his scarf.
"Word from Goldie?" He asked; Arthur shook his head. Loki turned away from two of his most trusted crew to stare out into Havana.
The marketplace was empty, save for a few still haggling or closing. Even in the tepid light of dusk Loki could make out vendors leaving, walking home with their purses hidden. A young girl walked hand in hand with her mother, smiling excitedly up at the older woman. He scanned for the hobbled, stooped posture of his quartermaster and the curious air of his ward, but there was no sight of Goldie or -
"I'm going to look for them."
Arthur's hand was on Loki's shoulder instantly. "Cap'n, ye shouldn't - "
Loki twisted out of Arthur's grasp and stepped into his space; very rarely did Loki purposely intimidate his crew, but his panic was getting the best of him. Of all places for Goldie to not report on time, it had to be Havana. Havana - a place were the militia were trained to look for him; a place where the redcoats wouldn't hesitate shooting him or his crew on sight; a place where he knew spies for HRN were lurking, waiting for him for make a mistake.
"I will," Loki hissed. "Should you try and stop me, a week in the hold will be your reward."
It was a low threat, something Loki regretted; Arthur Penn was his acting first mate, and as much as he loved Goldie, the views of a young sailor were always welcomed. Goldie's age prevented him from acting the full role of his title as quartermaster, but Arthur was a fine stand-in.
Arthur narrowed his eyes at Loki. He was equally as hardheaded as Goldie, as well. "I'll be goin' with ye, Cap'n," Arthur answered. "I still have things t' learn from that old coot."
Loki relaxed somewhat. "Fine; Jesse, return to the ship with the other provisions. You are in charge until I or Arthur return."
"Aye, Captain," Jesse said with a salute. He unclasped his cutlass from his side and passed it to Arthur. "Ye have yer pistol?"
Arthur nodded as he tied the belted cutlass to his hips. "Aye; got any extra shot?"
After Jesse passed over a pouch of gunpowder and bullets, Loki and Arthur helped push his boat into the sea and turned back to Havana. Arthur cleared his throat beside him.
"Any idea where t' start?"
Loki tightened his scarf again, tying it off at the base of his skull. "The pubs; the ones you lads go to."
Arthur nodded and set off to the right, Loki beside him.
They searched five pubs before they found Goldie. The old man was hunched over the bar, flipping a coin between his fingers. Loki felt relief wash over him at seeing the old man well and alive; as they grew closer, however, renewed dread settled over him at seeing that Anthony was nowhere to be seen.
"Goldie," Loki announced. Goldie flinched but spun around on his stool.
"Ahoy, Cap'n," he answered. His brows were drawn together in worry, and Loki quickened his pace. Arthur shoved a few drunkards out of his way before they reached Goldie.
"Are you well?" Loki asked quickly, dropping a hand to Goldie's shoulder. His longtime friend shrugged it off, making Loki frown.
"Ye shouldn't be 'ere, lad," Goldie murmured, ignoring Loki's question.
"'S why I am," Arthur answered. He nudged a stool away from the bar to lean casually, keeping his eyes on the crowd behind Loki. Goldie rolled his eyes.
"Won't do a damn t'ing an' ye know 't," Goldie huffed. Loki swallowed.
"Goldie, what happened?" Loki prompted. "You're late."
Goldie's brows deepened with their worry. He avoided Loki's gaze. "'M sorry, lad."
"Are you well?" Loki pressed again. Goldie nodded after a brief hesitation. "What happened?" Where is Anthony?
Goldie swallowed and took one of Loki's hands in both of his knobbed ones. "It's th' boy, lad. 'E's gone."
Loki felt as if the floor gave way beneath him. Somehow, Goldie's old hands kept him from falling to his knees, kept him grounded. He blinked rapidly - no, no, it was too soon. He'd just found him, just began to build a relationship with him, just began everything, and now Anthony was gone again.
Loki felt hands guiding him to a stool, realizing that it was Arthur telling him to sit and breathe, dammit. Loki did, squeezing his free hand into a fist. Arthur patted his shoulder before stepping away, hollering out an order for three ales.
"Tell me," Loki asked, quietly, and Goldie did.
Goldie explained from the moment they stepped ashore, separating from Charlie and moving into the marketplace. Anthony was amazing - he got himself a shave and a kit, was planning on asking Loki to teach him. Loki couldn't help the coil of regret in his gut - he'd seen the shaving kit amongst the other wares. Now he'd never have a chance.
They came to the bar they were all sitting in and Goldie told him to wait while he spoke to James. When he came back, hardly minutes later, Anthony was gone.
"Th' lass workin' said 'e'd jus' drifted off, said 'e'd said 'e'll be right back," Goldie said. He gave a somewhat hopeless shrug. "She's gone, now, an' I've been jus' waitin' fer 'im."
Loki swallowed. "Why didn't you look for him?"
Goldie snorted. "Wanted t', lad, I did, but Tony's th' curious type, so's I fig'r'd 'e'd git 'is fill an' come find me."
"When was that?" Loki asked.
"Right 'fore sundown."
Loki shut his eyes against his sudden anger. That was well over an hour ago. "Did she say - "
"Captain!"
Loki turned out of habit, as did several of the other sailors drinking, but it luckily was for him. A blond man was pushing his way through the crowd with obvious effort, his hair and clothes disheveled and a smear of wiped rouge still lingered on his exposed throat.
"Charlie!" Goldie called, waving the man over. Charlie huffed until he made it to them, leaning against the bar on Goldie's left. "Th' hell ye been, lad?"
"I was," he paused, catching his breath. Loki narrowed his eyes at him. "I was waitin' by the shore for ya when I saw - when I saw Gibbs with Tony."
Loki sat up straighter. "When?"
Charlie looked over Goldie's head at Loki. "'Bout an hour ago. I didn't see ye, Captain, or Goldie, so I set off after 'im. Took Tony by knife into the trees. I saw where they took him to, then came lookin' for Goldie."
Loki was on his feet, grabbing Charlie by the collar of his thin tunic. He vague heard Arthur sending the drinks he'd ordered off to another table. "Take me there."
Charlie searched his eyes for a moment, his own hazel ones widened in what Loki could only describe as plain fear.
"Aye."
Charlie lead Loki, Goldie, and Arthur through a jagged path wrought with roots and foliage and tall palms. They all remained silent; Loki walked directly behind Charlie, then Goldie behind him, with Arthur bringing up the rear. Arthur carried a small lantern Goldie borrowed from James, the owner of the bar they'd purchased rum from. The light was enough for Charlie to still lead but just dim enough that it would be difficult to discern where exactly Loki's party was for more than a second.
After what felt like hours to Loki, Charlie held up a hand and stopped. Loki nodded and did the same; Arthur covered the glass of the lantern with his other hand, plunging them into relative darkness.
Loki felt a hand on his shoulder; Charlie was pulling him forward to point. "See it?"
Loki squinted, his eyes taking a moment to adjust to the darkness and moonlight. He could see a shack, hidden partially and cleverly by the rotted trees and leaves. Should anyone simply walk by, they would miss it without knowing where to look.
Loki could make out the shapes of two men sprawled before it and was immediately standing from the crouch he'd taken.
"What're you doing?" Charlie hissed, scrambling to grab Loki's tunic. Loki shook his grip off and brushed aside the leaves they'd been behind.
"They are alone," Loki said, his tone normal. The sound of his voice made one of the men roll and groan. Loki walked with purpose to the shack, and behind him he heard the other three step into the clearing as well. Loki moved around the prone form of Gibbs, the man groaning, to peer into the tiny building. It was empty, save for a few sacks of what Loki believed to just be supplies. He turned and nudged Grim with the toe of his boot; when there was no reaction, he kneeled to check the man's pulse. As he pressed his fingers beneath Grim's jaw he noticed the odd angle his neck posed; Loki sighed and stood.
"Paul is dead and there is no sign of Anthony," Loki said to Goldie, now standing only a few feet from him. Goldie looked up with wide eyes.
"Wot th' hell 'appened?" Goldie wondered as he glanced between the two men in confused awe. Loki motioned Arthur forward with his lantern before turning to Gibbs.
"Let us find out."
Loki stood astride Gibbs' waist to crouch and reach down to grab the man by his collar. "Time to wake, Jonathan."
When all the man did was groan again, Loki gave him a rough shake until his eyes snapped open. Jonathan Gibbs blinked slowly, his eyes obviously struggling to adjust. Loki waved Arthur closer. "Jonathan."
Gibbs let his head sag back. "Cap'n?"
"Aye, Jonathan. What have you been up to tonight?" Loki asked carefully.
"Dunno wh' yer 'alkin' 'bout," Jonathan drawled, speech slurred even more with his groggy state. Loki exhaled through his nose.
"Charlie saw you, Jonathan," Loki continued. Gibbs' head snapped forward at the mention of Charlie. "Where is he, Mr. Gibbs?"
"'At piece o' right shite framed us, Cap'n, 'e's a goddamned liar!" Gibbs announced, turning until he could see Charlie. "Wotev'r 'e's said, it's all shite, Cap'n; dun' listen 't it, 'e's - "
"Right now Charlie is in my good graces," Loki cooly interrupted. Gibbs blinked rapidly, looking from his captain to Charlie. "He has lead me to find you in a very compromising position that I suggest you have an explanation for."
"I heard talk of mutiny, Captain," Charlie added, voice soft. Gibbs grew still. "From the both of them."
Loki didn't look away from Gibbs. "Is that true, sailor?"
Gibbs openly gaped at Loki. Arthur and Goldie shared a look before Goldie spoke carefully: "Be in yer best interest t' speak."
"Do you wish to defend yourself?" Loki asked. Gibbs just continued to look between Charlie and Loki, his eyes wide with obvious fear. Arthur cleared his throat.
"Are there others?" Arthur asked. Gibbs, for all his grace upon the sea, or rather, lack there of, sat with his eyes bugging roughly from his skull and his mouth still dropped open like a fish. Arthur wanted to sigh but held his tongue.
Loki felt his anger bubbling again with Gibbs' unwillingness to offer up any information. The more time he spent speaking to him about finding Anthony, about what had become of the genius in a world he knew little about, the less the odds became of actually finding him and protecting him. The thoughts began to spiral out of control, jumping from death to falling off a cliff to wandering off into Havana's lush greenery to never be found again. Logically, Loki knew that if Anthony was dead he would know; he would have felt it, but that didn't stop his emotions from getting the best of him.
"I give you one more chance before you force my hand," Loki said calmly. He saw Goldie shuffle, saw his oldest friend move to watch his face. Loki remained impassive and stared directly at Gibbs. "Now or never."
Gibbs' weathered face ran through a myriad of emotions as Loki held on. Fear was the most obvious, then perhaps anger, but, surprisingly, regret. Gibbs heaved a terrible sigh and sagged more against Loki's grip.
"T'was us," Gibbs said. "Jus' me an' Grim. Din't like 'ow Tony was bein' favoured."
"That was enough for mutiny for you, Jonathan? Despite my taking you in when you had nothing, giving you food and shelter and honest work when you scarce had the boots on your bloodied feet? He is enough to turn your back on me?" Loki wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. He could remember finding Gibbs in a ditch in Nassau, covered in shit and filth. He reeked of more than just ale and shit; he reeked of failure, of a man who had nothing, just to have even that taken away from him, too. It was downright shameful. Loki pushed him into the sea before drafting up a contract and a hot meal.
"Aye," Jonathan answered. His eyes dropped from Loki's face to what he could see of Loki's hand fisted in his shirt. Loki squeezed tighter. "T'was no 'onest work t' be 'ad, wot wif us always sailin' t' find him."
"Perhaps the lack of murder turned your loyalties, not he," Loki murmured. Gibbs grinned, his teeth still as nasty as Loki remembered.
"Mayhaps yers, as well, Cap'n," he shot back. Loki took a deep breath through his nose to calm himself. This was getting him nowhere.
"Gibbs, before you make this harder on yourself, you should think about the best way to save your skin. Where is he?"
Gibbs had the audacity to laugh in Loki's face. "Dunno, Cap'n."
"I do not have time for your foolish games," Loki hissed. He leaned closer to Gibbs, his own face now only a few inches from the other man, and snatched down his scarf. "You will tell me where he is."
Gibbs just continued to grin. "'E took off, I s'pose. Dunno."
Loki knew Arthur and Goldie incredibly well, and he knew of all his crew, they would be the least to judge his actions. Charlie was relatively green, and the fear Loki saw in his eyes at the pub was nothing to be concerned with; perhaps, until Loki knew him better, playing on that fear could help.
Loki inhaled just once before drawing his pistol in his left hand and pressing the barrel to Gibbs' chin. "Where is he, Mr. Gibbs?"
Loki felt how tense Gibbs grew, felt how ever fibre of his being froze.
"Cap'n, 'onestly, I - "
"'Honestly', Mr. Gibbs? If we are being honest here, I do not give a fuck about what you have to say for yourself, but you will tell me what you have done with Anthony."
Gibbs eyes shone wide with fear in the lamplight, tracking the movement of Loki's pistol from his chin to his temple. Loki made sure to trail the cool metal along the side of Gibbs' face in a candid mimic of a lover's stroke, even as he pulled back the hammer.
"You have been found guilty of mutiny, spurred by what I believe is simple jealousy," Loki said. He rested the pistol against Gibbs' forehead, watching the man cross his eyes to keep the weapon within his sight. "The penalty, by which, is death." He paused and tilted his head. "But for you, Jonathan, I will make an exception. Should you tell me what has become of - " MY " - Anthony, you may live to see a beautiful Caribbean sunrise."
"Cap'n," Gibbs sobbed, his eyes squeezing shut. "I dunno!"
"Not good enough, man," Loki hedged. He watched Gibbs' throat work to swallow. Loki felt his patience snap.
"Answer the question and you live," he hissed with bared teeth, giving Gibbs a shake until his eyes were open. "Answer it."
"D-Dunno, sir!"
"Answer it."
"Sir, I - "
"Answer me."
"I dun - "
"ANSWER ME."
"Cap'n Laufey! I dun - "
Gibbs' forehead exploded with a loud crack, a gaping hole of bone and blood and brains beneath the barrel of Loki's pistol. Behind him sprayed hair and gore in a wide arc to the left of Arthur; some sprinkled on the lantern's glass; some dusted Loki's pale face in back spray. He dropped Gibbs' limp form without grace, stepping over the man as he carefully untied his scarf to clean his face then his pistol. As he wiped, he eyed each of the three men before him.
Charlie kept his eyes on Gibbs, wide and somewhat unseeing, as if he'd never seen anyone get their head blown apart. Loki knew for certain that that was not the case. Arthur had a hand on the back of his neck, lightly shaking his head, as he slowly turned the light of the lantern away from the gore. Goldie, however, was staring right back at Loki.
"Cudn'ta 'eard 'im out?" Goldie asked without heat; his tone was wrought more by regret. Loki just shrugged and put his pistol away.
"And listen to another hour of begging? Certainly not," Loki answered. "He was honest - he did not know of Anthony's whereabouts. He did, however, attempt to kill me, sail away with my ship, and abandon or murder the lot of you. His ideas of grandeur would have killed him sooner or later; at least now, he may dream happy."
"Wot 'bout Tony?" Goldie continued. "We be no closer t' findin' him."
"We start at sunrise," Loki said. "Jesse, Arthur and I will - "
"Oi, no, Cap'n," Arthur intercepted. His voice never wavered, even with the sight of his comrade dead before him. Loki always enjoyed Arthur's levelness. "Ye stay on th' ship."
Loki turned his gaze to him. "I will be with you; I know people here who owe me debts. I intend to use them. There will be no dispute on this."
Arthur seemed like he wanted to say something more, but shook his head and turned back the way they'd came. "Better git some rest, then. Got a long day ahead."
Loki strode to meet him and lead the way, tucking his soiled scarf into the waist of his sash. Goldie sighed but turned to join his Captain and first mate. He hobbled a few feet when he noticed that Charlie wasn't beside him. He turned to see the blond man standing, staring down at Gibbs' unmoving form.
"Come along, lad," Goldie whispered. Charlie jolted, turning wide eyes to Goldie. "Best git on, now."
Charlie looked back once more at Gibbs before he nodded and met with Goldie. He walked quietly behind Loki and Arthur, head down and hands shoved in his trouser pockets, and Goldie couldn't help but pity him. It was hard to be reminded of what Loki was - a ruthless pirate captain - even for him; he couldn't imagine what must be running through Charlie's head. Goldie knew Charlie had done his fair share of killing since joining with Loki, but he also knew that he'd never seen Loki in action. It was discerning.
For Goldie, with decades of service and companionship under his belt, couldn't ever shake the feeling of wrongness whenever he saw Loki kill.
A/N: How 'bout them apples? Share your thoughts. :)