Dirk shot up off the bed, his breathing labored and his body covered in sweat. He sat there for a moment and then rubbed at his eyes. Images of Caliborn, kissing him, fucking him, danced through his head. He let out a ragged breath and tried to calm his body. After his heartbeat had returned to normal, he kicked his sheets away and got up. He walked over to the basin on his desk and splashed some water on his face. His head hurt and his body ached for Caliborn's touch. He shut his eyes, willing the old memories to disappear. His eyes opened a few minutes later and he moved away from his desk, Caliborn's taunting voice ringing in his ears.

He donned his shirt and heavy burgundy coat. It was old and had been sewn up time and again by his scarred hands. He'd never get rid of it though; it was too precious to him. The old coat had belonged to Caliborn and was given to him as a gift when he became the quarter master. That had been several long years ago after Crowbar was captured and killed by the Lady Condesce. She was a ruthless pirate, one of the most feared of all, aside from Lord English. Though, everyone knew that the most pitiless pirate is long gone, tucked away in a hidden corner of the New World. She— yes, she— worked and lived with the three Gypsies of the West. No one dared challenge her, Marquis Spinneret Mindfang, lest they wished a swift and harshly-delivered demise.

Dirk shook his head, trying not to think about Crowbar's death. It had been bloody and merciless. No one could have stopped it from happening, not even through negotiation. Caliborn had tried that, but it had been to no avail. He sighed loudly and put his leather sash over his head. He tugged his boots on and put his hat on his head. The last thing he grabbed was his sword, which he attached to his waist. Dirk didn't carry a gun, partly because he was awful at it, but also because it weighed him down and made his usually swift movements choppy.

He opened the door and stepped out onto the deck. His crew momentarily stopped what they were doing to say good morning to their captain before going back to work. He headed up the staircase to the wheel where his brother and quarter master, Dave, was at. Normally Dave wouldn't be up there but their sailing master was currently lying at the bottom of the ocean, waiting for the Grand Highblood to have mercy on him.

"Morning, brother," greeted Dave, glancing over at Dirk.

"Dave," he muttered, patting his brother on the shoulder.

"Haven't seen you wear that in a while," Dave commented, moving away from the wheel. Dirk took it with a sigh as Dave continued to talk. "You only wear it when you dream about him." Dave unrolled a yellowed map, looking it over. Black lines and circles crisscrossed it. Jake English, the most notorious Commodore of the Royal Navy, was hot on their trail. "I thought you were done with him, Dirk."

"I am," snapped Dirk. "Where's English's ship?"

"Off the coast of Cuba," Dave answered, showing Dirk the map, "or so I heard the last time we were in port."

"Then we'll swing ourselves away and go the long way to Tortuga," said Dirk, pointing to the small village labeled on the map. "We'll go see Rose if we have the time."

Dave lit up at the mention of his friend. He nodded and rolled up the map, smiling as he said, "I'll go put this in your quarters." Dirk waved him away. As he steered his ship, he let his mind wander. He thought about how he denied loving Caliborn and felt ashamed. He would never stop loving him, no matter what.

It had been a year since he had last seen Caliborn. That one night was the worst night of Dirk's life. He had cried for most of it, begging Caliborn to rethink his choices. He didn't and they parted ways. Four years before that night, Dirk and Dave left Caliborn and his crew. A year prior, Dirk became the quarter master after Crowbar's death. It had been a total of seven years since he had become a pirate, seven years since he sold his soul to Caliborn and he wouldn't have had it any other way. He hadn't realized that he was crying until Dave brushed the tears away with his thumb.

"There's a ship that wants to communicate with us," Dave said, "should we talk to them?"

"Y-yeah let them aboard." He wiped away the remaining tears with his sleeve.

Dave pushed Dirk away from the wheel, steering the ship closer to the other so that they were parallel. Both crews started laying wooden planks from each ship for them to walk across from one ship to the other. Dirk made his way to the deck, body stiff with caution. His stomach twisted but he pushed the feeling away.

When the other ship's captain strutted across the boards, Dirk's stomach tightened again. He suddenly felt sick and it didn't help that they were on a boat in the middle of the ocean. There was the sound of a gun cocking and before the blood could react, the barrel was pressed between his eyes.

"Hello, Dirk," the other captain grinned, their green eyes shining with triumph.

Dirk cursed inwardly. He had gone against his better judgment and now he would pay the price. "English," he ground out, hands curling into fists, "guess you finally outsmarted me."

"I know."

'That smug bastard! I'm gonna wipe that stupid grin off his face.' Dirk thought as he reached down to grab his sword.

"I wouldn't, if I were you," said English, pointing his pistol over at Dave who was still at the wheel. "I won't hesitate to pull the trigger."

"What do you want, English?" He moved away from the other man, tossing his sword aside.

"I think you know, Strider."

"Oh come now, Jake, enlighten me."

Jake's jaw clenched and he shouted at his crew to round up Dirk's own. "Tie the crew up, but leave Mister Strider where he is," commanded Jake. "He gets to watch me blow his entire crews heads to smithereens."

"Don't-"

"Don't what Strider? Make you watch? Too bad, you are in no position to argue with me." Jake pointed his pistol at the cabin boy and pulled the trigger. Dirk shouted at Jake, spewing out every curse that he knew.

"What the hell is going on?" A shrill voice screamed. A girl with curly blond hair strutted over to Dirk, rum bottle clattering onto the deck.

"Roxy, I can-" He's cut off by Roxy stomping her foot.

"All I wanted was one goddamn morning to myself, Dirk! One morning, every month so I can drink away my feelings!"

Jake snorted loudly then, "Don't you know the myth, Strider? It's bad luck to have a woman aboard a ship."

"Of course I do!" snapped Dirk before Roxy could say something stupid in return. Jake motioned for his bulkiest man to grab Roxy. The crew member did as told and threw Roxy over his shoulder. She yelled obscenities at him as he tied her up next to Dave.

"Dios mio, shut your bloody gob you miserable wench." Jake fired a warning shot at Roxy, barely missing the side of her head. Dave cursed in pain as the bullet nicked his right ear.

Dirk started to rush forward but was tackled to the deck by Jake. The Englishman straddled his hips, pulling out his legendary second pistol and shoving it in Dirk's mouth. He pointed the other one blindly at Dave, finger ready to pull the trigger. There was a reason he was called "Blind shot Jake." He could use both at the same time, either right next to each other or far apart. He always hit his target. He was especially good at blind shots, like the one he was about to take. It would hit Dave square between his ruby red eyes.

"Say goodbye to your brother, Dirk," Jake whispered, finger curling slowly.

Dirk bucked his hips up, trying to throw Jake off him. He grabbed his wrist, squeezing it tightly, nails digging into hard tan flesh. Jake pulled the gun out of his mouth, a frown on his face.

"Don't...he's just a little boy following after his big brother," pleaded Dirk. He'd do anything to spare Dave's life, even if it would bring shame and humiliation down on his name.

The other man rolled his eyes and said, "So? Why should that stop me?"

Dirk shifted his upper body into an upright position. English's weight still rested uncomfortable on his hips. "Look, I know what you really want," said Dirk. "Just take me and let everyone else go."

"Hmm..." He rolled the thought around his head for a moment, and then replied, "how about no."

"Please, Jake... If you take them away from me, I don't know what I'll do," begged Dirk. "Please, they're all that I've got."

English frowned, eyes searching Dirk's face. He sighed and let his pistol fall away. "Fine," he relented. "But on one condition."

"Anything."

"You, your brother, and the woman, all come work for me at my estate," began Jake, "and I let the rest of your crew go free."

Dirk twisted his head to look at his brother. He was shaking his head. Roxy was nodding in earnest for Dirk to agree to the man's offer. He flicked his gaze over his crew's faces. His cook had retched all over himself when the cabin boy's blood has splattered across his face. He craned his neck back to look Jake English straight in the eye.

"Okay."

Jake nodded and got off of Dirk, extending his hand to help the pirate up. Dirk took the offered hand but when he tried to pull away, Jake tightened his grip.

"If you ever try to run away while you work for me, I will kill you and your brother without a second thought," he hissed and released his hold on Dirk's hand.

"Right," Dirk replied, massaging his hand. "We'll follow you to your estate."

Jake snorted, "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Yes," answered Dirk with a smug grin, drawing a few laughs from his crew.

"Your crew will take the ship that I borrowed and my few and I will stay with you on your ship."

There was a road of upset which Dirk quickly quieted with a wave of his hand. "Alright English, that's fine," Dirk agreed. He didn't like the idea of the Commodore aboard the Derse Dreamer, but what else could he do?

Dave was quick to protest and Roxy elbowed him. He clamped his mouth shut, jaw clenched. Dirk's crew was guided off his ship and the blond sighed.

"Don't fret, Strider," said Jake, pushing the other male towards the last.

"Oh and why not?" He retorted as his back hit the wood.

"You could be dead."

"I'd rather."

Jake smacked him then, making his cheek tingle from the force of the slap. The commodore grabbed his chin harshly, tilting his head up to look at him. "Disrespect me again and it'll be more than a slap to the face," he growled lowly. "Tie him up, Equius, and put the other two in the brig."

Dirk let himself be tied to the mast as Dave and Roxy were taken below the deck to the brig. He heaved a loud sigh. Dirk tried to get comfortable; he would be there for a long time.