Markus' hands were clenched into fists. In disbelief, he stared at his captain. Quickly, the man pulled back his hand, but Markus had seen how Rogier's thumb had traced Rory's bottom lip. He couldn't wrap his mind around it. Had he really seen his captain... flirt with that little shit? They had spoken in a soft voice, he hadn't been able to hear their conversation, but it wasn't hard to see what was going on here. Had that retarded captain who'd lost his plaything inspired Rogier to also find a child to keep his bed warm? It made him sick. So sick he wanted to puke. 

Rogier gave the boy a nudge. There was a blush on the cheeks of that little devil, telling Markus he would love to feel his captain's hands in other places. Their eyes briefly met. His glance wasn't shameful, but rather provoking. As if he knew that Markus himself...

No, he wanted no such thing. 

He would never stoop to that sort of pathetic entertainment 

Even when that dark longing really existed, he would always suppress it. 

Rory walked past him and descended the stairs. Rogier's hands slipped into his pockets, his eyes focused on Markus' face. He raised his eyebrows in a silent question. Markus took a step closer. To his surprise, his heart started to beat faster. How would it feel, Rogier's rough fingers brushing his neck, tracing his jawline, judging the softness of his lips? Somehow he expected the man to touch him as well. For why would he show this kind of tenderness to that little brat and not to him? 

"What the hell was that?" he snapped once he realized Rogier wasn't going to touch him. 

"What the hell was what?"

"You caressed his face!" he snapped. 

A smirk crossed Rogier's lips. "So?"

"So?! Can't you see what he's doing? He's offering himself like a whore. What guy does such a thing?"

"He indeed told me that he wanted to be my lover," Rogier answered calmly. "But I doubt he said that to others too."

Markus huffed. "Haven't ye see him smash his lips against that redhead's?"

Rogier looked him in the eye, chuckling quietly. "Maybe he was practicin'. Knowin' him, he doesn't want to disappoint his captain."

Markus' stomach cramped up. All this time he had been terrified that Rogier was going to hate him for having dirty fantasies about him, and now he acted like there was nothing wrong with it!

"So that's what you want for yer crew? You want everyone who's interested in a higher position to bend over for you?"

Rogier raised his eyebrows. "Are you tellin' me I'm so ugly that wanting a higher position is the only reason they'd want me?"

Markus felt his cheeks glow. "N-no," he stammered. "B-but..."

"What are ye doin' here?"

His mood had changed. Markus wanted to say something to appease him, but the look in his eyes told him he only wanted to hear a good reason why he had disturbed a private moment. 

Well, he had a reason — a reason he had completely forgotten about. While it was quite important, so he was afraid his hesitation would only displease his captain. 

"Kidd spotted a ship," he said. "One that's smaller and slower than ours. We could board it."

Rogier ran a hand across his jaw, contemplating his options. It wasn't necessary, it wasn't like there were shortages. Markus however knew the crew was desperate for some action. He wasn't the only one questioning this quest to get back North's boy toy. 

"Good," Rogier said. "Let's see what our newest assets are capable of."

Markus nodded, glad they could put the former topic to rest. The moment his captain rushed past him, the coldness however crept back into his heart. He stared at the spot where he had seen Rogier and Rory. 

Whatever was blooming there — he wanted it to be destroyed. 

And maybe, he could use this battle to expose the true nature of that little devil; his cowardliness. His lips curled into a smirk. He himself wouldn't risk his neck, and if he succeeded, Rogier would finally be disgusted with that stupid boy too.

. . .

Rory still couldn't believe it. 

He told Rogier. 

He told Rogier he wanted to be his lover. 

What was the man thinking now? Right at that crucial moment, Markus had interrupted them. Of course he had. He wouldn't be surprised when Markus had watched them from the shadows, eavesdropping, looking for the best moment to interrupt. 

His heart pounded heavily when he remembered how Rogier's fingers had caressed his skin. Inside him, a fire was burning. He had no idea if his captain felt the same about him, but he called his eyes beautiful, he brushed his lip and he seemed surprised to hear that Rory had no lover... Despite Markus' interruption, there was a smile on his lips. Until yesterday, he thought there was not a single chance that his feelings could be answered. Now, however, they'd increased significantly — even when he didn't know how to act, the next time he would be alone with Rogier. 

Would Rogier bring it up? 

If not, he should consider it as a silent rejection. Which was much better than a rejection right in the face, so he was Markus grateful anyway. Although it seemed to be his life goal to humiliate Rory, he had just spared him the humiliation. 

By now, the sun was up and everyone was on the go. People were shouting, and it didn't take long before Lee swung his arm around his shoulders. "Ye know what I just heard? That the cap took a bottle from his private collection to share with my boy." Lee showed him a wide grin, wiggling his eyebrows. "Are the two of ye a lil in love?"

Rory felt the heat creep to his cheeks. Nevertheless, he slammed his shoulder against his friend's; it was wise not to give him a reason to continue his teasing. "No man."

Lee roared with laughter. "Don't lie to me, baby. Days ago, I noticed that you can't keep your eyes off him." He winked. "Not that I blame you. He can only be impressive, don't ye think? Although I do wonder, with your frame..."

Rory slammed his elbow between Lee's ribs, looking over his shoulder in shame. Luckily, nobody paid attention to their stupid conversation. With a painful grimace, but still laughing, Lee rubbed his side. 

Before he could answer, Rogier's voice blared over the deck. The man gave orders to make the ship combat-ready; there was another ship waiting to be plundered. Enthusiasm arose immediately. Also through Rory's veins, adrenaline was rushing; he couldn't wait to prove himself to his captain! When Rogier's eyes found his, he felt a little jolt. He gave the man a belligerent grin, and when his captain smirked back, he was almost convinced he could fly. 

Before Lee could make a comment about their eye contact, Rory skedaddled, carrying out the orders given to them. He started to move boxes with cannonballs and barrels with gunpowder until his shirt was drenched in sweat. The mood was excited; they were singing a song increasing the camaraderie between the two crews, and Rory realized he couldn't stop grinning. It was a long time since he had felt so good; there was a warm feeling in his chest, overshadowing all his other emotions. 

It was more than his fighting spirit, more than adrenaline. 

He was in love, in love with his captain and the memories of the past hours made him willing to jump and dance and sing till he dropped.

. . .

Because Rory was usually in the crow's nest, he wasn't sure what was expected from him now. Was he allowed to load the cannons? Should he wait on deck, holding the grappling hooks? He preferred to be on deck. His daggers were already in his hands. 

When no specific orders came, he decided to go up when someone announced that the ship had come into their reach. Rory was halfway down the stairs when Markus stood in front of him all of a sudden, looking down at him. 

"You gotta stay in the hold," he said with a grim face. 

Rory lowered his daggers in defeat. "What? Why?"

"Why do you think?!" the man snapped. "Because the captain doesn't want his precious little boy to get hurt. You wait in the hold until the battle is over, then it's safe to come up."

"That's bullshit! I ain't hidin'! I ain't some dumb-ass passenger, I'm a pirate!"

Markus grabbed his arm, squeezing it. With a threatening look in his eyes, he brought his face closer to Rory's. "My captain told me to escort you to the hold. Believe me — all I wish for you is to be blown to pieces by a cannonball. I think it's insane that he's protecting you, but I guess he's afraid to lose his focus when his loverboy is running around among men twice his size. When you're safely hidden in the hold, he doesn't need to worry about you."

"He doesn't have to worry about me! I can protect myself! He knows I will!"

"He's afraid you will distract him," Markus repeated. "And he's not going to take any risks. Not with you and not with himself. Being the captain's favorite means that you gotta do more than suck his dick." Darkness filled the man's eyes and he pushed Rory back down. "You will stay in the hold until I pick you up. We all need to follow orders we don't like." His jaw clenched. "Like making sure a spoiled brat like you is safe."

The rebellion didn't leave Rory's mind. "Lemme talk to him!"

"Don't be ridiculous," Markus grunted. "What do you think his crew will do, once they hear you two argue? You want him to look like a fool?"

Rory took a deep breath. No — of course he didn't. But he neither wanted to be shoved aside as someone who couldn't take care of himself! This felt humiliating and he couldn't imagine that Rogier had really given Markus this order. But would Markus have the balls to come up with something like this? And why? And if it was true — did he want everyone to know that he was hiding like a coward? He didn't want to focus all attention on himself — not like this, and because of his limited height people wouldn't even notice when he wasn't around. 

With a sigh, he gave in and trudged down the stairs. It was better to discuss this with Rogier when they were alone, he would make sure this wasn't going to happen again. For now, he had no choice but to lay low. 

In the hold, he climbed on a barrel. He clutched his hands around the hilts of his daggers, knowing very well that there was a chance that only Markus knew where he was. He decided to be on his guard; for all he knew, this could be a trap, giving Markus the perfect opportunity to get rid of his rival...