Chapter Text
Jimmy hates pirates.
He hates the way they think they can do anything and everything, and the way they believe they’re on top of the world. He hates their lack of respect for naval law and their blatant disregard of basic manners. He had been to enough pirate-run islands and overrun taverns to know.
Which is why he joined the navy five years ago, and worked and clawed his way up to captain, just like his father had at his age, and his father before him. Jimmy had earned his own ship- The Canary- and a crew to call his own. Captain James, they called him. He really didn’t care for his full name, but it sounded important, which was enough for him. His crew always told him he was a good captain, a lovely leader. Jimmy would never admit it, but he liked the praise.
Oh, and another reason Jimmy hated pirates? He was currently fighting a band of them. The best crew in the East Sea, actually, according to other Naval captains. They called themselves the Reds, their ship- The Mirage- sporting blood-red sails and golden paint on the ship’s trim. Jimmy tried not to envy how well-off these pirates were as he shouted another order to fire the cannons across the water.
It was a blur, the fighting and the shouts and blasts. Jimmy was almost delighted to be stuck in the middle of such beautiful chaos. And his confidence was strong. He could tell that he and his crew were close to overtaking the enemy, the opposing ship leaning dangerously to one side. Jimmy knew how well-received his letter home would be that month if he were to tell his father about how he fought and won a battle against the most legendary pirates of his age. The only thing missing from his most elated fantasy was the captain of the furious rebels. Their so-called fearless leader had been shockingly absent through the whole of the battle, sparking just the faintest bit of fear in Jimmy’s chest, like a hole pierced through a cloud of confidence.
Jimmy wasn’t afraid to admit he was a little nervous to face this particular captain. Jimmy had fought pirates before of course, brought many captains to their downfall, but none to the caliber of Captain Tango Tek. The stories he had heard of Captain Tek were…ghastly. They say his eyes and hair glow with flames straight from the belly of hell. That he traded his soul for his sword, sharper than any mortal blade. If the legends were true, Jimmy didn’t know. All he knew was that this was definitely Captain Tek’s ship and crew, completely devoid of the demon himself.
Launched back into the moment, Jimmy glanced across the water, hand poised in the air as a standing order to fire. He almost laughed at the flash of white being flown frantically over the railing of the opposite ship, which was creaking painfully, wood splintering all along the sides. Jimmy called the order to cease fire and waited patiently for the rowboat of pirates to make it to The Canary.
He stood, hands clasped tightly behind his back, yellow wings folded neatly, at the base of the main mast. Jimmy tried to be as intimidating as possible. He knew he wasn’t, with his fluffy blonde hair and annoying freckles that always littered his face when he was in the sun too long. His bright blue eyes and even brighter yellow wings. The only thing about his appearance that was intimidating, really, was his build. Jimmy was tall, and built well, towering over most. It was his biggest advantage over others during his training. He hoped it would be his biggest advantage now.
Jimmy watched his soldiers heave the boat up, and bristled a little at the sight of them scrambling away from the railing. Jimmy felt like he was shot through the heart at his first look at Captain Tango Tek. Every story about his appearance was true. A head of hair so yellow and red it looked like flames, eyes blood red. Jimmy clenched his teeth together as the pirate smiled broadly at him, his canines sharpened dangerously and deliberately. The tips of his pointed ears smoked slightly, as they were aflame.
“Hullo Captain James,” Captain Tek called, loud enough for Jimmy’s entire crew to hear, bowing so low it looked like an insult. Jimmy sneered at him, wings flicking impatiently behind his back.
“Stand up, you fool,” Jimmy called back, surprised at how steady his voice was. “I’m surprised you care enough to know my name, Captain Tek.”
Captain Tek stood back up abruptly, placing a hand against his chest, almost shocked. His hands were wrapped in bandages, and his fingers were long and stained ash black on the ends. “I could say the same, soldier.” he smirked, deep dimples showing at the corners of his mouth. “A lovely vessel you have here, by the way,” A man standing beside Tek, dressed in a surprisingly nice forest green overcoat, snickered.
Jimmy flared up instinctively, placing a hand on the hilt of his rapier. “Are you here on business, Captain, or will I have to finish sinking your ship? You seem to be in an awfully strange mood, seeing as your crew there were the ones to fly the white.”
Captain Tek’s body physically drooped. He made a sound that sounded almost like whining. “You navy captains are no fun.” He glanced at the man in green, who nodded back at him. Captain Tek made a huffing noise before shrugging off his long red overcoat, revealing his black undershirt, loose-fitting on his slender form. “Actually, James, I am here on business, but that’s for just you and me to discuss.”
Jimmy’s hand tightened on his hilt. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
“I’d like to hold you responsible, Captain,”
Jimmy let out an emotionless laugh. “Responsible for what, Tek? I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
“For breaking the last Nether Portal in the world.”
Jimmy paused. He had broken the last known Nether Portal, but that was years ago now. And it wasn’t personal, he had been under orders from the navy, as too many criminals were sourced as coming through the Nether. The navy was just trying to cut the crime off at the source. He wasn’t even sure what he had done, as he had never been to the Nether. To Jimmy, he had just mined away at a weird hunk of magic stone for three days and then left.
There was a long pause before Jimmy spoke again. “What’s it to you?”
Captain Tek’s expression shifted to something angry. Jimmy noticed his ears smoking heavier than they had before. “What’s it to me? That Portal was the only way for me and millions of others to get back home.”
Jimmy began to get angry in return. Or tried to. His voice came out weaker than he wanted in his reply. “The Nether is an uncivilized, lawless place. I was doing our world a favor.”
“I’m from the Nether.” Tek growled, drawing his sword.
Jimmy drew his sword in return. “And who’s to say you’re not also lawless and uncivilized?”
That’s when Captain Tek launched himself at Jimmy, who reacted quickly, but their swords never touched, as Jimmy felt his stomach lurch and his head squeeze in on itself, and then the world went dark.