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They had been enjoying shore leave, simply walking around the quaint little village hand in hand, ignoring the strange looks they were receiving. Honestly, they were both fearsome pirates, so really they had nothing to worry about, and they could both care less what others thought. They had purchased a couple of things, Lucius bought some books he'd been eyeing and Pete bought some more wood to whittle into more figurines. Lucius had taken a liking to them, so Pete began to whittle little figurines for him. Mostly animals, sometimes hearts, other times some...naughty ones. Even so, currently they were just walking down a cobbled street when a familiar face for Pete came to view.
"Johann!"
"Pete!"
The two men embraced excitedly.
"Oh it's so good to see you! Boy, someone sure hasn't skimped on three square meals a day." Says Johann, and Lucius knits his brow for a second. Because he catches that familiar tone, it's a little passive aggressive but he lets it slide...for now. Pete however, merely laughs clapping his hand on Johann's shoulder.
"You got that right, oh Johann this is my boyfriend Lucius, babe this is my ex boyfriend Johann. We were on Blackbeard's crew together once!" Said Pete, and Lucius is now more confused. Sure Ed commands a crew of over 300 men, something that made Stede and his own jaws go slack when they learned that particular fun fact...but surely he would have noticed if one of his men left wouldn't he? Especially one who looked like him. All blond and fine haired, with a face that reminded Lucius of the elves in fairy stories.
"Really? Ed never mentioned you." Said Lucius looking him over.
"Ed...the Blackbeard I knew would have chopped off your head for that."
"Well, the Blackbeard you knew isn't really around anymore, he's changed." Said Lucius with a firm nod.
"Right, well how have you been Pete? Still as lazy as ever?" Asked Johann clearly trying to play off what he's saying as lighthearted ribbing, but Lucius catches it all. The passive aggressive tone, the insulting language. Who the fuck does this guy think he is?
"Oh, well y'know not much action with our new captain." Says Pete with a chuckle. "Captain Bonnet isn't the most traditional pirate, but don't get me wrong he's still a good captain."
"The Gentleman pirate? I heard of him...you're really on that loser's crew? Why doesn't that surprise me." He says, and Lucius gently takes Pete's hand. "Anyway how's about we meet up for lunch later when you're done with your boyfriend?"
"Ok! Sounds good! There's this great pub nearby we can go there!"
"It's a date." He replied, winking at Pete and then flashing a coy smile to Lucius before leaving.
"I don't think you should go babe." Said Lucius, and now it's Pete's turn to furrow his brow in confusion. "I, he doesn't speak to you very nicely...and I know exes can be friends I'm still friends with a couple of mine but, the things he said. Friends don't talk to each other that way."
"Are you jealous? I thought we didn't own each other?"
"We don't and I'm not jealous. Pete he called you lazy."
"So does Izzy."
"He called you fat."
"So does Izzy."
"He insinuated you're a loser."
"You guys do that all the time."
"No we don't." Said Lucius, shaking his head and Pete gives him a look. "Babe, hey I know we like to all tease each other but none of us ever mean it to actually put each other down. We laugh with each other not at each other. He...he didn't mean it like we do."
"Y'know I didn't expect this from you. Anyone but you, y'know I'm not like you Lucius I know I'm not the best looking, I can't read, or write and I have this this lisp that all my life I've been made fun of for. But Johann he's not like you say he is. He was the first person to ever love me and accept me, he cares about me. When we first met, you didn't even like me." Said Pete, and that last comment actually stings. "Just admit you're jealous."
"I'm not jealous, I'm trying to protect you."
"Oh suddenly I need you to protect me? Because why I'm too stupid or too weak?"
"What? No! No that's not-"
"Well that's mighty big coming from someone who can't even pick up a sword to save his life and has to be rescued all the time." Says a now very angry Pete, and Lucius sighs. He has no idea where any of this is coming from, but honestly? He's just going to not say anything. In fact, he's going to just remove himself from the situation, before he says something he might come to regret.
"Ok y'know what? Fine. You can do what you want. You don't want my help? Go ahead." Said Lucius, turning around and walking away to head back to the ship.
On the ship, the two of them don't speak to each other...which is actually concerning to the others a little. Lucius concentrates on his work, while Pete goes off bragging about Johann...God what a stupid name thinks Lucius. Yet it kind of hurts actually? To hear him speak so fondly of someone who clearly is so wrong for him. But no Pete doesn't want his help so he'll just stay out of it...but something deep down inside tells him not to.
"So if this guy is so great, why did you break up?" Asked Jim, God Lucius loves Jim so much.
"Well, I mean he said he wasn't in the right headspace for a long distance relationship. Which y'know I understand, plus he said that sometimes I could be a bit much and too clingy an he needed space...and that sometimes I get in the way, and that he was really tired of um other stuff that I do but I mean I I know I'm not everyone's favorite sometimes." Said Pete, and everyone including Lucius looks at him with not pity but almost...sadness. "What?"
"Pete, you know that when we tease you...we do it out of love and being friendly right?" Asked Frenchie.
"Yes, I don't think that anyone who loves you should speak to you the way he does or did." Said Swede.
Oh thank God they see it too, thinks Lucius as he looks around at everyone whose agreeing.
"Oh my God you guys are on Lucius' side? He said the same thing!" Exclaimed Pete.
"Wait is that why you're fighting? Mate, Lucius is right and well you know him...he doesn't tell you what you want to hear he tells you what you need to hear. He just doesn't want you to get hurt." Said Oluwande, and inwardly Lucius fights off a smile, and the urge to kiss Olu.
"Ay, the boy speaks the truth." Says Buttons.
Ok suddenly, Lucius is feeling a lot more valid and vindicated, with a hell of a lot more appreciation for the others than before.
"Ok y'know what? forget you guys, and you especially." Said Pete, pointing to Lucius.
"Wh-I didn't say anything!"
"You didn't have to." Said Pete, marching off and Lucius sighed once more.
"You guys all see it right? It's not just me? I mean am I wrong here?" Asked Lucius, turning to the others. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"Maybe there is, do you know what pub he's going to?" Asked Fang, and Lucius nods. The older pirate smirked. "Then, I have a plan."
Pete made his way to the bar, telling Ed and Stede he wouldn't be gone long. Honestly, Lucius just didn't understand. Everything came easy for him, everyone loved him and sure sometimes Johann's words stung...sometimes they made him feel bad...sometimes they weren't very nice. But, they didn't see how the other man also treated him. How when he was in a good mood, he was in fact very sweet and kind and dear to him. How he loved this man. No, Lucius didn't and would never understand. So he goes in and he waits...and waits...and waits.
"Ugh don't tell me the asshole stood him up." Whispered Fang, before taking a sip of his drink. "I'm going to kill that bastard."
"Love that energy, but don't think that'll actually help." Replied Lucius.
"Well it'll help me feel better." Said Fang, and Lucius sighed as he looked at Pete sitting there...alone and looking around. His smile drooping by the minute, and oh god he can already see the wheels in his head begin to turn. He feels so sorry for him. "I want to hug him."
"Me too Fang."
Finally he does show up, and they face each other acting like this is a date...but their attention is fully on Pete and Johann.
"Is that your boyfriend on a date with someone else?"
"Huh? Oh, eh probably I mean we don't own each other." Says Pete, so blase and well he's right but he doesn't want Johann to know that. "He likes to go with other people at times, honestly I don't mind. We talk about it beforehand and, I know no matter what Lucius loves me."
Lucius has to fight off a smile, but Fang doesn't he simply smiles at Lucius and under the table lightly nudges his knee.
"I dunno, I mean I figure when you're with someone. You should only be with that person, anything else is borderline cheating." Said Johann, and it's clear he's saying it so that Lucius can hear him. Fang clenches his hand into a fist, but Lucius places a hand on his wrist. Masking it as an affectionate gesture, but the meaning is there. Don't do anything. "People like that, I think there's something broken inside of them...they don't really feel love. They pretend to but they can't."
"You're wrong. Lucius does feel love...he loves me."
"Is that why he fucks everyone and everything? God Pete are you stupid? He doesn't care about you. If he did care, why is he with someone else right now? If he did care, why does he let everyone do what they want with him?" Asked Johann and without meaning to Lucius actually can feel his chin begin to tremble slightly. He sighs, taking in a deep breath, because yeah he half expected that. Most people had a very negative view of his tendencies to love more than one person. He simply stares down at his hands. "I mean that's why you're here isn't it? Because Lucius can't love you like I can."
"You don't know him like I do, he loves me and he wouldn't call me stupid or any of the other stuff you did. He actually respects me." Said Pete and Lucius smiles.
"Oh please, he's just a cum rag everyone on that ship uses. I bet he's got lots of diseases."
Lucius gasps, as Pete stands and grips the other man's shirt lifting him up.
"Take that back."
"Ah quick to anger...as per usual...when are you going to learn to behave like an adult instead of a rampaging toddler?" Asked Johann, and Pete slams the man downwards before raising his fist. Lucius rushes over gripping his wrist.
"It's not worth it babe, he's not worth it."Said Lucius, Pete says nothing simply taking back his hand and leaving. Fang motions for him to follow, before cracking his knuckles, a gleeful, vengeful smile on his face. He's about to make Johann hurt big time. Pete meanwhile, stops on a bench and sniffs drying his tears. Lucius goes over and sits next to him.
"I'm so stupid."
"Hey, no no you're not." Said Lucius gently taking Pete's hand in his. "Pete, you are a wonderful, kind, good man. He doesn't deserve you and never did, and I am so sorry he hurt you."
"I mean, it wasn't it...there were good times too! He was good to me really! It's just...with him I felt...like I had to constantly be someone I wasn't. He made me feel like I was stupid, like I was weak, like I was pathetic...not like how you make me feel. I'm sorry...maybe you were right. Maybe there just wasn't something I was seeing. Do you hate me?" Asked Pete and Lucius shook his head hugging him close.
"No, I could never hate you." Said Lucius, and Pete hugged Lucius tighter.
"And and you know that was all bullshit right? I mean, I really really don't mind that we don't belong to each other. I know you can love...and you love me."
"Of course I do, and thank you for defending my honor...and about what you said earlier...I don't care that you can't read or write and personally I think you are the sexiest man on the ship...and I know what it's like to be made fun of for something you can't control...and all those things, your looks, your integrity, your bravery, your lisp even they're all a part of who you are...and I for one am in love with every single part of you." Said Lucius, and Pete smiles at him.
"I was wrong...I think the first person to love and accept me wasn't him...it was you." Said Pete, kissing Lucius. "I'm sorry I...that I didn't believe you."
"It's ok, you're forgiven." Said Lucius wrinkling his nose affectionately, Pete smiles and hugs Lucius...both of them are surprised by Fang rushing over with bloody fists.
"Boys, we might want to hurry back to the ship." Said Fang an innocent smile on his face, and they both grip each other's hands tightly before rushing off towards the ship. Once they're back on the ship however, Pete's the smaller spoon and nesteled between Fang and Lucius he feels...safe. He smiles up at Lucius who kisses him tenderly. He cuddles close to Lucius, a smile on his face as he drifts to sleep,