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The sails were left out to the wind and the helm held tight. Exhaustion and worry was running free among the crew and it wasn’t going to go better any time soon as Izzy closed off his spyglass muttering yet another fuck under his breath.
“They’re still on us ?” Jim asked and he nodded before going down the stairs.
With a quick pace he joined the co-captain quarter where they had laid out their plan for the past few days. The comfortable room turning into a strategic quarter. Stede and Buttons stood above maps while Frenchies held them for them and Lucius was writing the information. Edward was still in bed, the last attack they had sustained had sent his captain flying after a particularly violent blow on the hull, his head had hit pretty badly against one of their cannons and now he struggled to stand up or even staying conscious for large periods of time. Losing his expertise had dropped their chance of winning this chase drastically. Blackbeard was, after all, a fantastic sailor. But they would have to do without him for the most part.
“They’re still on our tail, we’re not fast enough, at this point we might have to let go of some weight.” He interrupted, Stede winced at his comment, clearly not overjoyed to potentially let go of all the unnecessary things, in Izzy opinion, he had managed to gather from some of their last successful raids, furniture mostly.
They couldn’t fight. Three against one, be it ship or men, was far from being a good odds. Their best chance of survival was an escape, but it had been a full week now and the chase wasn’t coming to an end. The Queen Anne was a boat built for speed and they had escaped worse situations with a good wind, but the Revenge was a bit slower.
If speed wasn’t enough, then they would have to play it cleverly and use the fairly small size of the boat to venture in dangerous water, hoping the marina would follow them and crash on rocks or sink at the wrath of the sea. But if it was hazardous for their enemy it was hazardous for them too, a faulty mastership of the sails or the helm could end on their premature death, and Izzy didn’t trust the crew to be that efficient. They were good, but were they good enough to pull it off ? He doubted.
But their option grew limited.
“We will have to take on the snake path.” Frenchies laughed nervously.
“Do you know how many ship are crashing there ?”
“Too much.”
“Don’t we have other options ?” Stede remarked.
“Not much. We can try our luck and go to the safe road, get around the snake path and hope we can reach the crab massif before they catch to us, it’s a bit less hazardous and we might trap them there, but they could easily avoid our trap and surround us, then it would be over for us.” Izzy traced the path with his finger to illustrate.
“But the snake path.. ” Frenchies breathed.
“What about here.” Stede tapped a drawing on the map representing tentacles. Izzy stared at him dumbfounded.
“What ?”
“Here, it’s tentacles, isn’t it a territory owned by Edward ? You know, him being the Kraken and all.”
Izzy took a step back and groaned while rubbing his hands on his tired face. They didn’t have time for that.
“So you think a Kraken on a map just goes to show Blackbeard Territory ?”
“If not that then what ?”
“Because you think official maps would agree to show that Blackbeard owns a territory of the sea ? Or that they would be afraid to venture there just because it’s owned by Blackbeard ?” Stede close his mouth slowly understanding his error, everybody looked up at Izzy who did his best not to lash out.
“What it is then ?”
“Dangerous Sea.”
“Like the serpent pass ?”
“No, a kraken mean there are dangerous creatures in those waters and should be avoided.”
“It depends on how many tentacles there is.” Frenchies added.
“Why ?”
“Because the higher the number the higher the threat.”
“Defines the threat too.” Everybody turns to Lucius has he says that and he shrugs. “How many there is ?”
“Tentacles ?”
“Yes.”
“Seven.” Stede answers.
“Then it’s mermaid.”
“How do you know that ?” Frenchies asks.
“Read a sailing book we picked up on our last raid, it talked about maps.”
“Oh it’s good then.” Their captain beam up.
“It’s one of the worst we could have. Those bastard can sink a whole crew in a hour.” Izzy groans. “Serpent pass it is then ?” He looks up at Stede, waiting for his approbation, but the captain hesitate and turn his attention to Buttons.
Buttons who’ve been particularly quiet for their whole discussion when usually he is not shy to share his opinion on the matter.
“What do you think mister Buttons ?” He turns to Izzy, ignoring his captain.
“I says it would work if at least we were working on the right position.”
“What ?” Izzy bark at him.
“We are here.” He points on the map to a drastically different place than what they have been working on since then.
“No we’re not !” Izzy counteract.
“We are and we should go there.” He traces a path on the map leading them toward cliffs that stand in the middle of the sea. “We could hide there.”
“That could be a good plan.” Stede agree.
“That would be a good plan if we were here, but we are here.” Izzy explain, pointing at the two different place on the maps.
“If you’re not capable of knowing where we are at sea then we are sure lost.” Buttons barks back.
Now both men are facing each other, stress and the underliying frustration marking Izzy face and stand while Buttons stand proud, sure of his facts. It’s a odd sight to see and a worring one because Izzy and Buttons never disagree on their position at sea. They both keep a tight knowledge on where they are at anytime and they never diverged before. One of them is mistaken, but to know who is and who’s not it’s a whole new problem they don’t need.
“We will see, Lucius, give me the logs from today.”
“We just have the one from yesterday.”
“What ?”
“Water smudged today’s page.” He says in a very apologetic tone.
“‘Fuck sake, fine just give me yesterday.”
He does and with Buttons they retrace their path as far as the log takes them, then comes a battle of argument to remake their path until now, and they both disagree drastically. So much so it’s not possible to find a logic between them. One is right the other wrong, if they aren’t just both wrong at the same time.
The tension in the room raise as they understand how much more in a mess they are in now. Not to help, Oluwande comes knocking at the door, pressing them to take a decision because the ships tailling them are getting closer.
“What do we do then ?” Stede asks interrupting the two men who are getting heated over the matter.
“You’re the captain you have to decide who’s right. If it’s me then I suggest a sharp turn at starboard would lead us there, where we could hide.” Buttons says.
“And if I’m right we will just be going on mermaid territory and die. But if we go at larboard we would engage in the snake path and if I’m wrong, which I’m not, then going larboard from Buttons position we would just continue on a safe path. My option is better.”
“I don’t know, because the snake path is hell of a place to be, but if we continue on a safe path then we will have to fight those ship we try so much to avoid.” Frenchies argue.
“He has a point.”
“Still better than mermaid !” He snaps. “Do you have any idea what they do to you ? They are viles and monstruous.”
“Lull you with things you want ?” Lucius tries.
“That’s their tactict to bring you close, then they pull you in water and you’re lucky if all they do is eat you alive.”
Stede pause, seeming to consider the question but Izzy can see he already took his decision.
“My plan is safer.” Bonnet give him an apologetic look.
“We will follow Buttons plan.”
“Then you’re dooming the crew.”
Buttons give him a few gentle slap on the shoulder. “It’s gonna be fine, ay.” But Izzy pushes his hand away before leaving, which Buttons visibly frown to.
“We all have our order, let’s get to work.” Stede clap his hands, encouraging them.
Despite disagreeing, Izzy obey the order and soon enough they are on a new path. Through the wall of rain that add at their misery he tries to spot the ships that follow them. It takes a long moment and it’s only with the help of Buttons he can notice them. The man has a devilish eyesight, he cannot deny it. With a sour face as rain plaster his hair on his face and run right to his bones he looks at the sailor.
“If you’re mistaken, we are dead.” He says with surprising acceptance. Buttons only bounce, shrugging for sole answer.
Still, it doesn’t sit right with Izzy, going back on the decks below he goes to check if they truly are on the path Buttons says they are. The man never made a mistake, at least not one Izzy had seen and he tend to trust his knowledge in sea matter, but he is sure he isn’t mistaken either.
During his studious work, rain finally stops, af if the whole crew wasn’t already cold and wet to the bones, but at least it’s calmer. It’s with dread he realise they truly can’t be on the path Buttons predicted.
He knew it.
He rushes outside just as a light fog is settling in the growing darkness of dusk and he grabs his spyglass. If they are where Buttons said they should be, they should soon see rocks formation emerging high from the sea. And despite knowing he won’t find any, he hope he’s wrong, frantickly searching for them.
“Did you see any rocks formation ?” He asks the man who sit way too peacefully on the sterndeck.
“Nay ! Nothing.”
He is about to says something, snap at him, but a sound catch his attention. A scratching on the hull, quite different as if they had brushed against rocks, it sound like claw, moving from one side to the others. He follows it, knowing what it is, hoping it’s not.
The Swede bend over the railing and Izzy rush to him. He yanks him away just as a creature with a humanoid face covered in scale, sharp teeth and palmed hands with long claw climb the side of the hull. It snarl at him and he draw his sword in the second, swinging it at the monster and making it retreat. He didn’t injure it but he was close.
Without even grabing a breath from the instant, he seize The Swede and yank him toward the decks below.
“Everybody inside ! We’re in mermaids territory !” He screams. “Captain quarter !”
He’s not sure if they understand the mess they are in or if his voice carry such pressing matter or fear but everybody rushes inside without discussing it. Once he is sure everybody is inside he turns toward Buttons who didn’t make a single move to join them yet.
“You were wrong !” He snaps.
“I was.”
“Now we’re.. ” He sharply turn as a peculiar shriek echoes on the waves, making him stop shouting.
More claws start scratching at the hull and the sound is sickening, like a swarm all around them. They are surrounded and it’s too late to turn back, because not only are they at direct threat of the vicious creature but behind them a fight they can’t win await them.
“Comes.” He presses the man, waving at him. But Buttons just turn his back to him and make no move to join. Izzy rushes at him, climbing the stairs in two stride. “You can’t stay here.” He grabs his arms, yanking him but the odd pirate just shrug his grip and goes to take the helm under Izzy bafflement.
“It’s fine.” He offers him. “You should join the other.”
“You need to come with me.”
“Someone need to keep the helm, and keep an eyes on those pesky ships.”
“Those creature, they will have at you if you’re alone out there.”
Another profund growl resound in the fog and Izzy startle, his hand tightenning on his sword as he franticly looks around for something.
“Why so scared ?” Buttons ask him.
“Why aren’t you ?”
“They have nothing to offer me that I don’t have or can’t have myself.”
“What.. ”
“But they do for you, that’s why you should get back to the other.”
There is a moment in which Izzy think Buttons might come to his sense and come with him but he doesn’t and the building dread makes Izzy legs grows impatient. He can’t convince the man that for his safety he needs to take shelter and he can’t stay either, so he bolt away with a bitting sharpness at his chest, this is the last time he will see the man and he can’t help but feel like a coward.
As a first mate, even if he might he rough on the crew, this one or any, he never liked losing someone. Part of the job or not it’s not something he appreciate in itself even if he accept it. But right now it just feel all so wrong. With a last look behind, just to see if there is even a single chance the man might follow him, he goes below deck, checking each room to see if someone hadn’t missed the order to gather in the same place. When he find nobody and finally join the other in the captains quarter he takes a moment to make sure everybody is present.
Thankfully they all are here. The curtain are drawn shut and the opening are closed, the door he had just entered by is being blocked by Jim and Roach.
“We thought you might have been taken already.”
“No, they seem to be gauging the ship first.”
“Where’s Buttons ?” Lucius asks.
“He stayed at the helm.”
“What !” Stede roar. “You ordered him to keep the helm ? Are you insane ?”
“I didn’t !” He bites back. “He just wouldn’t come, couldn’t convince him to talk shelter.”
“I’m sure you tried a lot.” Frenchies says sarcastically.
“Sshh, he wouldn’t leave Buttons out.” The Swede protest. “He likes the guy.”
Izzy rolls his eyes at the comment. Sure they may have gotten closer, but he wouldn’t exaggerate and says he actually likes the pirate, it’s just, he respect the man, outside of his clear oddness he is a great sailor, the type you don’t come by so often these days. He goes to sit closer to the crew and he is handed a blanket, after all, most of them didn’t have the time to change after the pouring rain and they are wet and cold, some of them already stripped and changed since clothes are hanging around but Izzy doesn’t really feel like removing his. Especially in such a dangerous territory where the situation could evolve in an instant. None of them can deny the scratching at the hull coming from below them.
“I can’t believe Buttons made such a mistake. I suppose I owe you some apologize, I should have trusted you.” Stede tells him on a lighter tone as he comes at his side. Izzy tense a bit, mostly because he is still not used to such openness. No captain would so readily excuse himself in front of their entire crew for a mishap. In his world, well, in the piracy world, those kind of behavior gets you disrespected and gets you killed. But he nods, as difficult as it is to accept this new way of things, there is something comfortable to know he won’t pay for that mistake that actually, nobody is paying for their mistake, or, at the very least in sweat but not in blood and pain. In the past Blackbeard had never been such a fair captain as Stede is. Which, to Izzy own surprise, is something he deeply respects in the man.
“Frankly I’m not entirely sure he actually made a mistake.” His tone is low as to ensure most of the crew wouldn’t hear him without actively hiding what he says.
“How so ?” Stede match his speech.
“I think he deliberately wanted us to cross that part of sea. He didn’t look worried in the slightest.” Stede nods.
“We need to prepare in case of an attack.”
And they do. Making sure everyone has a weapon, checking once again all the passages and room that could be breached. But in the end, there is little they can do but be alert. Despite the growing sound of claws, nothing tries anything and they can’t help but relax in apprehension. They can’t possibly be ready for a sudden attack for hours.
So everyone settles how they can, some are more restless than others. If Jim keeps a patrol pattern all around the room, followed by Oluwande, Izzy can’t help but pace with little purpose. Rubbing the pommel of his sword in a way that help soothe the worries gnawing at him. He can’t stop the guilt from pursuing him, he should have done more to get Buttons down there. More than just talk. But he had just been a coward, too afraid for himself to really think. Too pressed to get to safety to care enough for their comrade and make a bigger effort. Get him to safety by force, lift him up if he had too. Hell, he could have asked for help. But after The Swede have almost been taken, the idea hadn’t even crossed his mind, too risky.
The hour passed with his ceaseless pacing until he knew he couldn’t keep like this. He had to try, even if it was pointless, to correct his mistake and take Buttons here with them. He had to give it a shot, because something was worse than going outside and facing some of the most terrific and nefarious creature inhabiting earth and it was to stay here knowing he had fucked up and get a man killed. Someone he respected, hell, the Swede was right, someone he appreciated.
“I will go check what is happening outside. Mermaids are not known to be wasting time before making an entrance.” He said and his reasons were truthful even if it was not the whole truth.
“I don’t really think it’s wise.”
“It’s not. Help me push the barricade away.” He instructs to Oluwande and Frenchies who look at each other unsure.
“What if you get caught by them ?”
“I will try not to, but we need to have an idea of what is outside.” He does have a point and they know it, the lack of knowledge can quickly become the most dangerous thing while facing an enemy. So reluctantly they help push the barricade away.
“So what, we just send one of the only one that know how to properly fight alone out there ?” Jim says with a clearly disapproving tone.
“I don’t think it would be wise to send more than one person.”
“I know, all I’m saying is that if a fight break and we don’t have Izzy it’s gonna be harder.” Nobody can deny that. For every flaw the man carry, he stays one of the best sailors and the second-best fighter they have on board.
“They do have a point.” Wee John says and to Izzy annoyance both Frenchies and Oluwande stop helping him move the barricade away.
This is not a conversation he wants to dwell on. He took his decision and now he needs to know what’s outside, know what happened to their crewmate. He looks up at Stede because at this point, even if nobody but the captains can strictly order him to do or not do something, he is pretty sure if he tries to leave they will just jump on him. His only chance is a word from Stede, which frankly seems now unlikely as he seems to be on his crew side.
But their eyes cross and he is not sure what he looks like right now but his captain seems to notice something and nod in understanding. What did he perceive ? What did he understand ? Izzy has no clue.
“I believe Izzy’s right, we need to know what’s going on outside. I won’t order to anyone to venture on the upper decks, but if Izzy is the only one to propose himself for the task, then.. ” He looks at his crew, inviting them to take his place and see what’s out there but nobody takes on the opportunity. And frankly Izzy can’t blame them. He is terrified by what he might find outside. Mermaids are vile creature, cruel and relentless and there are very few things a man can do against them. Their spell is something no known man has ever fully resisted to.
And even to that, he is not sure what to expect. He never encountered a mermaid before, the tales of the few survivors he met had been enough and their descriptions of the event had been spotty at best. All he knows is that the sea native one, the ones they are against today, tend to prefer humans as food than mates contrary to the sky native one. Not that you often see those. Which is reassuring in some ways better to die being eaten than serve as breeding sack or whatever it is they do.
With last words of encouragement and a pat on the shoulder from the Swede, he leaves. He keeps his steps quiet and slow, listening to his environment for any anomaly. He meets none which leads him to walk to the door leading outside without trouble. Behind him, at the doorway, Jim is observing carefully. With a nod he invites them to close the door and push back the barricade on it. He is reassured when they do despite knowing full well it’s only him against some of the most horrific monster the sea inhabit now.
He takes a breath as he stands in front of that door. Coming last from the decks, he had carefully closed it, but not locked it in case Buttons changed his mind and decided to join them. It did leave a major weak spot for the mermaids to attack them, but he hadn’t been able to fully lock up the sailor outside if there was any chance he might regain some survival instinct. If it had been him on the other side of that door, to find it closed from inside with no possibility to open it would have been dreadful. As relentless he could be, he didn’t necessarily appreciate being unnecessarily cruel. But he knows he should have been, losing one crew members is better than losing the whole crew, thankfully, as of yet, that door had not been touched. Which didn’t mean there wouldn’t be troubles outside.
He gently opened it, trying to keep the cracking as silent as he could, hand on his sword, ready to attack.
Nothing came at him. He stood there, careful, listening to the growls, but none were close to the door. The mermaids were still there, but busied somewhere else. Still, he stepped outside with full attention, making sure nothing was on the side or above him, ready to jump him.
Nothing.
The ambient darkness didn’t help but there was enough light left from the setting sun for him to notice each movement. None looked abnormal from a usual day on board, but it did little to reassure him. Apparently some Mermaids could merge with the background and stay unseen even from a warned eyes.
He didn’t like the apparent calm but with courage he climbed the stairs despite being unsure. It was too close to the edge for his own good. He quickly asserted the situation, searching his crewmate, preparing himself to a gruesome scene, but he found none. Instead, Buttons stood there, far from him, sat but bent over the railing. Seemingly well occupied by something he didn’t notice him. Not that Izzy made enough noise to be noticed from that far. He wished to call for him, but it seemed dangerous, there was still a lot of claws scratching at the hull and they were way to close to him for his taste. Also, despite the relief as he saw the man, he couldn’t put past that it could be all but a mirage crafted by the creatures to make him lose his guard.
Still, no mermaids had made its appearance yet so he hoped that, maybe, a ship prior to them had fed them enough. Quietly, he walked to Buttons, he had to be sure, he had to know if it was real or an illusion. No more cowardice, we would see through the task.
His pace was slow and careful and before he could even reach him something caught his attention. A voice, calling for him.
He ignored it the best he could, despite the intense need he felt to obey it. Pursuing on his way, he had barely taken a step toward his comrade that his eyes turned back to that voice.
This is bad.
Mermaids were known to be irresistible, when they called you, you answered. If one had tried to call him, he was lost. His best option, if it was even possible, was to join the crew back. But somehow he already knew he was too far away for it to succeed. His second option was if the Mermaid let him go, which was most unlikely. Maybe if he reached Buttons, they could help each other.
He focused back on him and took another step. Again, his eyes turned on the side, to that voice, to that chant. He didn’t know what it was saying, all he knew is that he was compelled to go to it, even his body had started moving in that direction.
Pressing his injured feet on the deck—despite having healed his severed toes was still a constant source of pain, especially on certain angle—he focused on the pain to, once again, look in Button’s direction. But the voice called louder and he couldn’t help but walk in its direction, knowing full well he shouldn’t but unable to resist it.
Gently, he watched down the edge to the mermaid calling at him, it was clawing on the side of the boat, getting closer. Its sharp teeth did nothing to deter the dread pooling in his guts but he found himself incapable of moving away.
They would tear at him, those teeth. Break his flesh and chew him and he might even have no voice left to scream at the pain, lulled to silence by that chant. He didn’t understand what it said to him. At least his brain didn’t, but it seemed to speak to his soul, scratching an itch he didn’t know could be scratched. He would be lucky if all it did was to eat him alive, but somehow he knew he wouldn’t be lucky.
The clawed hand reached for him and he reached back, accepting his fate with full revulsion. Knowing the horror falling upon him and yet embracing it. Not by choice, but by obligation. But before he could even touch that dreadful hand something grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back with so much force he fell roughly on the deck floor. His back stinging of a sharp pain, barely knocking him off the spell he was under.
“BACK OFF ! HE’S MINE ! DON’T YOU DARE LAY YOUR HAND ON HIM !”
In the fogginess of his mind, Izzy heard shrieks and hiss, the words barely made it to his brain. He tried to get up, somehow remembering in the pain that he had to flee, but a foot pushed him back down on the floor and he felt too weak to resist, his vision still blurred, his ears still ringing to that chant, even if it was just an echo now. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but he knew those hair, even if they're supposed to look less.. feathery ? And he knew this voice.
“He’s mine to take !”
Izzy heard more hissing and somehow he drifted away. When he reached consciousness again he saw he was being dragged inside, on the decks below where he had come from. He tried to grab the hand holding him but it escaped his grip with no effort and he was left there, the door closing on the outside, assuring him a sense of safety. His throat let out a growl as an intense headache overtook him.
He could barely focus on the sound behind him but the light emerging on the corridor told him the crew must have moved the barricade away. He could hear voices but couldn’t possibly make out what they were saying.
Hands lifted him up soon enough and he tried to stand but his legs gave up at the renewed sharp pain inside his skull. That he could walk or not, it didn’t matter much, those hands dragged him back with everyone and the light flashed painfully at his eyes, not like there were that much light to begin with.
“What happened ?”
“Izzy !”
He tried to walk but fumbled on furniture or limb he is not sure, all he is sure is that he was coming down and enough hands were on him to follow his descent. He crashed in a pool of carpets, blankets and limbs. Those hands didn’t let him get back up, so he forgot the idea and rubbed at his eyes, willing the pain to go away with little success. Someone grabbed his wrist and it was the first thing he could truly focus on.
“You’re hurt.”
It’s Lucius who seized his hand and he gently probed at a few cuts on his skin. Izzy didn’t remember getting hurt.
“I’m not.. ” He hesitated watching the injury slowly cloating. The gentle hand of Stede came to rest on his shoulder.
“What happened ?”
“You got caught ?” Jim asked.
“Almost.” He let out in a breathy tone.
“And you managed to get out ? How ?” Frenchies pressed him.
“Where is Buttons ?”
“Still above. I think.” It’s hard to focus.
“You think ?”
“I think it’s him who pulled me out of it. Shit !” He muttered pressing his fingers on his head as the headache made him feel like his head was gonna explode.
“And the mermaids ?”
He tried to get up, at least sit, but he was held back.
“You shouldn’t try to get up yet, you look rather pale.” Stede told him and he accepted it as an order to stay put.
“You need to rest, if we get attacked we need you ready.” Jim added and he nodded slowly accepting his fate.
“The mermaids ?” Pete asked again.
“I don’t know, they weren’t on deck, keeping at the side, they are here, but not very active.”
“Odd.”
Izzy is not being asked much more question, he is thankful for that and it’s probably due to how painfully torn his face is as he endures a pain he has never experienced before. He had lived through extremely painful injuries but that pain just hit differently.
The hours pass in a slow, ghastly atmosphere. Yet, nothing comes to disturb their worries. The claws are still heard around them. Almost forgettable as they fade in the background noise of the waves hitting the hull. Somewhere down the night Izzy manage to sit without nearly fainting while some of the crew manage to find sleep.
It’s after what feels an eternity that finally the status-Co change, when they hear a knock on the door. Simple, human. In an instant all those that are awake are on the ready. Looking at each other to know what they should do while the others are waking up quickly. Izzy tries to get on his feet with little success, his vision blurred and his equilibrium stumbled but he still grabbed his swords just in case.
In their worried wait a voice made them startle.
“It’s Buttons sir, we are out of the troubled sea.”
“Buttons !” Stede exclaims. “We are ?”
“Yes, it’s safe to come out.”
“It could be a trap, mermaid imitating Buttons’ voice to trick us.” Roach exclaims, waking up.
“Izzy, could we be past the mermaid infested sea ?” The captain asks.
The first mate groans as he tries to think, he remembers the map well, so it helps, technically it’s just a time matter, were they fast enough ? Did enough time pass for them to clear out of that zone ? Did they keep the right course ?
“How many hours have passed ?”
“Sun is up.” Wee John tells him as he carefully draw a curtain open.
After a few calculate Izzy nod.
“We could be out yes.”
“How likely ?” Oluwande presses him.
“If we sailed at mid speed we should be out.”
“So it’s likely.”
“Open the door.”
They move the barricade away, and Jim stays ready in case it was really all but a trick. But the door only open to Buttons who’s waiting for them all to take in the news before entering.
“How ?” Stede asks.
“You should be dead.”
“How did you survive, Izzy told us there were mermaids on the hull.”
“Like I told our first mate, they don’t have anything to offer me that I don’t have or can’t have myself.”
“Oh well, hm, good-ies then.” Stede bounce with a smile.
“But they did for him.” He points out at said first mate, with an accusatory index. “Almost got caught.” He didn’t need to add ‘idiot’ to the mix they all heard it clear and loud.
He walks to him and Izzy make a last move to get up but miserably fail. Buttons don’t mind. He extends a hand to his face which is a surprise to everybody looking, because Izzy tend to reject most touch. What’s even more surprising is when he lean against it, his body relaxed, even just a bit.
“The headache will fade to tonight moonlight.” He explains as if it’s the most obvious thing on earth. And the way Izzy looks up at him with some kind of reverence may be as fucked up as the night they just passed.
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing ?” Lucius asks to Pete in a whisper.
“I do.”
Izzy feels relieved when he sees the familiar figure of Buttons in the doorway, he wants to thank him for saving his life out there but can possibly get up for the sake of his sanity and dignity, but the man walk up to him. He doesn’t expect the hand that come to rest on his face, and even less the merciful peace that make the excruciating pain fade. How ? He wants to ask how, but no words come at his throat. Without thinking he lean against it, hoping for that hand to tear more pain from him.
‘He’s mine to take.’
The sentence echoed in his mind and he knows he heard it before, when he was out. Was it from the mermaid ? It must be, because he can’t think of a reason why Buttons would say that even if it sound just like his voice in his mind.
His breath gets heavier when the sailor deprive him from his touch and he swears, can’t the captain order the man to keep his hands on him all day ? Because pain hit him back with full force and he’s not sure if the respite he has been offered makes it worse or not.
“The ships tailing us did not come after us.” He informs.
“So we’re free ? We don’t have to flee anymore ?”
“Or fight ?”
“We should still keep moving, take more distance just in case.” Izzy mutter in a painful groan.
“What I don’t get though.” Stede start on a harder tone. “Is how we could even find ourselves on a mermaid infested sea. Did you lie to lead us there ?”
“I knew it was the best option compared to the serpent pass or an endless chase, nobody who knows better would venture in those waters, if they did, the mermaids would have gotten them.”
“They could have gotten us.”
“I knew I wouldn’t be affected, and I knew you would keep shelter, at least, I expected you would, it was the most sensible thing to do, unlike him.. ” He points out at Izzy again.
“Oh fuck off !”
“.. So I knew I would starve them and make them less hostile to you.”
“He got out because he was searching for you, wanted to make sure you were still alive and bring you back with us.” Stede explains and Buttons look back at Izzy with some kind of fondness as if he hadn’t thought the man would risk his life to make sure he was okay. As if Izzy had such a death wish to take on a flock of mermaids by himself.
“I told him we needed someone to keep the helm.”
“Hm.” Stede nods. “Still, an explanation would have been preferred to be left in the dark.”
“I knew if I told you my plan, you wouldn’t have followed it. So yes, I lied to you, I never lied to you before that, you can sentence me the way you see fit.”
“Well, I believe getting us all out of trouble is worth enough to compensate for that lie, but I expect you to never do that again.”
“Yes captain.”
The matter sorted out Stede clapped his hands. “Well, let’s get back to work, we have a lot to do, lots of repair.” The crew moves to get out, finally, all happy the threat is gone despite the load of work they have ahead of them. Izzy tries to get up too, but it’s a hardship that is really starting to worry Stede.
“Izzy, you should take the day to rest. You too mister Buttons, after staying up all night for us, you need to catch your sleep. Can you just help Izzy to his quarter ?”
The sailor nod and soon enough Izzy feels strong arms lift him on his feet. Only the movement makes the pain sharpen. There is no way he can work in that state he knows that, so he doesn’t try to fight the order. He’s led to his room then to his bed where he lies down without protesting. Buttons sit aside him as he groans in pain.
The hand that brought him respite earlier rest back on his forehead, sliding gently on his eyes to make them shut and keep them shut. His hand dump against the sailor thigh and he doesn’t protest when the man grabs it in his. At this point Izzy is too in pain to care about whatever this is. Just resting in the unexpected respite Buttons seem to be able to offer him is enough. Respite that make no sense to him if it’s truly physical contact that help with the pain, because while lying among everybody they did touch him to make sure he was okay, and his pain had never faded like it does now.
Nevertheless, the world dissolve around him. He is not sure how long Buttons stay with him, but he falls asleep to the soothing hands.
In the corridors, as he walks to the captain quarter Lucius can’t help but notice Izzy’s room, whose door is still open and despite the darkness of the room he can clearly see their first mate lying down and Buttons sat beside him, touching him. He can’t help but stare because the image painted in front of him just look surreal.
Thought he feels like he’s trespassing when their odd companion turn to him, a small sense of dread takes over him and the phantom pain of his finger sting at the way he looks at him. There is a meanness in his glare, as if Lucius is a menace and Buttons is ready do defend whatever it is he has to defend.
He doesn’t dwell too long facing that stare. Gently and while never looking away from Buttons he grabs the door handle and pull it shut.
“Just closing the door.” He explains in an apologetic tone. Once done he leaves in a quick.
Whatever those two have going on, Lucius doesn’t want to be in any part of it. Buttons scare him too much to take the risk to satisfy his undying curiosity.