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Danitz was free. Gehrman had let him go the moment they docked in Bayam. Danitz even surveyed his surroundings to ascertain whether he was being used as some form of bait. But he wasn’t. His life of being ordered around and bullied was over, and he could enjoy his reputable status as a boatswain of a Pirate Admiral. Even though he was finally liberated from his cold, untalkative captor, there was a tinge of sadness amidst his celebrating heart, but he chose to disregard it in favour of making his way over to his point of contact in Bayam so that he could inform his captain of his arrival. At least, that was the plan.
Instead, he ended up running desperately through the storm-darkened streets. The sea breeze blew aggressively, tearing tree branches right off their trunks and onto the road, narrowingly avoiding Danitz’s frenzied path. But the falling tree branches were hardly of concern to Danitz, who was parading around with a hole in his chest. He lunged forward, urging his weakening legs to move in spite of the excruciating pain. The only force keeping him going was the need to inform his captain of the compromised contact point. And there was a non-zero chance he’d encounter the crazy adventurer he parted ways with mere minutes ago, who could convey his message and his… last words.
Danitz’s Hunter endurance was at its limit, drained by the spasms of pain emanating from his scrambled organs. It was a miracle he was still standing. But he wouldn’t be for long, as his feet stopped listening to him, dragging behind him weakly.
But thankfully, a gleam of light from a pair of gold-rimmed glasses caught his eye by a street corner. He gasped in relief, the last of his strength leaving him as he fell back hard. Before he knew it, he was lying down, struggling to breathe as Gehrman Sparrow kneeled beside him.
Breaking out of his pain-induced daze, Danitz recalled his mission. He stammered, “Tell Captain that Old Rinn has been discovered. Steel Maveti did it for that treasure!”
Gehrman furrowed his eyebrows and paused for a second, before asking calmly, “Admiral of Blood?”
“Yes, tell Captain! T-tell Captain!” Danitz spurted out, air leaking out from his ruined lungs.
He gripped his chest and smiled mournfully, too little blood left in his head to think clearly.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m a-about to die soon. Tell the Captain that all the money I’ve saved up has been turned into real estate. Units 12 to 16 on Bayam’s Amyris Avenue. The title deeds a-are hidden in the wall of Unit 13’s basement. H-help me sell them. T-take the money to South Intis’s Elema Town. G-give the money to my parents. S-say that I’ve really made a fortune… Also… Help me s-say I’m sorry…”
His childhood flashed before his eyes, memories of his rebellious youth and loving parents coming back to him. They wouldn’t even be able to see how much their son has grown since his teenage years… a quiet, strained sob choked out of Danitz.
Though he was ashamed of crying in front of others, he was glad it was Gehrman beside him. The stoic gentleman wouldn’t go around gossiping. And although their time together was short, it was unforgettable. Danitz had hardly experienced so much excitement condensed into such a short period, and he secretly liked their interactions outside of the action. Being a servant wasn’t all that amazing, but he liked being able to talk his head off to the quiet man, without having to put on airs and act out the role of a great pirate. He could be genuine with Gehrman, who wouldn’t judge him one bit.
And after the exhilaration of a fierce battle, resting together with him felt strange to Danitz. The same powerful Beyonder fighting fiercely on the battlefield would return to their suite, toss his clothes over to Danitz and wash up before going to bed. On the same day, Danitz would witness the sheer power of his captor, and then his soft domestic life. Danitz wondered how Gehrman could look so unaffected, when Danitz’s heart still was beating out of its chest hours after the battles. Some nights, Danitz would listen to the sounds coming from the neighbouring bedroom with his Hunter senses, calming down and falling asleep to the relaxed, regular breaths behind the door. Then he’d wake up and leave his room to see Gehrman neatly-dressed, eating breakfast and ready for the new day.
Danitz found himself hoping these days of thrill and relaxation would last forever. A feeling he had felt only once in the past, when his captain brought first him onto the Golden Dream.
The realisation dawned on Danitz as he lay on the ground, clutching his gory chest. He chuckled ruefully, glancing at the handsome face looking over him in concern. Now of all times, he had discovered his real feelings towards Gehrman. His incessantly-pounding heart after a fight weren’t from the residual excitement, but from the man he fought alongside. His heart would still be pounding just as hard now, if it wasn’t wounded beyond repair.
Danitz locked eyes with the man beside him, wanting to spend his last moments admiring him. Unresolved emotions raged within him, bubbling over. When Gehrman reached a hand over to press his wound, Danitz subconsciously grabbed it, squeezing as tightly as he could in his condition. Gehrman looked at him, surprising spilling from his indifferent facade. Since I’m dying anyway…With a broken voice, Danitz pushed out his final words.
“I love you. I loved spending time with you. I loved fighting with you. I love how strong you are, how smart you are, how beautiful you are, everything. I didn’t want to leave you, I wished we could stay together forever. I wished you would join my crew, so we’d spend the rest of our lives together. I wish-” Danitz choked up, “I wish I didn’t have to die. I wish you loved me. I’d take you out for dinner, or cook for you. I’m a great cook.”
He was rambling, with tears streaming down his face, but he was too distressed to notice or care. He shut his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see Gehrman’s reaction, which would surely not be positive. Heartbreak would be the final push sending him into the underworld. He was ready to die without receiving a reply. He hoped Gehrman would let him rest in peace that way. Danitz gently released the hand he was clutching, preparing to take his final breath.
That was when Gehrman swiped his hand over to Danitz’s left hand, pulling the fatal wound with it. The unbearable pain shifted over to Danitz’s hand, and he felt his lungs fill with air again.
He looked at Gehrman blankly, and received silence in return.
Danitz looked down at his chest, which had resealed cleanly, and then his terribly-mangled arm. As long as it wasn’t a vital organ, the damage could easily be treated and healed fully with some mystical help. He turned back to his benefactor, who seemed to be admiring the stormy seaview.
“Why didn’t you treat me first?” Danitz’s voice was still unsteady from bawling his eyes out seconds ago.
Gehrman didn’t meet his gaze, focused at a far-out point in the horizon. “Waiting for you to finish. That’s basic courtesy.” Gehrman paused. “And you stopped me.”
Courtesy you son of a b*tch! And I wasn’t stopping you! Don't tell me you couldn’t overpower a dying man!! Thoughts exploded in Danitz’s brain, though he was too exhausted to voice them. He dazedly rose to his feet.
“Let’s find a space to stay first.” Gehrman finally turned back to look at him.
“Okay…”
They made it to the Wind Azure Inn right before the rain got heavy. Danitz tore up some old clothes to use as bandages for his arm, doing minimal first aid until he could get it treated. All the while, Gehrman watched ominously in his chair. Though his hands were focused on his work, Danitz’s mind was spinning from what had just occurred. I confessed because I was about to die, but now that I’m fine, isn’t he going to kill me?
Danitz finished tying up his arm, and looked anxiously at the man before him. But instead of rebuke, Gehrman asked bluntly.
“What treasure?”
Treasure? Oh, Death’s key… Danitz explained the events leading up to his ambush, including the sunken ship and the rumours behind the treasure. Soon, he was jotting down all he knew about the Admiral of Blood and his crew. Were they just going to pretend like nothing happened? Although Danitz was anxiously praying for just that, it still hurt a little. Whatever… better than getting killed…
Afterwards, they chatted more about Steel Maveti’s Beyonder powers, preparing Gehrman for the fight that would occur later. Danitz was tasked with gathering information, and he was happy to oblige. Anything to get back at the bastard who tore a hole in his chest! He was about to leave for the casino, which flourished with pirates as a prime spot for both business and leisure, when a hand fell onto his shoulder. Danitz turned around in surprise to face Gehrman staring at him solemnly. D-did he finally decide to end me? But he just assigned me a job to do…
Gehrman opened his mouth, but hesitated. He looked away. “Maybe you should rest first. Don’t leave until I come back.” He walked out of the suite briskly, leaving Danitz alone and bewildered.
The man he knew wouldn’t give two shits about him rushing off, yet he was told to take a break before heading off. Did the confession actually have an effect on him? Does he feel bad for me? Danitz scratched his cheek, heading into the bathroom to freshen up. The wound on his chest was no longer there, but the blood from it remained, caked on his skin.
When he looked at his image in the mirror, he cringed. His eyelids were red and puffed up to twice their original size. So this is why he told me to stay… I can’t go out looking like this! Danitz splashed water on his face, before wetting a towel so he could wipe down.
In the middle of his cleaning, he heard the front door crack open, followed by familiar footsteps. Danitz finished up and tugged his clothes back on, slowed by his injury. He peeked his head out of the washroom, and the scent of spices wafted over. Gehrman was seated at his usual spot, unwrapping a paper bundle. He tossed another bundle over to the other end of the table, and addressed Danitz.
“Your dinner.”
Danitz blinked, then walked over to the table, unwrapping the bundle carefully. It was spiced flatbread, not typically a dinner meal, but suitable for take-out. There were also skewers of cubed fish.
Danitz looked up at Gehrman, who was ripping apart his own bread into smaller pieces. He had removed his black glove, placing it aside as he politely ate his meal. Danitz felt his cheeks warm. Taking a seat at the table, he muttered, “...Thank you.”
With one hand, Danitz couldn’t tear apart the flatbread, so he just folded it up and bit into it. Spiced butter was spread across the flatbread, serving as a savoury seasoning to pair with the faintly sweet bread. Danitz chewed happily.
Gehrman glanced across the table, picking up a fish skewer. “Is it good?”
Danitz nodded profusely, mouth too full of food to respond. In contrast to Gehrman’s mannerly bites, he devoured the food, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk.
“Better than your cooking?”
Danitz choked on his food. He coughed into his hand, before looking up at Gehrman in disbelief. A faint smile decorated Gehrman’s face, distinct from his usual polite facade. It looked genuine.
Danitz turned bright-red, recalling his frantic confession. This madman actually brought it up!
As if it was a figment of Danitz’s imagination, the smile faded. Gehrman finished his food, and got up.
“Go gather information when you’re done. And disguise yourself.”
He picked up the empty bundle of crushed paper and left the room, leaving Danitz alone once more. Danitz stared at the door blankly, mindlessly munching on a skewer.