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There was a new warmth by his side, now. And a new warmth in his chest that Kuzan hadn’t felt in ages.
For the longest time, his bed had stayed cold, the howls of the wind his only company. During those lonely nights, he would reminisce about the past, the memories kindling pangs of pain that burned along a limb that was no longer there. These memory trips usually accompanied tired, aching lungs, desperate for any gasp of air after a bad dream.
A bad dream… that’s what he called the incident at Punk Hazard, sometimes. When he wanted to feel a semblance of distance from it. Yet, his whole life felt like a bad dream at times, so the distinction had only become blurred and unhelpful.
He remembered his old days in the navy with a certain weariness in his bones. A fresh, young man, willing to learn anything he could for the betterment of the world.
The betterment of the world—what a joke. Those words mocked him every time the distant memory of a furious, destructive heat and the smell of smoke and death came back to him; the sight of a little black-haired girl with a broken expression, her life in his hands.
Heat… He couldn’t help where his thoughts wandered to next, at this reminder. A muscular body next to his, its heat radiating from it, searing, unlike anyone else’s. A harsh contrast to his own cool temperature.
Thoughts of Sakazuki always made him uncomfortably aware of his scars.
Kuzan had long lost count of the amount of times they’d been in bed together, back when they’d tolerated each other. It had been an inevitable fact that one day, it would end.
And end, it did, leaving Kuzan’s bed without that heat source. Leaving him with only the night as company. And if that hadn’t been enough, they had to release every repressed feeling they’d held back in that battle, leaving permanent reminders of what they’d once had. Ones he’d carry for the rest of his life.
The burns on his body ached for the feeling that brought them to life. That heat, the only element they were sensitive to.
…And Kuzan found it, at last.
No longer was he alone, wandering; lost. He finally found a place where he belonged. And this time, as hesitant as he was to make any promises to himself…he found one for good.
Next to him, deep breaths resounded, filling the room with soft, rumbling sighs. Hiding the chills of the wind outside. Kuzan savored the warmth next to him, the heat from the large hand settled on his waist.
The room was full of life. Silent, asleep, but present all the same.
It was funny, in hindsight. He could admit it. He’d spent so much of his life in the navy, and yet he settled with a pirate. Became one himself.
It was the freest he’d ever felt. And wasn’t that what Teach always told him? That Kuzan was free now, away from the clutches of the government. He could do whatever he desired. Be with whoever he desired.
Kuzan had been unsure about joining the Blackbeard pirates, at first, as any reasonable person would be. But Kuzan was no longer a reasonable man, even by his own standards, so it hadn’t taken him long to be persuaded. He’d simply gone along with it, lost as he was. A lonely dog desperate for a new owner.
Teach had given him that purpose he’d been craving so deeply. Welcomed him with open arms, and a certain curious glint in his eye that Kuzan had known all too well. But he’d pretended not to notice. Kept it up for as long as he could, not willing to trust another person or himself again.
Teach, the capable pirate he was, eventually got what he’d wanted. But he hadn’t just taken—he’d given, too. Given his sole devotion to Kuzan. His affection. His love. Things Kuzan admittedly never thought the man capable of, before.
He’d welcomed them all. Returned them with the very same passion and promise.
‘We’re equals,’ Teach had told him, one night. ‘Don’t tell the others, but you’re my favorite.’ A laugh. ‘My Ice Candy,’ he’d whispered softly against his temple, grin on his face.
Kuzan snapped out of his thoughts when Teach’s lips pressed against the shell of his ear,“What’s on your mind, Kuzan?”
Fingers ran through Kuzan’s hair, curls catching on the sharp edges of rings. Kuzan grabbed the large hand and dragged it down, intertwining their fingers. He savored the difference in size.
“Nothing… Just the past, but it doesn’t matter now.”
Teach laughed, low. “Doesn’t sound like nothin’.” Leaning down, he pressed a kiss against Kuzan’s neck. The scarred side. Kuzan couldn’t feel the touch—only felt the slight warmth, his scars hungrily absorbing it. “You’re right. It doesn’t matter. ’cause you belong here, now.” Teach lifted his gaze, dark eyes meeting Kuzan’s own. “With me.”
To me.
A pause. Kuzan smiled. “Of course.” He closed the distance between them, bringing the larger man into a lazy kiss. Once they parted, Kuzan was the one whispering into Teach’s ear, from which his golden earring dangled, “And you with me, Commodore.”
Teach laughed, loud and hearty. “You might be right about that.”
Kuzan landed back on his pillow, closing his eyes once more. His heart beat in his chest, a constant rhythm reminding him of the reality of this situation.
No more bad dreams. He’d be fine. This newfound warmth wasn’t like the last one. While the last one was hot, scorching, angry, overpowering—this one was just the right temperature for him, fitting comfortably in the space between his ribs.
This one wouldn’t burn him.