Chapter 3 the Seven Seas
As you promised you visited John as much as you could, even if it did annoy your boyfriend to no end. This was just something you simply had to do, if not for John than for yourself. John quickly sat up seeing you had come to visit once again, he smiled brightly and quickly waved you over. "How are you feeling?" you inquired as you sat beside the sickly lad who shrugged his shoulders in replied and quickly changed the subject by asking you about Karkat. You had told John about your boyfriend some time ago, you thought he would take it rather hard, but to your surprise Egbert seemed more interested than anything.
"Karkat is fine, he's kind of mad at me for ditching work and coming to visit though, I guess I do come here a lot don't I?" you laughed softly. John slowly nodded, "Well maybe, but I enjoy your visits, if it weren't for you I'd be cooped up here all day with nothing to do" you watched as he nibbled on his bottom lip gently and stared off into space. He had been doing that a lot lately, you kind of wanted to ask what was on his mind, but you honestly didn't think it was any of your business. "Can we go to the park?"
You stared at Egbert for a few minutes as if you didn't hear him. John opened his mouth to ask again, but you cut him off. "Don't you have to stay in the hospital?" you raised an eyebrow. John sighed softly and rolled his eyes, you felt kind of stupid for asking, of course he wasn't supposed to leave the hospital, and you felt badly for reminding the poor soul, you figured John only wanted you to answer yes or no, he was growing impatient.
"You realize we'll get in trouble if we get caught" you leaned back a bit before looking at John Egbert seriously. John smiled taking your answer as a yes, "we won't get caught, the nurses are eating lunch anyways, they're pretty much oblivious to anything around this time" John practically beamed. "Well, if you say so" you really didn't see how you could say no, but on the other hand you really didn't want to get in trouble, who knew, maybe this counted as kidnapping?
Though honestly, it wasn't like john could get any worse going outside, maybe the fresh air would be good for him. You slowly and carefully helped the small boy out of bed and with him leading the way made it out of the hospital safely and unnoticed.
You watched as John stopped in front of you, his eyes closed tight and his chest rising and then falling as he took a deep breath of the crisp warm air.
"It's nice out here" he spoke softly, probably sensing that you had been staring; not like you could help it. "Yea, it's supposed to be like this all week. Though I have a feeling we might end up with a couple of rain showers" you looked up at the sky. John opened his eyes and stared up at you, "I wish it was raining right now" he mused. You nodded slowly, the two of you just stood there ignoring the people who passed by staring at you as they went.
"Come on then, time to go to the park" you turned around and pushed the cross walk button behind you. As soon as it turned bright green you made your way across the street with John holding onto your hand somewhat tightly.
"I have a request" Egbert stated as you rounded the corner to the park.
"Oh and what might that be?" you laughed softly, a hint of amusement in your voice. John blushed a bit and hummed quietly to himself as if trying to figure out how to word what he wanted to say. "Well, I kind of want to play a game" he drawled. "What kind of game?" you looked down at him growing strangely curious.
"A game…about pirates" he sighed and quickly looked down at the ground as if he was ashamed. "I like pirates" you bluntly stated as you pushed the gate open to the park and made your way over to the swings. John grinned and practically skipped over to the swings. "So what are the rules?" you spoke up again. "You just have to use your imagination" he shrugged.
You thought for a moment before nodding, it seemed easy enough. "Alright then, my name shall be Captain John Egbert" he spoke excitedly before racing over to the playground and climbing up. "how original" you called sarcastically
"I like my name why change it" the boy whined. You swayed your head from side to side before jumping up to your feet. "Mine shall be, Marquise Mindfang…Captain Marquise Mindfang" you grinned devilishly loving how the name felt on your tongue. "Ooo cool name" Egbert chided. You nodded a quick thanks before picking up a stick and pointing it at John.
"Now Captain Egbert, I shall commandeer this ship and claim it as my own" you threatened. John looked around and panicked a bit, "Wait I don't have a sword" he gulped before sliding down the slide and picking up tree branch. "A good pirate always has a sword nearby" you scoffed before taking a couple steps forward.
"Hah! You wouldn't know what a good pirate was if it bit you in the behind" he jeered. The two of you circled each other, both of you trying to look as intimidating as possible. You secretly wondered who would make the first move, Egbert was kind of a passive person, so you had a feeling it would be you, and move you did, quick and swift, brave and true.
John was quite taken aback by your sudden movement, and displayed it by jumping backwards and letting out a small yelp. "Whatever is the matter captain Egbert? Are you afraid?" you sneered. "Ahaha, don't make me laugh, I don't know the meaning of the word" he smiled nervously. You bit your lip to keep from laughing and whisked your stick in a downward motion. Egbert blocked it, before pushing your stick away with his and hitting you gently in the shoulder.
You grimaced, "You've gotten stronger Captain" you took a step back.
"I would say so" the pale boy smirked before leaping forward and aiming for your other shoulder. You gave a quick turn and lowered your stick a bit so that it struck Egbert's leg. "Ahh!" he cried out, you pulled your stick back and stared at the small boy worriedly, but when he winked at you, you went back in to your stance and grinned wickedly.
"Ya scurvy dog!" he gasped a limped a bit. You laughed softly and dropped your sword as you grabbed your stomach and rolled around laughing hysterically. "Ya scurvy dog" you mocked and continued your giggling. John groaned, though after a few seconds smiled. "Was it really that funny" he let out a small laugh.
You nodded your head as you rid your eyes from the tears that were starting to fall down your cheek from laughing so hard. You soon were on your feet again sword in hand and ready to continue your fight for John's beautiful ship. John cleared his throat before getting back into character.
"Take this! And that!" he bellowed as he waved the tree branch around. You ducked, but still managed to get smacked a few times in the face. "Ow!" you whined before running over to the jungle gym and climbing up one of the ladders. "Good pirates never run from a fight!" John yelled before quickly moving after you.
"I don't want to be a good pirate anymore!" you half joked before standing at the top of the slide. You were trapped, the only way down was to either go down the slide, or go down the ladder that John Egbert…Captain John Egbert was currently climbing up.
"John" you pleaded, "That's Captain John to you" he smiled as he pointed his branch at you. You held up your hands in defeat before taking a step back. "Vriska look out!" john shrieked before grabbing onto the front of your shirt in attempt to pull you forward, but gravity just wasn't on your side.
The two of you tumbled down the slide screaming and hollering as you went. You landed face up your legs pointing to the slide while john laid the opposite way with his legs by the side of your head.
"Well that was fun" John smiled; you looked over at john and raised an eyebrow as you shook your head. You turned your attention to the sky and sighed softly. John looked up at the sky as well and smiled, "Thanks for getting me out of the hospital" he whispered.
"You got yourself out kid, all I did was follow you" you shrugged.
John stayed quiet and pointed up at one of the clouds, "That looks like a pirate ship to me" he turned his attention to you and watched at you tilted your head and stared at the cloud.
"Ya I can see now" you smiled, "Serket?"
"Egbert?" you looked over at John and nudged his foot with your head.
"What do you think it's like…to die?" he murmured the last part.
You honestly didn't know, you weren't really a religious person, so you didn't really know if you believed in life after death, but maybe there was something. "I'm not really sure" you spoke softly. You didn't want to have this talk; you had totally forgotten John was sick until now.
"I think when I die…I'll reemerge on a pirate ship with big white sails" he closed his eyes and sighed happily.
You gave a small smile, "You could sail the seven seas and follow the horizon" you shifted so that your head was beside John's. "Not the seven seas, the galaxy" he slowly opened his eyes and stared into yours. "The…Galaxy?" you tilted your head.
"Yea, could you imagine? Sailing through darkness with only the stars to guide you…or the milky way"
You gave a small smile; "I guess it does sound rather splendorous" you smiled. John nodded before moving his head closer to yours so that your foreheads were touching.
"I get jealous of Karkat sometimes" John admitted. "Whatever for?" you chuckled softly, you could feel your heart skip a beat, but you didn't want to let yourself think about it too much.
"Because he has you" Egbert looked away and nibbled on his bottom lip.
"I'm nothing special, you could easily find a girl your own age you know" there was a small pain in your chest at the thought of John finding another girl to spend his time with. This was just plain unacceptable, you developing feelings for the younger boy who was by no means even remotely close to being of legal age.
"If I was your age would you date me?" John asked as he stared at you intently. You quickly sat up, this was getting way out of hand, it was scaring you. "We should probably get you back to the hospital now" you spoke quickly.
John grabbed onto your arm and squeezed it tightly, "John…" you sighed softly.
"Would you?!"
You didn't want to look over your shoulder, you didn't want to stare into his blue eyes and tell him everything that was running through your mind. "I don't know" you lied.
"You do to!" he grumbled before standing up and letting go of your arm. "Why can't you just give me an honest answer?!" he ululated.
"Why can't you just be quiet!" you roared as you quickly stood up and glared John.
"I just want to know" he hung his head; you sighed and let out a small groan of frustration. "…I would" you grumbled.
"If you were my age and if Karkat and I hadn't met…then I would"
John raised his head and smiled his two buck teeth showing and everything. You rolled your eyes and grabbed him by the hand as you pulled him back towards the hospital. John let you pull him and he didn't complain either, he was smiling the biggest smile you had seen yet.
He was completely lost in his thoughts; you looked over your shoulder and gave a small smile.