Wow, seems the previous chapter was well received! Thanks to Air Guitar Pixie(it's perfectly fine, no need for apologies! thank you so much, I'm honored that you love the story so much! ^_^), Deer Topus C. VonZenHousen(your version isn't quite what I'm shooting for ;), The Mysterious Shadow and mywarisalreadywon( never fear, a new chapter is always around the corner!). Thank you guys so much! A thanks as well to those who follow and favorite. I've never written a story this long, and I have big plans for it! Well, back to the story, shall we?
Turning around, the captain began to make his way back towards the door. But Castiel decided to ask what had been on his mind since the first moment he had met Dean Winchester.
"Why the hell don't you just kill me?" He shouted irritatedly at the pirate, who froze slightly in the doorway at the former sailor's outburst. His head turned, and once more their eyes locked before Dean smirked.
"Like I said Cas, I don't make it a habit to kill pretty boy swordsmen." The pirate captain knocked on the wall before exiting the room, leaving a victorious crew and a confused Castiel to his own thoughts.
Castiel was silent as he watched the rest of the pirates leave the supply room, leaving only him and Balthazar. The pirate kept a wary eye on the former sailor while looking for rope. But Castiel remained where he sat, watching quietly as Balthazar found the object of his desire and walked towards the younger Novak.
"So I'm assuming this was all for your friend of yours to escape?" The first mate asked when he approached Castiel.
"Older brother," Castiel corrected with a whisper, his eyes drilling into the floor while his thoughts were trying to organize themselves from the chaos that was going on inside of him.
"How sweet. Now could I see your wrists?" Balthazar's voice was surprisingly soft, and it pulled Castiel out of his mind, his eyes darting up to look at the pirate's. The former sailor brought his arms together, and Balthazar began to work.
"You know," the pirate started while wrapping the rope around Castiel's wrists, "for a man who has tried to escape twice, you're being awfully submissive." Once again Castiel was surprised by the softness of the pirate's voice.
"He needed time and I provided. I chose the course of action, and he got out." Castiel replied, his blue eyes distant even though they were staring at Balthazar's own.
"That he did. Come on now, best we be on our way. You've certainly made this an interesting reunion for our first day back on the ship," Balthazar spoke as he led Castiel, resting a hand on his shoulder while keeping another on his arm.
"But that's just the thing, isn't it? I'm currently on a ship filled with pirates about to do Lord knows what. Tell me, if I have been such an annoyance in your attempts on sailing away, why am I alive? Answer me that, Balthazar." Castiel stopped, his eyes locked onto Balthazar's; who hesitated at the sight of Castiel's eyes. They burned with anger, but behind the burning look was something else, exhaustion or confusion; Balthazar wasn't quite sure.
"Look Castiel, in our line of work most would kill you on the spot. But," Castiel watched as Balthazar searched for an explanation, before giving a sigh of resignation. "It's complicated."
Castiel snorted, looking away from the pirate and allowing his gaze to drift around the hallway.
"You're not going to try and hit me again, are you?" Balthazar joked, Castiel squinted at the older man as his statement caused him to be the former sailor's attention once more.
"You're strange, Balthazar." Curiously Castiel watched as the pirate chuckled before beginning to lead the younger Novak brother through the hallway again.
"Yeah, I get that a lot. But that's what makes me so charming," Balthazar responded with a dazzling smile. Castiel continued to gaze at the pirate with a confused look. In turn Balthazar shook his head, a smile still on his face.
They reached the staircase leading up to the deck, and Castiel looked up to see a still night sky, the stars were more clear and noticeable compared to the last time he looked.
Together they slowly walked up the stairs, Castiel's eyes still on the sky while Balthazar glanced at the former sailor occasionally. Once they reached the deck, Castiel looked at the ship's surroundings; hoping for a possible landmark. Alas, the only thing around the Impala was the dark ocean, waves lapping against the boat as it continued to sail across the water.
Pulling Castiel along, Balthazar led the younger man over to the door of Dean's room. The former sailor cast one more longing glance at the sky and its stars, trying to find a pattern before Balthazar yanked him from the doorway and into the pirate's quarters.
Dean sat down in his chair, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair before leaning his head against the raised hand. He turned his chair, staring out into the mysterious ocean as he had been only moments before. Releasing a sigh, the pirate began to close his eyes. Hard as he had tried to avoid sleep, but he knew it would be inevitable. His body still ached from his short-lived flight, and the day had seemed to never end; compliments of a certain rebellious Novak.
The pretty boy swordsman seemed to call out to Dean, he couldn't help but be curious about the man. Especially the way he seemed to be wherever Dean went. Hell, just his eyes seemed to disturb the Winchester. It was as if Castiel could stare into your soul, see everything with just a glance.
Sure it would be easy to just kill the mysterious man, but it wasn't in Dean. He's been around enough death, enough for a lifetime. Shuddering inwardly, the captain's eyes opened to try and avoid the inevitable for just a while longer. A problem still had to be resolved.
What to do about Castiel Novak?
The opening of his door drew Dean out of his thoughts, knowing who was going to be on the other side of that room. He smiled at the sound of Balthazar giving a huff as his first mate must've pulled the former sailor into the Winchester's quarters.
"Delivery, Oh Great One," Balthazar called out, and Dean's grin grew before he sobered up, still facing the window in his chair.
"Thanks Balthazar. Are we still on course?"
"Aye, she's making great time." Dean nodded, and listened as a single pair of footsteps walked back towards the door, it closing with a soft click. Silence gathered as the captain closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Knowing who was on the other side of the room was one thing, confronting the person was a whole other obstacle.
Standing up, Dean kept his eyes on the window, trying to figure out what he wanted to know. The he turned to face his adversary, the man in the familiar tan coat with the striking blue eyes.
"Hi again Cas," Dean started, keeping a mask over his head by withholding a smile from entering his face. Castiel was quiet for a moment before he spoke up with his surprisingly low voice.
"Hello Dean," The pirate admired the fire that seemed to still be in Castiel's eyes. Even though the man was a prisoner, had failed to escape twice, and had lost to Dean twice now the determination and anger was bright in his eyes; although this poked Dean's curiosity.
"Your eyes are unusually bright," he accidentally blurted out, and the captain felt his cheeks glow red. Although he wanted to smirk as the captive shuffled his feet a few steps back, immediately bringing his face down. Dean could only assume that Castiel as well was trying to hide the red of his own face from embarrassment; the pirate tried to amend the statement.
"What I meant," the pirate captain began to collect himself, "was that for a man who seemed to want to die earlier your eyes are screaming determination and anger."
"I wasn't trying to get myself killed," Castiel muttered loud enough for Dean to hear, "your pirates. The last thing one expects is for you to keep prisoners." The younger Novak lifted his bound wrists for emphasis, the color from Dean's previous remark fading away from his face.
"Does that make me special?" A familiar smirk came across the captain's face as the two stared each other down.
"It makes you different."
Castiel meant every word that he said to Dean Winchester. From the moment he had met the pirate, he knew that Dean was different from the usual. The way he talked, it was as if the pirate was always trying to hide behind a wall of bad humor. Hiding, Castiel was positive that that was what Dean was doing. And, against his better judgment, it drew in the former sailor's curiosity.
The smug look remained on the captain's face after Castiel made his reply. "Well aren't you a flirt," Dean's eyes confused Castiel, the way they had a joking light mixed with something, well dangerous was the glint that he saw in the pirate's eyes.
The former sailor's eyebrows drew together as he looked at Dean with confusion, his head forming its usual angle. "I'm hoping that the reason you wanted to talk to me was more than the idea of flirtation," Castiel tried to break down the pirate's behavior; Dean Winchester was certainly different. Though the former sailor decided to use the term 'different' loosely.
The captain scoffed, his green eyes still alight, almost twinkling like the now present stars. "Me, flirting? You certainly are strange pretty boy." Castiel's eyes narrowed at the sound of the pirate's strange nickname for him, though he remained quiet.
Dean smirked at the former sailor before his face grew serious. The pirate walked over to his side of the desk, Castiel noticed how Dean's eyes seemed to focus on something near the bottom of it.
"What do you of the Hellhound, Castiel?" The younger Novak brother was surprised by the captain's use of his full name, but he maintained his usual expression as he found himself walking away from the door and towards the pirate.
"Do you mean that ship they used in children's stories?" The former sailor took a moment to search his mind, keeping his eyes locked onto Dean's; although the pirate kept his face looking down at his desk. Once more the Winchester drove Castiel crazy, why was this pirate so interested about a children's tale? "It was a ship claimed to be sailed by the devil himself, right? He would trick people, commit terrible deeds."
Castiel awaited to see a response of any kind from Dean. Finally the pirate looked up, forcing himself to meet Cas's curious blue eyes. The former sailor then noticed how tight Dean's grip on his desk was. His whole body seemed rigid. But as soon as the captain met Castiel's eyes, he seemed to loosen a bit.
Damn Dean Winchester for making Castiel so damn curious about him.
Silence was the only form of conversation between the two, finding themselves staring into each others eyes as one awaited the other. Clearing his throat, the captain straightened up while he maintained eye contact with Castiel.
"What if I were to tell you that the Hellhound was real, Cas?" Immediately Castiel snorted, but the look in Dean's eyes made him pause. Green eyes that were serious to the pupil, spots of anger while altogether trying to shield out something else, something Castiel couldn't make out.
"You're not serious?" But the look in the captain's eyes was all the confirmation that the former sailor needed and received from Dean. Although his mind filled with questions, he asked the one that seemed to scream the loudest.
"Why tell me this?"
Dean also asked himself this deep down as Castiel inquired why Dean was sharing this information. Why should he even bother to talk to the Novak? He should just find some island and dump the man there, simple and easy. But the Winchester understood why he wanted to tell Castiel, now that he knew that he was in the dark. He cursed at himself in the inside.
Damn Castiel Novak for being so, well damn him for being Castiel Novak!
The words began to form in his mouth, but he couldn't find himself able to share the news. So he decided to come up with a reasonable answer as the former sailor stared him down.
"Understanding." Mentally Dean was shaking his head, but at least he could give a slightly honest answer with his excuse.
"Understanding," Castiel repeated, and Dean knew that the former sailor didn't buy it. Silence began to flood the room again, and the captain tried to think. Not only did he still not know what to do about his 'prisoner', he wasn't still too pleased about the other one escaping. Deciding to start a list, Dean began his interrogation.
"Did you know the other guy that escaped?" He admired the slight lift of Castiel's chin in defiance as the former sailor's eyes burned with pride.
"His name's Gabriel, and yes I know him." Dean nodded, to be honest he knew he could get over the escapee, so he continued.
"How'd you get out of the cell?" The pirate was especially curious as to how Castiel would answer this. Once more their almost seemed to be an air of pride that surrounded the former sailor as he replied.
"You should update your security, I expected better."
"Says the man who stayed behind." Dean's eyes narrowed slightly, he didn't like how the Novak was acting so arrogant.
"And got the other one out," Castiel countered, his eyes also narrowing.
"If you're not on my level, then how come in just one day I have managed to beat your ass against your attempts at capturing me?" A smirk blossomed on Dean's face after his own counter to Castiel's. The former sailor's eyes narrowed even further, his eyebrows knitted together.
"You cheated the first time." The pirate captain couldn't help but give a short laugh, his previous growing anger melting away. Holding himself back, Dean kept from laughing again after noticing that Castiel remained angered; although his eyes were twinkling with their own laughter.
"I'm serious," the former sailor argued, "it is not fair to pull a firearm during a sword fight." Once more Dean burst into laughter, and this time he found himself hugging his sides. His eyes met with a pair of blue eyes that were completely annoyed, but still the captain laughed until he managed to calm down.
"Sorry, but you sounded very child-like just then," Castiel was about to argue but Dean continued before he could interrupt "I haven't seen such a serious face over such a thing like that since Sa-"
Don't you just love cliffhangers? Why the sudden change of attitude from Cas, and what's in Dean's past that has scarred him so much? I love leaving you guys to ponder these things ;) Happy Fourth of July to all you patriotic Americans, and have a wonderful day for the rest of you! Please review, follow, or favorite if you enjoyed!