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Pete was in pain, very sore...and very very tired. God he hated every minute of this. Today had been a very, very long day of doing arduous tasks around the ship, followed by a very violent and brutal raid, topping it all off with having to lug around some expensive and heavy furniture Stede found that he wanted to add to the break room. All in all, his bones feel like their on fire. It hurts to stand, his back is killing him, and his clothes are now drenched in sweat...fuck he smells disgusting. Sure that's just life on the seven seas, a pirate's life isn't always fun and it's not like he's super old but damn is he really feeling his age right now. He groans, rubbing his sore back laying on the floor of the store room.
"Hey, you ok love?" Asked Lucius, his voice so soft.
"I hate everything about today." He whimpered.
"Well, lucky for you I have something that might help." Said Lucius, as he went over and knelt beside his boyfriend holding a small ointment. He shook it vigorously, before setting it down. "Care to take off your shirt for me?"
"I don't think I can." Said Pete, because it hurt to move.
"Ok, here let me help." Lucius is gentle, as his soft hands lift up Pete's shirt and vest trying to be as careful as possible, whilst doing so.
"What're you gonna do?"
"Well, on that raid I did find some more of that ointment I use for my back. I figured, if it works for me, it should work for you." Said Lucius, taking some ointment in his hands warming it up a bit before gently pressing his hands to Pete's warm back. Pete gives a little moan of pain that turns into one of pleasure. His boyfriend is gentle but firm, as hands kneed and rub at his back. Delicate and nimble fingers dancing along his skin, and it still hurts but man does it also feel good. Lucius pressed gentle kisses to his back every so often.
"I stink don't I?" He asked.
"Yeah, but don't worry...I can fix that too." Said Lucius with a light laugh.
"Babe, do you think I'm...old?"
"You're only eighteen years older than me, that's not that bad trust me. I've had boyfriends with bigger age gaps." Said Lucius, as though it were the most normal thing in the world.
"You did?" Asked Pete looking back at him.
"Mm-hm, let's not get into that though, tragic backstories? Not cute." Said Lucius, getting some more ointment and continuing to rub Pete's back. Pete however continues to stare at Lucius. His favorite person, the one person in the world Pete would fight Blackbeard for, the one person who he would fight anyone for. Who was so good and so loving and caring. The thought of someone...anyone older and more experienced and...awful taking advantage of him. It makes Pete want to find all those men and kill them all...right after he gets full control of his limbs. "Am I your first?"
"Boyfriend? Nah, there were others...lots of others." Said Pete and Lucius chuckled.
"Oh yeah? Tell me about them."
"Well, they were mostly sailors, back before I became a pirate. My mom owned a bakery, my father was a butcher...sometimes he even gave her meat to make into these delicious meat pies. The most delicious meat pies ever. I used to go into the town square and advertise, and sometimes the odd sailor or handsome guy would catch my eye. I had boyfriends...they didn't last more than a month or two...when they left for the sea. When I became a pirate I met the odd cute guy but...then they'd die, or they'd leave, or they'd just...get bored. At least until...you." He replied, Lucius nodded heart full of anger at all these men who never cared about Pete or if they did still left him high and dry. Fuck them. Pete was good, he was kind, he was amazing and they didn't see what they had in front of them. Fuck them.
"I'm sorry." Apologized Lucius softly.
"It's fine...I have you now."
"For as long as you want me babe." Said Lucius gently kissing him.
"Are you sure? I mean you could have anyone...someone...younger."
"Does our age gap really bother you?" Asked Lucius curiously.
"Doesn't it bother you?"
"No, babe...we're both adults, consenting adults and yes you're older than me but there's nothing wrong with that. I for one, like my ruggedly handsome, older boyfriend. " Reassures Lucius.
"But what about in another ten years...when you're in your 30's and I'm in my 50's...when I'm in my 60's? When you're in your 40's and having to bury me? What happens then?" Asked Pete, now sitting up and facing Lucius.
"Where is this coming from?" Asked Lucius, and Pete sighed.
"Everything about today. I'm in pain because I had to carry a piece of furniture, meanwhile Oluwande barely broke a sweat...and today, in the raid. I killed a lot of people it got violent really quick...but um, there was a moment someone got the best of me and I went to grab my pistol but he was younger and faster than me, he would have gotten me with his sword if Jim hadn't gotten him. What if next time no one's there? What if next time is the last time because I was too old to do anything?" Asked Pete, slumped down looking at his hands. Lucius simply holds him close.
"At least you can carry furniture, I can't and I'm younger than you...Olu and Jim are older than me by like a couple years and they can do things I can't. It's not age that defines your skillset, it's your ability to do said skills that does. You are a great pirate, a great man, don't be discouraged because some kid almost got the better of you today. I mean you've been doing this a lot longer, I bet you know more ways to kill a man than him, among other things. Next time, just be more careful." Said Lucius, Pete snorts and nods. "And...for what it's worth, I will happily care for you and stay by your side until...until the end. Besides I have it all planned out."
"Oh you do?" Laughed Pete.
"Yeah, once you feel up to retirement...we can go somewhere that's green, a small farm in the country with animals and a nearby pond. Kids..if you want them, and you'll tell them all about serving under Blackbeard and everything we did as pirates." Said Lucius, Pete smiled softly he could imagine it now. A sunny hillside with soft green grass and flowers everywhere. Maybe even by a small seaside beach, just to compromise. Children laughing, chasing after a dog, while he and Lucius simply exist together, cradled in each other's arms...nights by an open flame telling them of being pirates. It sounds nice.
"You'd still take care of me? Even when I grow old and grey?"
"Of course, I love you." Said Lucius with a nod.
"Well, whose going to be there to look after you when you're old and grey?"
"That's what the kids are for." He jokes, and Pete tries not to laugh at that. "I'll be ok, I promise."
He nods, laying back down..making a promise to himself to be there for Lucius, to protect him, and to not leave...not until he does. His head is on Lucius' lap, his boyfriend gently rubbing his arm. He smiles softly, as the vision now changes. Of he and Lucius, both wrinkled and grey walking along the sandy beach...the sun off in the horizon.