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Gillion certainly wasn’t one to pry. He understood privacy and always thought of himself as someone to be trusted. Someone who could handle secrets without needing to be worried about. Gillion took himself very seriously. He wouldn’t take advantage of this situation… Except, he was a curious person.
Chip didn’t ask for many favors from Gillion, it was certainly a surprise when he’d asked Gillion to keep all of his items safe.
Hours ago, Chip had dumped piles of gold, his weapons, and some other miscellaneous things onto Gillion. The triton found himself thumbing through the items, recalling the majority of them, minus a few. There seemed to be some magical items that Gillion didn’t remember witnessing the purchase (or, knowing Chip, the theft) of. One of said items was a bottle that held a sloshing pink liquid, one that caught in the light and sparkled. It was enchanting, to say the least. Gillion spent much of his time on watch looking at the heart-shaped bubbles that slowly rose to the surface of the liquid.
Gillion had never seen anything like it before. The concept of potions was still new to him, as most of the things potions could do, were things he could do with basic magic. Still, they were useful for when he would be too tired to use his magic.
Now, one would assume the effects of this potion would be obvious. Some form of love potion surely, and Gillion understood that. He wondered why Chip would have one. He wondered what the potion would do exactly, the restrictions, necessary traits to work effectively. Gillion decided he’d ask when Chip returned from his mission.
He was currently seated outside a tavern. Chip and Jay were gathering extra intel on Grimm and his parties. The crew wanted to know what to expect and possibly what supplies to bring. The whole thing was shrouded in mystery for them, as Roofus didn’t seem to have much information on it either.
Jay had protested keeping Gillion outside but weaponry was prohibited in the tavern they were in, and Chip refused to give his valuables to the guard to hold onto. They’d been hopping from tavern to tavern, thus leaving Gillion alone to his thoughts for the majority of the day.
Just as Gillion was about to put down the potion that he had been tracing with his eyes for the past few minutes, a very boisterous Chip was suddenly being thrown out of the tavern. Startled by the shouting and heavy-sounding thump, as Chip crashed into the dirt, Gillion instinctively moves his hands toward his head, accidentally spraying himself. He had noticed the spray nozzle at the top but didn’t think it would be that sensitive.
In this moment, Gillion felt like he was witnessing it in slow motion.
Fuck. This is unfortunate.
A pounding headache immediately overtook the triton as he dropped the potion. He heard it clink against the ground, he heard Chip yell profanity at someone inside the tavern, he heard Jay run out to apologize on Chip’s behalf. He did not hear much else after that. Everything seemed to go numb, entirely overwhelming in a way that left Gillion unable to move.
The feeling did not last long, thankfully. Because Gillion was looking directly into Chip’s eyes now. The headache dissipated, but he still felt as if there was nothing around him besides Chip.
“—kay? Gillion!” Chip shouts frantically.
“What…?” Gillion says quietly, noting that his words sounded distant.
“Are you alright? You just dropped to the ground, man.”
Chip looks away, breaking eye contact, seeming to look Gillion up and down to check for injuries. Gillion finds himself disappointed, although he isn’t sure why.
“I’m alright,” he answers slowly, pushing himself off the ground. Gillion wobbles for a moment but keeps himself upright. At this point, he notices Jay also looking at him worriedly. She turns her attention down, nudging Chip in the process. He follows her gaze to the ground.
“You didn’t… You didn’t drink the potion, right?” He asks hesitantly. Was Chip’s voice always so pretty? Were those softer undertones always there? Had Gillion just never noticed?
“I did not drink it.”
“Your eyes are fucking bright pink,” Jay retorts, picking up the potion off the ground. Gillion blinks at Chip, finding that he didn’t want to listen to Jay. Or to even look at her. Or… Maybe he just wanted to look at Chip.
Chip’s eyes widen, looking at Gillion. His face seemed the slightest bit pinker than before, which sent Gillion’s heart racing.
“I’m the first person you saw…”
Gillion nods enthusiastically. “I suppose so.” At that, Chip sighs, rubbing at his eyes for a moment.
“We should just go back to the ship, I don’t think you’ll be able to do anything with that potion in your blood.”
“In his blood?” Jay inquires, a smirk crossing her face.
“I don’t fucking know how potions work! It’s not like you know either so shut up,” Chip snaps, getting a snicker out of Jay. She punches his shoulder playfully.
“Yeah, well, let’s go before you two start making out aga—“
Chip pushed Jay away from him, an embarrassed smile resting on his lips. “That was to open the door!” he exclaims, looking back at Gillion. Jay looks unconvinced. “It was!” Chip shouts.
“It was to open the door,” Gillion contributes, moving toward Chip. He had the inexplicable (not really) urge to be close to him. Chip looks calmer at that last comment, and he turns away, likely to glare at Jay.
“To the ship we go!” He begins marching off. Jay shrugs at Gillion, but he is already rushing to catch up to Chip. The pirate looked gorgeous in the sun. The way the highlights in his hair shone, the way his eyes sparkled, it was mesmerizing.
The walk to the ship was rather uneventful, except for the moment when someone passed in between Gillion and Chip, which sent shivers down the triton’s spine, and a deep panic set heavy in his chest. The feeling ended when Chip was in his sight again. Afterward, he walked closer to his co-captain. The conversation was light and incredibly awkward as Chip tried to talk about anything except the triton who seemed to be obsessed with him now.
Gillion had trouble paying full attention to what Chip was saying. He just kept staring, wide-eyed at Chip. Logistically, he knew he was under the effects of a potion, but this felt so real. He wanted nothing more than to hold Chip. To speak in low tones in the morning together. To live through life with this bastard man he’d come to love. These thoughts followed Gillion all the way to the Albatross.
The ship was how they left it. Ollie, Alphonse, Drey, and Earl were all on the ship, tending to their own needs. Jay stayed near Chip and Gillion, seeming somewhat concerned despite her lighthearted attitude.
“So, we just wait out the effects of the potion,” Jay says, placing a hand on Chip’s upper arm placatingly. She glances back at Gillion. “Also, Gil, you look like a crack addict, so you should probably stay away from everyone else on the ship.”
Gillion nods absentmindedly, meeting eyes with Chip. Less than an hour had elapsed, but Gillion could feel that the longer he spent with Chip, the more intense his desires became. His mind felt clearer, but he was still fixated on Chip.
“He doesn’t look that bad, Jay.” Chip steps forward, placing a hand on Gillion’s shoulder to steady himself as he looks at his eyes. The triton could feel his face heat up at the physical contact. His hand was already moving toward Chip, but he pulls away, turning back to Jay. “Okay, maybe he does look a little crazy,” Chip admits with a chuckle.
Chip definitely saw the way Gillion’s face got ever-so-slightly darker at that. He saw the triton’s hand twitch, beginning to reach up to him. He heard the way Gil’s breath caught in his throat. Chip is not ready to deal with that. Not at all.
Looking at him, Gillion’s irises are now bright pink, they almost seem to have a glow. The pupils themselves were larger than Chip had ever seen before. Gillion’s eyes widened every time they looked at each other.
The triton’s demeanor was not much different, but it seemed that he was trying to keep to himself more. Chip wished he knew exactly what Gillion was thinking.
The thought crossed his mind to ask, as he knew the potion’s main effect was charm. Gillion would likely do anything Chip said. But Chip knew he’d feel bad. At least with his regular ‘practical jokes’, his victims have free will.
“Let’s just wait the effects of the potion out, and continue asking around about Grimm tomorrow,” Chip suggests. Jay nods, shooting a thumbs up at him. Chip looks over to Gillion to get his confirmation. Very suddenly, the triton was up against Chip, grabbing his arm. Gillion’s face was much closer to Chip’s than he would have preferred.
“I don’t want to be away from you.” Those words felt much too serious for the current situation. Much too intense.
“I, uh…” Chip wouldn’t be surprised if he was blushing now. He was entirely unsure what to say. He didn’t think he’d live to see the day Gillion Tidestrider,
Champion of the Undersea, Hero of the Deep
, have such a lovesick expression on his face.
“We can stay together until the potion.. wears off?” Gillion offers, eyes wide, a cautious grin on his teal face.
Distrusting of his voice, Chip manages a nod. He wasn’t sure why he’d agreed. Although he couldn’t imagine anything too bad could come of this. What’s the worst that could happen, really? Besides Jay laughing at them in the background.
“I’m going to check up on everyone else on the ship,” she manages between giggles. “Fuckin gay people,” Jay adds, amusement in her tone, as she walks away. Chip flips her off behind her back.
Chip and Gillion both ended up sitting on Chip’s cot, backs against the wall. Gillion had his legs crossed, his body turned just enough to be facing Chip. They were talking quietly, as per the triton’s request. They spoke about the day’s happenings, about mundane things that wouldn’t stress Chip out much.
Despite their closeness, Gillion felt an itch beneath his skin. It was almost a burning feeling that got worse the longer he focused on it. He found himself slowly reaching out to Chip again. These movements weren’t his own, but Gillion didn’t want to fight them at all.
Chip glances down pulling his own hands back onto his lap. “Gil…”
Gillion isn’t new to this shortened version of his name, but hearing it now set his heart aflutter. Chip looks back up tense again, like he’d been when Gillion first grabbed onto him earlier. Which, admittedly, was a lot more forward than Gillion was ever used to being.
“We really can’t do anything right now…” Chip starts, trailing off after he met Gillion’s eyes again. The triton was once more enamored with his co-captains appearance. Chip looks absolutely
enchanting
in the dim light. “You’re like, basically intoxicated,” Chip adds, looking down at his hands which were now tapping on his knees.
“This does feel like being drunk.” Gillion sighs, feeling a heavy weight upon his shoulders. For once, the triton wished that Chip had worse morals. Still, a part of Gillion feels confident…or impulsive, depending on who you ask. “Can I still hold your hands?” Gillion asks, his voice steady, eyes hopeful.
There’s a moment of silence before Chip laughs, finally relieving the tension between them. “You’re funny, Gillion Tidestrider.” He reaches out to grab Gillion’s hands, which were accepted eagerly.
“You’re captivating.”
Chip doesn’t pull away, but he does look taken aback. “I’m well aware,” he says amusedly, shaking his head a bit to get the hair out of his eyes. There was a part of Gillion that wanted to hear Chip say it back, but he instead fixated on Chip’s hands.
They were rough from years of sailing, small scars covered them, although they were barely noticeable. They were certainly masculine hands, with just a bit of dirt smudged on them, as Chip often looked a bit scruffy.
Conversation resumed as Gillion thoughtfully thumbed at Chip’s knuckles. His mind raced with more feelings than the triton could handle, let alone name. But he was with Chip. For now, that was okay. That was enough.
Jay brought them some food from dinner to “save Gillion from the embarrassment”. Gillion did not feel embarrassed, but he appreciated the gesture. Once she left, the two co-captains ate quietly, finishing off with some of Old Man Earl’s juice. This one had a citrus-y taste.
Gillion repeatedly found himself staring at Chip, unable to look away. He worried what would happen if he allowed his mind to wander too far, but the triton still drank in every detail of the pirate before him. The smaller things that Gillion never took notice of stood out now. Like the way Chip’s eyes had an almost feral glint when he laughed, the way he tended to fidget with his hands when a dip appeared in the conversation, how Chip’s lips would stay parted when he was focusing on listening to other people.
Gillion was ready to do anything that his co-captain ever asked of him. He would abandon his whole prophecy. The ship, their other friends, whatever would bring him to Chip. Nothing else mattered anymore. Such an ideal would have terrified the Gillion from that morning, but the triton couldn’t find it in him to care.
Chip didn’t want to admit it, but he really enjoyed talking to Gil. He knew he was doing it so his friend wouldn’t panic in his absence. He knew it was more for Gillion’s sake…but Chip allowed himself to forget that as the night dragged on.
Eventually, Gillion was talking about the fighting techniques he’d learned as a kid. He went through the different stances, rambling about their importance and history. He swung his sword in the air, showing a few different ways to do so. Chip was always more of a stealthy fighter, rarely one to do a full-frontal attack. He’d seen his co-captain in a fight, and he is fucking chilling. Pure brutal force that could break through any barrier.
Chip certainly saw Gillion as a powerful asset, someone with who he would never want to be an enemy to. Especially not after that fight they’d had early on. Chip had been absolutely floored by the triton, his strength something that continuously surprised Chip. That was a fight that he had no chance of winning.
Still, Chip saw Gillion as more than an asset. He was a friend. And a close one at that. One of the only people who’d really stuck by his side throughout all of his mistakes. And Chip isn’t a patient person, he has a hard time doing that himself. Impatient as he is, Chip still found himself hanging onto every one of Gillion’s words.
His movements were fluid and steady, practiced and disciplined, it was difficult to look away from. It would be disingenuous to say Chip didn’t find his friend attractive. Especially now, where it’s just the two of them in their night clothes. Gillion still wore that black sleeveless turtleneck. That exposed skin, the way Chip could see the triton’s muscles flex with the movement. The darker markings and scars that covered Gillion’s arms. There was certainly something to be said there.
Chip didn’t allow himself to linger on those thoughts, however. He knew the potion would wear off and Gillion would be back to his normal, non-clingy self. It was endearing to feel how tenderly Gillion held Chip’s hands, like he was scared of them being pulled out of his grasp. Not that Chip was really paying attention to his
friend
like that. He hadn’t caught feelings after Desire Island or anything. That’s absurd, really.
Either way, Gillion wasn’t of the right mind to be making any actual advances, so Chip couldn’t let his guard down. And he didn’t. Until he saw Gillion falter in his movements.
The triton stopped after he lost his balance for a moment, bringing a hand to the bridge of his nose. He paused, rubbing his eyes and letting his sword arm fall to his side. “Are you okay, Gil?” Chip asks, getting off the bed. The man in question was standing unsteady on his feet, looking dizzy.
Chip reaches for the sword that his co-captain looks about ready to drop. He places it against the wall and returns to Gillion. Chip catches a glimpse of his eyes, which were no longer glowing a bright pink. They were back to their original dark blue. “Oh,” Chip says softly.
Gillion had felt so light-headed that Chip led him back to the bed where the two of them sat for a moment. The feeling passed quickly, only leaving Gillion disoriented for those few moments. He sits there, letting the events of the past few hours wash over him. And when Gillion returned his attention to Chip, he found that he didn’t feel much different. His desires weren’t as intense as he had been experiencing moments prior, but they were still there. The need to be near Chip and hear his voice and touch him wasn’t overwhelming and consuming anymore. But Gillion still felt that underlying love that was certainly beyond regular friends for his co-captain.
“So… The potion wore off?” Chip asks tentatively, placing a hand on Gillion’s shoulder comfortingly.
“I’m not sure, Chip.” Gillion pauses. He debates whether he should continue. To let Chip know what he was thinking at that exact moment. There was no use bottling these emotions, really, but the triton still had to consider the repercussions.
Except, Gillion never considered the repercussions.
“I think, maybe, I loved you before that potion… Not as desperately, I suppose. I just, I don’t feel all that different now.” Gillion’s voice is uncharacteristically weak, with a twinge of guilt, something that he hadn’t realized slipped into his vocalization.
Chip inhales slowly, entirely silent afterward. Gillion manages to look up at the pirate after a short internal conflict. Chip was noticeably perturbed. “It’s alright if you don’t feel the same way. I understand wanting to put your mission to find your crew and everything first, I just…” Gillion didn’t have the initiative to continue.
“Oh my gods, Gil..” Chip trails off, fidgeting with his hands immediately.
A wave of fatigue hits Gillion as Chip begins to speak. He blinks rapidly to fight off the sleepiness. The more he blinked the harder it got to keep his eyes open. “Chip…” He says, words sounding muffled. “Can we talk about this in the morning?”
Gillion is already leaning back on Chip’s cot, feeling drained. He hadn’t realized how much energy he had used to do everything he’d done today. Gillion spoke more words that he didn’t really comprehend, they were likely slurred beyond recognition. Chip still responded though Gillion was barely conscious enough to hear it.
“C’mere,” had been one of the last things Gillion said that night. And Chip did. He felt as if he were on autopilot, laying down next to the triton. He didn’t resist the careful way that Gillion brought his arms around Chip’s much smaller frame. Chip spent the majority of his nights on the Millenium Chipper alone, usually cold too. And here was a warm person who he trusted with his life offering to share the bed with him. There wasn’t much Chip could do to convince himself that he didn’t want to. When was the last time he’d been held anyway? Chip wasn’t sure he remembered.
He wondered if Gillion had ever done something like this with someone else. From what Chip had heard of the triton’s childhood, he couldn’t imagine that Gillion had any healthy source of touch in his life.
Mind still racing, Chip became more aware of Gillion’s arms around him, holding the pirate in a gentle hug as Gillion drifted off. The way Chip had his face pressed against the shoulder of his much more toned
friend
had Chip’s mind racing for just a moment before a forced calm fell upon him. Gillion was already asleep, Chip could feel a soft rumbling that came from his chest. The sound was almost like a purr that Gillion made when he was content.
This may be the first and last time he’d ever be held so delicately by Gillion. Chip knew that and allowed himself to relax into it. To focus on the triton’s breathing, his heartbeat, his unexpected warmth. Chip ignored the way he was still shivering despite the hospitable temperature. Instead, he lightly traced the patches of scales on Gillion’s arms, the triton’s scars, the markings that covered his arms. Gillion had certainly lived through a lot to be what he was today. Chip lulled himself to sleep with these slow, repetitive movements.
Gillion certainly woke up slowly. Something he wasn’t quite used to. His legs were outstretched, his skin dry, and he was much warmer than he ever was normally. He wasn’t in his barrel.
When Gillion begrudgingly opened his eyes, he saw the sleeping form of his co-captain snuggled against his chest.
Oh
. The events of the previous day returned in an instant.
Oh… Fuck.
There’s no way Chip wasn’t going to wake and be upset with Gillion. He’d pretty much confessed to still loving Chip last night. There was no way.
Already pushing down the panicked thoughts that threatened to overcome Gillion, he removes his arms from around Chip’s body, sitting up. He could just avoid Chip, surely. He’d forget about it. Gillion isn’t ready to ruin this relationship.
Gods, I’m so fucking stupid.
Wholly distracted with his thoughts, Gillion hadn’t noticed that Chip woke up. The pirate already had a grip on Gillion’s wrist, looking up at him slightly groggy, but mostly concerned. “Gil?”
The triton was nearly fully off the bed. He pulled his wrist out of Chip’s grasp, making his way to the door. Chip was already up, calling for Gillion’s attention still. “Gillion, come on! Are you okay?” He’s talking quicker now, an air of anxiety settling over both of them. Gillion turns to face Chip, finding that he couldn’t make himself push that door out. Those panicked thoughts were bubbling to the surface now, ones that he couldn’t quite suppress.
“I’m not okay, Chip,” Gillion responds, after (heavy) prompting from him. The pirate was reaching out to… comfort him, perhaps? It didn’t matter. “Gods, please don’t touch me,” Gillion cries, recoiling from his friend’s advance. He brought his hands to his ears, hoping the gesture would bring some comfort for just a moment. Gillion can’t bring himself to look at Chip, but he can imagine the hurt expression his co-captain had. “I just, I need a minute.”
Gillion was leaning against the door now, focusing on steadying his breathing. He’d been through this before. Distance yourself from the thoughts, ground yourself in reality, and usually, afterward, Gillion would kill the source of his strife, but that isn’t an option here. Gillion was used to these types of feelings after a particularly brutal fight, ones that left him an inch from death. He was not used to feeling this panicked from something that Gillion entirely brought upon himself.
There was silence, save for Gillion’s stuttering breath, for a while before Chip spoke again. “I’m not upset, Gillion.”
Gillion felt like a guppy again, holding his much-too-big-sword and looking up at an impossible foe. Except the foe was his closest friend this time. And he didn’t have any way to protect himself or fight back. Gillion’s stomach was doing somersaults, his heart was beating out of his chest, and he was left whimpering in fear.
Chip approached again, slowly, like one may move toward a frightened animal. “Gil, listen to me.” He stops right before the triton, still giving him some space. “You’re going to be alright. Let’s… Let’s just sit down and talk, okay?”
Gillion nodded, becoming aware of how shaky his legs felt. He felt Chip’s hand ghosting his back, guiding him back to the cot so they could both sit, side-by-side. The panic was waning slightly, but Gillion was still shaking, only able to focus on breathing. If he dared allow himself to think about anything else, it would get so much worse.
Chip rubbed circles on Gillion’s back, murmuring something about how to calm down his breathing. The words didn’t do much, but Chip’s quiet tone helped bring Gillion back to the moment. Finally, with level breath, Gillion was able to meet eyes with his co-captain. “Thank you,” he says slowly, voice scratchy and still deeper from sleep.
The first time this happened, Gillion had been with Jay. She told him that she had a lot of panic attacks and knew how to work through them. She’d never told Chip, out of respect for Gillion. The triton had hoped he’d never have to experience one with Chip.
Chip reassured Gillion that it was okay. He offered that they both get something to eat, which Gillion agreed to. Despite still being shaken up, the two of them left for the upper deck.
Waiting for them were Jay and Earl. The red-haired pirate’s face lit up when she saw her co-captains. She then met eyes with her shuddering friend and her eyes softened in immediate understanding. Gillion managed a weak smile, before sitting down at the counter. Chip began helping Earl make something for them all to eat.
“What caused it? If you’re okay with sharing,” Jay asks, her voice almost a whisper. She sat next to Gillion.
“I think it was a lot of things…” Gillion responds hesitantly. He didn’t really want to come out to Jay right now. Although part of him knew that she had at least some idea. She still nods, leaving the conversation at that.
They have some form of soup prepared mostly by Earl. Chip said he helped, but his friends knew better. Later on, the other misfits on the ship ended up joining their captains in the kitchen to eat.
Gillion felt a lot better. He was always taught to fight alone, to depend on no one, but he found safety in numbers. Especially if those numbers are his crew.
Chip felt horrible. This was all his fault. He shouldn’t have left his stuff with Gillion to begin with. He should have known something would happen. And now he’s at fault for the anxiety attack he caused. He probably made his co-captain so uncomfortable. The potion was probably still just wearing off. Gillion didn’t mean what he said last night. Chip couldn’t entertain any other ideas or he’d pull out all of his hair.
Chip was filled to the brim with nervous energy. He’d been calm enough to help Gillion earlier, but now he was the one that needed to calm down. Chip was tapping on the counters, humming under his breath, bouncing on the balls of his feet, just moving to keep his mind on track. He hadn’t been much help with Earl like this. The older man definitely did all of the work.
Still, now that breakfast was over, now that the other crew members were beginning to return to their devices, Chip felt anxious. Soon it was just the three captains of the
Albatr
Millenium Chipper. Jay started light conversation, likely noticing how tense her two friends were.
After a break in the conversation, Gillion speaks up, sounding more like himself than he had earlier. “Are we going back to All-Port today?”
“That was the plan,” Jay says, looking over to Chip. “But maybe we can put it off for a bit?”
Chip nods, although he felt conflicted. He wanted to expel his nervous energy but didn’t want to go out in public. “We can take a day to train?” he offers, which was met with positive reception.
This is more Gillion’s style. He sparred for a few hours with his co-captains. He hoped they hadn’t noticed how much effort he was putting into these mock fights. They sparred with the majority of the daylight they had left. Instead of getting tired, Gillion realized he was becoming more energized with each fight. Gillion displaced most of his emotions into this. Especially when it was his turn to spar with Chip. He wasn’t angry with anyone here besides himself, but he knew he had to fight hard to prove himself to these imaginary voices in his head. He’d shown weakness again. He’d been too vulnerable, too honest. Gillion is not keen on lying, but he always kept his inner dialogues close to his chest.
Not unlike where Chip had been last night.
That final thought converted to a blow that was much too hard on Chip’s shoulder. “Fuck, bro!” Chip shouts, clutching his upper arm. The triton’s undesirable emotions faded, quickly replacing themselves with concern.
Gillion immediately drops his sparring sword, rushing toward Chip. His hands are already glowing a light blue, divine energy coursing through his veins as he goes to heal the beginnings of a developing bruise. “I’m sorry, Chip. I suppose I didn’t realize how hard I was hitting.”
Chip just rolled his shoulder a few times, the pained expression on his face fading. “It’s fine, Gil, don’t worry.”
“We should take a break,” Jay shouts from the railing she was dangling her legs over. She was one push from going over the edge, for sure. Gillion was surprised that Chip hadn’t tried to do so yet.
Gillion reaches to grab the sword that Chip dropped. He gestures toward the back of the ship, getting a nod from Jay to return them to their storage room. Gillion does so slowly, taking his time, finally alone for the first time today. The gentle rocking and creaking of the ship kept his mind busy enough to ignore the dread that settled over him. Gillion knew he’d have to talk to Chip about last night and this morning soon. These feelings won’t go away until he does. It’s just a matter of who’s going to bring it up first.
Gillion drops the swords off, next to the other sparring gear they accumulated over time. He had been the first to suggest practicing fights at all to his crewmates. They had gone out and bought cheap wooden swords that night, excited to try something new. Since then, their practice fights were a regular occasion.
Gillion is physically the strongest person on the Millenium Chipper, Chip is aware. He had sparred with the triton many times. They always stopped before someone could get hurt, but with Gillion’s magic, sometimes they’d fully push themselves, knowing they could be healed after. Chip was getting better at evading his co-captains onslaught of attacks. Still, Gillion is not someone to mess with. And Chip saw anger in his co-captain’s eyes in that moment when the wooden sword connected with his body. Chip was worried about who that anger could have been directed at.
After the spar, the three of them separated to wind down a bit. The sun was maybe an hour or two from setting now. Chip spent his time with Ollie, knowing the little lad would help keep his mind off Gillion. The kid is a natural at being distracting. Chip likes to think he taught that to Ollie, that he maybe did something productive and helpful for someone.
“It’s about that wrist movement, Ollie,” Chip explains, casting his fishing rod out one more time. Ollie watches with a determined expression. He reels in his cast which barely went ten feet and throws out the line again. The hook sank into the water, landing much further out than last time. “There you go!” Chip praises, mussing Ollie’s hair.
“I did it!” he exclaims, dropping the rod to throw his arms into the air. Chip chuckles at his excitement. To be fully honest, he knew very little about fishing, but the little knowledge he had, he was happy to share. It’s a good skill for a pirate.
“Now let’s focus on actually getting some fish.” Chip reaches down and hands Ollie back the fishing rod. They would have to stay in good condition, or he’d get yelled at by Jay, who he definitely remembered to ask for permission to use her equipment.
The two of them sat on the railing of the Millenium Chipper, fishing. Ollie rambled about the different sea creatures he was learning to draw from Finn’s books that Gillion let him borrow. Chip would occasionally
chip in
to share his wisdom with Ollie. It was not very wise, but both of them were having fun.
Gillion watched his co-captain and the small boy they kept on the ship fish together for a while. Still distracted by them, he almost runs into Jay. She had shed her jacket and had a bag slung over her shoulder. “Woah there,” she says, looking Gillion up and down for a moment. “You look horrible.”
“Thanks, Jay,” Gillion responded, doing his best to sound genuine. He probably looked immensely tired. He’d spent all of today worrying about what was likely to come tonight. Or tomorrow, if the triton was lucky.
“I’m here to talk,” Jay affirms, “if you need to.” Gillion nods, and the two of them continue on their way. It seemed that Jay was heading to the kitchen to talk with Drey. Gillion wouldn’t be surprised, the two of them spoke often. He had done what he could to avoid Drey, for sure. The guy creeped him out.
Gillion spent the rest of his break, up until sundown, sharpening his sword that he’d been gifted by Caspian. He took special care of it, knowing he’d be returning it to the genasi someday. Hopefully soon. Gillion wanted his sword back.
As Gillion was finishing up, he placed his whetstone back in its proper place. He did a quick check of Destiny’s Blade before sheathing it once again. He could polish his armour next, but Gillion knew that was mindless work, something that would provide him no distraction from his anxieties.
The inaction of choosing to do nothing was almost worse. Odds were, he’d be alone for the rest of the night. He should find
something
to do. Gillion sighs, running a hand through his hair and glancing around his small room. It was just his barrel, a desk, and a place to store his armour and miscellaneous items.
He was sitting on the floor now, holding his armour that Jay had bought for him. It was waiting to be polished, to be taken care of. Gillion wanted to, but the silence of his quarters was much too inviting. Too welcoming of his thoughts to run wild. It would be so much easier to stare blankly at his wooden walls and do nothing to prevent the oncoming apprehension.
It was then that he heard footsteps echo down the hall. They stopped just before his door, and Gillion’s stomach dropped.
Fuck!
He needs to seem productive. He shouldn’t just be sitting around. Gillion scrambles up, grabbing a cloth from his desk, immediately moving to clean his Dread Helm. There was a knock at his door and Chip’s voice followed soon after. “Gil?”
“Ye– yeah, you can come in.”
The door opens slowly and Chip is standing there, a determined look on his face. He strides up to Gillion. He wastes no time. “Can we talk?”
Gillion places his helmet down, definitely
not
looking at his hands to avoid looking Chip in the eyes. “We do need to talk,” he admits, shuffling his feet to be in a more steady stance, hands braced on the table. Gillion glances around his room. “I.. can’t do it here,” he says quietly, already feeling emotional. The walls around him felt much too close. He needed open space. Somewhere where he could escape from if things went poorly.
“Yeah, I thought we could go into town. Find a quiet place…” Chip speaks a bit softer, matching Gillion’s energy better.
“Do you know a place like that?” Gillion manages to put some more power into his voice. He needed to sound strong, not like the feeble triton quaking before his own crewmate. Not like a guppy, unsure of his own future and inability to mold it to fit his needs.
“Yeah, of course, I do. Lizzie showed it to me when we first got here.”
Chip seemed genuine enough, not that Gillion ever doubted his sincerity. He just wasn't used to needing to talk things out. He’d always had issues with Chip, but most of it culminated in Gillion offering (read:
demanding
) to duel him. It was a harsh way to “talk things out” for sure. Gillion realizes now that he can offer more understanding to his friends. He can be civil, even if it goes against everything he thought he knew. Although, part of him knew that things worked best through fighting for him. That’s how it’s always been.
Gillion nods toward Chip, and with some mumbled words exchanged, the two of them got on their way. After Gillion strapped his sword sheath around his waist. Just in case.
The two of them begin heading into All-Port, managing to slip past the other crew members and avoid questioning. The sun was just starting to set now, casting a yellow-ish hue on the water that gently sloshed against the Albatross. The water looked especially inviting today and Gillion wished he could disappear into the depths. Just to escape this
gravity.
This weight that tied him to the ground, which prevented him from moving upwards, towards the surface. The heaviness feels like a shackle some days, but Gillion has gotten better at ignoring it.
The two of them were just getting into town now and were seemingly heading toward the shopping district. But Chip had sharply turned the two of them toward the wooded edges of the island. They stayed close to the coast, which presented them with the sounds of gentle water lapping at the sand as permanent background noise. Soon the cobblestones were turning to soft dirt, which Gillion was glad to be walking on again.
Gillion chose to ignore how stressed this was making him, despite being able to hear his home nearby, being on soft land. The act of walking so silently near Chip. And it was stupid, but a part of Gillion was almost giddy. To be sneaking out at night, to be alone with his co-captain. To finally talk and relieve this horrible tension. But his uncertainty drowned out that feeling quickly, leaving him disquieted.
In the dying light, Gillion’s skin tone was much warmer, with purple-ish hues, and shining scales. His coral also looked purple, which stood out much better against his green hair. His eyes stood out in ways Chip hadn’t noticed before, and part of him worried it was from his co-captain holding back tears. He looked pretty shaken up, tentatively following Chip through All-Port. Chip worried that the triton was worried that this would be bad. Maybe he should have been more clear that he wasn’t upset? Should Chip say anything? Oh fuck, what if this is ruining his chance to properly apologize? What if Gillion tries to take the blame?
Chip nearly tripped on a root that stuck out of the dirt. Thankfully he caught himself. “I’m good!” he announces to no one in particular. He was not good. Gillion is looking at him, his chilling composure breaking for a moment. It returned though, soon as Chip was visibly alright. Chip swore that the temperature of the air around them was dropping to match Gillion’s attitude. He must be really upset.
It’s fine
, Chip told himself,
we’re almost there anyway.
Just a little further, just another push through the foliage.
For a few minutes, Chip began to worry that he was entirely lost. He very vaguely recognized where he was. He and Lizzie had some alone time when they’d arrived in All-Port, and she’d brought him here. That had only happened a few days ago, and it was incredibly awkward, but Chip still thought back fondly. He hoped the positive memories of the little space he shared with someone from his previous life would soothe his anxieties. As well as Gillion’s.
The two pirates come across a small clearing, which had a view of the ocean, although it was far out. The trees seemed to all bend away, providing that viewpoint for any traveler to come across it. There were some stumps around that Chip and Lizzie had sat on days earlier. The majority of the light that would be shining from above was dimmed by the canopy.
Gillion looked around for a few moments, realizing this was the final destination. Chip exhales, dropping to the ground and sitting with his legs crossed. He faces toward the opening that leads to the coast. The grass beneath him was scratchy but Chip hardly noticed. He pats the ground beside him, and Gillion slowly moves to sit down. He pulls his knees up to his chest.
They both sat in silence for a few seconds, although it wasn’t comfortable like it’d been last night. Chip almost wished he could go back to those moments. He wouldn’t have to think about how to word this otherwise.
“Gillion.” That's a good start. Probably. The triton turns his head, looking at Chip. He just looked tired now. “I’m really sorry,” Chip starts, gripping at his pants. “I should have realized that you were too tired to make any decisions, and I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up for anything. N- not that I was hoping for anything, I don’t see you like that, I just, I don’t want to not be friends with you, you’re, like, the most loyal and strong person I know and I think knowing you has made me a better person and there’s so much about you that I don’t want to lose because of something that you couldn’t control and-“
“Chip,” Gillion starts, quietly cutting him off. “I didn’t realize how much turmoil you were in over this... I was so focused on myself.” Gillion taps on his knees gently, looking down at the ground. “I thought you were angry with me.”
“Of course not?”
Gillion groans, his lips pulled into a frustrated smile. He seems to crumple in on himself even more. “Gods, I’m so sorry.”
Chip isn’t sure how to respond. He looks at the triton, blocking out any other stimuli. Gillion eventually turns to meet his gaze. “You shouldn’t be sorry. I think we might just be idiots.”
That startles a chuckle out of Gillion. “I think you’re right.” The moment where they shared a laugh was brief. But now the stakes no longer felt so high.
Gillion pauses for a moment, Chip’s previous words replaying in his head. ‘
Not that I was hoping for anything’
he had said. Gillion mulled over that sentiment for a bit longer before speaking. “I wasn’t under the effects of the potion when I said that,” he confessed. Now was as good a time as any to be open. While it was just the two of them. And Gillion felt oddly safe to admit these things now.
“Said what…?” Chip stares at Gillion, realization dawning on his face. “Ah.”
“It’s okay. I think I’m confused. I am not really sure what I’m feeling anymore.”
The potion changed his perspective of Chip for a while. He was willing to do anything for his friend, whether it was a small task or throwing himself into the sun, he’d find a way to do it. He wanted to spend every second with Chip and know everything about him. There was a tugging feeling in his chest every time he looked away from Chip. Just something deep inside that seemed to prioritize his co-captain above everything else. Gillion was never not captivated by Chip. He had everything Gillion never did. He was completely
free
from most, if not all, bonds. He did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. And while Gillion was happy to fulfill his duties, to be loyal and obedient, he always partly wanted to just be normal. To not have a prophecy weighing heavily on his shoulders.
“I think of you as more than a friend,” Chip says after a silence that dragged on much too long. He nods at the ground, seemingly lost in his thoughts.
The natural light around them was beginning to fade as the sun dropped below the horizon. The distant sounds of the bustling of All-Port were beginning to disappear as people got home for the night. Everything around the two captains of the Albatross seemed to simmer down, leaving them both alone with their thoughts.
“So what does that make us?” Gillion speaks up, watching Chip fiddle with his hands and pick at the strands of grass beside him.
“I’m not sure.” Chip says before standing up abruptly and patting at his thighs as if he were dusting himself off. “Maybe we can figure it out as we go,” Chip offers his hand to help Gillion up. He takes it, letting Chip do most of the work to bring him upright. Gillion feels unsteady on his feet, but he also felt much lighter.
“That sounds nice…”
Now standing face-to-face, Chip looked much more like his usual self. That smug smile that he normally had was almost returning, and Gillion was glad to have some sense of normalcy in this. So without any deliberation, he reaches out to hug Chip, pulling the pirate against him. Chip immediately brings his arms around Gillion, patting his back.
Gillion sighs, squeezing Chip tightly, and letting his head drop against his shoulder. He breathes in slowly, savoring the contact they shared. They swayed together for a few seconds. “Can we go back to the ship now?” Gillion asks, noting how the shadows around them grew. “I am so fucking tired after today,” he adds with a laugh.
“Of course, Gil.”