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Angel Kerion had undergone a lot of changes since she left her job as a herbalist shop worker and cleric on her island to run away with a pirate she met by chance. For one, she was becoming increasingly more comfortable with the idea that maybe she was made for more than just healing as she casted offensive spells and helped defend the ship that she cared about so much now. More importantly though she was starting to understand what it meant to be in a healthy relationship. It was certainly strange for to have a man call her pretty and be impressed by her throwing someone off his ship but it was something she was glad to be getting used to. Charlie truly was changing her for the better and she was almost beginning to forget the bad relationship she had before him that led her here. Unfortunately for her though, almost wasn't close enough.
It'd been a few weeks of calm for the crew of the Robin hood as they sailed from place to place, pleasing themselves with the occasional raid and Angel keeping herself entertained by watching the way Charlie could skillfully stab people with his sword who refused to heed the angel's call to stand down peacefully. In fact, it was starting to become rare that they were boarded, not only because of the carefully built up reputation that The Claw had developed before even meeting Angel but also because of the horrifying stories spread across the sea of the politest Angel of Death who could spare you the captain's wrath but only by throwing you off the ship by gripping your bones with magic. This rarity, therefore, only acted to heighten the morbid curiosity of crew as they together spotted the approach of a ship that seemed to want nothing more than to board them. Now usually a ship approaching like this would lead to a quick shout from Charlie and a fireball shot straight from Angel's hands, a sort of strike one warning from her to any potential attacks to remind people who they were dealing with, but considering how long it had been since the last time anyone had the confidence to actually approach them a decision was made to entertain a quick visit and let the catfolk lovers make quick work of whoever this poor soul was.
It was only around half an hour after the group spotted the vessel that a gangplank was put down between the two ships and a hooded figure hiding their face boarded the Robin hood, staring between the captain and the first officer as they did so. There was a slight tense silence as the two parties stood opposing each other but this was eventually broken by Angel with the same polite request that she had been giving for however long Charlie had ben by her side, "Now I'm not sure if you're aware of the ship you've just decided to board but trust me it isn't the sort of fight that you want so how about you-"
But Angel didn't get to finish her sentence as she was quickly cut off by the voice of the hooded figure, who revealed his face and flowing mane as he spoke over her with a tone that she thought she'd escaped, "Now now, Angelcakes, I know it's been a while but do you really think that's the greeting that I deserve?" Angel froze as she spotted him, her confident smile that had started and continued to grow as she travelled on this ship faded away in an instant and she gulped nervously, only turning away from Vidic's gaze briefly to look over at Charlie with guilty eyes. As she did look at Charlie though she saw his hand immediately go for his dagger as his eyes hardened and became as sharp as any blade that he would use to cut through the man in front of him.
"Who the fuck are you?" Charlie said in a gruff voice, his mind not being on any of the usual calmness that he would try to show for Angel but instead only on the smug asshole that he saw in front of him, "And she ain't your "angelcakes", whatever that means". As he spoke he did briefly meet Angel's eyes, trying anything he could to make sure she was okay or find out how bad this situation was.
Angel still hadn't moved apart from shaking though as her gaze settled back on Vidic as he began to speak again, completely ignoring Charlie, "I'm disappointed, Angel, I would've thought with how much you used to love listening to me before that you would've at least mentioned my name to these people. I suppose with all of this playing pirate though you didn't have the time. I think it's over now though, don't you?". Angel's breath was shaky and water gathered in her eyes as she heard this, was her time here really over? Maybe Vidic was right and this was just pretend. These thoughts clouded Angel's mind as she quietly nodded in response to Vidic. "That's what I thought, now come back to me won't you?"
"She's going nowhere with you," Charlie said violently, quickly drawing his dagger and rushing in front of Angel before turning his head to the side and speaking in whispered Amurrun to her, "Sweetheart, what's going on? Is this who I think?"
Angel took a second before responding with a heavy sigh, "it's him. Vidic. I. I'm so sorry."
"it's okay. It's not your fault, just leave him to me", Charlie responded with a slight comforting smile towards Angel before turning his attention back to Vidic, "so you're the one she told me about? The idiot who drove her away? I've got to admit I expected more but you? I don't think you're even slightly a challenge. Now i'd tell you run but you didn't want to listen to My Angel so you aren't getting that mercy."
Vidic laughed darkly before drawing his greatsword from below his cloak, "and you're going to kill me with a dagger? Clearly Angel could never find someone as good at me but she really did settle. Don't worry Angelcakes, I'll make sure to kill him quickly so that you don't have to treat his wounds afterwards and we can get you back to where you should be."
And with their talking done Vidic swung harshly towards the ginger cat in front of him, barely passing the blade of Angel's head as he threw himself forward with the attack and Charlie dodged out of the way. With his roll out of the way Charlie returned the slash, his dagger cracking against Vidic's armor causing sparks to fly. The two continued to fight across the deck as Angel watched on, taking deep breaths and trying to figure out how to act. For one she didn't really want to go back with Vidic because she hated his guts now Charlie had made her realise that love could actually be reciprocal. On the other hand though she couldn't watch Charlie get hurt for her and standing up to Vidic was still terrifying. After a lot of fighting though Angel watched as Vidic caught Charlie just slightly off guard and pinned the catfolk down with his sword, laughing as he did so. Standing over Charlie, Vidic turned to Angel with what seemed to be actual joy and spoke, "He is just like everyone else you watched me fight, isn't he? I won't let anyone take you away from me though. Now get back to my ship so you don't have to watch him die. I love you, Angelcakes".
With those last 4 words Angel stood up and turned away, beginning to walk away towards Vidic's ship before pausing just as her paws touched the gangplank. She stood for a second, a million thoughts running through her mind as she tried to resist the voice in her mind telling her to just do what Vidic said, and then turned around as she heard Charlie call her name
"Angel. Sweetheart, you don't have to listen to him. You are so much better than he said and you know that"
"Shut up!" Vidic's voice boomed as he began to lower the tip of his blade towards Charlie's heart and Charlie prepared himself for whatever was coming. Suddenly, Vidic stopped and his sword clattered to the ground beside Charlie as he was lifted slightly into the air by Angel who, with a weak smile, looked at Charlie with her hand raised.
Angel moved Vidic, dragging him magically by his bones, and forced him to look her in the eyes as she began to speak, "I truly wish I could say I was sorry. I loved you so much before, or atleast I thought I did, but now I realise that you aren't worth even close to what I thought. The way that you hurt me before and the way that you tried to hurt me and Charlie today just proves how little you cared. So i'm not sorry Vidic. I've found someone so much better than you", she said as she stared longingly at Charlie, watching him get up with a wince, "So I think it's time for you to go"
Vidic's eyes looked panicked as he frantically struggled against Ex's grip, eventually breaking free and falling to the ground only to then be grabbed by behind by Charlie who held a dagger to his throat.
"You had your chance, asshole, but don't worry, I make her more happy than you could ever think to", Charlie said, winking at Angel before slitting Vidic's throat. "Now, Sweetheart. would you mind getting him off our ship?"
Angel nodded and with a deep breath she grabbed Vidic by his spine again and dumped him onto his ship before kicking the gangplank away. Vidic's crew, who didn't seem to care too much about the man himself, made haste to leave as soon as it was clear that their business was done.
***
It had been a couple hours since Angel and Charlie had disposed of the Lionfolk shaped pest on their ship and they sat together in the captain's quarters, Charlie's arms around Angel as they quietly talked.
"I would never have let you go back to him, you know? Even if he had killed me I would've done something", Charlie said softly.
"I know, babe. I never would've went with him either. Never would've wanted to anyway but something about him just-", Angel spoke quickly, starting to sound worried again before Charlie stroked her shoulder comfortingly.
"It's okay. A guy like that knows how to get into a person's head, I've met people like him before. I know you wouldn't have went with him", he said, kissing her fur before speaking in a teasing tone, "You could've done something before he poked a hole in my shirt though."
Angel laughed, turning herself around to face him, "Well I'll remember next time I'm panicking to think about your clothes. Thank you for saving me though, darling."
"Always. I know how much you like watching me do it."