BETA READER: Beta Read
SUMMARY: The battle with the Kraken is over, now there's the aftermath to deal with. The young married couple has a few things to clear up after their little spat, but they always find a way to settle things. Dinner with the Captain and his mysterious dinner guest proves to be an interesting evening of surprises. Please enjoy.
THE CAVE: CONTINUUM
Part Seven
Blue skies with fluffy white cumulus clouds replace the eerie gray overcast backdrop that had filled the sky not more than an hour before. The sound of hammers striking irregularly on nails being driven into wood and the cadence of saws ascends in the air as the ship's crew works diligently repairing the wreckage left behind from their battle with the Kraken. Debris from wooden crates, railings, and boards scatter across the deck floor along with pieces of the ghastly, atrocious arms of the sea creature.
Handkerchiefs are used to cover the crew's noses and mouths to give them some barrier from the nauseating and repulsive stench of blood from the many shipmates who had lost their lives, let alone the slimy creature's truncated arms. It takes several men, depending on length, to lift and throw the creatures remains overboard while the other mates' splash buckets of water to wash away the bright crimson blood that had spattered on walls and had spilt on the deck flooring.
Luckily, only one of the vertical spars that supported the sails had been broken near the top. It hangs by its ropes that once had secured the sail to its tall pole. Flanking the broken spar is a mass of tangled ropes that twist and knot together hanging in clops, the mess will take hours to disentangle.
Sailors have taken down the ripped sail. The rip Kanda had created to slow his decent to the deck below when he fell from the mast. Long, heavy gauge steel needles and thick cords of threads are used to sew the sail back together in order to hold the wind from breaking through the seams.
Sections of solid railing still surround the upper deck, but in many places gaps show where the rails were either smashed into fragments or totally missing. Part of the crew is cleaning up the refuse while others repair what rails they can and replaces them with rope rails where wooden ones are totally missing.
Other sailors' scope out the bowels of the ship for any leaks the creature may have rendered during the battle. It is God's blessing the creature's strong, rubber-like arms had not crushed in the sides of the ship, sinking it. Many lives were spared from a horrible death.
The Captain views the damage scattering out over the ocean surrounding the ship, where flotsam and jetsam float on the surface like toys bobbing in a bathtub. He cannot help but inhale the pungent smell of death drifting in the air around them. They had found no bodies left from the battle floating on the water. They must have either sunk or had been eaten by the sea creature.
Sadness fills the Captains eyes as he scans what remains after such a horrific battle, but at the same time relieved it had not been worse. A firm hand is placed on his shoulder to comfort him. Without turning he knows who it is and reaches out, putting his arm around the comforter's waist and draws him closer to him.
"John, I feel your pain and I am here for you as always. I'm proud how you had managed the situation, so don't beat yourself up about this. You did all you could." The warm, sweet whisper from his comforter eases the tension in his body.
"I love you," he continues, his warm breathe brushes the Captain's ear and a soft gentle kiss seals his comforter's sentiments. "I'll see you later this evening, love." The Captain turns and looks into those soft, velvet brown eyes, then leans in and kisses him gently on the lips. "Later then," he says, as his comforter slowly pulls away to take his leave.
Meanwhile, Kanda's holding Allen's hand as he pulls him along. Allen walks faster to keep up with Kanda, just as anxious to get to their quarters as he is, their pants tightening beyond uncomfortable.
Kanda slams open the door to their quarters, tugging Allen inside. The door hasn't closed before Kanda is hungrily kissing Allen. Not soft and gentle kisses, but hard deep kisses sending surges of passion through both their bodies so intense their knees begin to buckle. They tug off their wet coats dropping them where they stood. Kanda feverishly grabs Allen pulling him closer, feeling the titillation of Allen's lips and tongue on his own radiates burning heat from his body that unifies with Allen's.
The evidence of Allen's burning desire Kanda feels as he presses against his hip making his pants tighten uncomfortably by his own hot desires. His throbbing becomes painfully stronger the more fervent their kisses intensify. Kanda's warm hand slides up under Allen's shirt feeling his soft, damp skin bringing a moan from him that vibrates in Kanda's mouth making him breathless.
Breaking their kiss, Kanda looks into Allen's half-lid eyes clouded with passion and hears the hitch in his breathing. The urgent need leaves them both unable to hold out for much longer. In just a snap, tighten pants loosen and pent up hunger releases.
The sounds of craze kisses, moans, and cries fill the room. A chill sweeps through them both weakening their knees as they lean into each other, holding each other up, their bodies shaking and quivering through waves of pleasure.
They didn't move for some time, both leaning heavily upon the other, panting … breathing … slowly calming down. Spent, they help each other remove the rest of their wet, sticky clothing and wash up before jumping into bed to hold each other as they drift into slumber and than a deep sleep.
When Kanda awakes, he is laying facing Allen and holding hands. Allen's face looks ashen and tired. It must have taken a lot out of him, first with his body trying to heal, and then he had fought as hard as he could during the battle. Kanda looks down at the blood that has seeped into the bandage around Allen's torso. At first he thought the stitches had once again ripped out, but now looking at it, it appears as if blood from something else has seeped through his shirt to the bandages.
He is grateful Allen had been keen enough to ask to be wrapped with a cloth binding, because that had to have helped hold together the tender healing of the wound. Damn, how this husband of his can frighten him. He had defied his orders to come down below to keep safe. But now he can understand that Allen had been just as concerned for his safety as he was for Allen's. Neither could go on without the other. The both of them together is what makes them whole.
Kanda thought about his own childish reaction to the doctor taunting him as he had flirted with his lover. He didn't want another man touching Allen – he belonged only to him. He had vowed to himself he would protect him, love him. As if the doctor wasn't enough to push him into a full protective mode then the Kraken creature had finished activating it.
He did not want to fight with Allen. It is just something that happens whenever he is fearful of losing him. Kanda willingly gives his love to Allen, his soul mate, his lover, his husband. When he is in his husband's arms serenity envelops him. When he thinks about Allen not being here, by his side, it gives him an overwhelming feeling of loss, and a deep rooted pain rips at his very soul.
During the fighting, the creature's arms had grabbed at Allen trying to steal him away from him. It was as if Rouvelier was there trying to take Allen away from him once again. Every slash with Mugen in taking off an arm had been his anger at Rouvelier and the guards who had beaten and stabbed Allen. Even the tough exterior of the creature reminded him of Rouvelier's brusque manner that his anger rages against.
Along with his hateful thoughts of Rouvelier, it has been on Kanda's mind that they are getting closer to landing, and soon they will have to be careful and alert once again. While they have been a sea there has been no way for Komui to contact them about the situation back home, so they are unaware of what awaits them.
Even though he has been looking over the map Kanda is not sure how far Komui's place is from where they would land. What worries him is a stretch of wilderness he is not familiar with. They may need to go that route with Allen's condition, and Kanda is not sure what they may encounter. He has to stay positive. They have made it this far; they'll make it to Komui's home.
Allen tries to wake himself, but only manages small slits in his sleepy eyes. He sees Kanda and gives him a warm smile, soaking up the sight of his husband. Kanda squeezes and kisses his hand as Allen tries to keep his focus on Kanda, but his eyes slide shut again. Kanda moves his body closer to him just enough to have his lips brush Allen's, which brings a warm smile once again from Allen, though this time he didn't open his eyes.
Allen's body feels laden with tiredness and unwilling to move. With Allen's hand still in Kanda's, he brings it back to his mouth to kiss it and rubs his soft pale hand against his skin. He can sees how tired Allen is and he's content looking at him. He has him cuddle into him – he needs to feel Allen against him.
Allen is able to move just enough to snuggle in close to Kanda until their skin touches. This always makes Allen feel safe. Kanda makes him feel safe which brings forth his strong, deep love which he feels for him. He kisses Kanda's skin in front of him and enjoys the warm, secure feeling that overtakes him, allowing him to sleep just a while longer.
It seems only a moment ago Allen fell off to sleep. Warm lips brush and touch his face, and a warm hand sweeps away hair covering his eyes. Allen's in that hazy state of consciousness between dreaming and waking. It is not a dream. Those warm lips are Kanda's which are now on his lips coaxing him out of his dreamlike state.
"Bean Sprout, you need to wake up soon. We have to dress for dinner with the Captain," Kanda's warm, moist breath skims over his ear.
"Hmm, still tired," a low, hoarse voice comes out of Allen, unwilling to move at this point.
Kanda pulls on Allen bringing him into his embrace. "I would love to keep you captive in bed the rest of the night, but we did say we would go to dinner," Kanda whispers, nuzzling his face in Allen's hair as Allen becomes more awake.
He enjoys being in Kanda's warm arms feeling his bare body against his own. He stretches and rubs his whole body against Kanda whose hands are enjoying caressing Allen, stirring his excitement as he wakes further.
Allen stretches his arms back and runs his fingers through Kanda's long, silky, black hair. "Kanda … I want to say I'm sorry about defying you earlier today, but I couldn't let yo…." Kanda interrupts him.
"It's okay Bean Spout, I realize we were making demands and bickering with each other out of fear for the other's safety," Kanda says sincerely, planting kisses on Allen's shoulders.
"Since when did you get so smart about us?" he smiles up at his lover.
"Since I fell in love with you, moron," Kanda says teasingly, but meant what he had said.
"Well, I also wanted to say I'm sorry about our little spat after saving you. I was still shaken about the fact I could have lost you forever, and it was …" he is interrupted again.
'Yes, I know, I felt the same way about you, and the fact I was sexually frustrated for you didn't help my temper," Kanda coyly smiles, looking down at his husband who has a tinge of red to his face.
"Kanda, while we are apologizing, I'm also sorry about the doctor …"
Not meaning to react, Kanda bristles and a low growl comes out, "Him. Yeah, he had his fucking hands all over you. He went down your pants far enough that if he had gone any further he would've had his fucking hand on your …"
"Kanda!" Kanda is cut off by Allen's quick response.
"Well, if he had gone down any further he wouldn't have that attractive face any longer, Mugen …"
"Kanda!" Allen's reaction cut's Kanda off again.
"What! You don't think I'd do it?" asks Kanda, his face now red with jealousy, still upset.
"Yes, I do think you would do it, because you love me and you knowI love you," Allen answers gently, intertwining their fingers together. Allen could sense Kanda's insecurity.
"You're a rare beauty Kanda, both handsome and beautiful at the same time. I don't want anyone but you jerk, that's why I married you. And, I hope you don't want anyone else either," Allen says, demurely kissing Kanda's hand knowing how easily Kanda riles. He continues on.
"Can we call this little problem settled and that we love only each other? So when I have to see Doc again we can try to ignore his taunting you?" Allen asks. He turns his body to face Kanda. He feels better now that he can see Kanda is beginning to calm down.
"Shit, yes, I hate to admit it, but I was jealous he was after you. I told you when we consummated our marriage you belonged to only me and I still mean that," Kanda sheepishly looks at Allen. Allen beams with happiness.
Kanda lets go of his attitude and his dark blue eyes shimmer lasciviously at Allen. "Does this constitute as our first domestic argument?" asks Kanda, rubbing his hands up and down Allen's back and butt.
"Yes, I guess you could say that," Allen says, beginning to catch on where Kanda is taking this.
"Good, because I've heard after an argument making up can be quite exciting," Kanda smiles coyly at Allen.
Allen sighs and smiles mischievously, "You know, I've heard that too. We should make up and forgive each other even though it will make us a little late for dinner …" Allen stops in mid-sentence by an aggressive kiss from Kanda and his hands roaming in all the right places.
The tolling of the bell rouses them from another delicious round of lovemaking. Looking into each other's eyes, they share a quick kiss and hurry to dress for dinner.
The Captain looks up from his work and over at the clock – it is 6:15 pm. He decides he'll get one of the mates to go down and see if the two Exorcists are all right after their battle with the Kraken. He is afraid they may have sustained internal injuries and could be close to death by now if not treated.
As he walks toward the door the Captain opens it and sees Kanda and Allen in a tight embrace kissing. "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to intrude on your moment of passion," the Captain says, with a grin on his face.
He had startled the two lovers. They were just going to share a quick kiss before knocking, but had got caught up in the moment – something that happens quite often to them.
"Sorry Captain," Allen stammers, blushing.
"Well, please come in. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes," the Captain says.
The Captain's quarters are beautiful. The walls are covered with dark mahogany paneling with matching raised molding. Intricate carvings of friezes add a rich elegance to the room. The stern has a line of waist-high windows which looks out over the ocean. Framing the windows hangs dense burgundy tapestry drapes that when let down darkens the room. A couple of leather chairs and a small table create a cozy retreat from long tedious work days.
His large mahogany desk sits out to the side of the windows with a large table to its left. Spread across the table top are rolls of charts which iron weights hold down their corners to prevent the ends from curling. Instruments for measuring and determining destinations and such also lay upon the table.
In the corner, behind the desk, a large bookcase and a floor rack, designed to hold charts, stands. On the adjunct wall, close to the windows, is a large bed with heavy black chains holding it up. It appears it could be lifted and secured to the wall allowing for more floor space.
Just to the side of the leather chairs is a parrot pacing back and forth making cackling noises.
"Look Kanda, he has a parrot. What beautiful colors he has," Allen says excitedly, and walks over to get a closer look – Kanda is not far behind him.
The parrot stops pacing and blinks at Allen, then cocks his vivid, red head. Allen is taken back by the parrot's most prominent feature to his face, a large, broad, white beak which slightly curves down to a sharp point. It continues down stopping just past his black, pouch-like bottom part of his beak. His tiny black beads for eyes blink at Allen again. Those tiny black eyes, surprisingly, stand out against a large, white, featherless patch area.
Short, prismatic, red feathers begin at the top of his beak and surround the white patch, which looks plush around his head. The brilliant red feathers cover his breast and down his long back. The bird seems to be aware how striking his appearance is as he preens himself.
He tilts forward, balancing on the peg he had previously paced on, and expands his wings in a long, full spread, stretching them. He flutters them for a moment before he brings his intensely colorful wings back to his side. Both Kanda and Allen stare at his brilliant red feathers overlaying even more intense yellow ones. Bright blue feathers edge his large, showy wings. A few long, bright red and blue feathers extend down into a colorful tail.
"Yes, that's Sidney, a Macaw parrot. He can be quite the obnoxious bird. He was left from the previous Captain of this ship," he explains, hoping the bird will not say the newest things he has learned.
"Obnoxious, eh? Sort of sounds like you Kanda, don't you think?" Allen laughs grinning over his shoulder. Kanda's arms encircle his waist which brings him closer.
"Very funny, Bean Sprout," Kanda says, still in good spirits.
"Hi I'm Allen," he says to Sidney.
"Bean Sprout's an idiot," Sidney squawks as he starts to pace back and forth.
"Ha, he's got you pegged Bean Sprout," Kanda says, amusingly next to Allen's ear.
"Kanda! That's not nice to say," Allen responds quickly, pretending to be offended.
"Kanda's a jerk," the parrot caws out. Allen chuckles and looks up at Kanda and smiles. By the scowl on Kanda's face he is not too happy being called a jerk, especially from a dumb bird.
"I told you he can be an obnoxious bird," the Captain reminds them.
"How does he know our names?" Allen asks with a puzzle look on his face.
"Oh … he has overheard the both of you bickering," the Captain says, a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Heard us, but how?" Kanda asks, now curious how this bird learns what they say to each other.
"Oh, how … well …" the Captain stammers.
"Ah … ah … I'm going to come Kanda," Sidney crows out and then cackle as he marches in place.
Allen's blush is bright red as he turns to Kanda to see his face is also starting to show a tinge of red.
"Uh … uh … fuck me harder Bean Sprout, faster," the parrot paces back and forth as he cackles and cries out.
Kanda has the brightest red face Allen has ever seen him sport. Even his ears are red and he is clearly at a loss for words which is so unlike Kanda.
"Ah yes … you see … your quarters are beneath mine and when you leave the portal open your voices carry up here. I don't hear anything when you keep your portal close though," the Captain explains, slightly red himself.
There's a knock on the Captain's door and he tells the person to come in. Luckily, its dinner and they can move away from the embarrassing conversation at hand.
Three sailors bring in plates with chrome domes over the food to keep the food hot. They sit them down on the table at the place settings for the guests and Captain, along with two bottles of wine.
"Shall we be seated gentlemen," the Captain invites them to sit as the sailors remove the chrome domes.
"It looks delicious," Allen declares, his eyes wide, seeing this amount of food sitting before him. Kanda smirks and then rolls his eyes at him.
"What?" Allen asks innocently, knowing perfectly well why Kanda is rolling his eyes.
The Captain attempts to change the subject hoping to get into a conversation that the two won't bicker about.
"Well, I hope the two of you were able to get some rest after your courageous battle with the Kraken today. You both are amazing fighters, and I thank you again for saving my ship and crew. I pray your little spat got settled also," the Captain says as he pours three glasses of wine and hands the glasses to them.
"Yes, we did. It was our first little spat since we have been married. But we made up, didn't we honey." Kanda's eyes glitter with a mixture of love and mischief as he looks at Allen. He couldn't help himself with the 'honey' part, thinking Allen would get a kick out of that.
Allen catches onto Kanda having a little fun, so smiling and looking adoringly at Kanda he says, "Yes, dear, we managed perfectly in settling our little dispute." The Captain looks from one to the other, grinning, guessing what went on between them.
When they finish their meals the three sailors come back and pick up the dishes from the dinner table. When they return one of the sailors sits another chrome dome dinner plate at the end of the table across from the Captain while another brings in a cake and sits it down, leaving dessert plates and silverware before leaving.
Kanda and Allen look at each other, both curious to whom the warm dinner plate is for, but also why the Captain is serving what appears to be a wedding cake. The Captain scrapes the floor with his chair as he suddenly pushes it back and then saunters over to his desk. He pulls out a drawer and removes two small boxes and brings them over to the table where he had been sitting.
"Kanda and Allen," he looks from one to the other. "I want to give you both a gift of appreciation for your bravery in battling the Kraken, and for saving as many crew members that you could from a hideous death."
The Captain opens both boxes, facing them towards Allen and Kanda so they could see what its contents are. "I had noticed that neither of you are wearing wedding bands, so as a token of appreciation from myself, and all the crew, I would like to bequeath to you both, two wedding bands." The Captain proudly smiles at his two dinner guests.
"I also thought I'd do a little ceremony for you to exchange the bands, properly, giving them more meaning then just myself giving them to you. But I see my other dinner guest is late, as usually, but when he arrives we'll continue," says the Captain.
"May we ask who the other dinner guest is to join us?" Allen asks.
"Oh, yes, it's the good doctor on my ship …" he's interrupted.
"Him!" Kanda says, raising his voice.
"Kanda, please, we discussed this remember?" Allen glances sideways up at Kanda. Kanda places his arm around Allen's shoulders, both as if protecting him, and letting it be known Allen is his.
"Oh dear, what has my good doctor been up to now?" the Captain flashes a warm smile at his two young guests. "I hope he hasn't been creating chaos for the both of you?"
"Yes, you could say that seeing he was close to raping my husband!" Kanda says, obviously aggrandizing the situation.
"Kanda!" Allen snaps at him.
"Okay, maybe that's a little too strong of an accusation," Kanda says, looking down into Allen's loving, silver eyes that knocks some of the anger out of him.
"I'm sorry. Please, let me explain the doctor's bad manners..." The Captain sighs, though grinning as he starts to pace.
"We're listening," Kanda says, squeezing Allen's shoulders to keep from letting his anger flare.
"He loves flirting and in doing so he can cause chaos in other people's relationships. It seems if there is jealousy from one of the partners or spouses, he has a tendency to rile that person, again creating friction in the relationship. Honestly, he finds his patients relax more with his charismatic smile, but taunts the hell out of the other person," the Captain explains to the couple.
"That's plain cruel," Kanda spat out.
"You don't have to worry about him taking Allen away from you Kanda. Number one, Allen loves you deeply; it's written all over his face, and secondly …," there's a soft rap on the door interrupting the Captain and it opens. In steps a very chic dressed man – the doctor. Kanda and Allen gasp at the stunning appearance of the doctor as he closes the door behind him as he smiles warmly at them.
The chic doctor leans back against the door. His loose, long-sleeve white silk robe softly stirs around his knees. The robe drapes in soft folds down the front and an equally soft-silk mandarin collar white shirt tucks neatly into his white trousers. His long, brown hair frames his guileless face which once again is crisp and clean and his sweet fragrance wafts into the room as he sashays over to the Captain. He's a picture of pure elegance.
The Captain flashes a smile at the doctor. "I'm hearing you've been creating chaos for this young married couple, Doc."
"Maybe a little," confesses the handsome doctor with a look of innocence in his eyes. The Captain smiles warmly back at the doctor, his eyes twinkling at the sight of him.
"Well then, don't you think you owe this young couple an apology?" The Captain asks as the doctor gets closer, reaching his arms out for the Captain. They embrace their heads lower for a deep, affectionate kiss. When they pull apart you definitely can see they are a couple, their eyes shining with love.
Both Kanda and Allen are in shock. "I'll be damned," Kanda whispers softly so only Allen could hear him.
The doctor turns his face to Kanda and Allen. "I apologize for any hardship I may have caused you two, but from what I hear coming up from your quarters it doesn't sound like a couple angry at each other. You might want to keep your portal closed when you …" the doctor is interrupted with Kanda's bellowing. The Captain rolls his eyes at his lover's forward remark.
"What! You listen to us! You could have at least shut your fucking windows!" Kanda shouts, angry, feeling Allen's hands hanging onto his arm tightly. Kanda looks down at his husband's face which reveals shock and embarrassment. Kanda bends down and kisses Allen near his ear.
Allen whispers into Kanda's ear, "Let's just forget he said anything, okay Kanda?" Kanda nods in a reluctant agreement and brushes a kiss on his ear. "Okay," Kanda whispers back, not wanting this situation upsetting Allen anymore than it has.
"Well! Gentlemen, let's get on with the ceremony and have dessert after. We should be docking at port sometime tomorrow afternoon and your journey comes to an end with us. You both have been wonderful guests and I hope you have enjoyed your stay," says the Captain, trying to smooth over the awkward comment from his lover and bring everyone back to attention for the festive occasion.
"Don't forget Allen, I need to see that wound before you disembark from the ship. I need to remove your stitches and I want to make sure there isn't any infection," the doctor says, giving Allen his charismatic smile and a wink. Allen gives a sigh, having a pretty good idea what Kanda's going to say.
"The hell you'll look at his wound. You are not putting a fucking finger on my Bean Sprout!" Kanda flares at the young doctor. Allen softly looks at Kanda and his heart flutters, feeling the loving protectiveness his husband is giving him and feeling thankful that he is in his life.
To be continued …