A little while after Xan had come back from taking their plates to the kitchen there was a knock at the door. Xan called them in and a lean, slightly bony man walked over the threshold. He immediately went to work casting spells all around the room.

Finn felt a gradual rise in temperature. The chill that had deepened as nightfall set in was fading. The man also passed what looked like 2 stones to Xan. The warlock then touched the surrounding walls. Probably the protective spells Xan had mentioned, Finn guessed.

For someone casting protection spells he was done much sooner than Finn would have estimated nor that he liked.

“Thanks Lonnie you’re a great help.”

“Always happy to try to keep us alive and thawed.” He chuckled.

Finn didn’t find this a joking matter.

“We will and thanks for the extra charms.” Xan gestured with the two stones he was still holding.

“You’re welcome. It gets a bit colder up here and I heard you had a frail one now. Don’t need the new kid getting sick.” Lonnie smiled at Finn.

How were these guys pirates? Weren’t they all being too nice?

“Oh, and don’t forget to shutter those windows just to be safe.”

“Will do. Thanks for all your hard work. Try to get some rest tonight.”

“Oh, I’ll sleep like the dead tonight after all this.” He laughed again at his own joke. Finn still didn’t find it funny. Not with the potential they could actually meet a watery grave if the storm was so terrible and the spells didn’t hold the ship afloat.

Lonnie left, and it was just Finn and Xan again.

“It’s late. We should try to get some sleep. If it gets rocky tonight, it might wake us up.”

Finn said nothing but he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. It felt like it might come right up and out of his throat.

On the contrary Xan seemed unphased. He moved around the cabin getting everything shuttered and packed away with complete nonchalance. He double checked that everything was closed, locked or tethered into place for the evening. Then moved towards the bed plucking up the stones Lonnie had given him earlier. He tucked them into the foot of the bed.

When Finn scooted over and stretched out into his spot Xan extinguished his small light and crawled in. Finn could feel the extra warmth at his toes. The stones were extra warming charms.

Finn felt comfortable and warm but he was still fearful thinking a storm could be coming for them. He couldn’t help how restless he was. He tried to limit his movement, side switching and the general tossing and turning but, Xan noticed.

“What’s wrong.”

“Nothing, I’m just trying to get comfortable. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Are you worried? The Captain just wanted to prepare in case there was a storm. Better safe than sorry and Lonnie, Wynn and Rox really are the best with protection spells on the ship. I’ve seen cannonballs bounce off like they’re made of rubber. We’ll be fine. I promise.”

Finn’s eyes had mostly adjusted to the dark, so he turned his head and stared at Xan’s form. “You really promise? You’re really that sure?”

Xan had considerably better night vision. He easily found Finn’s hand in the dark and pressed it to his chest over his heart.

Finn felt his hand being taken and placed onto Xan’s chest. He was too shocked to snatch it back. He felt Xan’s chest rising slowly with every breath. Somehow it was calming and Finn didn’t realize he’d had a tremor, nor did he realize it was slowing to a stop. He could feel Xan’s heart beating a steady rhythm.

“I promise you everything will be okay. We’ll be safe. Everything will be fine.”

Finn nodded in the dark but Xan saw it. Finn didn’t realize Xan hadn’t let go of his hand. It was still pressed against his chest. Finn’s breathing slowly synced to Xan’s. He was calming and his limbs felt heavier by the second.

Finn also didn’t realize when he drifted off to sleep.

Xan had been more observant. He’d felt the tremble in Finn when he took his hand. He’d wanted to soothe him. Pressing Finn’s hand over his heart was as much a move to try to calm him as it was to assure him that Xan was telling the truth.

Xan drifted off shortly after only to jolt awake a few hours later by the raging storm.

The ship was being tossed around; the thunder was crashing as loud as Xan had ever heard it. Its growls seemed to make the ship tremble and shudder. Through all of this Finn was still asleep. At one point he started to move, his face scrunched in distress.

Xan reached out and pulled Finn to him. He wrapped the smaller boy into his arms and held him. He kept pulling slow deep breaths and again Finn synced with him. His face smoothed back out. He tucked his head under Xan’s chin and continued to sleep.

Eventually Xan found his way back to the land of unconsciousness again.