Chapter Text
Waves crash along the side of the Fallen Angel with a loud woosh noise. Some of the waves splashing up onto the deck, soaking into the wooden panels of the wood floor. The crew is busy, going about their daily jobs to make sure the ship stays afloat, and everyone is on guard in case of any attacks.
Some of the crew whistle along as they work whilst others prefer to work in silence. They’re due to arrive on an uninhabited island, where Castiel, the captain of the ship is hoping to find undiscovered or left behind treasure. Castiel is hoping that no one has taken it all. The downside to where they’re headed is that a storm is looming over the horizon, harsh waves causing tremors to rock the ship.
Castiel stands watch with Balthazar, his Quartermaster them both evaluating whether it’s safe to carry on. Out of all of his crew, Balthazar is the one he had known the longest. When he was just starting out on his new ship, Balthazar had stumbled upon him, looking terribly shaken up. Castiel took him in with no questions asked, and now they’re here, thick as thieves as they say, which does suit them.
“Captain, I think the ship should survive it’s trek over to the island,” Balthazar interrupts the peace, his British accent still very thick, despite the past ten years of him being around mostly Americans, he’s surprisingly kept his accent, but so has Crowley. Castiel looks at Balthazar as another wave hits the ship. He knows Balthazar wouldn’t put them in immediate danger, and he too had hoped this trip goes well, they’re running low on gold and barely have enough to buy a loaf of bread at their next stop on a populated island. “We’ve been through worse storms than this one, mate.”
“You’re right,” Castiel nods, turning to where Benny is watching in the Helm and giving him a thumbs up to continue on their course. Benny gives him a thumbs up in return and Castiel and Balthazar continue patrolling the ship, making sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be.
Once satisfied, Castiel motions for Balthazar to sit on one of the benches on deck, where they usually stay guard, watching for enemies and the hope of watching for mermaids. There were many myths going around through sailors of whether or not mermaids are real, personally Castiel doesn’t believe it but Balthazar, he would die on the hill of mermaids being real and that they might be swimming right under them.
Once Balthazar is sat down, Castiel disappears to his office and grabs his bottle of rum and two-pint glasses he had picked up (stolen) from the last place they had stopped off in, an island named Tortuga. Walking back out, he hands a glass to Balthazar, pouring some rum before doing the same for his own glass and sits down next to him.
They don’t speak as they watch the waves, occasionally getting splashed by the water. They don’t need to speak to each other to find comfort in each other’s presence. Just being around each other, protecting each other is what they need.
The waves seem to gradually slow down as land comes into view, and Balthazar gives Castiel a proud smile. “My judgements are always correct, my friend.”
“That they are, that they are,” Castiel agrees, knocking back the rest of the rum in his cup before pouring some more. “That’s why you’re my second in command, after all.”
Balthazar nods at Castiel, drinking his rum at a slower pace than Castiel. The grey clouds loom over them, casting a shadow over the ship, the lights on board the ship doing very little to provide what they’re supposed to. Land gets closer and Castiel and Balthazar leave their glasses and the bottle of rum where they were sat before making their way over to where the crew had already started gathering, waiting to be told their orders.
The ship comes to a stop and the waves rock them more, despite them having calmed down. Benny joins them once he’s thrown the anchor into the sea, looking as though he’s just fought in a battle. “Damn those were some tough waves.”
“We’ve been through worse storms than that, Ben.” Balthazar reminds him, just as he had with Castiel. Benny just nods, not arguing with him when he calls him Ben, which Balthazar knows he hates, he just does it to be fun. “Right, so Captain and I have decided, we’re all going to split into groups of two to scour the island. Anything valuable we want, anything that’s not valuable that’s brought back will be thrown into the sea. Am I making myself clear?”
Murmurs of yes sirs are heard from the group and Balthazar gives a satisfied nod before Castiel gives everyone their groups. Like usual, he’s paired himself up with Balthazar. Castiel lowers the ramp, and they all walk off. “Meet back here when it’s completely dark. If you’re late, you will be left behind.” Castiel warns. Balthazar gives him a look, knowing he does it to scare his crew but they both know that he wouldn’t leave them, he can be evil when he wants to be, he can dish out punishments, but it’s not often, that’s mainly Balthazar’s job.
They watch as everyone scurries off in different directions with their partner, Balthazar shooting a look at Meg and Crowley as they’re both arguing with each other already. Balthazar takes no shit, which is why he’s the perfect one to dish punishments to the crew who deserves it.
The island seems smaller than the last uninhabited one they visited and Castiel hopes to god that there’s something valuable there. The waters are clear, and he can see the little fish swimming around. He remembers the first time he had seen waters like this with all the fish, he remembers being so satisfied over it all, until his older brothers, Michael and Lucifer scooped up some fish and squashed them in their hands.
Balthazar tugs his arm, and Castiel follows him along the sand and into the forest. The deeper inside the groups of trees they go, the darker it gets. They pick up little pieces of treasure as they go, when Castiel stumbles across a necklace. It looks beautiful. A sterling silver chain and the necklace shape is some sort of geometric rectangle. It looks like it should glow, Castiel thinks as he sees it’s a dull grey shade.
Balthazar looks and makes a disappointed noise, but Castiel doesn’t care, he shoves it into his pouch, and they begin hunting again. Balthazar doesn’t bring the necklace up, but Castiel knows that he wants to, knows that its on the tip of his tongue.
After what seems like hours of wandering through the forest, they find a clearing which leads to some sort of cave. The two men look at each other, no words spoken but their eyes clearly search each other’s for whether they should go inside and investigate or not. They shrug their shoulders and walk inside. Castiel pulls the necklace out as they walk into the dark, but it stays the same colour.
“Leave the sodding thing,” Balthazar says to him. “We told the crew not to bring useless shit back.”
“It’s not useless, I can tell,” Castiel says, putting it back in his pocket. Balthazar doesn’t argue, he knows it’ll be like talking to a brick wall if he does. They don’t speak as they walk further and further into the cave.
They see a dead end, and as they reach it, they see heaps of treasure. Gold bars, jewels, ancient looking jewellery. Balthazar rubs his hands together, the two of them pulling out a sack each and filling it to the brim with whatever they could fit. This should get them a heap load of gold and they may even be able to keep some of it.
It’s the biggest amount of treasure they have found in a long time, and to say Castiel and Balthazar are ecstatic is an understatement. For the first time in months, they’re able to go back to the ship and not be disappointed by the lack of treasure.
‘O it’s a good time to be a pirate.