#vb month

He climbs back down, watching the statue as he backs away. He can feel it in his chest somewhere, a growing bloom of bravery. He ducks his head and walks quietly out of the temple.

--

Alfred stands before the temple, his robes longer and a new color, a new status. He is not he high priest but now has permissions to walk about freely without guardian and late at night. Still he scans hallways for other temple masters. He spots only one. They make eye contact and Alfred lets out a small huff and smile. The other comes closer deathly silent.

“Greetings Alfred,” Matthew says softly. Alfred nods in greeting. They walk side by side in silence until Matthew takes a different turn. Alfred watches him go down the hallway leading to the God of Death’s temple. Misunderstood is what Matthew would say. Alfred is inclined to believe. He turns towards his own god and smiles.

He kneels at their feet like he’s done for years, talking, just talking about whatever has happened to him since the night before. It’s not much, and when he runs out of things to say, he sits silently with a smile on his face. The statue is of a man, one hand by their side, the other placed under their chest, a large hole where their heart should be. The God of Fear is not many people worship, but they have been Alfred’s favorite for a long time.

When time strikes for him to return to his bed and Matthew passes with silent goodnight wishes, Alfred stands. He waits for Matthew’s steps to be silent, then as he has for years, he steps up to the statue, holding himself up on it’s shoulders and now that he’s taller, places a kiss to it’s cheek.

He softly climbs down, taking a few steps back with a smile on his face. Then he ducks his head and turns to head to his room. He would have made it if not for the statue cracking in half with a loud sound that echoes off the walls. Alfred jerks to spin around, the statue split in two pieces. And Alfred would scream if not for the ground cracking and him falling through the earth.

He lands somewhere that does not feel like a place for him. It’s overbearing and powerful. His vision is foggy and he feels like he may pass out but something is placed to his lips and a burning liquid courses through his bloodstream. He arch his back in a silent scream and as soon as it begun the pain is over.

He’s lifted easily and brought out of the dark and into a softly lit room with swirling walls and many faces. Alfred clutches to the person that holds him and a small kiss is placed on his head, it’s enough, and Alfred finally passes out.

--

The cushions are soft, a deep red color that is cool to the touch. Alfred looks around him, something heavy beating in his chest. He rubs at the spot, looking at the room. What he thought were moving walls are many mirrors, people appearing and reappearing in them, some scream and some freeze up, others pop in for a second and then are gone.

His eyes widen seeing a vision of his temple.

The statue is still broken in half, the edges less rough, with many whispering of Alfred’s strange disappearance, the rumor being the God of Fear stole him. No note and a broken statue that everyone is too scared to touch. His body feels different.

“Pity really,” Someone says and Alfred jerks around, heart beating far wilder in his chest. The person there is dressed in long red robes the color of a deep wine. Their eyes are black watching the mirrors. Alfred swallows hard.

“Where am I?” He asks. The person turns to stare back at him. They blink slow. Instead of running like he maybe should, when the being walks to him, sitting on the cushions as well and leans far too into Alfred’s space, almost brushing their lips together, Alfred holds his ground. He stares right back to the being that is too close to him.

“I-” They scan his face as if they can’t believe he is there.

“I have waited so long to see you, I couldn’t wait anymore,” They whisper to him, a ghost of silence like the halls Alfred roamed after hours.

Alfred can feel the beating in his chest get heavier. He brings his hand to the spot and presses with a grunt. The being places their hand over his.

“It’s yours, please keep it,” They whisper still not backing away from Alfred’s space. Alfred grunts and presses harder, willing himself to calm down, when he feels it. Two distinct different heartbeats. He gasps hard, jerking in shock, pressing himself right into the person in front of him who holds him tight, making the kiss deeper.

Alfred can feel, can see it through their eyes. A small boy talking to them, disobeying with careless to hug the statue, seeing them grow up and become the priest they deserved to be, with a brave heart and the one watching willing gives theirs up for them. Alfred can see it, can see the invisible hand breaks the statue and grab him down to where he is now.

The kiss break and Alfred lets himself just fall to the cushions staring wide eyed at the God of Fear above him, watching him carefully and with hope and worry in his eyes. Alfred pushes down his own fright to raise a hand to the God, placing it on his cheek. The god nuzzles into him.

“Come,” The god pulls him. “Come come.” Alfred wouldn’t disobey even if he could. He lets the God hold his hand and drag him through constantly changing pathways. A new color or smell of feel from each of them. He’s pulled into one made of solid black.

“Can I keep him?” Alfred hears the God asks to another. For what it’s worth, Alfred’s jaw only drops a little bit. The being in this room rises from a black cushion, a mirror showing a temple boy praying can easily be recognized as Matthew. The God is dressed in black robes, a tired look in their eyes and long blonde hair tied up in a ribbon. They sigh.

“I have no choice, you have claimed him,” They announces. The God of Fear leaps at Alfred then, wrapping around him and peppering his face in kisses.

“Mattol says I can keep you,” The god whispers against his lips, a giddy look in their eyes. Alfred smiles then, looking to the God of Death as they place their hand to the mirror holding Matthew’s picture longingly. Alfred swallows his insecurity.

“He thinks of you,” The God of Death says before Alfred can say anything. They look to him with a blank expression. Alfred holds the God of Fear tighter in his arms.

“He thinks of you more,” He says back. The God of Death blinks, taken aback by his answers. The God of Fear cackles though, nuzzling Alfred then guiding him away and back to the room they just were.

“Who am I?” Alfred asks once they are watching the screens together. The God of Fear leans up to him.

“You are Alfredka, I am Allenesh,” He says plainly. Alfredka shakes his head.

“No who am I?” Allenesh blinks at him, then kisses him sweetly.

“You are the God of Bravery,” He says. Alfredka releases a breath of air, a smile coming to his face. He holds Allenesh to him. He has to protect him, it’s what he was made to do.

--

Matthew is the first to notice, his heart feeling lighter when he does. He does not mention it to anyone. The statue in the Temple of the God of Fear has been split in two for years, and now it resembles the god again, one hand cradling the empty cavity of where it’s heart should be, the other holding the hand of another god, a new one. This one cradles an opening in it’s chest, two marble hearts carved into it.

Maybe at first the royal had fought against the thief who stole them from their bedchamber, kicking and scratching and digging their feet into the ground to keep from going with them. The thief however had been persuasive in getting them to move, convincing as the sharp as the knife they dug into his throat.

“Hurry up!” The thief hisses, yanking the royal by the rope tied around their wrists. They let out a whine and almost fall due to the sudden tug. Once more they are pushed to the ground, the thief’s hand going over their already gagged mouth.

“Listen sunshine, the bounty said alive, but they never said unharmed so shut it.” The royal nods to the threat, knowing there’s more than just a knife on this person that can harm him. They travel along the tree line, the knights looking for their prince far deeper in the woods than where they actually are.

Then they stop. The royal is shaking, used to exercise but never like this. They can feel their kidnapper breathing heavily beside them, a burning hand on their arm keeping them close. There’s little noise but they’re pulled down to sit in the dirt anyway. It takes time, agonizing minutes, but the sound of hooves crosses the path and fades in the distance.

“Come on,” The thief whispers and the royal is allowed to stand on their own time. More gently then before they are guided across a path, the rocks under their feet sounding different than the bramble of the woods. They are brought to a stop and are surprised that the thief unties their wrists.

“Not a word,” The thief tells them. A nod is all they need. There’s a knock, some yelling, then a door opening.

“Why hello there Blackbird~” A voice coos. The prince can hear into the building now, a tavern by the sound of ruckus and buffoonery. The thief snorts.

“I’m looking for The Designer,” The thief tells and the room dies down to silence.

“Ah,” The person at the door says. The royal keeps their head down, letting the thief lace their fingers together and pull them along. Not being able to see the people that are for sure looking at them is almost worse than running blind in the woods.

“Well? Get back to it!” The voice at the door shouts and the ruckus picks back up without a hitch, the sound of a fight continuing in the back.

“Steps, easy now,” The thief takes both their hands, guiding them down the stairs with a gentleness the royal would have never even dreamed of from someone like this. They’re guided into a chair and told to sit still, the thief’s hand on their shoulder.

“Ohhh my stars you actually did it,” A new voice says.

“Did you think I couldn’t?” The thief brags. A laugh and the sound of trinkets being counted in the background. Suddenly the hood is ripped off the royal’s face. They blink into the dimly lit room. A table sits in front of them with the vague shape of The Designer across the room.

“Well Prince Alfred, how are you feeling?” The voice asks him, hidden in the shadows. Alfred swallows hard, looking at the blisters on his wrists and the tatters on his clothes.

“I..” He starts. He can’t believe he’s actually here. Here kidnapped and brought away form his home and family and fiance and the life he always knew.

“I feel wonderful,” A bright smile breaks across his face and a small laugh escapes him. Bits of tears come out with how overjoyed he is to finally be away from it all. How he longed to be taken from that place and the world he drowned in. How he wishes to just be gone from those people and their faces and the promises he never wanted to make.

“Well Blackbird,” the voice says. The hand on Alfred’s shoulder grips tight then lets go.

“Your payment.” A large bag of coins with the crown’s insignia on them is dropped to the table. Alfred breathes out happily and takes the bag in his hands. He stands and turns to the thief, barely able to make out their features in the low lightening but seeing enough of shock on their face.

“Thank you so much,” Alfred tells them and hands over the bag. They take it, letting it drop their hands with the weight. They stare down for a moment.

“You paid for your own kidnapping?” Blackbird asks him. Alfred sighs and nods as The Designer laughs in the corner enjoying this as much as they did when the prince first came down to the cellar, broken away from his party of knights and begging for someone to take him away, offering a hefty sum in return.

“I.. I did,” The prince admits softly. Blackbird breathes out loud and slow, shaking their head as they do.

“I’m so going to jail,” They say to themselves and turn away, bag of gold in hand, back up the stairs. Prince Alfred watches them go with a feeling of something left unsaid in his chest.

“I’d go after him,” The Designer says. Alfred whips around to face them. They are leaning on the table now, blonde hair a smirk that could last days. Alfred nods his head slow then takes off up the stairs after the Blackbird that rescued him. The bar pays him no mind as he slips through the crowd and out the back door into the backwater town.

“Blackbird!” He calls as softly as he can. A figure down the empty street pauses, looking back at him. Alfred covers his attire and face as he catches up with his kidnapper.

“Why did you take this job?” He asks. He can barely make out their features in the night but the moon helps. Their skin looks burnt and beautiful and eyes that seem to see right through him. They twist up their mouth in a scowl.

“Why do you care?” They bite out and keep walking. Alfred hurries along beside them.

“It was dangerous, far too risky, and you did it anyway,” Alfred continues to pester. The thief growls then freezes, their head snapping up and looking around. They grab Alfred’s hand and force him to sit on a bench hidden in a building corner.

“Play along,” The blackbird hisses. Alfred nods along blindly as the sound of hooves makes his heart race. The Blackbird is excellent, wobbling on his feet and slurring like a true drunkard. Alfred hitches his voice higher, laughing a little too long to be sober himself he hopes and the guards pass them by as a drunk stupid couple who will regret their choice in the morning.

The moment they are out of earshot, the blackbird directs a wicked glare after the horses, body still heavily leaning over Alfred. Alfred can see bits of their skin under their clothes, scars and a tattoo peaking out. He grabs the thief’s hand gently.

“Why did you save me?” He asks looking up at them. The thief blinks dumbly down, eyes scanning for something but seeing nothing but the want for an answer in the prince’s face. They sigh.

“My family is too poor to continue. They do not know I still watch after them after their disownment of me. My sister suspects but never says anything. This is for them,” The thief gestures to the bag of gold. Alfred twists his hands together.

“Why did they disown you?” He finds himself asking. Blackbird raises an eyebrow to his question, then leans in dangerously close to Alfred’s face. Alfred finds himself unable to breathe.

“Because women never suited me,” They whisper and Alfred can feel their breath on his lips and there’s an ache in his heart for something more. He pushes down his frozen fear to look at the thief with as much courage as he can.

“As they never did me,” He says back. The thief stares at him, processing his words, when a devilish smirk crawls across their face. They curl a calloused hand into Alfred’s golden curls and Alfred is weak to the touch.

“Fiance not to your liking then?” Blackbird asks. Alfred shakes his head as much as he can, not wanting to rid himself of this moment.

“How about poor thieves who are reckless enough to kidnap a prince?” It’s a challenge of some sort Alfred can hear it in their tone, their smirk, and they way they curl close to him.

“They are a fine sort better,” He manages to say and melts as lips connect to his, an aching feel gone as it finally gets what it wants, something it never got from anywhere else. He’s sure he’s flushed when the thief pulls away.

“Where are you staying?” They ask him. Alfred shakes his head.

“I have no where.” He could easily find a place he’s sure, but there’s now a softness in the thief’s eyes as he pulls Alfred far more gently than before to his feet and guides him along.

Songs play and play on, dances going and going. Tommy has gotten into one small fist fight but nothing enough to make it worth it. He rubs at the blister on his lip with a smirk. He just rolls his eyes to Luciano very openly approached by one of the members of the cheer team asking him to dance. If Luciano could get over being teased maybe he would be smooth but he trips over himself taking Feli to the floor.

“Laaaaame,” Kuro shouts out when Luciano is close enough. Luci bares his teeth and goes to punch him but Feli catches him by the arm, a smile ready to placate him and keep him close. Feli winks over Luci’s shoulders and Tommy can’t help the bark of laughter. This night is going well.

Something way more exciting is played than the slow songs, every couple popping up and shaking their hands back and forth to each other, jumping up and down and into each other. Tommy wonders if he can steal someone partner when something bright blue catches his attention.

He couldn’t stop his jaw dropping if he tried. Alfred is near center room, outfit slightly undone and askew, doing a few moves that are very very scandalous. His cheeks are flushed and eyes bright and Tommy can’t look away. Alfred slides to the ground, popping up to his dance partner who looks almost as scandalized as the teachers. Tommy hadn’t seen him drink anything. Alfred’s moves are-

“I need you dance me into sunshine over there” Tommy elbows Lutz hard and scrambles to remove his own tie to match Alfred’s disheveled appearance. Lutz blinks dumbly at him.

“Why?!” Tommy rolls ups his sleeves.

“Cause I’ma bout to make his night!” Tommy pushes his way into the crowd, shaking up to some doll and stealing her for a moment. Lutz is across the room doing much the same, disrupting partners and they both get closer and closer to Alfred. Tommy keeps his smirk going strong with every step. Then Lutz grabs Alfred’s partner, swinging them away and Tommy puts himself at just the right spot.

“Hello there doll face~” Tommy coos and Alfred lifts Tommy to rest on his leg before he knows who is partner is. The anger that flares upon Alfred’s face is far worth it. Tommy hooks his leg and keeps doing the moves proper, shaking his hands in the air. Alfred can barely think to do so, dropping Tommy down and nearly escaping if not for Tommy grabbing his hand and pulling them back together.

“You don’t look drunk, where’d you learn to dance like this?” Tommy turns with his back pressed to Alfred and shimmies to bend back. Alfred follows along without answering but the look on his face is lovely. They do the rest of the dance together, tapping hands to feet and twirling against each other which is very not proper.

When the song ends Tommy jumps up to wrap himself around Alfred, loving the fact that Alfred catches him without question as frustrated as he looks. It’s even better when Alfred lets go but Tommy has secured himself to hang. They’re both breathing heavily.

“Get off me.”

“No.” A new song starts, something a little calm and sweet. Here Tommy gets down, keeping a hand on Alfred’s shoulder, the other linking their hands together. He just sways back and forth, forcing Alfred to lead them. It takes a coy wink from Tommy for Alfred to get the hint, twirling Tommy this way and that and moving them across the dance floor, skillfully avoiding other couples.

“So you never answered me,” Tommy coos, pressing in a little too close. Alfred nearly trips and grits his teeth.

“I don’t like punch, besides I saw what you jerks did to it.” Alfred spits at him. Tommy leans his head back and laughs.

“So that’s how you naturally dance?” Tommy leans in close again. Alfred is ready, letting Tommy fall into a twirl instead of into him. They continue to dance to the song, moving with ease with each other.

“I never danced before, I just did what felt right,” Alfred says after some time, after the anger in his face has mostly faded. A new song has since started and Tommy has refused to let go until he has answers. Plus, Alfred’s hand on his hip feels rather nice if not a little too warm.

“Never?” Tommy smirks at him. Alfred huffs and now looks embarrassed rather than mad at the teasing.

“I’ve seen shows and my parents before when they think I’m not looking. The moves they do always seem more.. fun,” Alfred ducks his head and squeezes Tommy’s hand, moving him this way and that. Tommy smiles at him.

“You do what felt natural,” Tommy echoes his earlier words. Alfred shrugs, pulling Tommy a little closer, searching for something in Tommy’s eyes. The song is soon ending. Tommy catches Alfred off guard, placing a quick heated kiss to his lips. Alfred squeaks and stops them moving, the song ending not three seconds after.

“Why did you- why did- why did you do that?” Alfred hasn’t let him go, not that Tommy is complaining. Tommy just smiles with his tongue caught between his teeth.

“It felt natural,” He winks and slides himself out of Alfred’s arms to head back to his group. They snickers and whisper to him when he’s close enough, asking him if Alfred got drunk or if Tommy is insane. Tommy confirms the latter. He thoroughly enjoys the range of looks Alfred sends him during the rest of night.

For so long he’s been trying to make nice with Alfred, the senpai has a way of avoiding him. Allen has done all he can to get his affections while staying true to himself. It gets difficult sometimes when Alfred is rude to him but Allen knows he means no harm. Alfred would never hurt a fly on purpose. He’s too good for that.

Allen hums to himself as he holds the lunch he made in his arms. The terrace welcomes him in a warm light. Alfred tends to eat his lunch outside now that the weather allows it. He’s sure his lunch will win him over eventually, he makes it with his favorite foods.

“Yo loser!” Allen takes a quick peek over his shoulder at the kids that tend to pick on him. He sticks his nose in the air and keeps walking towards where Alfred usually sits. He has no time for bullies. They mean nothing to him.

“We’re talking to you!” Someone else shouts and again Allen ignores them. They pick on him for a multiple of reason and none of them are important enough for him to care to change. He likes his uniform skirt and he likes making lunches and he likes Alfred.

“Hey!” One last shout and Allen is tripped. He lands on his hands and the lunch he held drops far enough from him. His knees sting from the dirt as he reaches for the box only to have it kicked and the food scatters across the grass.

Allen’s heart snaps at the sight. He tried so hard to make that exactly the way Alfred would like it. All his hard work gone. Tears well up in his eyes as anger builds up. After all the shit these people have teased him over, this hurts the most. They can pick on him all they want but this had been for someone else.

“What are you doing?” The incredulous voice catches all of them off guard. Allen stares up with air stuck in his throat at Alfred. The senior student has ice in their eyes.

“Get out of here!” The senior yells and Allen lets his head fall as the bullies scramble to get away. He hears his senpai cursing and then there’s a hand on his shoulder.

“You okay?” Allen doesn’t even look up to shake his head. Tears bubble up and over and drip down to drop on his hands. He’s shaking but he can’t stop. He doesn’t want Alfred to see him like this.

“Allen come on look at me.” As much as he really doesn’t want to, Allen would never not do something Alfred asks of him. He sits back on his legs with his knees scuffed and bleeding slightly. His eyes lift to meet Alfred’s.

He swallows hard at the pity in Alfred’s eyes. That’s not what he wants. He never wanted pity from Alfred. He wants the love and adoration he feels for the senior.

“Why do they pick on you?” Alfred asks softly, his fingers digging in the dirt at the food that Allen wishes stayed tucked in the box. Allen shakes his head with his hands gripped tight to the hem of his skirt.

“I love you,” Is all Allen can think to say. It’s part of the reason they do pick on him. His love for Alfred scares them he thinks, he has so much of it to give and sometimes it’s hard to get those emotions out. Tears keep coming as his mouth keeps running.

“I love you so much, I do it all for you,” Allen gestures to the food that’s been ruined. He’s started talking and now it’s hard to stop. He’s loved Alfred fro so long and he can’t hold back his emotions any longer.

“You mean everything to me and I just-” He inhales sharply as a sob breaks through. He covers his face and warm arms are around him, holding him tightly. It’s what he’s wanted but not like this. He wants happiness with Alfred, not this sad pile in the middle of a ruined attempt.

Alfred holds him though, stroking his hair and keeping him safe in his hold. Allen decides to let him do this. He knows Alfred likes coming to people’s aid and if he must be a part of that list then so be it. He just wants to be a part of the list that Alfred holds because he really wants to.

“Come on Allen,” Alfred hoists him and keeps him wrapped in his arms as they make their way back inside. He’s too upset to really understands what happens but Alfred leads him to the student council room.

“Wait here,” He says and Allen obeys. He scuffs his feet and twirls his skirt and a bit of yelling escapes the council room. Alfred emerges triumphant and Arthur exits just after to stomp down the hall with determination in his features. Allen buries himself in Alfred’s embrace when given the chance again.

“You know I do appreciate what you do for me,” Alfred rubs the back of his head. They are in Alfred’s main classroom now, some of his classmates are about, giving them weird looks but Allen ignores it for the favor if being snuggled up to his senpai. Alfred doesn’t seem too bothered either. 

Suddenly Alfred’s stomach rumbles loud enough for Allen to sit up and stare at him. There’s a hint of a blush on his face.

“I was, kind of waiting for you to bring me lunch,” Alfred admits sheepishly. Allen’s eyes widen and a smile crosses his face.

“Ah man what you made looked good too, from what I could see in the dirt,” Alfred goes on but Allen barely hears him. His actions have not gone unnoticed.

“Senpai!” He nearly shouts and throws his arms around Alfred’s shoulders. He almost knocks them out of the chair but Alfred’s grip on him holds them upright. Allen nuzzles his face all over Alfred and leaves kisses all over his face.

Alfred laughs, though awkwardly, and manages to push him away enough to get him to stop but Allen doesn’t mind. There’s a smile on Alfred’s face just for him and that adoring look he’s longed to see. He snuggles back into Alfred’s arms and has to be physically pushed out of the classroom when the bell rings.

Reports from the crew tell him the ship is holding well and the cargo to transfer is still crated up and unbroken. It’s another reason to take a deep breath, a sigh of relief. They all go back to their positions and Alfred joins the crew member in charge of steering up on the top deck. They look over the map together to make sure they are still heading in the right direction.

“Captain?” Alfred cranes his neck back to see the bird’s eye crewman looking through their telescope.

“Are we expecting a welcoming party?” They ask. Alfred shimmies up the ropes leading to the bird’s nest. His crewman passes over the telescope while pointing in the direction to look at. Alfred squints as he looks through the contraption. A small group of boats is speeding their way over. The members are ragged looking and panic boils in Alfred’s stomach.

“All hands!” He shouts down and drops from the bird’s nest as fast as he can. The crew is scrambling now. Some hiding bits of cargo and others taking up weaponry to protect themselves just in case. Echoing thuds make them turn their heads and the other crew is on board with knives between their teeth and a dangerous look in their eyes.

It’s a sad battle really. Alfred’s crew is not trained for major combat. They are trained for getting sure the boat gets from point a to point b and keeping the cargo secure on it’s way. Too bad security didn’t involve fighting off pirates.

“Lookie here boys!” Says one of them, one with just as much rags as them but a hat with a ridiculously large feather though the hat is tattered too. They play with the handle of their sword and kick a leg up on a box to strike a pose. Alfred is knocked down to his knees with the rest of his crew on the middle of the ship.

This pirate’s crew has them surrounded with swords and some flares, stolen weaponry from them as well. Alfred tugs against the strip of rope they tied around his wrists when the tip of something sharp rests on his shoulder. He swallows hard as he looks to the person he assumes to be the captain. They lean down to be face to face with him, a devilish grin on their face.

“And who’s ship do we have the pleasure of being on?” They ask, maybe not to Alfred specifically but they are in his face, using their sword to turn it this way and that. Alfred manages to get himself away the point with as much a glare as he can muster.

“The displeasure is all mine,” He snaps at them. They pause for a moment at his words as if not expecting them but the delight they take in the remark has Alfred questioning why he opened his mouth.

“Aw we’re not all that bad,” The pirate coos at him and the rest of their crew cackles which doesn’t make Alfred believe them any more. He’s forced to stay where he is as the pirates ransack the ship for anything they can find that they might be able to sell off. Alfred panics as does his crew.

“Please, we’re to make a trade with another village, we need this-” His words die off as the pirate captain gives him a deadpan look, nothing short of uncaring. They watch Alfred as he slowly loses confidence in convincing the pirates to leave them alone.

“Take half!” The pirate captain calls out. Somehow Alfred is relieved. The captain walks off to his crew who are working on bringing things over the edge. He dictates what should and should not be brought. Alfred and his crew are left tied when the pirates bound over the edge and away with their things.

Inventory is immediately taken and as much as Alfred is upset that some of the cargo got taken, there is actually more than half left on the boat. Faster than they traveled before, Alfred and his crew get to the dock with a few hours of daylight to spare.

Explaining why a good part of the cargo is missing goes over smoother than he thought. The villagers have been having their own share of troubles with the pirates lurking about and not much to do about it. They re-evaluate the items to be exchanged for an even amount and Alfred apologizes again.

They sail off as quick as they can, the bird’s eye crewman scanning every inch of sea they can spot through their telescope, shouting down reports as often as Alfred asks for them, which is very often.

When it gets dark on their first day heading home, most of the crew is asleep in the hull, cuddles up in hammocks. Alfred is checking the ship one last time for stable sailing conditions before joining them for at least a little bit of sleep. His bird’s eye crewman is still in the nest, snoring softly. He shakes his head at the sight. No use getting him down now.

He turns and tumbles back over his own two feet at seeing the pirate captain sitting on the edge of his boat with a wicked smirk on his face. His feet are kicked up on a crate and the feathered hat on hi head is knocked back so Alfred can see more of their face.

“What do you want?” Alfred challenges them in his tone though he really has no way to fight against them. The captain snorts and his feet makes a soft clunk as they hit the wood of the deck. Alfred scrambles away but he doesn’t get far when they reach down a hand to help him up.

“Relax sugar I’m not going to bite you,” They say. Alfred judges their hand openly, sneering it at when the captain shakes it a little in attempt to get him to take it. Alfred stands on his own.

“Get off my ship,” It’s an order that goes ignored. The pirate captain lounges themselves on a pile of rope without a care. Alfred can feel his blood boiling.

“What do you want?” He asks again. His eyes scan the area around him to try and find something to fend off the captain when his attention is stolen by them leaning forward to stare at him.

“I came to see you~” They coo and Alfred can feel every nerve stand on end. He backs farther away from them and they stand which makes him jerk. The farther away he steps from them the closer they get until Alfred is pressed against the wall edge of the ship with the pirate captain’s hand son either side of him keeping him there.

They are shorter than Alfred thought they were, though because the last time he really saw them, he had been pushed to his knees and forced to look up at them. That wicked smile is still the same no matter what angle he’s looking at.

“I think you’re cute~” Says the captain and Alfred is sure the salt water has lodged itself in his ears and made him loopy. There can be no way that’s what the pirate just said and it’s precisely Alfred’s pause in confusion that give the Pirate the chance to sneak in and place a quick kiss on his lips.

Alfred jerks but gets no where with his back already pressed to the banister. He covers his mouth with his hands and stares wide eyed at the pirate. They just laugh at him. Their hands move to let him free and he scurries away from them.

“See you later gorgeous,” They say to him and the next thing Alfred hears is a splash. Regardless of their rudeness, he rushes to the edge to see if they’re alive, he doesn’t want them dead. He spots them swimming towards one of the smaller boats with another one of their crew members on it. Alfred scrunches up his nose at the pirate as they wave their feathered hat to him.

Amelia’s family runs an open house for travelers and cheaper rents for people who are staying on lengthy vacations. Alex’s family happened to be one of those staying for a vacation. They came from a big city and wanted the time in the open woods of a country side. She came swirling in angry and spitting curse words that earned her stern looks and mentions of a swear jar. She had been down right rude to Amelia at first.

Maybe out of spite Amelia wanted to be her friend. She came on strong like she always did with everything, wanting to show Alex around and all the fun places to climb trees and find animals. Alex sneered at her and refused. Their one moment of understanding came when Amelia had actually gotten in trouble for not helping do the mass amounts of laundry.

Amelia ran. She ran as fast as her feet could take her into the woods with her hair whipping around her head. Her hands raise to smack branches out of her face and her feet know the path to her hiding space.

A fallen tree looms in front of her and she dives down to her hands and knees to crawl under the branches and out of sight. The the leaves provide adequate covering from the outside world though if someone is looking for her they would be able to see her easily.

She stayed there for an hour at least. Only coming out when she say Alex walking around, scanning about, and calling her name. She came out with scuffs on her hands and a sour expression on her face. Alex had been gentle.

“Are you okay?” She asked softly, the softest Amelia has ever heard her since she first stepped into their large house. Amelia shook her head and rubber her dirty hand at her nose. Alex wiped away her tears and cleaned her wounds.

“Parents suck,” Alex had said and Amelia laughed.

Now Alex is leaving to go back to the city and leave Amelia behind to her chores and her open woods and secret hiding places. Amelia slumps her feet as she carries one of Alex’s bags down the stairs to where her family is packing up the car.

“Almost ready Alexandria?” Her mother asks and Alex rolls her eyes.

“Yeah just one last thing upstairs,” She says and takes off back into the house. Amelia gives her an odd look and follows quietly, not mentioning that they did bring all of Alex’s stuff down already. She follows Alex up the stairs and back into the room Alex had called hers for the two months.

“What’s up?” Amelia asks when Alex shuts the door silently when she enters the room. She doesn’t get much of an answer, just Alex’s hands on her shoulders pushing her back and lips on hers. Amelia jerks at first to the sudden kiss, not expecting it, but her arms are quick to wrap around Alex to hold her tight. Tight like if she holds on enough Alex won’t have to leave her.

“You have to keep talking to me,” Alex says in a breathy whisper. Amelia nods her head, would nod her head to anything at this point. This time is Alex who is frantic in tears as she scrambles to write down a number, an email, something for Amelia to keep in contact with her.

She throws herself into Amelia’s arms one more time to hug her. It’s warm and Amelia buries herself in Alex’s neck. They are called for and both trudge back down the stairs, holding hands where their parents can’t see.

“Ready to go?” Alex’s mother asks. Alex just marches past her without a word.

“For someone who didn’t want to be here in the first place she sure is reluctant to leave,” Alex’s mother laughs and thanks them again for hosting them. Amelia stands on the porch to watch them drive away in their overly packed car. She can spot Alex turn around to see her.

Amelia roughly brushes away a tear. Her hand grips tight to the paper Alex had written on. She plans to send so many messages that Alex might get sick of her. She refuses to let this be a simple summer fling. Alex had made her feel happy, accepted her and all her quirks. There’s no way she’s going to let that go, let Alex go.