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Izzy Hands hated everyone and everyone hated Izzy Hands. It was just the way it was and it was just the way he liked it.Everything went to shit when Stede fucking Bonnet showed up, but it all went even more to shit when he left. Izzy knew he didn’t handle things correctly with Edward when he woke up to his toe being chopped off from his body, knew everything was wrong when he was forced to chew and swallow his own meat, but it was too late for that. Izzy didn’t have regrets. He plunged forwards, well, limped forwards and hoped Blackbeard would somehow sort himself out.No such fucking luck.What happened with the boy was too much. Izzy did feel guilt about that. The sea was cruel and heartbroken captains could be crueler. Boy was useless, but that still didn’t make it right. Blackbeard said that at least he probably met a quick end.Good thing Izzy knew better.Good thing the barnacle ladder had been unsecured and dragging behind in the waves only to be discovered and secured much later that night. What happened to the boy— Izzy didn’t know for sure but he knew he found a better ending at the next port.It would be a better ending than Israel Hands ever found. No, he knew what the world intended for someone like him and he had no desire to ever let himself be found out. He hated the world and the world hated him, and that kept him safe. That kept people from getting close.If people got close, they’d realize Izzy was not how he presented himself to be and then he’d lose the life he’d carved out for himself at sea. It was his worst fear, being seen as nothing but what he was, and when Edward had loomed over him in the dark, Izzy had been struck with the fear that he somehow knew his secret— so much so that he had almost been relieved to eat his own toe.Almost.And so it continued and so it went on until Izzy Hands found himself ashore once more, without a boat and a crew to look after. Without a captain to serve. And it wasn’t because his doing or his captain’s— no, it was because Izzy Hands had been taken. And his greatest secret was about to be found out.  After his brush with death, Lucius Spriggs had planned to stay off of any ships in the foreseeable future. He was done with the ocean, hell, he was done with water outside of what he needed to drink to stay alive.But when he got an offer to be a scribe for some naval officer— he took it. He needed the work. He needed the money. And he didn’t want to have to resort to selling himself. He had some priorities after all and sex was something he wanted to keep for fun only.So back to the ocean he went, staying well away from any sides of the ship, writing down the rather boring records of the naval officer he was now employed to. He was an alpha and the most he went on about was how much of an alpha he really was. Stede had been an odd omega— his money his only protection from what usually happens to omegas— but he has at least had some interesting things to write…At least Lucius had felt safe, if not a little annoyed most of the time. He had his crew and his captain and now he had nothing. He was starting over and a naval vessel was not the safest one for a young alpha who spent his childhood growing up at a brothel commonly frequented by sailors. He just had to pretend he was an alpha more like Izzy Hands than himself— bark and growl a little more than he used to… wear a little more black. It seemed to be working, but at what cost. Lucius Spriggs was a poor Izzy Hands and acting like him was fucking draining. Lucius did not miss that asshole one bit, even if he was exactly his type in build and looks. As usual, it was Izzy’s personality that ruined everything. Such a grumpy shit.Time dragged on and Lucius found himself molding himself more after Blackbeard. It made sense. That man haunted his fucking dreams with the way he has turned on him. He stayed mostly quiet, the occasional grunt, and only snapped when he needed to. It was nice to let out a little of his usual bitchiness, but this was the navy, and Lucius knew what would happen if they caught him with any of these wonderfully repressed men. His cock stayed in his pants for now and it was easier and easier to snap than he cared to admit.Lucius missed Pete. Gods, he missed Pete so much. And Fang. And the rest of his crew that he could be himself around. He even missed Stede.It was months, maybe a whole year until Lucius caught sight of someone he recognized, but unfortunately it was one of the last people he’d ever want to see again.“Mr. Hands.” The naval officer purred. “How fortunate we came across you.”“Afternoon, sir.” Izzy grunted, alarmingly polite from where he was trussed up on the deck. Lucius stared at the book in his hands, not wanting the other alpha to see him. It was no secret Izzy hated him, although Lucius never found out why. And even with the other alpha brought so low, it was clear he was still dangerous.“How did you end up in the hands of those pirates, Mr. Hands?”“They overpowered me, sir.” Lucius glanced up. This begrudgingly respectful Izzy was fascinating. He felt like Izzy was playing at something, but he couldn’t tell what. Not yet. He’d figure it out in time though. Not much got past Lucius.“You’re one of the best swordsmen on the seven seas, alpha.”“Not with my broken hand.” Izzy hesitantly revealed.“No?” The officer cast his glance on Izzy’s hand and even from Lucius’ back-of-the-crowd view, he could see Izzy’s hand was mangled. It had healed in the wrong position and his fingers were bent incorrectly and crumpled. It was sort of sad.Even if it was most likely karma. Lucius looked away as the officer gave his next commands. He was still squeamish with injuries and blood. “We’ll have to fix that for you.” The officer nodded, waving one of the medical officers over. And right there on the deck, in front of everyone, he rebroke Izzy’s fingers, setting them straight. Izzy sounded pathetic as he tried to swallow his screams whole and failed. Lucius felt for him despite his resolve not to. Izzy Hands deserved what Izzy Hands got, and that was that, especially after all the shit with Blackbeard. Lucius was done with that lot. “Put him in the brig until I decide what to do with him.” The officer commanded. “And give him a bath. He stinks.”Izzy looked like he was going to be sick as he was hauled up to his bare feet. He looked like shit. He smelled like shit too, but more curiously, he smelled scared. What the fuck did Izzy Hands have to be scared of? And should Lucius be scared too? He’d take a cue from Izzy— should have known Blackbeard had another side from Izzy. Too late for any of them now.Izzy was dragged by him and Lucius caught a slight whiff of another scent, something much sweeter than the last time he’d been near Izzy. He frowned and hurried off before Izzy could notice him. Thankfully the other alpha seemed to be in too much pain to notice much of anything and Lucius went undetected. He didn’t need to be connected with the Gentleman Pirate on this ship of all places and Izzy seemed like enough of a bitch to help Lucius’ current boss to make that connection. No, Lucius was going to stay clear of Izzy Hands. He was finished with getting mixed up with any of Blackbeard’s crew. Izzy Hands could rot in hell and Lucius Spriggs was going to be happy about it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It was two weeks since Izzy Hands had crashed back into Lucius Spriggs’ life and it had been two weeks since he had seen the miserable man sulking about.“Spriggs.”“Yes, sir.” He snapped his attention onto the officer from the letter he was working on for one of the sailors to his mother.“They need you in the captain’s office. I think Hands is close to confessing and they need you to write it all down.”“Of course.” Lucius wrinkled his nose. “I’m on my way.” He didn’t like writing confessions. Confessions were usually coerced and that meant having to witness the final push of torture and questioning. These British were so messy. He almost missed Roach’s more straightforward style. Almost. He’d rather not witness any torture if he was being honest.But more than that, he was dreading Izzy seeing him. Lucius had managed to avoid him this far— normally never near the brig— but his luck had ended. He’d be in the captain’s office where it’d be impossible to miss him. Izzy’d have to be dead to miss him.They were working him over pretty hard and Lucius made a face. Izzy was chained to the floor, his splinted and bandaged hand a mockery of what they were doing to the rest of him. His chest was bare, heaving from exertion as he tried to recover from the blows of the whip that had cut open his chest and stomach.Again, despite himself, Lucius felt bad for Izzy.“Where is Blackbeard?” The captain asked, stomping down on Izzy’s chest, driving all that precious breath back out. Izzy gaped silently, trying to breathe and unable to do so. It was awful to witness and Lucius was sure, even worse to experience.“I don’t know.” Izzy croaked finally and the captain let out a frustrated growl.“Yes, you do!”“No— I was taken. I have no clue where he is.” Izzy gasped. “He’s wherever the fuck he likes to go.” He spat, eyeing the bloodstained whip dangling from the boatswain’s sturdy grip. “Please, sir.”The whip lashed out twice and Izzy howled, stretching out and then trying to curl up. Blood splattered and Lucius winced.“Where is Blackbeard?”“I don’t know.”“Let’s try something easier then. Where’s your toe?” The captain smirked. “Would you like to lose another one?”“No.” Izzy breathed, going pale, and they all realized they’d found his breaking point.“Remove it.” The captain ordered with a sadistic grin.“Please no, sir! I don’t know where he is!” The captain nodded and Izzy’s toe next to his missing pinky toe was efficiently cleaved from his foot. He screamed, thrashing around like a caught fish in a net, his voice giving way as he started to sob.They waited until his sobs started to subside, although his pained whining didn’t stop. Izzy was in agony, Lucius was sure of it.“Where is Blackbeard?” The captain asked one more time and Izzy snapped, like a rope strung too tightly, holding too much weight.“That miserable cunt is probably dead without me!” Izzy spat. “In fact, I hope he is!” That declaration started all of them, especially Lucius who just kept scribbling with the quill. “He’s a monster. He’s a fucking monster and it’s all my fault.”“How is he a monster?” The captain was amused by that.“He hurt the crew.” Izzy drew in a ragged breath. “Tried to kill people who had done nothing wrong.” His eyes fell on Lucius and Lucius could only stare back. “Gave one to the sea for no fucking reason. If I hadn’t pushed him… hadn’t forced him to stop sulking… he wouldn’t have hurt anyone.” There was an apology there, Lucius was sure of it, but it never came. The whip struck and Izzy screamed.“Tell us where he is and we’ll make sure he’ll never hurt anyone again.” The captain switched tactics. “And you’ll leave me alone?” Izzy pleaded and Lucius frowned, wondering about the implications.“I’ll leave you alone.” Izzy drew another ragged breath, his eyes flashing with distrust. Lucius found he was holding his breath and he didn’t know why. He wasn’t the one confessing. It was just, the Izzy he had known, was loyal to a fault. He’d never betray Edward.“Okracoke Island.” Izzy breathed raggedly. “It’s his oldest hideout. If you can’t find him anywhere else, he’ll be there.”“That wasn’t so hard.” The captain knelt by him and Izzy sobbed in response. “Be a good doll.” A hand carded through Izzy’s hair and his cheeks flushed.“Please no. You said— you said if I told you— you said you’d— you’d stop—“ Izzy was broken. It pained Lucius to realize just how broken he was. He had thought the man indomitable. “Oh, Israel Hands.” The captain chuckled, sneering down at the defenseless man. “I lied.” Izzy sobbed again, his foot bleeding sluggishly as his body was twisted to one side and his raggedy pants dragged down.Lucius was starting to feel very uncomfortable with where this was headed and quickly finished writing the confession. He folded it up in the book and headed towards the door, peeking back to make sure he was undetected.What he saw when he peeked back had his steps faltering and his hand slamming against the door. Izzy Hands was not an alpha like Lucius had always thought he was, no, Izzy Hands was an omega.The captain knelt behind Izzy and pushed his cock slowly inside of him and Lucius felt like he was going to be sick. It had been clear that this wasn’t the first time he’d done this to Izzy and Lucius didn’t want to stay and see anymore.“Where are you going?” The captain called it. “Enjoy the show. Enjoy watching this omega whore get his due.” Lucius had known way too many omegas to enjoy this on any level. It was fucking rape and it made his blood boil and his stomach turn. He wanted to hit the captain in the face with the book, knock him out, but he didn’t. He knew it wouldn’t help.“I finished the confession. I was going to go back to my other duties.”“So dutiful.” The captain smirked and the other officers laughed. “Such duty should be rewarded. Come. No one is using his mouth yet.” Lucius gagged slightly, disguising it with a cough.“No, thank you.” He turned away. “I’m not interested.” He expected some other lewd command from his captain. What he did not expect was Izzy, of all the people in the room, to address him.“What’s this? I'm not good enough for the likes of Lucius Spriggs?” Izzy rasped up at him and Lucius made a face. The way Izzy asked that felt personal, and Lucius wasn’t about to let Izzy make him feel put out.“No, sorry. Just not my type.” He sneered and the captain laughed. “He’s filthy.” Lucius continued. “Used up.” And something flashed in Izzy’s eyes even as he resolutely looked away. He wouldn’t be forgetting those words anytime soon. Lucius knew he’d have to make that right at some point. He didn’t mean it. But he couldn’t make it right yet. Not here, not now. They’d have to wait for somewhere that was safe.Because somehow Lucius had decided he couldn’t leave Izzy Hands to his fate. He’d get him somewhere safe and then he’d start over again. But he couldn’t leave him here, not to this. Izzy was a prick, but even he deserved better than this.“If we all had such refrained taste, Spriggs, all these omegas would be dying for a taste of cock.” The captain snorted. “Dismissed.” He nodded to an officer. “Thomas, you can take Spriggs’ place. We don’t want to leave our pet wanting.” Lucius hurried from the room before he could see that order carried out. He had a plan to make— it’d be easy enough to steal the keys to the brig while the officers were occupied with Izzy and then he’d break him out tonight, sneak him off ship between the changing of the watch. There was a boat that wasn’t well-guarded near the end of the ship. It would work to get them far away enough by morning light.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Sneaking around late at night might have been the most alive Lucius had felt in over a year. Sure, he’d be shot if he got caught and Izzy would be condemned to a life of misery and torture, but for the first time since Ed pushed him overboard withthat awful, dead look in his eyes and that bone-chilling smile…. Lucius finally felt alive. Apparently he just needed to get back to breaking the law, piratey things to feel again.

He made his way to the boat undetected and carefully lowered it a little ways while leaving the ropes attached. They’d need to get down the fast way. He glanced down past the boat, noticing the dark nothing of the waves and all of his excitement fled.

He couldn’t do this.

He could free Izzy and send him on his way, but he couldn’t get in that boat, he couldn’t go back to the dark waters that nearly claimed him. A hysterical sob welled up and he barely managed to bite it back in time, just as the watch passed by. It was time and he was fucking losing his shit. He couldn’t lose his shit now or else he’d be as useless as Izzy always thought he was.

He didn’t have time to reflect on his strange need to prove himself to Izzy Hands of all people, that poor, miserable

asshole.

He just needed to get Izzy and get out. Taking a steadying breath, shaking his hands, Lucius steeled himself, waiting for the watch to carry on their way before he followed them quietly and slipped down to the brig while they went below decks to switch out with the next watch. He had five or so minutes, which probably wasn’t enough time, but it was all the time he had.

The brig was dark but Lucius hadn’t risked a light. He’d mapped this out earlier— hating how his time in the walls of

The Revenge

had weirdly prepared him for this. He followed Izzy’s rough, shallow breaths— uncomfortable when he realized they hadn’t even bothered to lock him up in a cell. They’d left him chained up the side of one, out and open for whatever they wanted.

“I wondered when you’d finally come to take your turn.” Izzy’s voice was nothing but a rasp. “Never thought you were shy, Spriggs.”

“I—“

“Kill me.”

“W-what?” Lucius’ voice sounded small. He hated how he sounded small as soon as faced with this man who had tried to reduce him to nothing at every chance he got.

“I know you’re not here to help me, Spriggs, but maybe you could get your revenge all the same.”

“I—“

“Don’t make me beg.” Those words hung heavy between them.

“I’ve come to get you out.” Lucius announced in an almost trembling voice. He produced the keys from his pocket and Izzy scoffed.

“Don’t bother.”

“Come on.” Lucius unlocked one wrist, grateful they’d left his feet unbound. “We have like two minutes to get to the boat.”

“They don’t trust you.” Izzy told him. “They think you’re snobby.” Lucius scoffed at that. He kept to himself, it was true, but it was far more for survival than anything else.

“I don’t trust them.” Lucius replied. “I don’t trust anyone. Not anymore.” Izzy was silent as Lucius undid the last cuff. He tossed the keys down to the floor of the brig and reached for Izzy in the darkness. He slung Izzy’s better arm over his shoulder and he walked, bringing Izzy out of the darkness and up onto the deck.

Izzy was limping badly, but at least his foot was wrapped. Small mercies. They would have enough to worry about infection later.

No. Lucius was not fucking worrying about Izzy Hands other than getting him to safety. He could worry about his own recovery. Lucius would be long gone while Izzy Hands worked out his own

healing.

Lucius had to keep moving. He had to keep himself safe.

He stayed safe by making sure he didn’t get comfortable. By only trusting himself.

“Just go.” Izzy finally rasped. “The watch is coming.” Lucius should have known he’d been keeping just as much of an eye out as Lucius was. He never knew Izzy to let down his guard. “One of us might escape, might as well be you. You got more of your phalanges.” It was a poor joke but it made Izzy’s lips twist upwards for a second in the moonlight.

“I'm not the one who needs to escape.” Lucius gritted his teeth. “Don’t give up on me now, Izzy.” Izzy sagged against him. He was sweaty and dirty. He smelled like half of the crew instead of himself and Lucius hated to think about those implications. It should be something he was used to by now, but some horrors never get old.

One step at a time and then Lucius tipped Izzy over the side and into the boat waiting just below the lip of the ship. He slipped in next, just in time for the watch to pass, shining their light over them into the black nothing of the sea at night.

Nope.

Lucius couldn’t think about the fucking ocean right now. He waited until the light passed and the watch turned and headed back. And then he waited a little longer, until they were halfway the deck of the shop and then slowly but surely he wrestled the ropes to ease them down.

“Let me.” Izzy groused, taking one of the ropes and muttering how to get them down silently and safely. Lucius was glad to let him take over this once. Every turn of the pulley made his stomach twist, the scent of saltwater growing thicker with each— “Let go.” Izzy pried the rope out of his hand, shaking it lose and winding it up. “We’re down.”

“Oh, gods.” Lucius whispered shakily, more to himself than to Izzy. “I can’t do this.”

“If you’re gonna lose your shit, do so quietly.” Izzy hissed in his ear, a sturdy weight amidst the awful rocking and splashing.

“I’m gonna die.” Lucius whispered. “I never escaped. It’s gonna get me one way or another. Never thought I’d drown.”

“At least you kept the oars.” Izzy grumbled, a slight dig at Lucius’ competence that the alpha would have resented if he wasn’t balls deep in a panic attack. Izzy let him curl up at the bottom of the boat, near the bag of supplies Lucius had stashed earlier. The omega rowed the best he could, willing them to be further away from the vessel than they currently were. He didn’t want them to crack up against the ship— then Lucius really would drown and Izzy didn’t think his chances were much better with his current injuries.

Really Lucius should be the one rowing, but Izzy would give him a moment to sort himself out, just grateful to be out of his cage and away from his tormentors. There might be a worse end for him out there, unknown on the horizon but Izzy couldn’t imagine one much worse than the one he was leaving behind.

There was a reason he kept to himself. There was a reason he didn’t let anyone in. He didn’t want his secret getting out— they couldn’t all be Stede’s, able to buy the life they wanted. It wasn’t safe for omegas like Izzy. Probably not alphas like Lucius either. They came from a similar cloth— not that Izzy would ever tell the boy that. No need to curry companionship where it wasn’t wanted.

Lucius had made his stance on omegas like Izzy pretty fucking clear.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius sort of rallied a few moments later, at least enough to take the oar Izzy was trying to hold with a broken hand. He sat up slowly, resolutely not looking past the sides of the boat. He glanced up at Izzy, almost shrinking when he saw the omega’s scowl, but then he stopped himself and pushed himself up. He wiped his face carefully and then looked back over at Izzy, realizing finally that the omega had been rowing this whole time with a fucking broken hand.

“Give me that.” He pulled it free, glancing over at Izzy’s hand in the moonlight. “Is your hand okay?!”

“As well as it’s gonna be.” Izzy all but growled. “I can handle myself.” Neither of them commented on the fact he hadn’t been able to save himself. Neither of them were ready to talk about what happened to Izzy on the ship.

“What were you thinking?” Lucius chided and Izzy scoffed.

“I was thinking that we get away from that ship, you twat.” Lucius stiffened.

“Don’t call me that.” He muttered.
“It’s what you are.” Izzy hissed. “A fucking incompetent twat. At least you kept your breakdown quiet.” He grumbled almost begrudgingly and Lucius snapped.
“Would a fucking, incompetent twat sneak you out of your personal hell and get you out?! Would a—“ A hand wrapped around his mouth and Lucius bit down. Izzy yelped and smacked the side of his head.

“Keep it the fuck down.” He whispered, his tone and scent revealing just how annoyed he was. “Sound travels over water.”

“I fucking know that!” Lucius hissed back.

“Then pipe down.” Izzy all but mouthed and Lucius glowered over at him, but thankfully kept his mouth shut. He started to row with the omega, trying to keep their strokes somewhat in sync. Izzy rolled his eyes, but he didn’t say anything. Figured it was better to keep Luicus from being riled up for now. He could lay into him once they were safe. If he even had the energy left to lay into him. Izzy was running on fumes and some part of him was even grateful to the twat for getting him out. He’d die before he told him that though.

Lucius’ helping him made no sense. Lucius caring what he thought or called him made no sense. It made no fucking sense at all. Now Lucius cared if Izzy found him competent? It never seemed to matter back on

The Revenge

when he ignored every command Izzy gave him to make himself useful.
What a fucking twat indeed.
They rowed in silence, Izzy not so injured that he wasn’t waiting for Lucius to screw up so he couldn’t skittle him over it. And sure enough, his patience was rewarded about half an hour later. Especially when Lucius accidentally dropped his oar into the water.v The boy lurched forward to grab it, but then he froze, staring at the dark water as the oar floated out of reach. Izzy had half a mind to push him in himself. Losing that oar would cut their chances in half. Izzy couldn’t go back to that ship, not when he finally had this out.

“Go get it!” Izzy snarled. “Before we lose it in the darkness.” Lucius stared at the floating oar and then back at Izzy, a lost look on his face as he shook his head.

“I can’t.” Izzy shoved him hard, rocking the boat, and making Lucius grab the sides with a pitiful whine.

“Then I’ll fucking do it.” He muttered. “I’m used to fucking doing everything myself anyways.” That wasn’t so much directed at Lucius as it was directed at all of the former crew, Ed included. Whatever the Kraken had done to him, had shaken him from his foggy, blind worship. Genius or not, even Blackbeard had to know where to stop. And Izzy had pushed him past ever stopping. Izzy would have to stop him if only to somehow make up for what he’d done. Ed had been harmless. Blackbeard had been brilliant. But the Kraken… the Kraken was terrifying in ways Izzy hadn’t known his captain could be. He had gotten his wish only to find out it wasn’t what he wanted after all.

Izzy tucked the last oar in the bottom of the boat and slipped over the side, barely making a splash.

“No, fuck, Izzy, get back in here.” That seemed to wake Lucius up, but it was too late. Izzy surfaced, gritting his teeth so tightly Lucius worried his jaw might crack as he forced himself to swim after the oar.

Izzy wasn’t doing well. Every inch of him was screaming as saltwater grated against his open, fresh wounds, and frankly, there wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t wounded in some way. He whimpered softly, too softly for Lucius to hear, and kept going. He managed to grab the oar and to turn himself back around, but that was also when Lucius seemed to realize he wasn’t going to make it. Izzy was faltering and then he went under.

Lucius opened his mouth, about to scream, when he remembered where they were and what they were trying to do. Screaming wouldn’t save Izzy– Lucius might not even be able to save Izzy– but he had to try.  He clumsily tipped himself over the side and splashed over to where the oar was. He grabbed the oar and dove down as much as he could, clinging to the oar, desperately hoping it would be enough to bring him back to the surface.

He blindly searched around under the water, the saltwater stinging in that awful, familiar way as he thrashed around, trying to find Izzy. He resurfaced, lungs burning, before he went back under. He fucking hated the ocean. He reached around the depths, not daring to open his eyes, when his fingers brushed against something solid. He grabbed onto whatever it was and hauled it up towards the tops of the waves.

It was Izzy after all and he was unconscious by the looks of it, but still breathing. Saltwater dribbled from his mouth as Lucius tried to haul them all back to the small boat, oar included. He got the oar into the boat, and then Izzy, but didn’t have the energy to even try to get himself in. He steeled himself, knowing he would only survive this if he kept his head. His worst fears had all come true– he was somehow back in the ocean in the middle of the night, but Blackbeard was thankfully nowhere in sight.

There was no barnacle ladder either, but at least he had this boat. He could cling onto the side until he regained some strength. Maybe when Izzy woke up, he could help him up too.

He tried to ignore the small voice that whispered that Izzy might not wake up at all. Lucius just held on tight, even when his fingers started aching, and prayed that maybe there was yet another miracle out there for him.

He wanted to live. He was too young to die. Even if he had outlived half of the other bastards at the brothel. He’d like the chance to be as old as Izzy one day– he wouldn’t be nearly as much of a prick as he was. Or maybe he would be. Maybe it was something that came with age. Regardless, Lucius would like the chance to find out for himself.

And so he kept hanging on, holding on to his own determination like a rope. He would survive this. He’d live to see another sunrise. He’d make it. They both would. He didn’t need to know all the details right now– he just had to keep holding on until he could lift himself up enough to get his leg over the side.

The two of them floated, one in the boat and one clinging to the side of it, for what felt like hours, moving slowly away from the ship and towards the shore of a nearby, uninhabited island far off in the distance.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Izzy woke up with the sun, his body stiff and aching. His wounds still burned from the salt and his bandages and hair were still damp. He glanced at the bottom of the boat— he was awkwardly propped up against one of the slats for seats— and was relieved to see both oars were there.

Then he glanced around, taking full inventory. The bag of supplies was still into the middle. The oars were here. He was somehow here despite only being able to remember the welcoming blackness of the ocean as he floundered after the oar. One thing was missing, however. Where the fuck was the boy?

Izzy got up carefully, easing back into his seat with a groan. He looked over all his bare skin, not a stitch of clothing on him, all his bruises and wounds on display. He hoped Lucius brought an extra change of clothes because he was not going to stay naked around the young alpha like some kind of pet omega.

He looked out over the ocean, looking for Lucius even if he’d deny it later, and was relieved to see an island in the distance. It looked closer than the ship they left behind and so Izzy made a plan to row there. He hoped there was freshwater or else this would all be for naught. Hadn’t earned a drink in a day or two and his mouth was dry in a way that made him uncomfortable.

There was one thing Izzy knew how to do and that was survive.

He wiped at his eyes and glanced around again, trying to catch sight of Lucius or at least a clue for where he had gone, what had happened to him. And then he saw it, two hands clinging to the side of the boat.

He gingerly moved over— no need to tip himself and their supplies over— and peered over the side. Lucius looked asleep, but he looked soaked and chilled. Had long he been in the ocean?

The second question was more troubling to Izzy. Had Lucius gone into the water to come after him? It was the only explanation for why he was in the water and Izzy wasn’t.

“Lucius?” He reached down and patted the boy’s wet hair.

No answer.

“Twat!” And then he smacked him.

“Fuck off.” Lucius groaned but then he seemed to wake up in a hurry, sucking in a panicked gasp as he looked around at the water he was in.

“Look up.” Izzy pressed his hand over one of Lucius’ hands— the one with the wooden finger— and Lucius slowly, finally looked up at him.

He looked pitiful, staring up at Izzy with sad eyes and a pouty lip. He was soaked to the bone and Izzy could tell he’d been stuck down there for a while. “Shitty time for a swim, Spriggs.” And Lucius shivered and laughed slightly, his teeth clacking together.

“You can say that again.” Lucius looked up at him pleadingly. “Do you think the two of us can figure out how to get me up there?”

“Why are you even down there?” Izzy frowned. “Blackbeard’s not around to push you in this time. Did you fall in?”

“You blacked out and went under.” Lucius hissed, narrowing his eyes up at him. “I had to act fast.”

“You didn’t have to

do

anything.” Izzy groused, a conflicted, twisted thing snaking through his belly. Was he supposed to feel grateful? And just what might Lucius want in return for his efforts? “You could have let me drown and I’d never be the wiser.”

“I’ll remember that for next time.” Lucius snarked up at him.

“C’mon.” Izzy leaned over to grab the other side of the boat, wincing as his more open wounds gaped. He was used to pain. He’d work through this like every else. The pain was almost constant— almost grounding. He offered his elbow as a loop and Lucius reached up and grabbed it. Izzy then shifted what was left of his weight over, helping Lucius boost enough out of the water to get his leg over the side and then fall into the boat.

The boat rocked back and forth and Izzy steadied it as Lucius made sure not to move.

“Thank you.” Lucius breathed.

“Get out of those clothes.” Izzy snapped. “They’re too wet. Hang them to dry on the sides.”

And don’t touch me.

But that part went unsaid. Izzy grabbed the oars and Lucius hurried to get into his seat. It wasn’t cold, but the boy’s teeth chattered anyway. He’d spent too long in the drink and now Izzy had to do something about it.

“I have—“ Lucius stripped and hung his soaked clothes on the side of the boat, slicking his hair back with a smooth motion after. He glanced over at Izzy who was resolutely looking off into the distance. He grabbed the bag at the bottom of the boat and tossed over a shirt and pants. “Get dressed.” Lucius grabbed a second set of clothes, pulling them on quickly. “I didn’t know what size you are so I eyeballed it.”

“Oh, you don’t like the view?” Izzy snapped, grabbing the clothes before Lucius could change his mind. He pulled the shirt over his head quickly and then pulled the pants in and pulled them up over his hips. He was relieved to be dressed again, but he didn’t want Lucius knowing that.

“Not particularly.” Lucius drawled with a glint in his eye. “I don’t like my men beat to shit.” Izzy huffed.

“Thought you were kinkier than that, Spriggs.”

“Unlike the British navy,

Izzy,

I believe in aftercare.” Izzy blinked at the use of his name, said with a rush and with a tone Lucius seemed almost afraid to use. It almost sounded like Stede and how he’d called Izzy Iggy to fuck with him. Bitchy. That was the term. Lucius said his name bitchily and Izzy didn’t like it.

“Yea, well, you made your stance on omegas like me pretty clear. Make sense you’d want all that covered up.”

“What?” Lucius was still shivering and Izzy passed him an oar.

“Keep moving. It’ll help.”

“What did you mean by that?” Lucius asked as he grabbed the other oar before Izzy could, taking both oars under his command. “Omegas like you?”

“You know… “ Izzy glanced over. “I’m all

used up.”

Lucius sighed almost exasperatedly as he put his back into something for probably the first time in his life. Izzy leaned back, determined to enjoy this. He ran his hand over the pants, grateful to be clothed. He’d spent too much time naked this past year to want to be left bare any longer.

“Izzy…” Lucius sounded pained. “I didn’t mean that. I said it so they wouldn’t make me—“

“Yea, I know.” Izzy ducked his head down.

“You didn’t

want

me to, did you?” Lucius asked awkwardly. But he figured it was better to ask— better to know.

“Better the monster you know?” Izzy snorted.

“I never would have been able to forgive myself if I had done that to you, Izzy. What they did to you was wrong.”

“I fucking know that.” Izzy’s face twisted. “And I never would have forgiven you either, so I guess it’s best you didn’t.”

“I won’t say anything like that again.” Lucius added softly. “I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re used up.”

“Fuck off.” Izzy shrugged. “Thanks.” Lucius blinked over at him before he smiled, slow and sweet, and Izzy looked away. “Just… keep rowing. We need to get to that island and find water.”

“Check the bag.” Lucius nodded: “There’s a canteen of water in there that I stole and filled before we left.”

“Fuck.” Izzy found the water quickly, taking a few swallows before he capped the canteen. They needed to ration the water anyway.

“Even swiped a couple biscuits.” Lucius added. “In case you haven’t eaten in a while.” Izzy dug out a biscuit next, letting out a content, little sigh as he bit into it.

“Not so incompetent when it comes to packing for an escape, Spriggs.”

“Thank you.” Lucius answered primly, his chest warm at that acknowledgement. He’d done something right. He’d met one of Izzy Hand’s impossible standards.

“Thanks for getting me out.” Izzy added and Lucius started to feel a little faint.

“Of course.” He gave him a tight, little smile. “Had to get you out of there.” Izzy nodded, taking another bite of his biscuit. He didn’t need to know the why, as long as Lucius didn’t expect any

favors

for the kindness he’d shown Izzy. “Rest.” Lucius kicked the bag lightly. “Blankets in there too.” Izzy’s eyes widened and he pulled one out, curling up on his end of the boat and wrapping himself up. It’d been way too fucking long since he’d been able to curl up with a blanket. It’d been way too long since he got to rest while someone else did the fucking work.

Lucius rowed on and Izzy let the soothing sound of the waves lull him into a relative sense of safety, drifting off and claiming some rest while he could. While it was safe.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Izzy.” A gentle hand on his shoulder stirred Izzy from his slumber.“What?” He growled, peeking out from the blanket he’d wrapped himself in.“We’re here.” Izzy frowned, looking to the sky to confirm what he didn’t want to believe. It was almost sunset. He’d slept nearly the whole day while Lucius rowed them to relative safety. He glanced to the horizon, relieved to not see the British ship anywhere in sight. He looked over at the young alpha next to him. Lucius looked tired. “Let’s go.” Izzy say up stiffly, unwrapping himself and stuffing the blanket in Lucius’ magic bag of supplies. “We need to scout a little while we have light. I wouldn’t risk a fire until we know they’re not coming after us.” Lucius smiled and Izzy bristled. “What the fuck are you smiling at, Spriggs?!” He snapped.“Just— you sounded like your old self.” Izzy’s eyes flashed and he got out of the boat in a hurry, stomping away from the boat and the insufferable twat inside. He— he didn’t need to the reminder of just how fucking far he had fallen. He used to be someone the boy feared and now he was just someone he pitied. The fucking horror of being pitied by Lucius Spriggs.Izzy stared at the sand beneath his bare feet— the damp bandage shielding his yet another lost toe picking up even more stand as he stumbled on the shore. “Hey, wait!” He heard Spriggs call out behind him and then Izzy Hands went down. Apparently, trauma to the foot made it hard to walk unaided. He should have remembered that from the last time.Lucius loomed over him and Izzy shut his eyes tightly out of habit. “Not gonna hurt you.” The boy mumbled, sounding hurt, before he hauled Izzy up from the sand. “C’mon, God.”That sent Izzy back and he swallowed hard. Gods, he’d been so cocky then. Cocky to protect the thin precipice he’d always walked. Arrogant to the point of annoyance so they’d leave him alone and not come seek him out when his body left him hot, weak, and needy.“God doesn’t bleed.” He rasped, swallowing hard again as he clutched at Lucius’ shirt. He didn’t know where the boy was taking him or what he was going to do to him. He couldn’t trust him.“This God does.” Lucius soothed and Izzy bit back the urge to laugh, or worse, cry.“Fuck off.” He whispered and Lucius just held him a little closer, carrying him over the sand to a large boulder near the edge of a grove of palm trees.“There.” Lucius set him down gingerly. “I’ll get the supplies while you survey the island from here. I’ll rebandage your hand and foot before the sun sets.”“Why bother?” Izzy shrugged. “Why not?” Lucius shrugged back, giving him a hint of a smirk. “Maybe I just don’t want you to get sepsis.”“Humph.”“I’m glad you haven’t changed.” Lucius snorted. “I knew no one could break Izzy Hands.” He headed off towards the boat, leaving Izzy alone to his thoughts.How Izzy wished the boy was right, but the truth was someone had broken him. They’d broken him long before the British navy got their hands on him and now, just fucking now, was he finally able to look at all the pieces. Izzy wasn’t sure he’d ever be anything but broken after this past year. He didn’t know how to tell the boy that though. Maybe it was best if he let him keep on believing that Izzy could survive anything— then maybe Izzy could believe it too.But the longer Izzy reflected, the more he had to doubt his own ability to heal. He might have been broken for far longer than he had previously thought. It would explain why he had presented as an omega after all— a weaker creature to torment and dominate no matter how hard he fought back. Perhaps Izzy had been born broken and there was no real way to fix that. Perhaps it was just who he was.He watched the sun start to set on the horizon. Lucius was moving the boat out of the surf and dragging it behind some rocks, hiding it from any spyglass that might be seeking them out. Smart. Lucius tucked the oars inside, grabbed the bag of supplies, and made his way back to Izzy. “Find anywhere we can shelter for the night?” The boy asked. “We can start working on a shelter tomorrow.” “Looks like a small cave at the base of that cliff. It’s a little too obvious for me, but it can work in a pinch if it’s not inhabited.”“Works for me. I’ll go check it out.” Lucius handed him the canteen before slinging the bag over his own shoulder. “Drink some water.”“We gotta ration it.”“You’re allowed two more sips today.” Lucius narrowed his eyes over at him and Izzy ducked his head down, biting back the polite response drilled into his head by other alphas. Yes, sir. Yes, alpha. Izzy would die before he used such honorifics on such a twat.“You’re wrong about me, you know.” He heard his own ragged voice before he could stop himself. “What?” Lucius turned around slowly, a concerned look on his face.“You’re wrong about me.” Izzy repeated, clenching his jaw. “I am broken. Maybe I always was.” Lucius looked pained, but Izzy couldn’t care, not with the wild relief that came to owning up his own weakness. He didn’t have to pretend any longer.“No, I don’t think so.” Lucius shook his head, a mischievous look crossing his face as he said his next words. “I think you just need a vacation.” He hurried off with a giggle even as Izzy hurled colorful curses after him, a tiny smile tugging on the omega’s lips. Huh. A vacation, hmm? Izzy supposed he could give a vacation a try, if carving out a solid attempt at survival on a deserted island could be considered a vacation. What a fucking twat indeed. It was dark by the time Lucius came back, shuffling through the sand.“Ready to eat some biscuits and call it a night?” He asked and Izzy jumped, not realizing how close he was.“Back off.” He snarled and Lucius did. He stood a respectful distance away as Izzy caught his breath. He had been lost in thought, staring out at the dark waves, enjoying the sound of the tides coming in.“Izzy?”“I’m fine.” He was shivering. He wasn’t fine. He wasn’t even fucking close to being fine. He hadn’t been fine for a very long time. “What’s this about biscuits?” He heard rather than saw Lucius’ smile.“Can I scoop you up now?” Lucius asked and Izzy realized he had only come over to pick him up and bring him to the cave. Izzy grabbed the canteen before he nodded.“Sure.” He was tense as Lucius picked him up and carried him over the beach. There was a steadiness to the boy’s gait as he carried Izzy like he was nothing. Hah. He was. He was nothing. He slowly started to relax against the alpha, noting the steadiness in his scent also, before he was carefully deposited down on a blanket. “There you go.” Lucius knelt down near him. “Bandages before or after biscuits?” He narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t even drink your water, did you?” Izzy slowly shook his head and Lucius tsked.“Let’s do the bandages first.” He said before Lucius could chide him. He’d seen men go mad from thirst. He knew his limits. They needed to ration the water until they found a fresh source. “And I haven’t seen you drink any water yourself.” He challenged. Lucius lifted his jaw, unbothered by Izzy’s words. “Think you need it more than me.” The boy shrugged. “Drink some water and then you can change my bandages.” Izzy replied, setting his own rules to this forced engagement. If Lucius wanted to play like this, he could be just as fucking annoying right back. “You were rowing all day— you’re going to need it.”Lucius’ lips twitched and Izzy handed the canteen over, making sure to look as smug and cocky as he possibly could. Lucius’ little exasperated noise sounded sweet to his ears— sounded like victory— as the alpha did as he was told. He took four swallows before scooting over and holding the canteen out, nearly brushing Izzy’s lips. Izzy took it with a snarl and sipped twice. There. Done for the day. He capped it and tossed it back at Lucius.“Bandages?”“Whatever.” Izzy laid back on the blanket covering the sand. It was comfortable, far more comfortable that he was accustomed to. He glanced over at Lucius, wondering when he’d make his move on Izzy. They’d settled that he didn’t think he was all used up, so that meant he did want the omega in some way. Was that why Izzy was on a comfortable bed? For the alpha to have his way with him?Izzy didn’t think he’d even fight him at this point. He might even be able to convince him to be gentle. At least until he was more healed. Lucius lit a candle and set it in the sand, so he could see what he was doing. He unwrapped the dirty bandages from his foot, wincing at the sight of Izzy’s foot. Izzy glanced down, his stomach twisting at the reminder that he’d lost two toes now.“You don’t have to answer this…” Lucius said as he wiped it down with salt water, causing Izzy to grit his teeth and whine. He was shaking again and Lucius found himself wanting to soothe him.“Just ask, ya twat.” Izzy said through gritted teeth.“How’d you lose the first toe?” Izzy’s stomach lurched again and he was grateful he hadn’t eaten another biscuit yet as he pictured Blackbeard over him, his scent heavy and angry as he shoved Izzy’s toe into his mouth. The taste of the blood combined with the agonizing pain had nearly been enough to make Izzy vomit right then and there, but he hadn’t. He’d done what his captain commanded. He always did what his captain commanded.“How’d you get shoved overboard?” Izzy asked slowly, in way of answering.“Blackbeard—“ Izzy raised his eyebrow and Lucius understood. “Oh.” He ran his finger over the mostly healed pucker, taking care not to touch the new, gaping one. “I’m sorry.”“I don’t need your apologies.” Izzy hissed, feeling raw and exposed. “Just do whatever it is you’re gonna do and get it over with.” He wasn’t talking about bandages, but that’s what Lucius pulled out of the bag, cleaning the wound, sewing up what he could, and wrapping Izzy’s toes and foot up very carefully.“There.” He gave the arch of Izzy’s foot a little squeeze. “Now your hand.”“No.” Izzy said bitterly. “It can wait until tomorrow.” He held his hand out. “I’d like my biscuit now.” Lucius studied him, the hard lines of his face, the scruffy, unkept beard, the wild look on his eyes, and the long hair that tangled down past his shoulders. Izzy Hands looked like he’d been through hell and for that, Lucius quietly handed over the biscuits.“Rations.” Izzy groused and Lucius nodded.“I did.” He grabbed the candle and retreated over to the other blanket, snuffing the candle out. “Goodnight, Izzy.”“We’re not doing this.” Izzy hissed and Lucius didn’t say anything more. Izzy munched on his biscuits, thrilled to have food again, when his stomach twisted halfway through the second biscuit. Lucius had given him his, the fucker. He had half a mind to throw it at him, a temper tantrum of his own epic proportions, but the young alpha was sleeping, snoring even, and Izzy, even for all his dramatics, did not waste food. He was too practical for that. “Damn twat.” He whispered under his breath and finished the biscuit, even if it took extra effort to swallow it down now.Fucking twat wasn’t pulling that bullshit anymore. Izzy was gonna give it to him straight first thing in the morning.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It took a long time for sleep to find Izzy— or so he had thought. But between the exhaustion and the pain, Izzy fell back to sleep at an embarrassing rate. How could he not with such a comfortable bed and a companion who seemed inclined to leave him alone at night compared to his

companions

in the past?

At least Lucius wasn’t awake to see just how exhausted Izzy still was. Izzy had been humiliated enough for the past year. The boy didn’t need to see how weak he truly was. One day of sleep was barely enough to make up for all the shit.
  
Lucius woke up with the sun, stretching on his blanket. He lay there, staring up at the cave ceiling. He was sore from the rowing, and while he knew there was more hard work to do, he wasn’t in the mood to start just yet. He just wanted to lay there and enjoy not moving. At least until Izzy got up and started barking orders like he usually did.

Izzy… Lucius didn’t know what to think of the man. He’d changed. Or he’d been forced to reveal who he truly was. Either way, everything had changed with the omega. Gods, Izzy was an omega. And that changed everything— not for Lucius— but for the world and how it treated him. Honestly, it made how Izzy always acted make a lot more sense, a lot more

human.

Izzy was an asshole, but he was an asshole trying to keep the world at bay. He was trying to survive. And that was something Lucius could unfortunately relate to. He was still an asshole though. He wasn’t forgiven for all the shit he’d said about Lucius and his friends. Or Pete. But Lucius didn’t have to forgive Izzy to help him.

It wasn’t complicated. Izzy had needed help and Lucius had given it because he could. Maybe Izzy could learn a thing or two, but Lucius doubted it.

A soft snore broke Lucius from his musings. He slowly sat up with a slow groan to find Izzy curled up on the sand, all wrapped up in his blanket. Lucius watched him sleep for a moment before he got up, wincing at his sore muscles. He grabbed the canteen and two biscuits, taking a sip, before setting the now closed canteen and a biscuit next to Izzy. Then, munching on his own biscuit, he set out of the cave, determined to find a freshwater source before Izzy woke up.

He wouldn’t want Izzy Hands to think he was still lazy or incompetent. Heh. He smirked to himself as he stepped over the brush and stumbled into the jungle.

The jungle seemed… nice. He wasn’t that into nature and all that— it was more Stede’s area of interest. He was doing this out of survival. They needed to find water— Izzy was right about that— and maybe if Lucius could make sure their basic needs were met— maybe Izzy would relax. Maybe Izzy would feel safe.

He kept going, wiping at his forehead. Gods, it was hot as balls out here. But he kept going. He needed something to do. Something to focus on other than fucking Izzy Hands. God, Izzy was a mess, but he’d always been a mess, but maybe even more than the rest of them. Lucius didn’t like it when he was an asshole, but seeing him like this was almost worse.

Whatever.

Water. They needed water. Lucius was going to need water after this walk. He was sweating like Izzy after finding one drop of bird poop on the deck.
 
Speaking of Izzy, he woke up about an hour later to an empty cave. He took inventory— a biscuit and a canteen left out for him. Lucius’ blanket left mussed on the sand. The bag was still there with its many treasures. But once again, Lucius was gone. And Izzy didn’t mean to do it, but he always imagined the worst first thing.

Like the British had come back and forced Lucius to take his place. Or they shot him. Or Lucius had changed his mind and gone to go get them to tell them where Izzy was hiding, weak and defenseless. Shit like that.

But the biscuit and the water felt like a command, even with the boy gone, and so Izzy obeyed. He took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. Took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. Took a bite, chewed, and swallowed until the biscuit was gone. He took two sips of water, gauging that about half the water was gone. They needed to find water soon. He screwed the top back on and forced himself up to his feet.

Pain exploded from his injured foot and he fell back down to his knees with a frustrated grunt. He hated this! He hated his own body fucking betraying him over and over again! He stared down at the blanket underneath him, trembling until he found the strength to try to move again.

This time he crawled and it was fucking humiliating, but he could actually move if he didn’t use his broke hand. He crawled out of the cave, followed Lucius’ tracks, and huffed when he noticed they went into the jungle. He wasn’t crawling through the jungle half-maimed, but it almost pained him to lie about all day waiting for the boy to come back. He’d already wasted one day. Wasn’t that enough?!

He peered into the jungle for a few minutes but he didn’t see or hear anything that remotely looked like the boy and it was hot today, too hot to be lying out in the sun on the beach. He crawled back to the cave, back to his blanket, and waited…

It was hours before Lucius showed back up, a hot, sweaty mess who stripped off his shirt as soon as he was back in the cave. That movement startled the omega but not enough to distract him from the anger and fear that had been simmering sign he’d woken up alone.

“Where the fuck were you?!” He snapped and Lucius just grinned, even though his eyes looked half-glazed over. Izzy grabbed the canteen and shoved it into the boy’s hands. He took it and drank a quarter of the water they had left— his hands trembling.
“I found water, Izzy.” He let out a breathless laugh. “I’ll refill this tomorrow. I think I found a couple good spots for a shelter too.”
“Take me with you tomorrow.” Izzy heard himself say. “I don’t like being left behind.” Lucius’ well eyes widened in surprise but then he smiled knowingly, and Izzy didn’t like that one bit. He didn’t like the idea of Lucius knowing how angry and frightened he was all at the same time.

“That was almost good communication.” Lucius teased him gently, stepping towards him. Izzy shrank back. “Yea, I’ll take you tomorrow. We’ll move out there and make something work. And we can take baths! I brought soap.” Izzy snorted.

“Of course you did.”

“Like you weren’t the pirate who bathed even more than Stede back on

The Revenge.”

Lucius smirked.

“I—no—if you tell anyone—“ Izzy started to nearly breathe fire, his face flushed red at that comparison.

“I won’t tell anyone.” Lucius shrugged. “And I won’t leave you alone anymore either.” Izzy blinked slowly, starting to move into a presenting position. “Not like that.” Lucius smelled panicked. “I meant alone in the cave— fuck— Izzy, your body is yours to do whatever you want with.”

“I know that.” Izzy snapped as he shifted back down on the blanket, sitting almost instantly. “I’m just trying to get comfortable.” And Lucius went along with it, nodding, even though they both knew it was a lie. Tomorrow would have its own challenges— they wouldn’t take them on today.

Lucius retreated to his side of the cave, taking the afternoon to rest up himself. Izzy knew that he needed to rest, but he hated feeling useless. Maybe tomorrow he’d get to do more. Maybe he’d get to do something helpful.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“All right, Izzy.” Lucius woke the omega up gently as he could. Izzy woke up rough, gasping and twisting away to get his arms under him. “It’s just me. Just Lucius.” Lucius soothed, noting how some tension left Izzy’s body at the sound of his voice. “It’s a spa day today.”“What do you want?” Izzy rasped, glancing up. He wiped his tangled hair from out of his face. He took inventory. Lucius had the bag on his shoulder— he didn’t see any of the other things. Just Lucius and the bag. His stomach rumbled but Izzy didn’t call attention to it. Lucius would feed him when he was ready to feed him. He didn’t want the alpha to think he was needy.“Gonna head out to the waterfall. Are you coming?” Izzy nodded.“Yea.” He glanced up at Lucius again. “I’m gonna– you’re gonna have to help me?” It was almost a request– he almost looked guilty– but Lucius wasn’t put off.“I’ll help you.” Lucius was true to his word and between the two of them, they got Izzy up on his feet. “I got you something.” Lucius murmured. He bent over, wrapping Izzy’s blanket up and stuffing it into the bag. But not before he caught the hint of Izzy’s sweet scent– the one where he wasn’t scared out of his mind. “It’s outside the cave. Do you think we can get you over there so you can see it?” He offered his arm and Izzy took it, focusing on the entrance of the cave.“I’ll try.” Izzy straightened his spine and set his face, tucking away anything that could look vulnerable or needy. It sort of made Lucius sad to see how easily he tucked it all away. He hoped that maybe their time on the island might convince Izzy that he didn’t need to soldier through everything. That being human was okay. He wasn’t going to get punished for that– at least not with Lucius. Izzy’s mind raced as they headed towards the mouth of the cave. He clung to Lucius’ arm, oddly grateful for the alpha’s arm at his back, keeping him upright. What had Lucius gotten him? He hoped it wasn’t something cruel.“Tada!” Lucius gestured to the sturdy stick leaning against the rocks and Izzy’s face split into a surprised grin.“Spriggs!” He breathed. “Yes!”“I did good?” Lucius was fishing for a compliment and Izzy shot him a withering look for his troubles. He reached over, Lucius still supporting him carefully, and grabbed it with his good arm.“Fuck, yea, I guess you did, boy.” It wasn’t supposed to come out like that, something almost affectionate, but Lucius smiled over at him, bright and hopeful, and Izzy didn’t have it in him to dash the boy’s good mood. Just this once he could relent and hope he didn’t pay for it in spades later.With the stick firmly grasped in his hand and Lucius supporting him via his arm with the injured hand, Izzy was able to take his time and pick his way across the beach and part of the way into the jungle. They were a ways away yet when he needed to rest, leaning against a large rock. “How far?” He asked, trying to catch his breath. This was the most exercise he’d had in some time and he felt just how  out of shape he was. But he couldn’t be phased– it felt so good to be moving again. It gave him… hope. “It’s a bit of a hike.” Lucius leaned against the rock next to him, trying to catch his own breath.“Can–” Izzy bit his tongue, mulling over his choices. “Can you carry me there, you think?” Lucius’ eyebrow shot up but he nodded, looking thoughtful.“Might kill me, but I think it’s doable.” He gave Izzy an easy smile. “Want a piggyback? Might be easier than carrying you like a bride?” Izzy snorted at that thought– who in their right mind would want to marry Izzy after everything?“Why not?” And he heard it as soon as he said it– how he sounded like fucking Lucius– and he groaned softly. Lucius chuckled.“Guess I’m rubbing off on you.” He elbowed Izzy gently.“Don’t flatter yourself.” Izzy groused. “How are we gonna do this?”“Ah, good point. Bridal style it is then.” Lucius turned towards him. “You ready?” Izzy stammered but then he nodded, lifting his good arm to wrap around Lucius’ neck as the alpha scooped him up. “There you go.” Lucius said so softly that Izzy almost missed it. “Let’s do this.” They made it to the waterfall an hour later– both of them feeling more tired than they cared to let on. They had taken a couple breaks along the way– Lucius had to catch his breath a few times, but they had made it. Izzy made a relieved sound when he saw the water though. Lucius handed him the canteen after he took a couple sips under Izzy’s watchful eye. “Finish it.” Lucius pursed his lips. “Then you can refill it. I’m going in.”“Let me refill it before you get it all filthy!” Izzy protested, chugging some of the water left, before he leaned over to fill the canteen back up. He didn’t admit to it, but his heart felt lighter here, by the freshwater. He felt hopeful again. Like they were going to make it. They were going to survive. But to what end?“Here.” Lucius pressed a biscuit in his hand. “Eat. I’m gonna get cleaned up. Feel free to join me if you’re feeling brave.”“Are you trying to tell me I stink?” Izzy wrinkled his brow and Lucius snorted, catching that Izzy was making a joke.“Yes.” Lucius deadpanned, pulling his shirt over his head.Izzy didn’t look away. The boy had filled out some since the ship, their ship. He was soft in places, muscles in others. He looked older than he did when things were normal. He looked older, more haunted when he thought Izzy wasn’t looking. For all his kindness, it seemed Lucius was as good as Izzy at hiding how he really felt.“Why are you doing all this?” Izzy asked. “Helping me? I was– I wasn’t kind to you or Pete or any of you, really. I thought you of all people would want to take your revenge.”“Nah.” Lucius shook his head. “I think I’ve had my fill of revenge.” And the irony of that comment wasn’t lost on either of them.“Then why?”“Because you needed help?” Lucius shrugged. “Because someone helped me when I needed it most and I’ve decided to do that for others when I can?”“Who helped you?” Izzy asked, breath trapped in his throat.“You tell me, Izzy.” Lucius gave him an unreadable look. “I stashed the barnacle ladder on your commands before sunset. And yet somehow it was all the way down when I ended up in the sea? Explain that to me.”It wasn’t just his breath stuck in his throat, no, now it was words also. Izzy swallowed hard and Lucius looked away with a bit of a disappointed sigh. He set to taking the rest of his clothes off, turning away from Izzy, and wading into the pool of water.“You got lucky, I guess. I always knew you were a shit sailor.” Izzy found his sharp tongue again. “Guess you didn’t secure it right.” It wasn’t what he meant to say, but it would have to do. Lucius didn’t turn around. He just dove into the water and swam out of sight. Izzy rubbed at his chest, lowering himself down to sit on the rocks. “Fuck.” He said quietly. That wasn’t what he meant to say at all.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius didn’t want to return to the surface and face Izzy. It doesn’t matter that being underwater was starting to cause him to panic. He was too disappointed and he knew he wouldn’t be able to hide it. Worst of all, he was disappointed in himself.He knew what happened when he expected anything from Izzy Hands. The man only really ever made him feel bad about himself and he had foolishly let himself hope this time might be different. He was never going to be able to prove himself to Izzy. He wasn’t sure why it even mattered enough to let him try. He might be kind enough to try to help the omega, but that feeling was never going to be mutual. He was always going to be disappointed by Izzy with every chance he let him in.His lungs were burning and his eyes were full of tears, but Lucius resurfaced anyway, refusing to look over at Izzy. He could smell the omega. Smell his panic and while that chipped at his resolve, he still couldn’t do it. Izzy didn’t deserve to see his tears.“Lucius!” Izzy splashed awkwardly into the water, naked up to his thighs. He left the shirt on while he attempted to make things right.He winced but kept going, floundering deeper into the water. “Lucius, please look at me.”Lucius noticed two things off the back— Izzy was using his name for perhaps the first time or the first time since they’d escaped, and secondly, Izzy had manners—he just was choosing not to use them most of the time. Thirdly, he was using those manners now.“What?!” He snapped, turning to face the omega head on. He revealed the downward twist of his mouth, his pitched eyebrows, and the tears he couldn’t seem to stop. “Just can’t leave it alone, can you?” He asked, trying to sound bitchy only to manage sad.Izzy faltered, scanning his face. Something twisted in the omega’s expression, and while Lucius couldn’t really smell him since he was in the water, he knew. Izzy Hands felt bad and didn’t know how to make it right.“I’m never going to be the good guy in any story.” Izzy gave him a pleading look. “I’m sorry.” “One good deed wasn’t going to change the other shit you’ve done.” Lucius sighed.“Then why does it matter so much?! All that matters was the ladder was there! All that matters was you didn’t drown! All that matters is that you’re alive!” Izzy shouted, chest heaving from exertion. “Fuck.” He buried his face in his hands. “Fuck.” He muttered again. “You should have left me on the ship. Saved yourself all this trouble.” He peeked up like he expected Lucius to agree.“No.” Lucius said firmly, an almost angry expression crossing his face. “You’re right where you need to be, Izzy.”“And where’s that?!” He challenged snappily.“Safe!” Lucius shouted and Izzy fell silent, pressing his lips together. A rush of something threatened to overwhelm him and he bit the inside of his cheek hard. The tang of blood gave him something else to focus on other than the emotions churning inside of his chest. He would not cry. He would not cry. Lucius splashed over and Izzy shrank back. He wasn’t quick enough and Lucius caught him, reeling him in like he was just a fish.“What are you doing?” Izzy whispered as Lucius wrapped his arms around Izzy’s trembling frame. He was still half-dressed, his long shirt soaked and hanging over the important bits. The bits that Lucius was somehow not even trying to touch.He was just holding him… like he was a pup or something, someone, important. Izzy didn’t know what to do with this. He was afraid to like it, but he did like it. A dangerous thought that made him tremble even more.“I’m giving you a hug. No one’s ever hugged you before, Izzy?” Izzy swallowed hard, more tears pricking his dark eyes. He shook his head miserably.“It’s been a long time.” He admitted before hiccuping in Lucius’ arms. The alpha cradled him a little closer and Izzy… Izzy allowed himself to be held.“Not anymore.” Lucius nuzzled him gently and Izzy let him, making a soft sound at the affection. “All the hugs from here on out.” Izzy sniffled but Lucius swore he almost felt the omega nod his head in response.“Why?” And Lucius smirked, making Izzy groan before he even heard the boy’s response.“Why not?”  Afterwards, Lucius helped Izzy undress and retrieved the soap from the bag. He scrubbed Izzy down first, helping him with the hard to reach or sensitive spots first. Then he let Izzy wash up privately near the waterfall.“Goddamn, Izzy.” Lucius breathed as Izzy half turned, soaping up his chest and arms, then armpits. He didn’t think the omega could hear him, with how close he was to the waterfall. He didn’t think he’d said anything out loud when he saw Izzy’s chest properly. Goddamn indeed. Those tits could launch a thousands ship. Or at least launch his ship. Fuck. Goddamn.“What?” Izzy sighed in a long-suffering sort of way and Lucius smirked again.“Your tits.” Lucius waggled his eyebrows over at Izzy who scowled.“What about them?” But Izzy ran his hands over his pecs one more time, moving them just right, and Lucius knew that he knew just how fucking good he looked. “Pirates have to be strong.” Izzy tsked.“They’re hot.” Lucius said unashamedly. He’d always thought Izzy was hot, but the prickly man never let anyone close. This was as close as Lucius was going to get— he might as well pay him a compliment. Izzy’s eyes darkened but he gave Lucius a little smile, playing with his own tits just enough to reveal the metal nestled on either side of both pink nipples. “Yea.” Lucius watched, unable to look away. “You’re sexy, Izzy Hands. Always thought you were sexy, even when you were all alpha.”“Knew your cock wasn’t picky.” Izzy quipped but then he turned around and Lucius was stuck looking at his ass that was peeking out of the water. That was sexy as hell too, but he didn’t voice that thought out loud. There was a big difference between appreciation and seduction. He wasn’t trying to seduce Izzy— just flirt with him a little. Izzy deserved a little bit of flirting. He deserved to feel special. Izzy finished washing up and he waded over to where Lucius already had his blanket out and waiting for him on a sunny rock. “Your turn.” Izzy handed the soap over to Lucius. “Hurry up. I could smell you from the waterfall.” Lucius gave him a little bit of a smug grin, glad to see more light in Izzy’s eyes. He kicked off his blanket and slid into the water with the soap. “And take care of your boner because I’m not gonna do it for you.” Izzy hollered after him— in a teasing, ribbing sort of way that Lucius appreciated. The alpha flipped the omega off— both of them chuckling. Lucius scrubbed up and the omega watched, curled up in the sun on his blanket. He almost felt good. He certainly felt better.Izzy started to think of ways he could maybe make things up to Lucius while the boy washed up. He wasn’t good with words like Lucius— at least not with gentle, kind words. He more than surpassed him in cruel ones designed to cut and to make someone bleed. He wasn’t like Stede who motherhenned his crew. Izzy made sure all the chicks were there, that they weren’t in danger, but he didn’t gather them up under his wings after. He didn’t know how to. And here, Lucius was taking care of him, hellfire and brimstone, he was even hugging him. And Izzy wanted to do something nice back.Unfortunately he could think of only one thing, but maybe that’d be enough, although it had ended in rejection before. It was certainly worth a shot. And maybe if he explained why he was… doing what he was doing… Lucius wouldn’t push him away this time. Izzy didn’t want to be pushed away this time. He wanted to do something nice for once. He wanted to at least try.There was a good chance he’d ruin everything once again, but it was worth a try. Lucius couldn’t refuse this time— because Izzy knew right where to start.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They took shelter in a new spot that night, near the waterfall. The sound of rushing water was soothing for both of them, both as a soothing sound and the reminder that they had found water.“I saw fish in the pool.” Izzy said softly after Lucius turned over for the tenth time in two minutes. The ground here was not as comfortable as the beach cave. Once Izzy had more use of his hand– he’d teach Lucius how to weave some of the natural materials together to make things more bearable.“Fish?”“Food.” Izzy scooted a little closer, his heart hammering in his chest. He had no way to know how to go about this. In truth, he was usually trying to get away from alphas, not scoot up close to them. He’d broken the silence and that had been the first step.“We’ll need something sharp to get them.”“Or netted.” Izzy added.“Good thinking.” Lucius mused. “Out of everyone I could have gotten stuck on an island with, I think you might have been the best pick.”“Because I’m so smart?” Izzy snorted softly.“Yea.” Lucius responded. “You seem to know what to do.”“Survival is a skill I’ve been working on for a good many years.” Izzy replied. “I’ve picked up the skills I’ve needed to stay alive.” He paused. “And it would seem, so have you.” There. That wasn’t half bad. A compliment. Maybe he could do this after all.“Did you– did you just compliment me?” Lucius spluttered, shocked into silence at Izzy’s sudden touch that came a second after. His hand grasped Lucius’ arm and the boy’s mind started to race, trying to figure out what was going on. “Izzy?”“You want to touch me?” He asked in a voice he barely recognized as his own. As he had expected, Lucius recoiled. “My tits, I mean.” He hurried. “Just my tits.”“Why?!” Lucius asked in a hoarse voice.“I’m not good at being kind.” Izzy said quietly. “I’m not soft or good.” Lucius blinked, sensing that those were somehow more compliments being sent his way. “The only thing I have, the only thing of me that people want, is my body. You’re kind to me, although I don’t understand why. I mean, I understand the words you say when you try to explain it, but a lifetime of– of–” Izzy was suddenly aware that he was talking too much. He was supposed to be getting the boy to touch him, to take his reward, not boring him to death with recourse.“Keep going.” Lucius touched his face gently. “I want to hear it.”“A lifetime of shit makes it hard to understand kindess.” Izzy’s voice cracked. “I’m not trying to be difficult, Lucius.” The way he said his name made Lucius’ chest ache. He could almost taste how hard Izzy was trying. “I’m trying to say thank you, I guess.”“You only need those words to thank me.”“Lucius, fucking touch me!” Izzy sounded panicked. “Everytime you say no–” He bit his tongue hard. He wouldn’t finish that sentence. He couldn’t.“I don’t want to take advantage.” Izzy scoffed.“I’m literally putting myself out here on a silver plate.” He grabbed Lucius’ arm, his hand trailing down to his hand. “Please.” Lucius let him take his hand and place it on his chest. Izzy’s chest was warm, naked, and inviting in a way Lucius hadn’t known.“You smell good.” He murmured the first thought that popped into his mind as Izzy released his hand.“Touch me please. Take your thanks.”“Izzy.” Lucius murmured his name in such a way that made Izzy want to twist away and hide. He felt naked when the alpha talked to him like that– like he could somehow see through Izzy and his miserable mask. Lucius moved his hand ever so slowly, grasping at Izzy’s chest and squeezing it gently. Izzy let out a sharp exhale, silent and tense next to the younger man. Lucius rolled him over and Izzy let himself be maneuvered so that Lucius was at his back. His hand was still on his chest, still groping him, feeling him, exploring him.Izzy was going to be sick. He was a fucking idiot. Why the hell did he pester an alpha into touching him? Now he had to go through with this. “Izzy?”“What?” Izzy ground out.“You know, all the nice things I do to you that you like, you can just do them back to me.” Lucius continued on with care. “Like a hug or even just a nice pat on the shoulder.”“Like a dog?” Izzy questioned and Lucius sighed softly.“Sure, Izzy, like a dog. My point is– you don’t need to offer up your body to me. I don’t need it. I appreciate it, but I’m content appreciating you from a distance.” He squeezed Izzy’s chest one more time as if to prove his point and Izzy gasped. He moved Izzy back so he was facing him. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I know for a fact you haven’t healed up–”“Once I’m healed up then–”“No, Izzy, once you just can’t live without me inside of you, then and only then, would I ever dare to lay hands on you in that manner.” Izzy flushed at the alpha’s bluntness. “But your kindness I would accept.” Lucius continued. “I don’t like it when you’re mean to me, Izzy. I don’t like it when you call me names or make me feel small. I’m not incompetent. I’m not even lazy. I’ve worked hard to survive, just like you. And just because I’m younger than you doesn’t make me inferior.”“What do I do now?” Izzy asked, unable to hide his trembling. He was pretty sure he was crying. “I’ve failed this.”“No, this ended in talking and I’m always happy to talk with you.” Izzy sniffled, wiping his face.“You are?”“I am.” Lucius was buttoning his shirt, covering him back up, and Izzy choked back a sob at the care he was being shown. He could go back to being his usual prickly self once he was healed– it was actually really nice to be taken care of for once. He’d let the alpha baby him this once and then it would be business as usual.“Thank you.” He whispered.“For what?” Lucius sounded surprised that he was being thanked at all as he grabbed Izzy’s blanket and wrapped it around him snuggly. Izzy felt safe and that knocked another sob loose from his throat.“For not taking advantage.” He whispered and Lucius had to smile.“Of course.” He soothed. “None of that’s gonna happen with me around.” Izzy sniffled again and Lucius pressed in a little closer, wrapping a loose arm around him. “This okay?” He asked.“Is this like a hug?” Izzy asked and Lucius’ heart nearly broke at the question.“Yea, it’s like a hug, Izzy. It’s called snuggling.”“Oh.” Izzy wiggled a little, testing how tightly Lucius was holding onto him. He could roll away easily if that was what he wanted, but Izzy wasn’t sure that was what he wanted. “Yea, that’s okay.” He had always shied away from touch in the past, sure of where it would head if he allowed the lightest of touches, but here with Lucius, Izzy was starting to think he might like touching. Hugging and snuggling anyways. They seemed nice and safe enough.“Yea?”“Think I like it.”“Good.” He could hear Lucius’ smile. The boy was sounding tired again and Izzy quieted down, wanting him to be able to rest.“Goodnight, Lucius.” And the arm around him squeezed for a second, something warm flaring up in both their chests.“Goodnight, Izzy.” Lucius sighed contentedly. “I’m proud of you, you know.”“Oh.” Izzy hummed, wanting to bask in the warmth that welled up inside of him at that comment. “Thanks.” Lucius squeezed him again but stayed silent. It wasn’t long after that the boy was snoring and Izzy felt good about that. He guessed all Lucius needed to keep from rolling around was a bit of snuggling and Izzy was happy to be able to provide that.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Things changed after that night and Lucius found that they changed for the better. Izzy and Lucius started to find their footing around each other. Izzy didn’t try to seduce Lucius again, but he tried to be kinder. He did his best to not be mean anymore even if he snapped from time to time.Weeks passed.Izzy’s body was healing well and honestly, so was his mind. Izzy found Lucius easily to be around now— they could teach each other new things, he could handle a touch here or there from the alpha, hugs, and the occasional snuggle. Izzy taught Lucius how to weave, how to fish, and Lucius seemed to thrive under his mentorship. He seemed to almost glow every time Izzy praised him for a job well done.“Lucius?”“Yes, God?” Izzy pressed his lips together, trying to hide his smile. He still hid his emotions regularly, but Lucius was rewarded with getting to see them from time to time. Like when he got his first fish and Izzy beamed like a proud father. Lucius was never going to forget that moment.“What are we?” Izzy asked.“What do you mean?” That question could have a lot of answers. They were human. They were pirates. They had been pirates anyways. They were men. They were friends.“You and I.” Izzy gestured between them. “I don’t feel like I used to back on The Revenge.” “Thank goodness for that.” Lucius chuckled. “Mm, describe how you feel around me and I’ll find a word for us.” Izzy looked a little daunted by that request, a little flushed too. “It’s just me, Iz.” Lucius soothed. “I— uh— like spending time with you. When you’re around—“ Izzy had started out slow but now his words were coming out fast and stilted. “I feel safe when you’re around and—“ he blinked “—happy.”“Do you want to kiss me?”“No! I don’t think so, sorry.” Izzy winced.“No, don’t be.” Lucius hurried to explain. “I am just trying to figure it out.”“Any ideas?” Izzy hurried to ask before they went back to any talk of kissing.“Sounds like we’re friends.” Lucius smiled over at him, eyes crinkling at the sides like they did when he was really happy. Oh. Lucius was happy to be his friend.“Oh!” Izzy brightened. “Been a while since I’ve had friends. Had a couple when I was a sailor, but that was a long time ago.” He leaned back against the rock they were sitting at the base of on the beach, watching the sun set over the rolling waves.“What happened to them?” Lucius asked.“Mm, most of them died, I think.” Izzy blinked. “Most of them were omegas like me. Death is kinder than… well… you know.” He shrugged carefully. “I’ll be glad to have my sword hand back in commission soon.” His hand and foot were healing nicely, at least in Lucius’ unprofessional opinion, but he knew enough about stitching up to get them both by.“Sorry to hear that.” Lucius frowned.“‘Sides you, Ed’s my only alpha friend.”“Does Ed know?” Lucius asked and Izzy flinched, shaking his head vigorously.“Gods, no! And I don’t ever want him to know.”“You don’t think he’d be safe?”“He’s Blackbeard.” Izzy breathed out. “There’s no telling what he’d do.” Lucius thought it was kind of sad. Izzy deserved friends he could trust—friends he could be himself around without needing to hide. He deserved friends who were safe.But Lucius got it. They were pirates— and most pirates weren’t safe to be around. Lucius knew he and his friends on The Revenge were odd compared to the usual pirate crews, but he’d take their safety over all perks that came with the others. Maybe his crew could be safe for Izzy too.“Can I ask you something?”“Yes.”“Why’d you give Blackbeard up?” Lucius was afraid to ask, unsure of the answer he’d receive. He didn’t expect Izzy to chuckle in response. “The Izzy I knew would have never betrayed Blackbeard.” Izzy sucked in a sharp breath, glancing over at Lucius, studying him before he finally answered.“I didn’t.”“But you—““I lied. We haven’t used Okracoke Island in years— it was compromised over a decade ago.” Izzy snorted. “That officer should have known that if he was competent at goddamn anything.”“So you don’t want Blackbeard dead?” Lucius clarified.“Of course not.” Izzy frowned. “He’s my captain.”“Do you want him?” Izzy hesitated, so Lucius reworded his question. “Do you love him?”“I don’t love him like you love Pete.” Izzy answered carefully. “But I do love him in my own way.”“What way is that?” Lucius was genuinely curious.“I love him like some people love the sun or the moon. I love him like some love the sea. He’s what guides me— keeps me going.”“Do you want to go back to him? Go back to being his first mate?”“I’m not sure I really know how to do anything else at this point.” Izzy mused. “He’s been where I fit for so long— I’m not sure I fit anywhere else.”“Seems like you’re doing okay out here.” Lucius offered and Izzy laughed, nodding his head.“I’m doing surprisingly well for being out here and it’s because of you, so thank you.”“You’re welcome.” Lucius smiled, wrinkling his nose over at him. “Anytime. I can be your vacation buddy whenever you’re in need of an island getaway.” Izzy grinned.“Thanks, Lu.” He paused as he realized what he’d said, glancing over at Lucius carefully. “Is that okay if I call you that?”“What? Lu? Sure, we’re friends now.” Lucius gave him a reassuring smile. “I like it. No one’s really called me that nickname before.” Lucius had been internally screaming for joy over this whole conversation— getting to know Izzy better had been such a supposing adventure— but the nickname was just the cherry on top. Izzy was secretly… sweet. And Lucius was flattered that he got to see this side of him at all. He would have understood if Izzy had clammed up and never warmed up to him at all.But somehow Izzy had opened up and Lucius was along for the adventure. There wasn’t much else to do out here, but Lucius had a feeling even elsewhere he would have gotten sucked into the fascinating mystery that was Izzy Hands.“Do you think we’ll be stuck here forever?” Izzy asked softly. “Sometimes I watch the horizon, hoping to see a ship, and other times I watch the horizon, dreading the day I see one.”“You know you can make your life into whatever you want, Iz. You could live out your days here or you could go somewhere and start a new life. You can do anything you want.” Izzy sighed sadly.“No, I can’t. I need to stay where I’m safe.” Izzy left out that he felt the safest he’d ever felt in his whole life when he was near Lucius. He needed to stay near Lucius.“I’ve seen you fight.” Lucius nudged him. “You fooled me into thinking you were an alpha for over a year. God can do whatever he wants.”“Hmm.” Izzy shrugged. “It’s never seemed that way before. The ship was the one place I felt like I could actually have some power over my life, my body.”“Your parents didn’t tell you to follow your dreams or some shit?” Lucius snorted.“I don’t have parents.” Izzy spoke plainly. “I know I must have had them at some point, but I never met them. I grew up on the streets of London, all on my own.”“How’d you end up on the sea?”“Got caught stealing.” Izzy stared at the sand on their feet. “It was the navy or the noose. Not until they lashed me soundly first. I was old enough to have the need to survive drilled into me, so I picked the navy. Should have picked the noose and saved myself all this trouble.” Lucius made a pained sound at that, rubbing his friend’s shoulder for a second.“How old were you?”“Thirteen?” Izzy shrugged. “Presented a year later. Spent a good amount of time as a sailor, another big chunk of time as the pet cabin boy and all that went along with that. Apparently as long as the boy you’re fucking is an omega, it’s just not a sin.” He sniffed. “Fucking hypocrites.”“Shit, I’m sorry, Izzy.” Lucius blinked. “You deserved better than that.”“What about you? Was ‘following your dreams’ something your parents told you often?”“How do you think I grew up?” Lucius asked, amused by something Izzy wasn’t privy to yet.“Like Stede?” Lucius laughed loudly at that, slapping his leg and shaking his head.“No, not even close.” Lucius drew in a ragged breath and kept on chuckling.“It’s not that funny.” Izzy humphed.“Izzy, darling, I’m not laughing at you.” Lucius reached over and patted the omega’s knee. He had noticed how Izzy welcomed his friendly touches, but he rarely ever reciprocated. Perhaps Izzy wasn’t comfortable yet, although he really was making such an effort already. “It’s just— we grew up kind of similar.”“You were a street rat?”“Worse. I was a brothel kid.”“Your mother worked at a brothel?”“Yes, maybe? I always assumed I was one of their kids that wasn’t wanted. For the longest time, I thought my mum was one the whore who were nice to me, who gave me sweets, and shit. You know, the ones who educated me and wanted me to have a better life than them. But as I got older, I think I realized she was probably the women who was always mean to me— who’d hit me if I got too close, who’d call me names and shit…” He glanced over at Izzy. Maybe that had been the initial draw to the omega then. “… I looked the most like her anyway.”“Shit, Lucius.” Izzy looked disturbed. “I’m sorry.” He cocked his head. “So the madam just let you stay?” Izzy was trying to figure out how it worked. “Did your mother pay for you to stay?”“Not that simple, I’m afraid.” Lucius grimaced and Izzy’s stomach flipped at the implications. “You gotta work. Maybe they paid for me when I was little, but I always remember running around doing little errands for them. So I did whatever jobs they asked of me, cleaning, drawing, writing, laundry even, and as I got older… they found different jobs for me… especially once I presented as an alpha. A soft, emotional, easily frightened alpha…” Lucius trailed off.Izzy was silent at that revelation, staring out at the sea. Lucius watched him for a moment— he could admire the man’s profile— it was gorgeous. And then Izzy turned to look at him. He reached over and took Lucius’ hand with such care that Lucius wasn’t sure how to accept it. He ran his thumb over Izzy’s fingers instead, reaching the callouses and scars he found there.Lucius was just as fascinated with Izzy’s hands than the rest of him.”I’m sorry.”“Don’t be. I’m tough. I survived. Actually, Stede paid off my debt and that was how I got to leave.”“That’s why you’re so… free?”“Izzy, you straight up called me a slut on The Revenge, we don’t have to stand on ceremony here“You don’t like it when I’m mean.” Izzy frowned, his familiar rasp of a voice soothing instead of jarring now.“Where is Izzy Hands and what have you done with him? You’ve replaced him with some thoughtful, adorable man and I just can’t handle it!” Lucius mock-cried, leaning into Izzy’s shoulder. “I’ve liked getting to know you better, Iz.” He said in a low voice. “Thank you for the opportunity.” Izzy glanced over with a shy smile and a look passed between them that Lucius could only describe as pulling . Both of them leaned back quickly after that, eyes back on the red and orange sunset. “I think I learned early on to enjoy my body.” Lucius finally answered after collecting himself. “It was mine again and I just wanted to have fun.”“Sex isn’t fun.” Izzy grimaced.“It can be.” Lucius shrugged. “But not everyone wants to have sex, not everyone likes sex, and that’s okay too.”“Okay.” Izzy breathed. “That’s good then.”“Yea, it is.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The days passed quickly and more often than not, Izzy and Lucius were exploring together. More weeks had passed and Izzy had use of his foot again. His hand had healed and he practiced with the stick Lucius had gifted him all those weeks ago. He convinced Lucius to spar with him, determined to teach him how to defend himself should the need ever arrive. Training was slow-going. Lucius’ hand missed the quill, not a sword, and Izzy’s hand nearly rejected all training. So Izzy and Lucius practiced with sticks until Lucius could manage a parry and a thrust well enough.

“I would give you paper and ink if I had it.” Izzy said quietly as they were at the beach, as was their custom, watching the sun sink yet again. Lucius was idly drawing cocks in the sand, bemoaning his lack of paper, ink, and quill. “Might even let you sketch me.” Lucius gasped, looking up from his phallic creations.

“Oh, the gods are cruel indeed if Izzy Hands is consenting to being sketched when I don’t have the tools to do so!”

“If we ever return to civilization, I’ll sit for one sketch.” Izzy held up a finger and Lucius made a pleased sound.

“Deal.” He sat up slowly, dusting some of the sand off his clothes. “It will be a glorious sketch indeed.”

“It’ll be just fine.” Izzy waved off his compliments. “I’m curious how you’ll render me.”

“One question.” Lucius settled against Izzy, a warm, welcome weight against his thigh and side. Izzy liked it when they sat side by side, watching the sunset. It might be his favorite part of the routine they’d set up here on the island. “Can I draw you naked?”

“From memory? Sure.” Izzy snorted, elbowing him slightly. Izzy’s touch had become a little more certain, a little more sure. Little by little, he touched Lucius more, usually on the hand or the arm, and only for a few seconds at a time. But it was still there, still something. Their trust was still fragile, but it was growing. And Lucius found that he treasured it.

Izzy was a whole other man than he had thought he was. But then again, Lucius didn’t think he’d ever seen him happy before this. Izzy lit up in the morning when Lucius woke up and wandered out of their dwelling. Izzy smiled when he sat next to him at sunset. He watched him with a steady gaze as he trained and learned new skills under Izzy’s teaching. Izzy was quickly becoming a large part of Lucius’ world and when Izzy took inventory, Lucius had come to notice that he was the first thing accounted for each time.

Izzy cared about him. And that was a sort of thrilling place to be.

“Fine.” Lucius laughed. “My memory isn’t that good, however.”

“Your attempts at seduction will fail.” Izzy laughed as well. He didn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so much. Lucius was good at making him laugh and he seemed to be able to make the boy laugh as well.

“Maybe I just wanna see those tits again.”

“Too bad.” Izzy scoffed. “Had your chance.” They both chuckled at that. It felt like months ago since they’d arrived. They enjoyed their time together on this island– this life they’d made– but they were both waiting for something to happen. Men didn’t stay lost on islands forever– they were either found or killed by the elements. Hurricane season hadn’t even started yet– and they both knew none of their shelters were strong or safe enough if a proper hurricane hit.

They were stuck in limbo– waiting for something to happen, preparing for something to happen, and yet determined to enjoy every last minute they could before it all came crashing down around them.

And then, a month and a half later, Izzy saw something on the horizon. It was at sunset again, the sun all but swallowed up by the ocean. “Lucius.”

It was serious when he used the boy’s full name. Most of the time he was just

Lu

by now and ‘Lu’ fucking loved it. Lu and Iz. They were well on their way to being good friends at this point. Their trust wasn’t so fragile now, not that either of them wanted to test just how far it could go. They were content with the island and each other.

“Israel.” Lucius deadpanned, looking up from where he had been dozing against Izzy’s shoulder. “What is it?”

“Do those look like sails to you?” Izzy pointed– sharp-eyed as ever, and Lucius squinted at the smudge on the horizon. His blood ran cold when it took on a blurry form of a ship.

“Yea.” His own panic spiked and Izzy gripped his shoulder, scenting him from a distance. Offering comfort on an intimate level that he hadn’t done before.

“We have hiding spots. We have supplies. We’ll be fine.” Izzy soothed. “We don’t know if it’s friend or foe yet.” He cautioned. “I’ll be right here.” Lucius looked over at him, like a scared rabbit about to bolt. “Okay?” Lucius slowly nodded, biting his lip hard. Izzy realized he was terrified, about to cry, and trying to hide it from him. “Can I–” He moved a little closer, offering his arm. “Hug you?” Lucius nodded and Izzy turned fully, tugging the alpha into his arms.

Lucius tucked into him like a pup seeking comfort and Izzy held onto him tightly, willing all that comfort to be found here. “We’re going to be okay. We’re going to stay safe.” He whispered with far more conviction than he felt. He hoped they would be okay. He hoped they’d stay safe. He’d fight to protect Lucius from whatever dangers may come, but at the end of the day he had a stick, not a sword.

“Thanks, Iz.” Lucius clung to him and Izzy held him close, scenting him again. He normally wouldn’t dare— they were friends, good friends— and yet some part of him, quiet and hidden, whispered

mine

whenever it came to Lucius Spriggs.

Now that a ship had come, Izzy wished it would disappear. He didn’t want anything to change. He didn’t want to lose what they had found here: mainly, each other.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius and Izzy spent the night in their most well hidden shelter. It was a tight fit, but neither of them seemed to mind, both of them needing the comfort of the other more than they cared to admit. Izzy snuggled in close, hiding his face in Lucius’ neck.

“I need you to promise me something.”

“What is it?” Lucius asked, holding him close, rubbing his healed skin gently.

“If it’s the British– if it’s foe– and they’re about to win… please kill me.” The earnestness in his voice hurt Lucius in a way he couldn’t explain. The idea of Izzy being

dead

struck him and he had a flash of enlightenment that this was how Pete had felt about him.

Pete. Lucius felt guilty. Pete probably thought he was dead and here he was all pressed up against Izzy without remorse. They didn’t own each other, but Pete would still want to talk about it and Lucius didn’t want to. He didn’t want to talk about it at all. He wanted to stay here with Izzy in their little bubble until they were both ready to face the world. Neither of them were ready for that yet and they both knew it. In fact, Lucius had been looking forward to staying here, whatever the end, especially if he got to stay out of the ocean– especially if he got to stay with Izzy.

“I can’t kill you, Izzy.” Lucius frowned in the darkness. “You’re my friend.” His voice cracked. “I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

“Would you be able to let me do it? Hold them off long enough so I could stick the sharpened end of my stick in–”

“Stop.” Lucius’ voice trembled. “Nothing bad is going to happen, Izzy. Nothing bad is going to happen to

you.

I couldn’t bear it.”

“Oh.” Lucius tugged him closer and Izzy allowed himself to be maneuvered onto the younger man’s lap.

“You’re going to live a good life, Israel Hands.” Lucius said firmly, cradling him close, his hand gentle across Izzy’s cheek. Izzy blinked, allowing the touch, allowing himself to be held, allowing himself to

believe…

Just this once.

He knew the babying couldn’t last forever, but now that it was ending– Izzy didn’t want to give it up. He didn’t want to give Lucius up. He had learned to live again with the boy by his side and now Izzy wasn’t so sure he’d know how to if the boy wasn’t there anymore. “You’re going to live a good life.” Lucius repeated. “And you’re going to be happy. Promise me.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“You can and you will.” Lucius didn’t back down. “Please.” He saved his superweapon for last– a bit of manners that seemed to turn Izzy’s insides to jelly. He wasn’t very good at telling Lucius no anymore either. Only time he was ever obstinate with him now was when they were training. Izzy wouldn’t have the boy’s death on his head just because he didn’t train him right.

“If they’re not foes.” Izzy added. “I’m not going back to being treated like that, Lu, I can’t.

“Fine.” Lucius relented. “I don’t blame you. I’ll hold them off if that’s what… you need. I just– U hate the idea of you hurt, Iz. I hate the idea of you not here, not alive–”

“Dead?” Izzy helped him out and Lucius made a pained sound.

“Exactly.” He sighed. “Shit, I’m starting to sound like Pete.” Izzy didn’t know what that meant. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to know. Lucius didn’t really talk about Pete and Izzy didn’t bring him up. He wasn’t sure why Lucius didn’t talk about him. He knew they were romantically and sexually involved, and it stood to reason that Lucius probably missed the beta he was dating. He probably missed Fang too.

“Do you miss him?”

“Sometimes.” Lucius managed. “I haven’t seen him since you marooned him.”

“I’m sorry, Lu.” And Lucius can tell by the tone of Izzy’s voice that he means his apology. “It was the captain's orders, but I’d like to think I’d question them more this time around.” Izzy trembled, recalling his toe, and Lucius just squeezed him gently.

“Sometimes I worry that Pete thinks I’m dead, but then I realize he’s probably the one dead. And then I don’t know what to do or think. Do I grieve? Do I move on? I don’t know what to do.”

“Don’t ask me. I just bury my feelings under lots of work and the occasional sip of alcohol.” Lucius snorted in response.

“I love you.” He shook his head, laughing lightly.

“What?!” Izzy started in his arms, pulling back.

“No, wait, I mean–” Lucius exhaled sharply. “I’m not trying anything funny. I just–

appreciate

you and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you and I want you to be happy.”

“Oh, fuck, you do love me.” Izzy slowly slid back to where he had been, where he was supposed to be.

“I’m not asking for anything in return.” Lucius whispered. “Just glad I got to hide away from the world with you, Iz, even just for a little bit.”

“I’m glad I got to hide away with you too, Lu.” Lucius held his shoulder and Izzy thought of one more question to ask him. “Do you want to kiss me sometimes, Lu?” He questioned and Lucius smirked from underneath him.

“Sometimes, Iz. But I don’t want to ruin

this.”

A gentle hand pressed to his chest. “I value our friendship more than you know.”

“Good. Guess that means you’re a proper pirate after all.”

“How so?” Lucius laughed.

“Means you know what’s treasure and what’s not.” Izzy quipped. He reached over to touch Lucius’ face for a few seconds, his fingers pressed against his cheek. Lucius had grown a beard to match his while they’d been on the island. He loved Lucius too, but not in a way the boy would understand. So he said nothing, pulling his hand back, and snuggling back against Lucius’ chest. “I promise.” He added a moment later. “If it is not foe, I will try to live a good and happy life.”

“Why?”

“Because you asked me to.”

Morning came quicker than either of them wanted. They crept out of their hiding place, stiff and sore from being cramped together in one position, but warm and content other than that. Lucius shot Izzy a shy look as he approached him.

“About last night.”

“Hmm?” Izzy turned to fully face him.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“Quite the opposite.”

“Oh.”

“I won’t pretend to understand why you care for me, Lu, but I’m grateful for it all the same.” Lucius noticed Izzy avoided saying the word outright. He wouldn’t say the word

love

and in that, Lucius supposed he had his answer. That was all right though. Izzy didn’t need to love him back. Lucius hadn’t planned on telling him at all, but now that it was out in the open, he supposed he was glad.

“I will write you a list so you can better understand. I just need my paper and my ink back.”

“Is this list before or after I get my portrait done?” Izzy teased and Lucius found himself blushing. Izzy stepped over, touching his cheek gently, quickly, like he had the night before. “Is this for me?” He asked gently and Lucius nodded. He needed Izzy to step away before he did something stupid like kiss him. “I’m honored.” Izzy retreated and headed towards the beach. “Come along, Lu, let’s see whether it is friend or foe who approaches our shores.” Lucius blinked, frozen in place for a moment, before he hurried after Izzy as fast as his feet would allow.

The ship was much closer, a couple hours away at most, as they stared out at her.

“I know that ship.” Lucius groused, swallowing down his fear. “I never wanted to see her again.”

“We do not know if she is friend or foe yet, but if she is on our trail, then maybe…” Izzy hoped that maybe Blackbeard had come to help him after all. He might not trust the alpha with his secret, but their friendship was old and sacred. He had hoped Blackbeard might care enough to rescue him. He glanced over at Lucius who looked a little pale.

Ah, Lucius had reason to fear Blackbeard as did Izzy. They would find out why

The Revenge

was at their shore soon enough. “Come on.” Izzy tugged Lucius away from the ship. “Let’s go swimming.” He pulled him back inland, back to the waterfall, where he started stripping. “You okay?”

“He’s gonna kill me.”

“Over my dead body.” Izzy’s eyes flashed and Lucius’ stomach flipped when he realized just how much Izzy meant that. “We’ll keep each other safe, Lu, come on. No use worrying while we can’t do anything about it.”

“I get it now.” Lucius cleared his throat nervously. “I’d rather die at your hands than his, Iz.” Izzy glanced over and they shared a look, a quiet nod, before the alpha stripped and joined Izzy in the pool. “Last day in paradise.” Lucius lamented. “You’ll still be my friend, right, Iz? Back wherever we’re going, whether it’s the afterlife, the ship, or some form of civilization?”

Izzy’s eyebrows rose, a sign he was surprised by the question, but his expression softened when Lu shot him a pleading look.

“Of course.” He nodded. “Always.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Whether the wind or the current was faster than they had anticipated, Izzy didn’t know, but wherever they had miscalculated had left them scrambling to get dressed as their island was invaded by the ship floating at a safe distance from shore.

“Let me–” Lucius pulled him over, quickly pulling his hair back from his face and braiding it down to the end. He tied it off with a bit of thread from his shirt. “There.” Lucius clucked approvingly. “Knock them dead.” He gave Izzy a bit of a grin despite the nervousness in his eyes and Izzy had an urge to grab his face, gently of course, and press their lips together. Oh fuck. “Let’s do this?” Lucius was talking and Izzy nodded, willing to go along with whatever. He’d rather face this with Lucius by his side than without him.

Izzy offered his hand and Lucius glanced over at him before grabbing his hand. They walked down from the waterfall– hiking back down towards the beach.

“I swear I saw someone out here who looked like him!” Someone was shouting to another person. They couldn’t see them, but Lucius knew that voice anywhere. He gasped softly, glancing over at Izzy.

“What?”

“He’s alive!” Lucius dropped Izzy’s hand and started running towards the beach. “Pete! I’m here! Pete!” Izzy let him go, something aching in his chest he couldn’t quite place. He was

happy

for Lucius– happy that he didn’t have to figure out how to grieve Pete anymore– but feeling oddly sad for himself. There was a lingering fear that had been in the back of his mind that if

The Revenge

did have Bonnet’s crew that maybe Lucius wouldn’t want to be his friend anymore.

But Lucius had asked if they’d still be friends. Lucius liked being friends. Being friends with Izzy somehow made Lucius happy.

Lu had said he loved him and Izzy really wasn’t ready to unpack that yet. He thought Lucius meant it, but the way he had said it, like he hadn’t even been thinking, and right after the whole thing with Pete. Izzy didn’t want to be a poor man’s Pete. He just wanted to be Lu’s Iz. He cringed at himself as he kept making his way to the beach. He could hear a lot of loud yelling and screeching– most of Bonnet’s crew was intact then. Pete was crying and Izzy could pick out Lu– he was crying too.

Izzy finally cleared the last bluff and there they all were, hugging and sniffling, cheering Lucius being alive. Izzy slowly made his way over, looking for Edward, looking for his captain, but so far, there was no captain to be seen. He spotted Fang, kissing Lucius’ cheek, and he had to swallow the hot flash of

something

at seeing everyone grabbing and hugging Lu. He cleared his throat and a knife flicked out, landing just before his bare feet.

Izzy looked up to meet Jim’s dark eyes staring at him. There was a lot of bad blood between them– he remembered that now– and he swallowed hard.

“I see your aim’s gotten worse.” He snarked and Jim bit their cheek as Oluwande put a restraining hand on their arm.

“You’ve got some

cojones,

you piece of

mierda.”

That was fair.

“I come in peace.” Izzy sighed, stepping closer. “Who’s captain now?”

“Not you, asshole.” Frenchie sneered and Izzy blinked. Also fair.

“I don’t want to captain.” Izzy glanced around. “Just want to know who is in charge.”

“Stede is.” A sigh nearly as heavy as his own came behind him, causing Izzy to nearly jump out of his skin. He glanced behind to see Ed standing there. “We were looking for you.” Ed’s gaze was on the group gathered around Lucius. “He survived.”

“Are you happy about that, captain?”

“Stede will be happy to see him.” Ed sniffed the air carefully. “You smell different, Iz.”

Fuck.

“Yea, well, I’m an omega.” Izzy didn’t give a fuck anymore. “It’s what I smell like when I’m not trying to pretend to be an alpha.”

“Cool.” Ed shrugged. “Stede will be glad to have another omega around.” Izzy nodded, finding it all a little too easy. Something was off with Ed– and that made him unpredictable. Twice now he’d hidden his own opinion under some fact about Stede– and frankly– that left Izzy on edge. He’d much rather know what was lurking in the dark depths of Blackbeard’s mind than what thoughts were running around Bonnet’s scatterbrain.

“Are you well, Blackbeard?” Izzy asked, trying to gauge his captain’s mood. “Thought you’d be happier having Bonnet around.”

“We’re not together.” Ed answered the unasked question hanging between them. “We’re barely talking. He won’t speak to me until the crew is fully recovered. You two were the last two.” Ed made a pained sound. “Not sure either of us are ready to talk just yet. Everything’s still a bit too raw between us.”

“Then postpone until you’re ready.” Izzy counseled, saying something Lucius would say. “No need to force yourself through shit until the time is right.”

“How’d you two end up together on this island?” Ed asked, finally a hint of suspicion. Izzy was ready for that though. As long as Blackbeard didn’t know about the barnacle ladder then it’d be fine.

“We ended up on the same British ship, escaped together, and ended up here.”

“The British must have picked him up.” Ed mused. “I’ll go find Stede.” He slipped away before Izzy could ask if that was a good idea. Things still felt tense and he had a feeling it was probably even worse aboard the ship. He glanced back at the island, overwhelmed by the urge to stay. Izzy would almost be happy to see them all go.

But then he glanced back at Lucius’ happy, tear-stained face, and Izzy knew he wasn’t staying. Lucius was going on

The Revenge

and so was Izzy. He wouldn’t be able to stay on this island without him. He’d be driven mad by the memory of him alone. He’d end up like Ed or worse.

Stede showed up, adding to the crying, hugging crew, while Izzy quietly stole aboard the ship, taking the old boat he and Lucius had escaped on. He traced his old, familiar path to his room only to find his stuff was gone, replaced with whoever’s belongings. Of course, Ed had replaced him. He’d been gone for over a year and Ed needed a first mate. He needed someone to make sure things kept running.

“Get out of my room, asshole.” Jim hissed in his ear and Izzy did as he was told, retreating to the hold of the ship. There were other rooms. There was a makeshift brig. He’d find somewhere to sleep for the night, somewhere safe. He wondered if he could hide wherever Lucius ended up, but Lucius was probably going to do things with Pete that all of them would rather not have Izzy there to watch or to try to ignore what was happening around him.

Izzy didn’t like the idea of Pete touching Lucius or kissing him, but he wanted Lucius to be happy.

Fuck. He couldn’t have figured out his own feelings when it was just the two of them– no, that would have been too easy.

Izzy went through the whole ship only to find there was no room for him. He made his way back to the deck just as everyone was settling in. Stede was going to read a story and that was that. Izzy glanced upwards, noticing the crow’s nest. Maybe he’d be lucky enough to find it unoccupied for at least tonight. He climbed up carefully, settling in against the mast. Stede’s voice reached him all the way up here and he let himself get lost in the story, unable to stop himself from imagining himself and maybe Lucius in the story as well. Where there were such things as happily ever afters and friendships that survived the impossible.

At some point, he fell asleep, curled up high above the sea, reaching for someone he couldn’t touch from here, someone wrapped up in Pete’s arms down on the deck below. Someone he couldn't touch even if he was right there-- out of reach in an intangible way that Izzy didn't know how to get past.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Izzy woke up before dawn.

Everyone was still sleeping except for Buttons who was on watch. Izzy found Lucius right away, snoring soundly in the deck, curled up in a ball. He wasn’t in Pete’s arms anymore, but had found a corner to sleep in by himself. Izzy wanted nothing more than to go over to him, maybe curl up next to him, but he didn’t. He wasn’t sure if it was allowed anymore. Somehow the rules had changed and Izzy didn’t know where he fit. He just knew where he wanted to fit.

He made his way down the ropes and into the storeroom where he began to take inventory. It was a good thing he did because it was a hot mess. They needed a lot. Izzy found a piece of paper and a piece of graphite, quickly marking down the things they would need come next raid or port.

“Hello, Mr. Hands.” Stede called out in a low voice. He was being cautious. Good. izzy didn’t think he could handle Stede’s usual carefree, cheerful abandon this morning. “I’m glad we found you.”

“Were you looking for me or was Blackbeard?” Izzy asked, needing to know. His heart might want Blackbeard to actually care, but his mind was far more practical.

“Ed didn’t say anything one way or another. I’m sorry.” Stede looked genuine, smelled genuine too. “Your loyalty to him should be better rewarded.”

“It’s fine.” Izzy let out a ragged breath. “I know what he is. You’d think I’d learn to expect less.”

“Yea, well, love colors the eyes, doesn’t it?” Stede ground out. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry about your room. We’ll figure something out. I just needed a first mate and Ed wasn’t much help.”

“How is it that you’re captain? You two were co-captains last I knew anything.” Izzy was starting to realize it had been a hard year for everyone with the way Stede’s eyes darted over to find his.

“I took the ship back the hard way. It was the only way he’d listen.” Stede bowed his head. “I cut and clawed at him and he slashed and scratched at me until…” Izzy held his breath, waiting for Stede to finish his sentence, “until he gave up.” There was no victory in Stede’s eyes when he looked up at Izzy, like a repentant child. “We’ve both made some impressive mistakes, Izzy, and I’m not sure we can undo them.” Huh. Maybe Lucius had rubbed off on him more than he thought. At the thought of the young alpha, Izzy’s heart ached. He knew longing when he felt it– he’d have to find a way to speak to the boy– figure out where he stood. As for Stede’s problem…

“Well, you can’t.” Izzy spoke up before he could stop himself. “You can’t undo a mistake, captain. You can only learn from it and then try again when you’re ready.” He glanced over timidly only to find Stede giving him a small smile.

“That might be the most encouraging thing I’ve heard yet. Thank you, Mr. Hands.”

“Izzy’s fine.” Izzy offered him a small smile in return. “What duties would you have for me, captain? Or should I speak to the first mate?” The ship had been lost properly and Izzy found he didn’t miss his position. He was worried about Ed– all the fight seemed to have gone from his sails, but whether or not a storm was brewing inside, he’d have to ascertain that threat for himself. He wouldn’t get Stede involved. Wouldn’t risk him. “I’d like to start over, captain.” He ducked his head. “I’ve been unkind and rude. I helped maroon your crew. I’m willing to pay for my own mistakes in favor of you and I being able to start over.” He offered his hand and Stede took it– fuck, his hands were soft. Even softer than Lucius’

“I’d like that. Let bygones be bygones.” Stede’s smile grew. “You’ll have to apologize to the crew, of course, but I think it would be lovely to start over.”

“And for duties?”

“Help where needed? I’m afraid you’re still the most competent sailor on this ship. And I’d like you to be in charge of supplies and rations and such.” Stede waved a ringed hand around. “We’re not so good at keeping track.”

“Of course, captain. It’d be an honor.” Izzy handed over the paper he had with what he had written down. “Already made a list of supplies needed in our next port. And I must compliment you on your stock of oranges. Very good, sir.”

“If I’m calling you ‘Izzy’ then it’s only right that you can call me Stede. Or captain.” Stede took the list. “Thank you, Izzy. I really am glad to have you back onboard.” Izzy nodded. He could do this. “Oh, Izzy, grab an orange for yourself.” Stede added. Can’t risk you losing your teeth either.”

Izzy chuckled as he grabbed an orange, and then on second thought, grabbed another one.

“For Lucius.” He held it up and Stede nodded, allowing him to pass out of the storage room. Izzy’s heart felt strangely light as he tossed the orange up and swiped it out of the air. He headed toward the deck, towards his boy, feeling like he could almost skip.

Almost.

Izzy made it to the main deck in record time. He spotted Lucius on the far end of the deck, leaning against the side, and hurried towards him. He couldn't help but hurry now that he'd seen him, a smile crossing his face.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Izzy came to a halt when Pete got up and stood in front of him, arms crossed in front of his chest, effectively blocking his path.

“I– Lucius–” Izzy pointed, at a lack for words with the way Pete was acting towards him. He just wanted to fucking see Lucius!

“Stay the fuck away from him.” Pete growled. “He’s been through enough. Can’t believe he fucking survived being on that island with you.”

“Lucius is my friend.” Izzy frowned. “I brought him an orange. That’s–” He paused. “Why are you acting like this? And what's that supposed to mean?!”

“You don’t fool me.” Pete sniffed. “You don’t fool any of us.” He grabbed the oranges from Izzy’s hand. “Thanks for the citrus. Stay away from him.”

“I-” Izzy blinked. What was happening? “Lu?!” He called out, unable to completely hide the panic in his voice. Lucius looked up at the sound of Izzy’s voice and Izzy felt a little better with how Lucius' face lit up like the sun when he saw him standing there.

“Iz!” He hurried over, brushing past Pete on his way. “I’ve been looking for you since last night!” He hugged Izzy tightly and Izzy clung to him in return, trying to ignore Pete’s glare. “Are you okay?”

“I was in the storeroom.”

“Taking inventory?” Lucius knew his habits well.

“Knew where you were, so I had to take stock of the ship next.” Lucius’ eyes sparkled.

“Lucky to have you looking after me, Iz.”

“I talked to Stede.” Izzy would tell him more details later. Not right now. Not with the frantic need to be close, to feel safe.

“Yea?” Lucius leaned back, studying him. “You’re okay?” Izzy could cry at that question. Lucius had gotten good at reading him. Too good.

“Well enough.” Izzy gave him a rueful smile. “Been missing the island a little.” He’d been missing having Lucius all to himself on their island with their routines. Izzy missed the simplicity of it all. He missed the closeness. He missed Lucius.

“Me too.” Lucius admitted with a little laugh. “Where were you last night? I saved you a spot.” Something warmed in Izzy’s chest and he looked down at the deck. “Izzy…” Lucius tsked. “You’re not on your own. Not anymore. Stuck with me.”

“Mean it?” Izzy looked painfully relieved all of a sudden and Lucius felt a pang of worry. Had something happened already? They had just got back. He'd have to keep a closer eye on Izzy. He had just assumed Izzy was taking space as he needed to do every now and then, or that he was reconnecting with Ed or Fang or Ivan. He hated the idea of Izzy not knowing where to go when he was always available.

“I mean it.” He stressed, leaning a little closer. “And if anyone says something different, they’re lying, all right? You always have a spot next to me, it doesn't matter what table or deck we’re on.”

“Okay.” Izzy nodded. “I was in the crow’s nest. Listening to the story. I didn’t know where else to go.” Words spilled out of him, too fast to catch, but Lucius listened, and for that Izzy wanted to hug him again. He had really missed him. “I missed you.” Something softened in Lucius’ face and he was hugging Izzy again, the omega hiding his face in the alpha’s shoulder.

“I’m right here.” Lucius whispered. “I missed you too.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

That night, at sunset, Izzy and Lucius could be found in the crow’s nest together, feet dangling over the sides. They leaned against the mast, their thighs and shoulders brushing against each other as they watched the sunset. Lucius glanced over at Izzy ever so often, and it took everything in Izzy not to look back, as Lucius made his mark on the paper in his lap.

“This might be my best sketch yet.” Lucius murmured, rewarded with the sweetest scent he’d ever smelled from Izzy yet. “You’re so gorgeous, Iz.”

“Nah, I’m not.” Izzy shook his head.

“Ah, ah.” Lucius tsked, raising a finger to his face. “I’m the artist here, not you. And I find you ridiculously gorgeous.” Izzy did glance over then.

“You can’t mean that.” He was doing it again, speaking the thoughts inside his head instead of keeping them there where no one else could hear them.

“Why not?” Lucius put the pencil down and looked over at him, really looked over at him. “I found you attractive the moment I laid eyes on you. A little scary, sure, impressive as hell, but also fucking gorgeous.” He tapped his wooden finger against the end of Izzy’s nose. “And then I got to know you, the real you, and well, fuck, never stood a chance.” He grinned. “You’ve got a heart under all that leather. One I’m pretty fond of.”

“Oh.”

“So yea, when I call you gorgeous— I mean it, Iz.”

“Sometimes I want to kiss you.” Izzy whispered. “Think you’re gorgeous too, Lu.” Lucius’ brown eyes widened, blinking a few times, and then he smiled, slow and bright.

“Well, maybe we should get around to that sooner than later then, hmm?” Lucius purred but Izzy was already leaning in, his fingers wrapping around Lucius’ shirt. He pressed in, closing his eyes and kissing Lucius quickly before he lost his nerve.

Lucius kissed him, slow and sensual in a way Izzy had never been kissed before. Lucius kissed like he was going to utterly take him apart and put him back together in a new form entirely.

Izzy was okay with that. Every inch of him felt alive as he kissed Lucius— the boy tasted sweet under his lips and then Lucius pressed his tongue into his mouth and Izzy just about forgot his own name. He pressed into Lucius harder, whimpering softly into the alpha’s mouth.

Lucius pulled back immediately, checking on him. His hands were cradling Izzy’s face and Izzy couldn’t remember ever feeling so good before. It felt like his body was humming from the inside out. Lucius was looking in his eyes and Izzy smiled over at him, blinking contentedly. “Are you okay?” Izzy nuzzled into one of Lucius’ palms, closing his eyes again. He didn’t know where the sound came from, just knew it came from deep within him. He purred quietly as Lucius pulled him a little closer, hugging him for a blissful moment. “See?” Lucius whispered in his ear. “Gorgeous.”

Izzy couldn’t stop smiling. He knew that for a fact. He tried.

“Can I see that sketch yet?” He asked cheekily and Lucius’ nose wrinkled as he gazed over at him.

“No.” He whispered. “I’m not done kissing you yet.”

“Okay.” Izzy was fine with that answer, content to be pulled back into another mind blowing kiss. 
  
“What’s up with Lucius?” Jim frowned as they came to stand next to Pete. Pete was working on knots and Jim had wanted to make sure he was doing them correctly, but also they wanted the gossip. “He’s pretty cozy with Izzy now.”

“I thought he was fucking dead and then he shows up with Izzy of all people.” Pete sighed. “And he swears they’re ‘friends now’ and ‘everything’s fine.’ I don’t know what to think. All I know is that motherfucker marooned us and helped kidnap you and Frenchie. I’d rather keelhaul him then let him around my boyfriend.”

“Keelhauling is a bit extreme.” Oluwande commented, coming over by his significant other.

“So is marooning us!”

“Is Izzy why Lucius didn’t get marooned with us?” Jim asked. “Oh, do you think they’re lovers?!” They mock-gasped.

“No!” Pete frowned fiercely. “Lucius would tell me.”

“Izzy calls him Lu.” Jim added. “He eats it up every time. It’d be gross if it wasn’t kind of cute.”

“I’ve never seen Izzy like this around anyone.” Fang joined in. “He’s almost sweet. Follows Lucius around like a little puppy.”

“Lucius got a dog!” Ivan crowed, laughing and slapping his thigh. “Hey, did you guys hear the rumor that Izzy’s an omega? I heard Ed telling Stede that he was.”

“Is that why he smells sweeter now?!” Jim asked. “I was wondering! I knew he couldn’t be an alpha. Just look at him.”

“Lucius got himself an omega.” Ivan looked impressed. “Good for him. Izzy Hands isn’t easy to tame, omega or not.”

“Can we stop saying that my boyfriend is off with Izzy Hands?! They’re not together. He would have told me!”

“But maybe it happened on the island and he just hasn’t had a chance to tell you yet.” Frenchie offered. “I mean, they were making out in the crow’s nest last sunset.” Pete made an offended sound at that.

“They’ve been gone for at least a year.” Wee John added.

“Livie says they’ve ne’er had intercourse.” Buttons added from a little ways away. “They’re just friends.”

“Yea, friends that want to have intercourse.” Jim snorted. “Friends that kiss watching the sunset.”

“Livie says it was their first kiss.” Buttons informed them. Pete grimaced.

“They look like Jim and Oluwande a year ago.” The Swede agreed. “Half to banging then.”

“Guys!” Pete shouted. “This is fucking Izzy Hands. We can’t trust him. We can’t trust him with us and we definitely can’t trust him with Lucius.”

“You want us to do something.” Buttons surmised.

“Want us to teach

hombrecito

a lesson?” Jim asked. “We can teach him not to mess with our crew.”

“Please.” Pete answered quickly. “Before Lucius gets hurt by the asshole. Before we all get hurt again. If he passes, then they can date all they want, but I want to make sure he’s actually gonna take care of him.”

“We can do that.” Jim grinned. “With pleasure.”

The crew glanced around to make sure no one was listening in on them, at least not Izzy or Lucius at least. Ed walked by a moment later, but he didn’t say anything and neither did them.

Stede came by a moment later.

“Don’t you all have jobs?” He asked pointedly, looking at Jim who sighed, slapping their leg.

“Back to work.” They sighed. “I’ll handle the other shit.”

“Ah.” Stede pulled Jim aside. “I know there’s bad blood between you all and Izzy, but he’s doing good work. He’s apologized. His actions show he’s trying to make this right. Don’t let the crew push you into doing something we’ll all regret. Don’t do something you want to do that we will all regret.” Stede caught Jim’s eye. “I’ve had enough of fighting on my ship. That’s an order.” He raised an eyebrow. “Understand?”

“Si, comprendo.”

Jim nodded sharply. “I’ll handle it, captain.”

“See that you do. I need a first mate I can trust.”

“Yes, captain.” Jim answered sullenly. “I know my responsibilities.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Israel, a word?” Izzy looked up from where he was moving the new supplies they had gotten into the storeroom. It’d been a good couple of weeks– he and Lucius bunked near each other now at night, although not together, not yet. Lucius had a talk with Pete about his feelings for Izzy and while the man still glared at him, he didn’t seem capable of refusing Lucius any happiness. And for the first time, Izzy realized he and Pete might actually have something in common.

They’d completed both a raid and a stop at the Republic of Pirates and Izzy was in the process of rearranging the storeroom while also filling it to the brim. He found it to be fulfilling work and Stede seemed pleased with his work.

It was funny how he had worked himself to the bone for Edward, but now under Stede, with even less of a workload, he was somehow rewarded more. He hadn’t seen much of Ed since he and Lucius had been found. Ed seemed to keep to himself away from everyone, everyone but Stede. The captains had yet to talk, but Ed let Stede be around him the most and Izzy thought that had to count for something. They both still loved each other. That much was painfully obvious even though neither of them seemed willing to admit to that truth just yet.

“Sure thing, captain.” He put the crate of oranges down in their new home, away from the sunlight filtering in, and wiped his hands on his pants. “What can I do for you?” He wasn’t used to being called

Israel

anymore. Ed had called him that once upon a time before familiarity got the best of them. Lucius only used it in jest, when he was teasing Izzy for being so goddamn serious. Now it seemed that Stede had taken a liking to his proper name.

“I need you to tell me if something is ever amiss.” Stede said softly after glancing around to make sure the two of them were alone.

“Captain?” Izzy frowned.

“Some of the crew are… struggling to accept your presence as one of my crew. I have let them know that you are one of us now and that you are truly making an effort. It is appreciated, Israel, just how much of an effort you are making. I’ve gotten Jim to keep an eye out.” Warning bells sounded in Izzy’s head– he knew just how likely it was that Jim would be the one to take him out rather than to protect him. His alarm must have shown because Stede tsked softly. “Jim’s position is on the line here, Israel. I take your safety very seriously. You are a member of my crew now and that means you are to be treated with dignity and respect.”

“You want me to tell you if they try anything.” Izzy realized. He was quite confident that route would make him less friends on the crew, but he was touched that Stede was trying to protect him at all. Who would have thought?

“Please.” Stede nodded. “I’m aware that I’m not always the most observant of men, but nothing gets by you, Israel. Please, I’d like to keep you safe. I’d like you to feel supported here on my ship.”

“What about Ed?” Izzy asked.

“What about him?”

“What if he tries anything?”

“Same applies, I guess. He doesn't have an official role here on the ship anymore, he’s more my prisoner than a crew member, but yes, Izzy, I would like to know if Ed tries anything.” Izzy nodded, trying to hide his relief. He was almost grateful Jim had his own room– he knew he’d sleep like shit in his old bed, waiting for his captain to come for the rest of his toes. “Did– Did Ed ever do anything?” Stede asked and Izzy flinched. “I shouldn’t ask.” Stede shook his head. “I’m sorry.”

“He was my captain.” Izzy replied simply. “He punished me however he saw fit and more often than not, the punishment was deserved.”

“Do you feel safe on my ship?” Stede asked plainly. “At least as a fellow omega…” Izzy saw something in Stede’s eyes that made him realize that they might have more in common than they knew. He knew that haunted look. So maybe money couldn’t protect even the rich omegas from what the poor omegas knew far too well. “I know you were taken by the British at some point in the past year– that couldn’t have been a kind experience.”

“I was captured by pirates shortly after the marooning happened.” Izzy revealed. “Blackbeard’s enemies are my enemies.” He sighed. “When they found out I was an omega, well, when the British took me from them, it was almost a relief.”

“You served in the navy?”

“I presented while in the navy.” Stede winced.

“I was forced to serve an officer for a time.” Stede revealed hesitantly. “Cabin boy and the like as a punishment from my father for speaking out of turn.”

“Same here, minus the father, and throw in some pickpocketing.” Izzy grinned.

“Fell in love with the sea though. I knew I’d get my own ship one day and make sure it was safe for people like me. For people who didn’t feel safe on land.” Stede mumured.

“I feel safe here as an omega.” Izzy offered. “Lucius told me what you did for him.”

“You and the boy are close.”

“We are.”

“You make him happy.”

“He makes me happy too.” Izzy said softly and Stede looked over at him with a warm smile.

“I’m glad to hear that.” He nodded. “You deserve a bit of happiness, Israel, and so does Luicus.”

“Thank you, Stede.” And Israel meant it. “I hope you and Ed figure everything out.” He said carefully. “You two deserve to be happy too.”

“I hope so too.” Stede blinked back what looked like tears. “It’s a bit dusty here. I’ll get a duster and come help.” He hurried off before Izzy could add or subtract anything to what he had said. He stared at the open door for a moment before he went back to work. He was almost done moving all the oranges to their new home when Ed came in.

“Iz.”

“Oh, hi, Edw– Blackbeard.” Izzy bit his own tongue trying to correct himself, the sudden sharp pain was alarming and his eyes widened. Ed seemed to notice his reaction and he stopped a foot from the door.

“Blackbeard’s dead, mate.” Something in Ed’s countenance made Izzy wonder if Ed thought he’d be better dead as well.

“Everything okay?”

“No.” Ed laughed bitterly. “You can’t even call me captain anymore, Iz. I hear you calling Stede captain and shit. And I keep thinking how ashamed of me you must be, but no, you’re just scared of me like the boy is, like Stede is, like everyone is.”

“Edwa–”

“And I deserve it. This is what I deserve. This is what a monster deserves. No loyalty at all.” Izzy swallowed hard at those words, as they landed like a punch to his stomach.

“I’ve been loyal to you, Edward.”

“So loyal.” Ed scoffed. “You’re tripping over yourself to keep him happy like the rest of them.”

“Like you used to?” Izzy snarled and Ed jerked in response. A bit of his old spark was in his eyes and Izzy knew it well enough to know he was potentially in danger.

“You saw where it got me. He’ll leave you all stranded again when it suits him, you’ll see.”

“Oh, then you and him are more alike than I previously thought.” Izzy felt

anger.

“You didn’t even come after me when I was taken in that raid. You left me to them and their fucking plans!” Ed had left him to a year of torture and rape and he didn’t even have the common decency to feel bad about that.

“You’re Izzy Hands. You were fine.”

“I was not fine.” Izzy gritted his teeth, faintly aware that he was shaking. “Enemies of Blackbeard are my enemies as well.” Something flashed in Ed’s eyes at those words. “They made sure I paid for my loyalty that you never had the balls to reward.” Ed cocked his head at that challenge, but Izzy wasn’t done. “You left me in hell, you

fucker.”

He spat. “They tortured me. And when they found out I was an omega…” He laughed joylessly. “They fucking raped me on repeat until the British stole me away and did more of the same. So yea, if that’s how you repay loyalty, then I’m fucking done.”

“Izzy.” Ed lumbered forward a step and then he lunged, his hand finding its rightful place around Izzy’s neck. He pinned the omega against the wall and Izzy gasped, grabbing at Edward’s hands. “You forget your place.”

“I don’t have one. My captain lost the fucking ship.” He hissed and Ed’s grip tightened. Izzy barked out a laugh as he was lifted up– fucking Blackbeard and his fucking strength. If this was his end, well, it was, at least, an expected end.

“I don’t owe you anything.” Ed spat, something dark in his eyes. The Kraken lingered there, staring at him as Izzy started to lose his ability to breathe. Izzy saw him so fucking clearly there for a moment, saw the man he had pushed into madness with fear, and felt

sad.

He never should have pushed Ed. He should have left him alone.

“I owe you an apology.” He rasped. “I should have left Ed alone.” The Kraken snarled softly, crowding in close.

“I warned you.” He said and Izzy nodded the best he could, his vision blurring and spinning around. His face was red with no sign of Ed letting him go in sight.

“I was wrong.” He managed and Ed made the most wounded sound Izzy had ever heard.

“Edward!” Stede had returned with the most ridiculous feather duster in his hands that Izzy had ever seen. “Put Israel down this instant!” Ed put Izzy down more gently than any of them expected. Ed was silent, looking like a little boy who had been caught doing something wrong, and Stede his disappointed father. Izzy knew he shouldn’t say anything. It was their odd relationship and they needed to figure it out, but this boy had shown him kindness when he had needed it most and it had been a turning point for him. It would be wrong to condemn Ed to a fate without that.

“We’re fine, Stede.” He rasped, feeling his throat carefully. Ed turned towards him, a wary look on his face. Wary and weary. Ed looked so tired that Izzy was worried he didn’t have many more leagues in his sails. “We were making some things right between us. I pushed Edward when he was grieving. I was cruel and I threatened him, and I never should have. The crew, Lucius, Ed– they all would have been better off if I had just kept my mouth shut.” He looked over at Ed who was staring at the floor. “I’m sorry, Edward. It’s safe to be Ed here.” Ed swallowed hard, eyes flickering over at him. He opened his mouth and then closed it, frustration crossing his face.

“Stay away from me.” He muttered and went to storm out of the store room when Stede caught him by the elbow.

“No. We’re going to talk this through as a crew. All of us.” Stede said firmly. “It’s time we set things right. It’s time we fixed what’s between us.”

“Yes, captain.” Ed muttered and hurt flickered across Stede’s face.

“Fine, that settles it then.” Stede gave him a mincing smile– passive aggression or something like that and Izzy and Ed both faltered in the face of it. “Everyone on the deck!” He called out, his voice carrying to either end of the ship. “Now!”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius made his way to the deck. He’d heard Stede’s call, and while not wanting to disobey his captain’s order, he was also curious as hell as to why they were all being called. This only happened when they were doing some team building or had to discuss some new venture. Then he saw Stede who looked pissed, and Ed looking withdrawn and sullen, and Izzy, who looked a bit pale. On closer inspection, Lucius noticed Izzy’s neck was red and bruised. He bristled at the thought of someone touching his… Iz.“Watch your scent.” Jim snapped at him, stomping by. “What’s this, captain?” “I want everyone to take a seat.” Stede said snappishly. “We’ve put this off long enough. I was foolish enough to think time could heal our respective wounds.” He spat. “But it seems we must cauterize them first. We must talk–” “--it through as a crew.” The crew woodenly finished and Stede huffed in response. “Yes. I’m tired of the silence and the secrets.” He glanced around at all of them. “You are my crew and I know I’ve failed you. I hope I have paid for what I’ve done, but I’m willing to pay more if that’s what it takes.” He gestured. “Come, take a seat, all of you.” Lucius scurried over to where Izzy was already sitting, leaning against the side of the boat. With a sideways glance at Ed who was a little too close to either of them, Lucius sat down next to Izzy, placing his hand on the omega’s thigh. Izzy looked over at him, a small smile as way of greeting. “Are you okay?” Lucius’ hand went higher, touching the side of Izzy’s neck. Izzy flinched. “It’ll be fine.” “Did one of the crew do this?” Lucius whispered. “I’ll fight them.” He hissed. Izzy gave him a small grin. “It’s fine, Lu.” Izzy took his hand in his own, bringing it back down to his thigh. “Stede… intervened.” “Who?” Lucius pressed and Ed leaned over. “Me.” He was an intimidating shadow of himself, but Lucius recognized that darkness in his eyes. He'd seen it before and had lived to tell the tale. He wasn't sure he'd survive a second time. It wasn't time for fear though, not with proof that Ed's hands had been around Izzy's neck. Lucius was pissed he'd even touched him, especially with what Ed had done to his toe. Maybe Izzy should have betrayed him to the British.“Fuck you.” Lucius spat at the former captain. “He’s not yours to bat around anymore.” “No, but you’re still fair game to toss into the drink.” Ed grinned and Izzy pushed Ed back."Don't you dare touch him!"“Oh, who’s the baby whining over his love now?!” Ed’s dark eyes glanced at their joined hands. “Someone tamed Dizzy Izzy.” He mocked. "And here I thought the British and 'the enemies of Blackbeard' had put you off of cock."“Enough.” Izzy hissed. “Is that how he survived? Hmm? You disobeyed your captain’s will for a bit of cock?!” “You gave up your reputation for some cunt!” Izzy fired back, his temper flaring at the alpha’s words. He glanced over at Stede. “No offense.” He added quickly and Stede let out a surprised laugh. “Well, I guess we’re talking.” He blinked. “Is that how you used to feel, Izzy? Like Ed gave up everything you two had built in exchange for a relationship for me?” “Yea.” Izzy ground out, not liking how everyone was staring at him. “I didn’t realize things were changing for the better.” He glanced over at Ed. “I didn’t realize how happy Stede made Ed. I should have left the two of you alone. I’m sorry.” He added softly. There was a murmur from the crew. “Apology accepted.” Stede nodded. “Apology not accepted.” Ed growled, standing to his feet and facing Izzy. Not one to back down easily, Izzy scrambled to his own feet, hand resting on his sword. “Ed– darling–” Stede hurried over. “I’m not Ed and I’m not your darling!” Ed roared in his face. “It would have been kinder if you had taken your sword and stabbed me in the back than leaving me alone on that dock!” “I’ve tried to apologize…” “I don’t want your apologies!” Ed shouted. “I want you gone! Instead, you haunt me like a ghost! And I can’t– even when you weren’t here– I couldn’t be rid of you.” His voice cracked, revealing a hint of his inner turmoil. “Let me set things right, please.” Stede reached for him and Ed stood still for a moment, letting Stede’s palm caress his cheek. “Let me make it up to you. I’ll spend my whole life trying to make things right with you, Ed. I love you.” “You love a dead man.” Ed jerked back, putting space back between them. “Maybe I should have tried dying, instead of getting mixed up with you.” Stede sighed, pressing his lips together tightly. “You can’t save me, Stede. I don’t want to be.” Ed moved as if he was going to sit back down and then he passed by Izzy, throwing a punch that Izzy saw coming but couldn’t dodge in time. It laid him out flat. Lucius scrambled to his side and Ed grabbed his collar roughly. “Enjoy your cunt while you can.” Ed hissed. “Before he betrays you too.” Izzy’s stomach twisted with guilt as Lucius looked up at Ed with wide eyes. “You realize you’re choosing to be miserable right.” Lucius swallowed hard, pushing his finger into Ed’s face. “Everyone’s trying to set things right, to start over, and you’re choosing to be stuck in the past. You’re still whining about Stede leaving when he fucking came back! You’re pissed at Izzy for being a bitch and he’s right here, saying that he was wrong. Why the fuck do you do this to yourself, Ed?! You’re self-sabotaging! Again!” “Shut up.” Ed growled. “I’m not scared of you.” Lucius pushed him back a step and Ed grinned. He grabbed Lucius again and shoved him back, over the raling, down into the water below. “Oh, really?” He whispered to the empty air where Lucius had stood. “How about now?” “Lucius!” Pete cried out, already rushing to grab a rope. “Lu.” Izzy dragged himself up and to the side of the ship. Lucius was splashing down below, alive, and struggling. Without much thought for himself, Izzy tipped himself over. He knew how terrified Lucius must be and he would not leave him to suffer alone. “The fuck are you doing?” Lucius swam over to him when Izzy surfaced near him. “You’re supposed to stay on the ship, you idiot.” It was said fondly even as the boy tried to hide his fear from him. “Not me. I follow you.” Izzy rasped, keeping his head above water. “Pete’s getting ropes for you as we speak. You’ll be safe soon.” He promised. “Ed will pay for this.” “He’s hurting.” Lucius said carefully. “Doesn’t mean he’s not acting like an asshole.” Ropes landed near them and Izzy tied the closest one around Lucius’ chest, under his arms. “You won’t drown today.” Izzy used one of his best knots. “It’ll hold.” “Thank you.” Lucius gripped at him, even as they began to haul him from the ocean. His expression faltered and Izzy saw for a second just how scared Lucius had been. He’d have to keep a closer eye on Lucius. He could have lost him today. He could have lost him twice now to the Kraken’s rage. Lucius was good at hiding how he really felt, even from Izzy, but he had faced death twice by Ed’s hand now. He was going to need his friends and found family around him. Izzy needed to make sure he felt safe on The Revenge too. He’d assumed he was better being back with his friends, but even on the island, Lucius had talked little about himself, focusing more on Izzy. Izzy appreciated it, but now it was his turn to focus on Lucius, make sure he was well taken care of. Lucius had taken such good care of him and now it was Izzy’s turn to do the same for his Lu.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Later, once he was fished out and dried off, Izzy went in search of Lucius.

Ed had been put in the brig, bound like he was their enemy, and maybe he was now, but it still felt wrong to Izzy to see him like that. However, Iz found he was having a hard time feeling any kindness towards Ed. He might be hurting, but he had tried to hurt Lucius again and he needed to be stopped. Izzy wouldn’t risk Lu’s life just to try to get through to Ed who didn’t seem to listen to any of them.  Izzy didn’t envy Stede’s position in the matter. He had to make some hard choices concerning the man he loved.

He found Lucius curled up with Pete down below, hiding out in Frenchie and Wee John’s room.

“I was so scared, babe.” Lucius confessed to Pete in a low voice. “I thought I was going to die that night and then when it happened again today– I don’t know if I would have been able to wait for the ropes if Izzy hadn’t jumped in.”

“He didn’t even hesitate.” Pete said. “Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps he has changed.”

“Who’s changed?” Izzy knocked at the open door before slipping in. “You all right?” He scanned Lucius carefully and then over at Pete. Pete wasn’t glaring at him for once, almost looking at him with the awe he once reserved for Blackbeard. He pushed himself up to his feet, leaving Lucius alone on the floor, wrapped in a blanket.

“Thank you.” He breathed. “You really do care about him.”

“I do.” Izzy confirmed, eyeing the other man. He wasn’t sure what was going on right now, but it seemed important. Lucius was watching the two of them carefully, but he seemed relaxed. He seemed dry and warm. He wasn’t shivering. That was a good sign. “You didn’t even hesitate, just dove right off the boat to get to him.”

“You didn’t hesitate in grabbing the ropes.”

“We made a good team.” Pete offered his hand. “I know I’ve been hard on you, but I’m just trying to keep him safe, you know? He’s one of the good ones.” Izzy found himself nodding, taking Pete’s hand.

“Let me help.” He glanced back at Lucius. “He really is one of the good ones.” He said fondly and Lucius rolled his eyes.

“I’m right here, you two, and Izzy’s taught me how to fight now, Pete. I’m not helpless! I just shouldn’t have picked a fight with Blackbeard, maybe, but he doesn’t get to talk about you like that.” The boy’s eyes darted over to Izzy. “Come sit with me, Iz.” Izzy all but dropped to the floor at Lucius’ command, crawling under the lifted blanket. “Hold me?” Lucius asked softly when they were eye to eye and Izzy nodded, wrapping himself around the boy.

“I’ve got you.” He vowed and Lucius leaned into him.

“C’mon, Pete.” Lucius lifted up the other side.

“Is that okay?” Pete asked and Izzy lifted up an eyebrow when he realized Pete was asking him. “I mean, loving Lucius is learning to share him. Kid’s got a big heart.”

“It’s fine. You’re important to him.” Izzy looked up at him. “I’m okay with sharing as long as I get to–” he faltered before pushing through, “--as long as I get to love him too.” Lucius sucked in a soft breath and he covered Izzy’s hand with one of his own.

“Love you, Iz.” He breathed contentedly even though his heart was hammering like he’d just been shoved overboard for a third time. “Love you, Pete.”

“Love you, babe.” Pete snuggled in close, leaning into Lucius. Between the two of them, they’d keep him safe. They’d keep him warm for the night.

“I love you, Lu.” Lucius shivered as Izzy whispered that into his ear, just for him to hear. Izzy was more of a private man than Lucius and Pete, but that somehow made his love all the sweeter. The fact that he’d even say it. “How are you?”

“I’m fine.”

“How are you really?” Izzy rasped gently and Lucius had to chuckle. It felt like they were back on the island for a moment, being able to read each other like a book.

“I’m scared. I was so scared, Iz.” His mask broke and he shook at his own admission. “The darkness in his eyes, I knew he was going to hurt someone, and I didn’t want it to be me, but I couldn’t let it be you, Iz. You take all his hits and you don’t have to.” Izzy’s heart ached at the boy’s words.

“He’s my captain.”

“If you had to choose…” Pete challenged. “If it came down to Blackbeard or Lucius, who would you choose?”

“You don’t have to answer that.” Lucius sighed, pinching his boyfriend.

“Ow, babe!” Pete frowned. “It’s a fair question.”

“No, it’s not. Blackbeard was his friend and his captain for twenty years; I’m just some guy who he met a year ago and hated.” Lucius snuggled back against Izzy some more. “And now he’s stuck with me.” He chuckled softly.

“I feel things for you that I never felt for him.” Izzy admitted, holding his alpha closer. “But who am I if I’m not loyal? I’m loyal to the good that is still in him, but I’m loyal to you too now.” Izzy sighed. “I hope that answers the question, Pete.”

“Yea, I think it does.” Pete mused. “But he’s Blackbeard– do you  even think there’s any good left in him at this point?”

“Yea, I do.” Izzy answered. “Just like how Lucius saw there was some good in me.”

“Aw, babe.” Pete elbowed Lucius who huffed affectionately.

“It wasn’t that hard.”

“It wasn’t easy.” Izzy corrected gently.

“Okay, it had it’s difficult moments, but it was more than worth it.” Lucius turned to face Izzy, grasping his chin gently. “You were worth it.”

Meanwhile, in the hold of the ship, next to the makeshift brig, Stede Bonnet, captain of

The Revenge

was making himself a bed. Inside the brig, Edward Teach, formerly known as Blackbeard, more recently known as the Kraken, watched him with empty eyes. By the time, Stede finished making his bed, Ed had enough.

“Get out of here.” He whispered. “Leave me alone. Why won’t you leave me alone?” He tried to turn away from the man who broke his heart, but his chains held him in place. “Just kill me, Stede, end this, please.”

“I don’t want to hurt you. Help me stop hurting you!” Stede pleaded. “Please, Ed. We can’t go on like this.”

“I can’t stop.” Ed whispered. “I can’t stop hurting everybody. I can’t stop hurting myself.”

“Ed.” Stede sniffled softly, wiping at his face before Ed saw the tears. His tears only served to make Ed angry last time. “I’m so sorry.”

“I know.” Ed hung his head. “I’m sorry too. I’m so sorry, Stede. I’m sorry I wasn’t enough.”

“No!” Stede exclaimed. “You were always more than enough, Ed, it was me. I was the one who wasn’t enough. Chauncey woke me up– he was gonna shoot me– and he called me a monster and he was right. I ruin everyone I love, Ed.” Ed blinked, his first urge being to agree with that statement, to be cruel, but he didn’t want to be cruel. He wanted to stop hurting them. He wanted to stop hurting Stede.

“Did he hurt you?” He asked instead and Stede blinked, not expecting that response.

“Not physically.”

“What happened?” Ed asked, finally wanting to know.

“He shot himself by accident.” Stede’s gaze was distant. “One more person I ruined.”

“Stede.”

“Hmm?”

“He was a fucking liar.” Ed sighed. “You don’t ruin people. Look what you did to your crew– yea, you fucked up but you won them all back. Look at Izzy. He’s– I don’t even know him anymore and that’s a good thing. He’s warmed up to you like a cat to a spot of sun.”

Stede’s expression flickered at the mention of Izzy and Ed looked down at his knees. “Yea, I know I fucked up with Izzy and Lucius– I’m sure they’ve told you the whole awful bit already.”

“No?” Stede unlocked the door to the brig, moving all his stuff inside. “I’d like to hear your side of the story, Ed, if you’re willing to tell me.”

“Don’t unlock the door. I’m not safe.” Ed shook his head. “I don’t want to hurt you. You’re better off staying far away from me, mate.” Stede cocked his head to the side, closing the door to the brig and locking it, with himself on the inside. He took the key out and tossed it to the side, out of reach of both him and Ed.

“We’re going to get through this together.”

“Or not at all?” Ed snorted.

“Or not at all.” Stede shook his head. “I’m all in, Ed, and I’m sorry I couldn’t give that to you on the dock. I needed to make things right, but I should have come and found you first. I should have taken you with me to meet my family. They would have loved you.” Stede gently touched Ed’s arm. “My Ed.” He pulled back, not wanting to push the moment. “So how about it? Tell me a story?”

“You won’t love me after.”

“Edward Teach, if I still love you after all this, I can promise that I can love you after your tale. I might be sad, angry, or disappointed, but I will still love you.” Ed blinked back a surge of emotion, growling softly to himself.

“We’ll see.” He sighed. “We’ll see.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“All right, you three.” Frenchie and Wee John finally shooed them out. “Room people need their room back.”“Ugh, fine.” Lucius got up with a groan that made Izzy wonder if he was somehow even older than Izzy was. “Thanks for letting us hide away.”“No problem.” Wee John smiled. “Izzy, we got something for you.”“Yea, it’s in Lucius and Pete’s room.”“What?” Izzy frowned, pushing himself up off the ground. “You guys didn’t have to get me anything.” His joints cracked and Frenchie winced. “We thought it was really cool what you did today for Lucius.” Wee John explained. “And you’re too old to be sleeping on the deck the way you are right now.”“Oh, I’m—““It’s a hammock!” Frenchie cut him off. “Now go.” He waved them off.“Did you two know—“ Izzy turned in the passageway to see twin grins on Lucius’ and Pete’s faces. “Oh, that’s a yes then.” Lucius giggled and it did Izzy’s soul good to hear him sounding so free.“It’s our room now, Iz.” Lucius informed him. “The three of us. Besides, you needed a more permanent place to sleep.” He didn’t tell Izzy that he slept better with him around. Especially with everything with Ed, Lucius needed Izzy around more than ever. He just wasn’t sure how to tell him that. They all piled into the room, Lucius checking the hallway before he closed the door. He knew, of course, that Ed was locked up in the brig and that Stede was keeping watch, but this was Blackbeard they were talking about. Lucius didn’t think he’d ever be able to trust him. The man filled up his nightmares even more than some of his past customers and that was saying something. Lucius should probably tell Izzy or Pete about that too, but he didn’t know how to suffer except for in silence. He took care of his men and they took care of him, but he didn’t know how to let them in much more than that. Izzy was dangerous though– he was dangerous in the way he could see through Lucius’ lies, just like Lucius could see through his. Lucius, more than ever, wished they were back on the island, just the two of them. Just for the night, so he could feel safe again. He glanced around the room. Izzy was standing there, touching his new hammock like he expected it to vanish out from underneath his fingertips. “When did you manage this?” Izzy twisted to look at him, his dark eyes noticing that something was amiss. Lucius managed a smile. “At port.” He sidled over to Izzy, running a hand over his arm. Izzy was still all muscles under his shirt and Lucius did wish to get another look at some point. Only if Izzy was comfortable. Lucius wanted to taste everything hidden under Izzy’s clothes, but he’d settle for drawing Izzy’s body instead. He had meant what he said. He’d only ever touch Iz if it was everything and more that the omega wanted. “Even got you a new blanket.” “How’d you manage that?” Izzy asked. “Pete and Stede pitched in a bit.” Lucius revealed. He’d have to ask for help. He hadn’t saved nearly enough from the raid or been working enough to have the wages for this. Izzy’s hand twitched before he gave in and touched the blanket folded up on his hammock. It was the softest thing he'd ever owned. He had a place again. And Lucius had gone above and beyond to make it comfortable for him. Izzy slept better around Lucius also. “Thank you.” He bowed his head, closing his eyes tightly. He didn’t want to cry, not in front of Pete anyway.” “Babe, give us a minute?” Lucius was already on the move, still making sure he felt safe. “Yea, I gotta go talk to Jim anyway.” Pete smiled. He needed to call off the test or hazing or whatever Jim had planned. Izzy wasn’t a threat to Lucius at all and the fact he cared about Lucius protected the rest of them as well. Pete wasn’t nearly as worried anymore. “Thanks, babe.” Lucius hugged him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Thank you for everything.” Pete smiled, kissing him back soundly. “I’ll be back in a while.” He promised. They’d gotten lucky. They’d all gone through the hardships of the past year and they hadn’t lost a single crew member. They were lucky to be here and Pete was starting to understand why Stede was done with the fighting. It was time to just be grateful and move on. Things would get even better as they went. Pete hurried out of the room, closing the door behind him. “You all right?” Lucius asked gently and Izzy nodded his head, eyes still tightly shut. “Is it a lot?” “It’s good.” Izzy’s voice cracked and his hands flew up to cover his face. “Means a lot.” He mumbled, his words muffled by his hands. “Happy tears?” Izzy nodded and Lucius reached over, touching his shoulder blade gently. “Can I hug you?” He asked hopefully and Izzy nodded, turning to hide inside of his arms. It was an honor to comfort the likes of Izzy Hands– Lucius wasn’t sure anyone else ever had. Well, that was in Izzy’s past now with Lucius around. He held the omega close, whispering how loved, how fucking precious Iz was to him. Izzy’s tears didn’t stand a chance, slipping down his cheeks to dampen Lucius’ shirt. Izzy’s arms wrapped around his waist and Lucius was content to just hold him until Izzy pulled back, wiping at his face. “Sorry about your shirt.” “I’m not.” Lucius touched his shoulder gently. “You okay?” “I’m okay.” Izzy took a shuddering breath. “How about yourself?” “I’m okay?” “Any injuries from today?” Lucius went to deny any such things but the look in Izzy’s eyes made him reconsider. He supposed he could be vulnerable for Izzy’s sake. He knew how hard it was for Izzy to be vulnerable around him at times. The trust the older man put in him shook him sometimes. “I’m sore.” He admitted. Izzy frowned, concern creasing his handsome face. He stepped over, his hands reaching for Lucius. “Can I check?” Lucius nodded, letting Izzy take his jacket off, then his shirt. He’d lost his scarf at some point last year and hadn’t been able to replace it. Hadn’t wanted to. It reminded him too much of when it was soaked from the ocean, choking him as he struggled to get to the barnacle ladder. He wasn’t sure why he was thinking about that when a sexy, rugged man was undressing him, but Izzy was trying to make sure he was uninjured for the second time, from a second forced fall from the deck. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” Lucius whispered and Izzy froze for a second. “You were awake.” He didn’t mean for it to sound like an accusation. “Barely.” Lucius continued to whisper. He never knew who was listening. Old habits died hard after living in the walls, surviving after what looked like half of someone else’s rations with  only the fuzzy memory of Izzy checking him over before shoving him into hidden safety. Everything he had needed: water, dry clothes, a blanket, and food had shown up with a consistent regularity that only one crew member showed. And as much as Lucius had resented it at the time, he was grateful now. “Thank you.” He added. “You never let me thank you properly.” “It was too dangerous.” Izzy’s voice was close to his ear and Lucius just closed his eyes, trying to memorize the feeling of the other man’s hands on his body, mapping him out, making sure he was okay, somehow making him feel more whole. The warmth from Izzy’s hands seemed to drive out some of the chill he’d never lost from his bones. It felt as if part of the ocean was always with him, waiting to claim him once he let his guard down. “Still might be.” He added. “What are you thinking about so hard?” He squeezed the meat of Lucius’ shoulder and the boy yelped. “You’re so tense, love.” It slipped out before he could stop it and Lucius opened his eyes to shoot him a mischievous look. “Do you really want to know?” Lucius asked. “It’s not nearly as happy as it should be.” “You don’t have to feel a certain way.” Izzy grumbled, continuing to work at his shoulders, easing some of the tension away with that determined single-mindedness that Lucius had come to love. “You are free to feel however you need to. What happened today was terrifying, Lu.” “Is that why you jumped in after me?” Izzy was quiet for a moment. “Like I said: I follow you now.” He finally said. “Where you go, I go, until you’re sick of me.” “I’m not gonna get sick of you.” Lucius was quick to reassure. “You say that now, but–”  Izzy didn’t voice his insecurities. He knew Lucius was free with his body. That he found sex easy and fun. That he had sex with Pete and Fang and whoever caught his eye– that he’d have sex with Izzy if he asked him to, but what if Izzy never could get to the place where he’d want to have sex with Lucius. He was attracted to him. He wanted to be with him, but he– he couldn’t bear the idea of letting anyone in like that yet. Maybe not ever. “We don’t know what the future holds.” He finished lamely as Lucius made a questioning noise. “You’re stuck with me, Israel.” Lucius turned to look at him. “You’re stuck with me until you cannot bear me anymore.” He gave him a quick, reassuring sort of smile, but Izzy had caught sight of the beginnings of a giant bruise forming on Lucius’ side. “I’m fine.” Lucius said, panicked, and Izzy frowned at that reaction of all things, pulling his alpha close. “You don’t have to be.” He said carefully, eyes meeting Lucius’ eyes with a gentle sternness. “If you’re hurt, I want to help. If you need to talk, I want to listen.” Lucius blinked back some extra moisture and sighed heavily. “I’m hurt.” He shrugged, waving his hands in the air. “And I don’t want to admit it. I’m terrified, but I don’t want to tell anyone. It feels like the ocean never gave me up and that’s how it’s all gonna end for me and I can’t – I can’t get warm.” His eyes watered. “And I feel like a burden admitting to any of that– but the weight of it all might be the reason why I drown in the end.” Izzy was bandaging his ribs, making Lucius' chest feel warm and fuzzy. He adored How Izzy showed how he cared-- so fucking hands on and determined to care for him. Lucius caught his eyes, noting the out of place emotion on Izzy's face, something that looked like utter stubbornness in the face of fear. “The ocean can’t have you.” Izzy’s forehead was creased and Lucius made a face. “I’m not done with you yet.” He pressed his forehead to Lucius’ forehead, something so uncharacteristically loving that Lucius couldn’t help but melt. “I’m never going to be done with you.”And well, Lucius had to kiss him then, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips that was fiercely returned.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Hey, Jim!” Pete called out, hurrying after the first mate stomping towards their cabin.“What the fuck do you want?!” Jim snapped and Pete let out a soft snarl. “Lo siento…” They apologized. “It’s just our captain is estupidio! He’s locked himself in with Ed to ‘whatever end.’” They tossed their hands up in the air. “It’s almost enough to make me resign!” “That’s oddly romantic of Stede.” Pete wrinkled his nose. “Maybe he’ll get somewhere.” “No!” Jim shot him an annoyed look. “It’s stupid! He’s going to get himself killed and for what?” “For love?” Pete pointed out and Jim sighed, exasperated. “C’mon, we’ve done stupid things ourselves. It’s not his fault he managed to fall in love with fucking Blackbeard. That kind of love has to be a bit metal.” Pete shrugged. “What do you want?” Jim shook their head, just done with everything. They weren’t getting paid enough in their opinion to put up with this mierda. “I want to call off the hit I put on Izzy.” “Fine, whatever.” Jim ran their hands through their hair. “One less thing I have to worry about.” They paused. “Is it because of today?” “He’s changed.” “Jumping in after Lucius doesn’t mean he deserves a fucking gold star.” Jim sighed. They were tired of all this shit. “It does in my book.” Pete narrowed his eyes. “He saved Lucius.” “No, we did. You did. The people with the ropes.” “Lucius told me that he didn’t think he would have made it if Izzy hadn’t jumped in. He was too scared to think.” Jim’s expression softened. “Fine. We give him a pass then.” Jim made a face. “He does seem less of a puta than before.” “He’s actually kind of sweet.” Pete told them and Jim made a gagging noise. “Fine, whatever. Hit’s off. He’s one of us. Woo-hoo. Now I gotta try to keep us all alive until these two in the brig figure their shit out.” “You can always ask Izzy for help.” Pete added helpfully and Jim snarled. “Fuck off, Pete.” And Pete did, chuckling to himself as he made his way back below decks to the room he now shared with Izzy and Lucius. “Hope you two are decent!” He called out, rapping on the door before he pushed it open. He didn’t expect to find the two of them snuggled up in Izzy’s hammock under his new blanket. Lucius was cradled against Izzy and they were both sound asleep. Pete smiled to himself, hopping into his own hammock. The next few days were nice. Izzy and Lucius took their time together. Izzy had Lucius resting up from his ordeal and was taking a turn babying him for a chance. Pete was enjoying getting on it as well and the two of them spoiled their alpha day in and day out. Lucius was eating it up. He was having nightmares again, go figure, but his days were happy. And at night, when he woke up, sweating and shaking, Izzy and Pete were both there. Stede and Ed seemed to be doing better. They were both still locked into the brig, but Ed was no longer in chains. They seemed to be having long talks and tentative touches between them. And the crew had hope, hope that maybe the worst was behind them. And then they were attacked. It was the French navy. Normally, they would have taken them just fine, but with two of the captains locked up in the brig, and Izzy Hands distracted with Lucius, and Jim ready to pull their hair out– the French got the drop on them. They were all rounded up and locked up in the French ship’s brig, but not before the soldiers and sailors roughed them up. The  next morning came and once he was conscious, Lucius started taking inventory, noticing that some of the crew weren’t locked up with them. His head throbbed, but he forced himself up and around, making sure everyone was there. They weren't. Where the fuck was Izzy?! He needed to find Izzy. “Where’s Iz?” Lucius asked, taking another round. “And Stede? Where the fuck are Stede and Iz?!” He turned around the cell. “Fuck.” He wiped a hand through his hair. One of the French sailors made their way past and Lucius grabbed him “Where’s the rest of our crew?!” “The omegas are safe.” The man snorted. “Well taken care of.” “Hey, one of those are mine.” He snarled. “Mine! So fuck off! Let them go!” “Yours the stoic one or the crying one?” The French sailor regarded him seriously. “Because those two are headed for the market. Good prices for omegas this time of year.” “He’s fucking mine.” Lucius bared his teeth. “Doesn’t have a bite on him.” “He’s mine.” Lucius dug his nails into the man’s arm. “Don’t you dare fucking touch him. He’s claimed.” “Let me talk to my captain.” The sailor shook Lucius off. “We don’t want the stoic one anyway. The screaming ones are more fun. Get more money. The stoic one is… well, he’s already broken, isn’t it? You did a good job. He's well trained.” The man smirked over at him and Lucius swallowed down the bile that threatened to rise. “You do that.” Lucius growled. “Get your captain.” “Babe, this is a whole other side to you.” Pete elbowed him gently, trying to break up some of the tension. “Do you know what they fucking do to omegas?!” Lucius cried. “They’re fucking hurting him! And our captain! They’re hurting Stede and– and–” He closed his eyes. He couldn’t fucking say it. He didn’t have to, not in the way that Ed shifted, looking very murderous all of a sudden. “They wouldn’t.” The air in the brig suddenly felt very cold as Lucius looked over at the man who had tried to kill him twice. “They would. They have. If you want to save him, lay claim to him.” “He’s not– he’s not my mate.” Ed stammered. “He’s– Stede.” “Yea, well, he’s about to be somebody's bitch if you don’t want him.” Lucius hissed. Pete laid a hand on Lucius’ arm before he got himself almost killed again. Ed’s eyes darkened, but when the sailor came back, he was ready with a verbal claim on Stede. The sailor hissed, but retreated back to find his captain a second time. Lucius and Ed were escorted out of the brig and brought on deck. “On your knees.” Lucius winced as the back of his knees were kicked in. He hit the deck hard, glaring up at the captain who made his way slowly over to him. “You have claim to the broken omega?” He asked. “Little one?" He gestured to about Izzy’s size. “Yes.” Lucius gritted his teeth. “He’s mine.” “You have a minute to claim him or he’s being taken to the market.” Lucius was hauled up to his feet. “Come along.” He was escorted to the captain’s cabin. “Sorry about the pup. They sell for more if they’re ready to be bred.” “I’m sorry, the pup?” “Yea, we gave them both the aborticide just in case and in his case it took.” The captain shrugged. “He’s stoic for an omega. No fun. We wouldn’t get much for him anyway. But the other one… the other one we’re keeping. He’s fun. Cries a lot.” He smirked. “That’s our captain, you twat!” Lucius snapped, borrowing an insult from Izzy’s repertoire. Fuck. Izzy. His Izzy. Pup must have been from the British– neither of them had known. Maybe Izzy had known. It must have only been a few months. There really wouldn't have been anyway to know. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “Not anymore.” The man snickered. Lucius was shoved into the room, the scent choking, fear and pain and blood. So much blood. Blood that trailed from Izzy. “Of course, we had to make sure they were fit for market before we gave them the aborticide. You know… test them out. Make sure they’re responsive.” Lucius was going to be sick. Somewhere on the deck, a gun went off, Ed gasping as he fell back, clutching at his torso. He couldn’t claim Stede if he was dead.“Iz–” Lucius couldn’t breathe. He was back in the ocean, drowning, as he took in what they’d done to his– his omega. “Iz!” “Thirty seconds.” Lucius wasn’t even sure he could touch Izzy like this. The omega had yet to move– he was naked and– and– there was so much fucking blood. “Izzy?” He called out and Izzy seemed to come back to life, gasping all at once, his eyes snapping to Lucius’ horrified face. “Lu.” There was the faint scent of sweet relief. “Y-you came to g-get me.” Lucius nodded, biting his lip so he didn’t cry. Izzy made an attempt to get to him, but collapsed back down on the floor. This time he didn’t get up. “Iz.” Lucius knelt by him, pushing his long hair out of his face. His braid needed fixing. It was all a mess. “Ten seconds.” The captain snapped behind them.“Fuck, I don’t even know if you want this. “ Lucius breathed. “Are you okay with this?” He asked, but Izzy was unresponsive.”“Five, four, three–” And Lucius bit down hard on Izzy’s neck, claiming him as his mate. He was dragged out of the room, back down to the brig, and thrown back into the brig. He stared at the bars, not even bothering to pick himself up. Pete squatted by him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Hey, where’s Blackbeard?” He asked. “We heard a shot and– holy fuck.” Lucius looked up then to see them dragging Izzy to join the rest of the crew. He looked as if they’d thrown a couple buckets full of water over him, but he was still naked, still bleeding. They tossed him in next, and he landed in a heap next to Lucius. “Can I have some things for him?” Lucius asked and the sailor he had grabbed first nodded. “We’ve got to stop the bleeding.” He didn’t know where to even start but then Roach shouted a few herb names down to the sailor who nodded and headed out. “How?” “If there’s too much of a particular herb in the aborticide, there’s too much bleeding.” Roach shrugged. “My mother was an herbalist. She helped a lot of omegas. Taught me all that she knew.” Roach leaned over and squeezed Lucius’ other shoulder. “We’ll save him.” “Hopefully, he’ll want to be saved.” Lucius whispered. “I was supposed to protect him.” “And you did.” Roach reminded him. “Otherwise he’d be going to market right now. A win is a win.” “HOW IS THIS A WIN?!” Lucius screamed, gesturing to– to his mate. “He’s–” He couldn’t say it. He didn’t have to. They all knew by the horror on their faces. “It’s not bloody right!” He whimpered. “It shouldn’t be like this.” “No, it shouldn’t.” Pete took his hand. “But we’ve got Izzy and we’ll make it better somehow. You did so once, right? We can do it again. He’s got all of us now.” The crew nodded, adding their own murmurs of encouragement. “I had to bite him.” Lucius gagged once and then realized everything had to come out. “He’s my mate now. Oh god--" And he managed to get to the bars in time, away from Izzy, just before he threw up.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The next morning found the crew huddled around Lucius and Izzy. They’d gotten the bleeding to stop and had made the omega as comfortable as they could. As means of protection, Lucius and Izzy were the furthest people from the door, safe in a corner where no enemy could reach them.

Lucius woke up first, glancing at the bundle in his arms. Izzy was wrapped up in the tatty blanket they’d gotten from the sailor since they didn’t give them clothes. Jim had donated one of their layers— a button up shirt that went to Izzy’s upper thighs. Lucius had given him his jacket. And then they’d wrapped his bottom half best they could with the blanket.

The crew was somber, sneaking glances over at them every now and again. Izzy’s condition had shaken them up and everyone, whether they voiced it or not, was worried about Stede.

Izzy was still out, snuggled right into Lucius in a way that spoke of him waking up at some point in the night. Lucius pressed his lips to his forehead and pressed a gentle kiss there.

“Lu?” Izzy breathed, his eyes cracking open.

“It’s me.” Lucius nuzzled him gently, scenting him until Izzy relaxed back against him. He was safe. He was with his alpha.

“Where’s Stede?” Izzy whispered.

“I couldn’t get him out.” Lucius whispered back. “I only had a chance to get you. Ed was supposed to get Stede.”

“Where’s Ed?”

“I don’t know.” Lucius shivered. “We haven’t seen either of them since yesterday.” He didn’t tell Izzy about the gunshot the crew heard or that they’d all assumed the worst.

“Oh.” Izzy glanced up at him. “What are they going to do with us?”

“They’re dropping us off at the closest port. They only wanted omegas.” He paused, hesitating. “Unclaimed omegas.” He knew Izzy would pick up on what he was struggling to say. But Lucius wasn’t going to keep the truth from him. Even though he worried it might be kinder. Claiming Izzy might be how he lost Izzy— and Lucius really didn’t want to lose Izzy.

“You claimed me?”

“I’m sorry. I—“ Izzy frowned. Gods, he was so pale. Lucius couldn’t believe he’d nearly lost him.

“Thank you.” Izzy stopped him. “Thank you, Lucius.” He sagged back against his alpha. “I’m sorry they put you in that position, love, but I’m not sorry you claimed me… Unless you are?”

“No, I just wanted to be able to talk it out with you first, see if we were on the same page.” Lucius had thought about mating before. It wasn’t something Pete had wanted, but he’d wondered about Izzy. It hadn’t been something he’d ever thought that would happen— he figured Izzy would have laughed and said no. Lucius wasn’t known for settling down. “I’d thought about mating in the past.”

“You did?” Oh, so that Izzy found hard to believe even as his eyes started to droop. “When?”

“On the island.” Lucius whispered, kissing Izzy’s bruised cheek. “Didn’t mind the idea of forever with you.” A soft snore answered him as Izzy fell back into an exhausted sleep. Lucius let him. Sleep could heal things others could not. Their conversation gave him a bit of hope that they’d be all right. They just had to get off this damn ship.

Lucius caught Jim’s eye from across the brig. “I want this ship burned.” He whispered. “And I want all these fuckers to be on it as it burns.” Jim nodded, a hard glint in their eye. That sentiment was shared then. Good. Jim could get it done. “And we need to find Stede and Ed as soon as possible.”

“We will.” Jim nodded again. “These fuckers will pay, Lucius. You just take care of you…” Jim faltered even as their expression softened when they looked at Izzy. “Take care of your mate.”

“I will.” Lucius snuggled Izzy a little bit closer. He was grateful for the slow and steady rise and fall of the omega’s chest. He was relieved that the bleeding had stopped. There would be hard conversations in the future, but for right now, Izzy was safe. Lucius would take it. He never wanted to be trapped in a brig again, unable to save his— his— his

mate

from what was happening to him. “Never again.” He vowed, whispering in Izzy’s ear. “It will never happen to you again. Only over my dead body.”
  
Another day passed and Izzy was awake more. They got him to eat some gross mash the French had provided for him— something easier for his body to pass— and they got him to drink some water. Lucius had not slept much— too worried about Izzy to be much good to himself, so Pete stepped in to take care of both of them, and then Fang, and Ivan, and the Swede.

They docked at a port and the crew was released. The first thing they did was get two rooms at the inn and then Jim divided them up into three groups. One would go to the market and get Stede back by any fucking means necessary. The other group would find a way to destroy the French ship and then go search for Ed. And the last group would stay with Lucius and Izzy to make sure they were protected and well taken care of.

They split ways and it was a relief to have a plan to follow. Lucius carried Izzy into their room— they’d get the bed this time around— and placed him gently on the covers. They’d ordered a bath and it was all ready, hot and steaming.

“Hey.” Izzy grabbed his arm as Lucius went off. “Come back to me.” Lucius looked back at him, his eyes vacant. “We’re okay. We made it out.”

“We’re not okay.” Lucius’ voice cracked and Izzy fixed a hard glare on the crew.

“Wait outside, please.” He ordered kindly and they did as he asked, leaving two to stay outside the door and the rest retreating to the second room. Lucius turned to face him, his expression filled with anguish.

“We’re not okay. You’re not okay. I couldn’t stop them.” And with that a large sob welled up and out of the alpha and he choked on it, bending over, covering his face. “I couldn’t protect you and they hurt you! And Stede! And—“ The dam broke and Lucius couldn’t get any other words out past the body-wracking sobs that he couldn’t stop.

Izzy pushed himself up to his feet, a little wobbly but very determined. Lucius saw him get up and hurried over, only to have Izzy wrap his arm around him. Lucius broke all the way down. “So—“ he sobbed. “So much blood.”

“I’m okay.” Izzy tried to soothe him.

“They hurt you.” Lucius sobbed back.

“You got me out.” Izzy rubbed his back. Lucius gave up on talking, clinging to Izzy and letting out all the anger and anguish he had stored up. “You were so brave. I like it when you get all growly alpha over me.” Izzy told him. His legs were starting to shake and Lucius scooped him up and put him back on the bed.
“Gotta get you in the tub while it’s still hot.” Lucius sniffled, unable to really stop the hot tears streaming down his red cheeks.
“As long as you’re coming in with me.” Izzy just looked at him, not put off by everything he was feeling. Just patiently there and Lucius crumpled again, hugging him again. “I’m here.” Izzy comforted him. “You got me out.” He reassured him. “We’re safe.”

“You don’t have to take this so well.” Lucius mock-grumbled, worried that Izzy was hiding how he was feeling.

“I’m not.” Izzy had to chuckle at that, wincing as he did. Lucius pulled back and together, they undressed Izzy and then Lucius scooped him up gently. “Just, Lu, I wasn’t even stuck with them for a full day. Were they awful and did everything they did suck?” He paused. “Yea.” He croaked, some emotion other than exhaustion showing at last. “It sucked a lot. But,” his voice gave out and he cleared his throat, “last time I had to wait a year for someone to save me, praying that Ed was somehow over the next swell and he’d break me out only for him to never show up.”

Lucius was tearing up again and he pressed his forehead to the side of Izzy’s head. “You showed up in less than a day.” A tear escaped his cheek. “Thank you.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to Lucius’ cheek. “I’ve got a proper alpha looking out for me now.”
”You do.” Lucius vowed, blinking back tears. “I’m always gonna be looking out for you.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius eased Izzy slowly into the water, the older man letting out a contented groan as he sank down to the bottom of the tub.“Fuck yea.” He mumbled, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. “Only thing that could make this better is you. Get in here. It’s big enough for the both of us.”“I’m coming.” Lucius stripped quickly and stepped in, hissing slightly. “Oh, fuck, that’s hot.”“I know I am, babe, but get in.” Lucius scoffed, more a sound of disbelief than disdain. Leave it to his mate to be cracking jokes after just escaping hell on earth again. “I’m allowed to joke, I just lost my body weight in blood.”“Never change, Izzy Hands.” Lucius slid all the way in, sitting across from his Iz.“I thought you liked it when I changed.” Izzy cracked an eye open just to throw a quick wink. “Do I have to wash first or can I drape myself over you now?”“We can do both at the same time.” Lucius was feeling a little out of his depths. “I-“ He closed his mouth and then he tried again. “Izzy?”“Lu?”“I’m sorry they did those things to you.” Izzy sat up and opened his eyes.“Ah.” He lifted up one shoulder. “Didn’t you hear? The French,” his lips twisted up in a sneer, “ can never break me.”“Can’t let the French bastards win.” Lucius moved back so Izzy could sit between his legs and lean back against him. He grabbed the wash cloth and sudsed it up with soap and started to wash Izzy carefully, reverently. “I heard them, you know. They called me broken.” Izzy pursed his lips. Both he and Lucius recalled a different conversation in a much different time and place. The simplicity of the island called to them even more greatly now, especially in the face of such tragedy. “I tried to tell Stede what to do. To just—“ Izzy twisted, pausing when he saw Lucius’ stricken expression. “We don’t have to go into that if you’re not ready to hear about that.” He ducked his head down and Lucius let go of the washcloth to catch the end of his braid. He unthreaded the string and slowly unraveled what was left of Izzy’s braid with his wet fingers.“I can hear it.” Lucius sucked in a breath. “It’s a lot, but I want to hear it. Just fucking sorry you had to live it.” Izzy couldn’t help but shrug. He’d had a hard life— this just seemed like one more chapter of the like. “You tried to help Stede?” His voice was strained, hitching over his captain’s name.“We’re gonna get him back.” Izzy said quietly but fervently. “I gave Jim a few tips back in the brig. We’ll get him back.”“You tried to help him.” Lucius’ heart ached. “Does that mean he didn’t listen?”“I think he listened too well.” Izzy’s shoulders slumped. “At first I thought he was just being hysterical, you know, fucking Stede Bonnet. But then I started to wonder if he was doing it on purpose, you know? Like a mother bird pretending she can’t fly so the predator doesn’t see her baby?”“You think Stede covered for you?”“I told him to just take it.” Izzy spat out, hot tears pricking his eyes. “To just lie there and take it. No tears, no nothing. To give them as little of a reaction as possible. That they’d get bored, finish up, and leave us alone. Shit advice.” He swore. “Fucker did the exact opposite and gods, I think he did it on purpose.”“He protected you.” Lucius swallowed hard. “Did he know about the British?”“Yea.” Izzy tilted his head back. “Not doing a lot of washing there, boy.”“It’s selfish, maybe, but I just want to hold you.” Izzy didn’t think that was selfish at all as Lucius wrapped an arm around him. He was starting to think he needed to be held by the boy as much as Lucius needed to hold him. “Need to know you’re here, that you’re safe. Not being able to get to you— thought it would drive me mad.” Izzy turned, wanting to see Lucius’ face. Ever since that goddamn night when Ed had changed into something not even Izzy Hands could control, Lucius had lost something. Izzy remembered him as a laughing, funny, irritating boy, with none of the heaviness he seemed to carry now. He just wasn’t sure if had all been picked up in the past year or if he was just finally being able to see Lucius for all he was.“I’m sorry.” He meant it too. Izzy leaned into Lucius, letting him settle him on his lap and wrap his arms around him. Lucius buried his face in his neck and Izzy carefully scented him, not sure how they’d navigate the mate stuff. They could worry about that later. Right now, they’d just be Izzy and Lucius.Izzy had wanted to remind Lucius that he was here now, that they’d escaped, but that wouldn’t comfort the boy. So he did what he knew Lucius needed most, he let him hold him until the water started to lose its steam and bite.Lucius cleaned him up carefully, tenderly even, from his toes to his scalp, and Izzy let him. He was hauled out of the water— when did his boy get such muscles? And he was dried with the same amount of care he’d been washed with. “I hate to ask, but it’s fuzzy…”“Go on.” Lucius was drying his hair a little, gently braiding it and tying it off with that bit of string.“The blood?”“You lost a pup.”“Fuck.” Izzy wasn’t sure how to feel about that news. “I didn’t even know they were there.” He frowned. “Must have been the British.”“That’s what I was thinking.” Lucius replied. “They apologized to me, like it was mine. They told me I did a good job with you and I wanted to— they’re gonna pay for what they did to you and to Stede.” Lucius’ hands shook. “They’re going to burn.”Izzy didn’t say it but he was worried about Lucius. He almost wondered if his presence in the boy’s life had somehow made it worse. Lucius wasn’t the one cut out for revenge and blood like him and Jim were. Lucius wasn’t the wrathful type like Ed. But he could see it, how all the pain and anger and grief were starting to change the boy and Izzy hated to see it. Hated to be part of the cause. Love was supposed to make everything better, right? Not worse.But burning the French bastards was something Izzy could get onboard with even with his unsaid worries. He was all those awful things he never wanted Lucius to have to be and so his eyes gleamed just a little as he gave a cold smile.“Good.” His lip twisted up. “Let them all burn, Lu.”“We will.” Lucius promised.“And then can we go on vacation?”“Sure.” Lucius started to dress him, but Izzy just felt back against the bed, wiggling away. “Hold me.” He entreated, shimmying under the blankets. “Let’s pretend we’re off on our vacation already.” Lucius just stared at him, a lost look in his eyes. He looked so sad, so tired, and Izzy wanted to make him feel better anyway he knew how.“No seducing.” Lucius warned, worried Izzy might feel like he needed to try something after all of that shit on the French ship.“You’re already seduced.” Izzy scoffed, holding up the blankets.“Yea, I am.” Finally, a smile crossed Lucius’ lips, lifting them up for just a moment as he hurried over to join his mate in bed. He wrapped himself all around Izzy until they both made the most contented sounds. “You’re warm.” Izzy sighed, basking in the fact that they were in a bed and they were in a bed together. He was cradled to Lucius’ chest and it made him feel special. Him. Special. Of all people. With all that had happened. And Lucius made him feel that way so easily.“You’re hot.” Lucius said just to hear Izzy’s little, rasping laugh.“Anything for you.” He nosed against Lucius’ chest, more than a little thrilled to smell so much like his alpha. No one would fuck with him now with such an alpha. He had a bite. He had an alpha. He had Lucius.  Izzy was starting to think maybe his luck had changed. Maybe, despite everything, he finally got to be happy.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius and Izzy woke up from their nap to the joyful sounds of a third of their crew returning, with someone very precious in tow! Not that they stayed awake very long, falling back asleep quickly after Pete filled them in.“We’ve got him!” Roach whooped, the captain carried carefully in his arms. Oluwande led the group back with a tired smile. They’d done it. They’d snatched Stede right out of the hands of the man who’d bought him and whisked him away to safety. Some compensation had taken place— Oluwande didn’t want them to be followed— but they’d done it. They’d gotten Stede back.Stede was quiet, pale even, but he let them maneuver him best they could. So far the only thing he’d asked for was Ed, and no one knew how to answer him. Roach ended up telling him that Ed was missing and some of the crew was looking for him. They hauled him up a bath, much like had been done for Izzy, and then Roach cleaned him up. Everyone else was a bit too timid to wash their own captain up.“Thank you, Roach, you’re very kind.” Stede patted his arm as the man bundled him up. “We’ve got you, captain.” Stede was exhausted.“You all are very kind.” He blinked, glancing around. “Did we get Izzy?”“We did, captain. I’m gonna bring you over now.” Roach told him. “You’ll stay with him and Lucius.” Stede brightened considerably at the mention of the boy. That was right. Roach had forgotten they were close. “Lucius had to mate Izzy, captain, to get him back from the French.” Roach informed him. “They’re still figuring it out.” The look in Lucius’ eyes had rattled a lot of the crew. “We’re taking care of them though. And they’ll have the extra clothes for you.”“Excellent.” Stede breathed, yawning. “Where am I sleeping?”“Are you okay sharing with Izzy?” At Stede’s nod, Roach carried him over to the other room. Black Pete opened the door and Roach brought him in. Izzy and Lucius were sleeping, all twisted together, but there was still enough room. Stede curled up in the empty space, eyes already closing “Where’s Ed?” He asked sleepily before melding into the pile of bodies. Izzy had jerked away, but upon seeing it was Stede, he had determinedly snuggled closer, wrapping an arm and a blanket around the other omega. Stede accepted, passing out quicker than they’d expected. Izzy smelled relieved, falling back to sleep with ease. It was easy to sleep with Lucius wrapped around him, Stede next to him, and the now comforting, familiar scents of the crew.Izzy hoped they found Ed. At least for Stede’s sake. And maybe even a little for his own. Ed might have betrayed him, but Izzy held out hope that they’d find his friend and maybe they’d be able to recover at least some of their friendship. He hoped it wasn’t too late.  Meanwhile, aboard the French ship, Jim was busy. They’d gotten their third of the crew to bring aboard way too much gunpowder and dynamite— as in— the absolute perfect amount. Jim was going to make sure this ship and all her crew were going to be blown off the face of the ocean and then sink to the watery depths of the sea all burned to bits.It was a risky plan, but it was thorough. And Jim couldn’t wait. They found a hiding spot to wait and take their time, to wait for the crew to board and to set sail. They’d sent the third of their crew to find Ed.They’d tortured a sailor to find out that Ed had been shot and tossed overboard soon after. However, the sailor reported seeing Ed picked up by some kind of small vessel. Perhaps from the nearby village. Ivan and Fang led that search.Jim wasn’t thrilled with Ed. They didn’t really care if he lived or died. Ed had done a lot of shit and they weren’t sure it could be forgiven. Not that Jim did a lot of forgiving anyway. But Stede would be devastated, and even while Jim thought maybe it’d be for the best, they didn’t want Stede to be devastated. If Izzy could change, maybe Ed could too. Jim knew how hard it was to come back from a fake place. But Ed had support. Perhaps he could do it after all.They tightened their grip on their knife and sighed, tipping their hat over their head. It was going to be a long night. The French were celebrating at the tavern, and while Jim had thought to strike there, this just felt better.Tomorrow. They’d kill all the French bastards tomorrow.  Ed.Ed didn’t know where he was. He didn’t know what the fuck had happened. One minute, he was going to get Stede, and Stede was gonna have to owe him to the fact he claimed him, but also weirdly elated to claim him? Stede couldn’t leave him with his bite on his neck, not without feeling some of Ed’s pain as his own for once. But Stede would also be able to feel how much Ed still loved him. He loved him so much it hurt, and while it probably wouldn’t be enough for the omega to want to stay.Because Ed wanted him to stay. He wanted him to stay because he finally wanted to stay. Maybe that was why he worked so fucking hard to push him away.Anyway, Ed had been fucking on board with mating, despite everything, if Stede was okay with it too. And those three blissful days in the brig had showed him just as much, that Stede wanted to be his as much as Ed wanted to belong to him.Stede’s mark on the inside of his right arm spoke that much. He had let the omega claim him and then Stede had said he could take as long as he needed to figure out if he wanted to bite him back. Fuck. He should have bitten him when he had the chance.Fuck the French navy! Because one minute, Ed was happily going off to bite his fucking mate and save him, and get to be good for once. He’d get to be the hero for once. And then next thing he knew, he had a bullet somewhere it shouldn’t be and the deck was hard beneath his head, shoulders, ass, and feet. And then he’d been picked up and flung overboard, like he was Lucius, and Ed had realized that maybe he was going to die.And for all his talk of dying, Edward Teach did not want to die. He wanted to live. He wanted to live with his mate and stop fighting so damn hard for every good thing. He wanted to live and he wanted Stede. And he’d have to find out some way to get those things, even as he sank beneath the waves, only to be dragged out unconscious and thrown into the bottom of a rowboat.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It was late when the third group returned to the inn. Without Jim.

“Is that–” Buttons leaned over at the body they carried draped over Ivan and Fang’s shoulders.

“We found him.” Fang whispered.

“What’s left of him.” Ivan added. “And that’s not all we found.”

“Excuse me, but I found him–”

“Ah, for fuck’s sake.” Buttons glared. He raised his hands above his head, interlocking his fingers together. “I hex–”

“No more hexing! No more hexing!” Calico Jack stepped forward and the crew gasped. “Yea, the cannonball took my arm and some of my shoulder with it. Take a good gander. I could barely get Beardie out of the ocean and get us back.”

“What were you even doing out in the ocean?” Roach asked.

“Oh, I got mutinied.” Calico Jack shrugged. “Again.”

“Oh.” Roach exchanged looks with Ivan and Fang. “I’m pretty sure you can’t stay here. No one has fond memories since you were last with us.”

“C’mon! I saved Ed.”

“You don’t know how to chill.” Pete pointed out.

“I’m not letting the murderer of my dear friend rest his head anywhere near the captain! Not after what he’s been through.”

“Oh, yea, I heard about the French. Dug a French musket ball out of Beardie’s shoulder. C’mon, please, just the night. I won’t do anything. I’ll be chill!”

“Fuck off. We’ll only let you around if the captains say you can, once they’re rested up and can discuss it together.”

“What about Izzy? Or did you all kill him yet?”

“Izzy’s recovering too.”

“Izzy will vouch for me.” Pete made a face. “What?! He will! We go way back!”

“I don’t think the Izzy you saw last is the same one he is now.” Pete said carefully.

“He’s changed for the better.” Oluwande added. “Not sure the same can be said of you.”

“I’m hurt, guys.” Calico Jack’s eyebrows knitted together. “Hurt.”

“If you want to see them, you’ll have to wait. Get your own room.”

“With what?!” He started pulling out his empty pockets. “I’ve got nothing. I should be dead!”

“C’mon.” Pete brought him downstairs. “We’ll get you a room for the night, but for fuck’s sake, chill out.”

“What happened to Izzy? C’mon, you can tell me. Did he find an omega? Settle down? Fuck ‘em full of pups?!”

“Yea, I don’t think Izzy’s gonna want to see you either.” Pete grimaced. “You gotta do better, man.”

“I’ve made it this fucking far. I’m not changing now.”

“Then you’re not getting a room.” Pete grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the door. “And you’re not getting to see the captains or Izzy.”

“Or what?”

“Or you’ll have to deal with me.” Pete pushed him out, back into the night that the other part of the crew had fished him out of, and Jack spat back at him, a low growl escaping him. He stumbled off into the night and Pete went back inside. It wasn’t the best time to pick a fight with the other pirate, so he headed back upstairs to talk it through with the rest of the crew.

“The three of them need rest.” Oluwande glanced back at the bed that held an unconscious Ed. He was being kept in the separate room away from Stede, Izzy, and Lucius for now. “You did the right thing, Pete. They wouldn’t have been able to rest with him here.”

Pete nodded, but they decided to guard the rooms with three members of the crew instead of two, and everyone had a sword and a pistol just in case. The last few days had been a lot and everyone was ready to put them far behind them.
  
Sometime in the middle of the night, Stede woke up with a gasp, clawing at the blankets.

“Get off me you—you— lunatic!” He sat up, chest heaving from exertion, and slowly glanced around the room. He sniffed the room carefully, only catching the scents of friends, not foes.

“Stede.” Izzy rasped. “We’re safe. The crew got us back.”

“Right.” Stede blinked, staring at the dying fire. “My apologies if I’ve woken you up.”

“I was already awake.” Izzy whispered. “Can I touch you, Stede?”

“I don’t know.” Stede was still staring at the fire. “How the hell did you survive a year of

that?”

Izzy was quiet for a few minutes.

“I’m actually not sure I did.” He slowly responded. “I mean, I’m hardly the same man I once was.” And once, he would have considered that being broken, but now, he thought of it more as not needing to pretend anymore. Izzy didn't really feel broken anymore. He felt as if he'd been born again.

“But I associated that with Lucius… because you seemed better?” Stede asked.

“Had to be shattered first to get to those parts of me. Had to be broken to get to nurture them.” Izzy’s fingers curled around Stede’s wrist. “Thankfully, he’s a patient boy.” Izzy sighed. “Come back to bed, Stede.”

“I bit Ed.” Stede said quietly. “He didn’t believe me, that I still loved him, even hearing about all the terrible things he did.”

“All of them?” Izzy inquired, not wanting to accidentally snitch on Ed if he hadn't owned up to all of the things he had done.

“At least about what he did to your toe–” Izzy shifted, burying his face into the pillows for a moment as he struggled not to gag. He was never going to be able to forget that moment for the rest of his life.  “ –and that he tried to kill Lucius.” Stede pressed in a little closer, picking up on the other omega’s distress. “And I’m sorry he did those things.”

“You’re not the one who should be apologizing.” Izzy stopped him there, twisting back to face him. “Those are Ed’s sins, not yours.”

“Well, I claimed him as my mate, so I believe I probably owe you both an apology seeing how neither of you can be around him for long.”

“It’s the Kraken, Stede, not Ed. As long as he’s Ed, as long as he’s sorry, I’ll be fine. I can’t speak for Lucius on this. I don’t want him near Lucius at all. But I’m his loyal dog.” Izzy sighed. “He kicks me all he wants and I come running back for more.”

“Yea, he’s not treating you like that anymore.” Stede frowned. “You deserve to be treated with kindness.”

“Where do you and Lucius even find the room to be able to say stuff like that?” Izzy whispered. “And then have the strength to show it?”

“I’m nowhere near as strong as you.” Stede whispered back. Izzy’s stomach twisted when he realized what Stede meant, but he knew he meant well enough.

“Well, you’re pretty fucking brave.” Izzy replied, taking in a breath. “And by brave, I mean, stupid. What were you– thank you–” He stopped himself. “Thank you for trying to cover for me back there. You shouldn't have, but thank you.”

“You need more people looking out for you.” Stede replied and Izzy was struck with the urge to cry. “We’re friends now, Izzy. I’m going to look out for you like I do for all the rest of my friends.”

“Oh.” Izzy let out a little sigh. “Well, then, I’m going to look out for you too.” Izzy could hear Stede’s smile, even in the darkness, when the other omega replied.

“I’d like that, Israel. I'd like that a lot.""Me too." Stede snuggled close and Izzy held him closer, breathing together. They were safe, safer together anyway. They'd recover and be better to spite the fucking bastards who hurt them. They'd recover and be better for the lovely people who rescued them.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A few days passed and Izzy was up, trying to run around like nothing had happened. Stede was taking more time to heal, more time to hide away, but Izzy said that was to be expected. Stede had taken on more than he should have– even if Izzy said it with no heat and an adoring look of gratitude that no one missed. Izzy was one of the crew now and they were all happier for it. Ed— Ed still had yet to regain consciousness, but between Roach, Stede, and Izzy, he was in capable hands. Some hands that still loved him regardless of everything.“Guys, the French ship is leaving!” Pete burst into the room. “We’ve got to watch the show.” They all gathered in Stede and Izzy’s room, peering out the window. Oluwande drew in a worried breath. No one had heard from Jim since they had left to get their revenge. Oluwande just hoped they were okay. Revenge wasn’t worth losing the first mate. Revenge wasn’t worth losing Jim over.But the French bastards deserved to pay.They watched with baited breaths as the ship cleared the harbor and then erupted into a ball of flame and millions of little bits of wood that scattered all over the waves. “Well done, Jim!” Stede said proudly, with more gusto then he’d been able to show in days. “Burn in hell.” Izzy grunted. “Kid did well.” “Gracias.” Jim purred from the corner of the room, tipping their hat up. “Jim!” Oluwande ran over and embraced them fiercely. “Oh, fuck, I was so worried.” “No te preocupes.” Jim murmured lovingly. “I always come back to you, mi amor.” They leaned in and kissed Oluwande sweetly, smelling like gunpowder and fire. “Did you like it?” They asked and Oluwande nodded. “You did good defending them.” Oluwande admitted. “But I’d like to put revenge behind us once and for all. We all need time to heal and recover in our own ways.” “Fine.” Jim sighed, short and sweet. “It would be nice to find some peace.” Their eyes seemed distant. “Not that I’d know what to do with it.” They gestured to Izzy. “Doubt he knows either.” Izzy had to nod at that assessment. He wasn’t sure he’d know what to do with it either, but he’d like to go back to when it was just him and Lucius, carving out a life on the island, learning how to be safe for each other. He glanced over at the alpha who gave him a little smile, almost as if he was thinking the same goddamn thing. Gods, Izzy loved him. He loved him and it scared him. Never one to just sit with his feelings, Izzy slipped out a little later, heading towards the market. He wanted to get something nice for Stede to help with his recovery and then he wanted to get something special for Lucius, something that might convey the depth of what he felt for him, a physical reminder as it were.Maybe a necklace or a ring. Izzy came up to touch his open collar. It’d been over a year, but he still felt naked without his tie and his ring. They were forever lost to the pirates who took him, but he still felt their loss keenly. Perhaps Lucius missed his scarf in a similar way? Izzy decided to see if he couldn’t find him something, even if he didn’t wear it on his neck, like a ribbon or another scarf.His neck throbbed softly, but it was almost healed. It was an almost euphoric thing for an omega who never thought he’d be claimed by an alpha he liked. It was only overshadowed by the fact that he fucking loved Lucius and Lucius loved him as well. Izzy had never thought in a million years– he thought he’d live his whole life alone. He had made his peace with that. Just like he was making his peace with the fact that Lucius had ruined those plans so easily. There. There was a thick, shiny, black ribbon fluttering in the wind. Izzy hurried over to the vendor and eagerly inquired about it. He had a few coins saved up and thankfully had enough to buy enough ribbon for Lucius to do however he wished with it. The woman carefully tied it into a bow and nestled the ends into the box first before putting the top on. She sealed it with another ribbon and handed it over for the coins rattling in Izzy’s pocket. Izzy hurried back, picking some flowers on the way for Stede. Nature always did Stede good. Maybe some fresh blooms would help him feel more like himself. Izzy stopped by Stede’s room first– he had moved in with Ed the day before so he could keep an eye on him– to give him the fistful of flowers he had gathered up. “Izzy!” Stede brightened from where he’d been staring at the corner of the room with a listless expression. “I didn’t expect to see you.” “Brought you something.” Izzy grunted, carefully handing over the flowers. “Thought they might cheer you up a little.” Stede’s eyes watered as he took the flowers. “Oh, Izzy, that was very thoughtful indeed.” He sniffed the flowers delicately. “These are so very lovely. Thank you.” “Glad you like ‘em.” Izzy muttered, glancing down, shifting his weight side to side. “How are you?” Stede blinked up at him, processing the question and how he wanted to answer. “I’m not really sure.” Stede lifted up a shoulder. “I’m relieved to be back with you all, but I feel like I was only retrieved in parts. Like I lost part of myself on that ship.” Izzy made a pained expression. He knew that feeling all too well. “I know how that feels.” He offered. “But know that you are no less whole than you were before they took us. The feeling will pass. The hollowness will fade.” “What if Ed doesn’t want me anymore?” Stede asked in a hushed whisper, his eyes sparkling with tears. “Then he’s an idiot, but you will be no less supported than the rest of us.” Stede sniffled. “Ed’s not going to be swayed by any of that.” Izzy promised even though he had no real way of knowing. He just knew Ed was different when it came to Stede. Stede changed everything for him. Ed wouldn’t be inclined to give Stede up now that he’d finally gotten him back. The accepted bite on the alpha’s arm said it all. “Thank you, Izzy. I–  I should offer my congratulations to you and Lucius.” Stede nodded to the bite. “Ah, we’re figuring things out.” Izzy answered shyly. “I’m still trying to get used to it, you know? Never thought it’d happen for someone like me.” Stede gave him a small smile. “Then I’m extra glad it happened to you. You and Lucius are very lucky to have each other.” Izzy ducked his head back down to hide his pleased smile. “Yea.” He breathed. “I’ve got to go see him. Picked him up something too.” “Thank you for my flowers.” Stede leaned back into the bed, glancing over at Ed. “Thank you for your friendship, Izzy. You’ve become quite the friend to lean on.” Izzy gave him a fond look. “Anytime, Stede.” He excused himself and headed over to the next room. The door was partially open, unguarded for once, and Izzy frowned at the peculiarity of that. He stepped over quietly, hoping that everything was all right, when he caught sight of Lucius and Pete sitting together on the bed. Perhaps he should wait– they looked as if they were in a deep conversation– Izzy didn’t want to interrupt. “You all right with everything, babe?” Pete touched Lucius cautiously and the boy burst into tears. “I didn’t want to bite him!” Izzy jerked back at that, the package falling from his hands to the floor. He staggered back, missing whatever else Lucius was saying as his mind tried to make sense of what he had just heard. Lucius… didn’t want him?! He didn’t want to bite him?! But he had said… Izzy’s breaths came in shallower and shallower as panic took hold. Lucius had lied. He didn’t want Izzy as a mate. Maybe he didn’t want Izzy at all anymore. The worst part was that Izzy couldn’t blame him. He’d seen how he’d weighed the boy down. Lucius– Lucius was better off without him. “Whoa, mate, you all right?” Frenchie was helping him off the floor, Lucius’ present in hand. “Want me to get Lucius for you?” “No!” Izzy jerked away, standing up quickly. “Can you give him that?” He asked in a softer tone and Frenchie nodded, his scent giving away his concern. Izzy hurried away, nearly falling down the stairs of the inn in his haste to get away. He couldn’t be anywhere near here right now, not where he could smell him still or remember how tenderly he had taken care of him. He should have known it was too good to be true. He should have known! He had known! Izzy Hands took off down the street until he found an alley several blocks away that he could tuck himself into, releasing the hot, bitter tears that now streamed down his face. Lucius didn’t want him. Maybe he never had.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius was still talking with Pete when Frenchie stuck his head in.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Izzy asked me to give you this.” He handed the present over quickly and headed back towards the door.

“Was he okay?” Lucius asked. He hadn’t seen Izzy since the explosions and he wanted to make sure his mate wasn’t pushing himself too hard. He was Izzy Hands, so the possibility was more than likely

“Actually he seemed really upset, ran right out of here afterwards.” Frenchie frowned. “I asked if he wanted me to get you, but he said no.”

“That’s weird.” Lucius commented. He unwrapped the ribbon from the box, hoping the gift might shed some light on the subject. “Oh, wow.” Lucius’ voice came out in a hushed whisper. “Babe, look, he replaced my scarf.”

“Why is it black?”

“Because it’s from him.” Lucius’ eyes were wide with awe as he ran his fingers over the shiny bow reverently. “God, I don’t deserve him.”

“Yes, you do.” Pete spoke up. “You deserve each other. You two make each other happy in a really special way.”

“I need to find him, so I can thank him!”  Lucius looped the ribbon around his neck. “And I gotta make sure he’s okay.” He slid off the bed. “Thanks for talking, babe!” The talk had done Lucius some good. He didn’t seem so weighed down as he hurried after his mate.

“Anytime, babe.” Pete got up, watching him go. They’d been talking about Lucius and Izzy’s unplanned bite, how the alpha wanted to proceed with the mating, and how he was feeling with everything. Pete had to wonder if Izzy had overheard any of it. There had been parts that might have sounded bad if he hadn’t heard them in context.

Shit.

Pete got some of the crew together and sent them out looking for Izzy also. He didn’t want to risk the omega getting sick. No one did well when they thought their mate had rejected them, but in more serious cases, they became ill and fucking died. Pete wasn’t going to risk Izzy and Lucius losing each other like that— they needed each other.

Izzy woke up, still in the alley, curled up behind stacks of crates. He felt stiff, achey, as he stretched, eyes darting around as he smelled a stranger.

“Hey.” He yelped, scooting back into the wall when a man stepped out from behind the crates. “Are you okay, omega?” He bared his teeth, giving his best intimidating snarl, but his heart wasn’t in it. Izzy wasn’t sure he even had a heart anymore after yesterday. He wished Lucius had just told him the truth… or maybe he had and then three days into being mated, had changed his mind. That would make it Izzy’s fault. He wasn’t fucking good enough for Lucius– but he’d always known that, even on the island. “Hey, hey.” The man stepped closer. “I just want to help.” He pulled a pamphlet from his bag and handed it over. “You’re safe with me.” Izzy shot him a baleful look as he took the paper, scanning it quickly while keeping an eye on the stranger. “My name is Abshir. I’m looking for omegas.”

“I’m sure you are.” Izzy sneered.

“No,” Abshir chuckled. “I am an omega. I’m looking for other omegas who need a safe place as well. According to that, London has been declared a safe place for all omegas, a refuge.”

“I can read.” Izzy bristled. “I just don’t believe it. I grew up back there. In London.”

“It’s real.” Abshir confirmed. “This is my third voyage. It’s at least safer there than here.” He hesitated. “You look like you need somewhere that’s safe.” Izzy blinked back an emotion that would stay unnamed as he remembered that he

had

a safe place until yesterday. “Whatever’s going on with you, omega, you can have a fresh start in London.”

Izzy had a feeling that he was all out of fresh starts with how the bite ached. Why would Lucius bite him if he knew the risks that came with a rejected bond? No doubt Lucius had meant to honor the mating bond, but Izzy wasn’t going to trap him in something that he didn’t want. He’d go far away, far enough so he wouldn’t risk running into Lucius again. Izzy didn’t think what was left of his heart could handle seeing him again. He’d go to London, back to the gutter that birthed him, and he’d call it a day.

“Fine.” He groused. “How can I pay for my passage? I’m fresh out of coins.”

“Can you sail?” Abshir asked and Izzy scoffed.

“Best goddamn sailor on my last crew.”

“Then welcome aboard, Mr.--?” Oh, well, if this was to be the last voyage of Izzy Hands, he was going to be as goddamn, fucking dramatic about it as he could be. He would find some pleasure that was left in the pain. His whole life had been one shitshow after another, why did he expect the end to be any different?

“Spriggs.” He said in a meek tone. “Was my mate’s name.”

“Ah.” Abshir’s expression was one of pity. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Yea, me too.” Izzy growled softly. “Let’s go. Let’s get out of here.”

The crew scoured the small town, but no one had seen Izzy anywhere. Lucius could faintly feel him through their weak bond, but what he felt only served to make him feel more panicked. Izzy was not in a good place.

It’d been a day until Jim finally spotted Izzy, on a ship sailing to god knows where.

“Why would Izzy just leave?” Stede asked once he got wind of what was going on. Ed had woken up for all of two minutes, and while that had been encouraging, he had just passed back out as soon as Stede pressed a kiss to his sweaty forehead. He’d nuzzled him back. That was a good sign though– a very good sign. “He seemed settled when I saw him.”

They figured out the timeline, that Izzy had been okay, happy even, when he saw Stede– something had happened by the time Frenchie saw him outside of his room.

“Babe, I think he overheard part of our conversation. But– like majorly out of context.” Pete said softly. “I think he heard the part about the bite.”

“Why?”

“Because he took off.” Pete shrugged. “It’s just a feeling, but I think Izzy thinks you don’t want him. He left so you wouldn’t feel stuck with him.”

“But I do want him!” Tears welled up in Lucius’ big, brown eyes. “I want him right fucking here! He didn’t even check in with me– he just fucking left!”

“We’ll find him.” Stede assured him. “Jim, do you know where the ship was heading?”

“We don’t have a ship.” Oluwande pointed out.

“We need the heading, Jim.” Stede ignored him. “There are plenty of ships here, but if we can get Lucius on one heading after Izzy, perhaps we can avoid a greater tragedy.”

“It was heading to London. London’s been declared safe for omegas.” Jim said softly. “Sorry, Lucius.”

“Fuck, I’ve got to get to London.”

“And we’ll get you there.” Stede nodded. “We’ll join you once we can.”"Thanks." Lucius hurried from the room. He didn't have much to pack, but he was packing all the same. He couldn't waste any time.  He had to get his mate back before it was too late. Thankfully, it was a busy port. There was bound to be more than one ship heading off to London. Fucking ocean.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“You are the best sailor I’ve sailed with.” Abshir declared a week into their voyage. “Is there any chance I can convince you to stay on with me after London?”

“London is it for me.” Izzy said with a slight shake of his head.

“You’ve got mate sickness?” Abshir asked in a low tone, a private tone. “Noticed you’ve been looking a little extra pale. Cook says you haven’t been eating much.”

“Haven’t been hungry.” Izzy answered. “And I don’t need you looking after me.” He didn’t want to talk about how his bite had started to grow hot to the touch, the skin red and irritated. He knew what happened if the swelling didn’t go away in a couple weeks. He knew what happened if it started to spread to the rest of his body, but damn, he just didn’t expect that sort of ending for him.

Who would have thought he’d ever manage to let someone in?

“I reckon that’s not quite true.” Abshir was unfazed. “You want to talk about it? What happened to your mate and all?”

“No.” Izzy said glumly.

“When did he die?”  Izzy flinched. How he still hated the idea of Lucius dying. He wanted his boy to show up, hold him close, and say it was all some huge kind of misunderstanding— that there was no one else he wanted more in the world than Izzy (and maybe Pete). He wouldn’t mind a little groveling either.

“He didn’t.” Izzy looked away, over the ocean, back in the direction he had left his mate to be free in whatever life he wanted, free of Izzy and the burdens that came with him. “He decided he didn’t want me anymore.”

“Well, then he’s a twat.” Izzy stiffened at that word, ducking his head to hide the fresh tears. Fucking hell. He missed that goddamn twat with every bone in his body, their weak bond screaming at him to turn the ship around and go back to his alpha.

His alpha who didn’t want him. Izzy blinked, the deck swaying more than usual, glancing up at Abshir with wide, dark eyes. He didn’t remember falling, but here he was on his goddamn ass.

“What happened?” He groaned.

“You’re sick.” Abshir’s eyes were warm and caring. He scooped Izzy up and Izzy didn’t bother fighting him. “I’m taking you to the doctor.”

Lucius was on the next ship to London, only a day behind Izzy and Abshir. He wasn’t the best sailor, but between Stede and the crew, they had covered his passage to London. He just needed to focus on getting his mate back.

Lucius was worried.

He wished Izzy had come to talk to him about what he had heard, but if Pete was right about Izzy overhearing the part about the bite, he could understand why Izzy had just left. What person wanted to hear extra confirmation of just how unwanted they were? And no offense to his mate, but Izzy was fragile at best when it came to rejection.

Oh.

Lucius missed him so fucking much. He wanted nothing more than to have his mate back in his arms where he belonged. He’d hold him close, whisper how loved he was, how special he was. Tears welled up in Lucius’ eyes and he curled up in his bunk, hoping the other passengers in the room didn’t see. Maybe he could try sending some of this utter abundance of love to Izzy through the bond, get him to reconsider, get him to realize maybe there was a mistake.

It was worth a shot.

The doctor confirmed that Izzy did indeed have mate sickness and the diagnosis only seem to hurry the illness along. Izzy was confined to his room on days he felt particularly weak after he almost fell overboard during one of his dizzy spells.

Abshir had become something of a friend on this final voyage and Izzy was glad to not face it all alone. He missed his crew. His friends.

He missed his mate most of all.

It was strange, but sometimes Izzy could feel Lucius, like he was right there in the hammock next to him. He could feel his arms around him. He could feel

loved

by him and it made his heart ache and threaten to break all over again. There were nights when he could almost swear that Lucius had been there even though that was fucking impossible, right?

It didn’t make sense until he finally opened up to Abshir about it, just assuming it was part of the illness.

“Didn’t get to explore your bond much, did you?” Abshir said with a knowing look. “Maybe your alpha isn’t as much of a twat as I thought he was.” Izzy’s heart nearly leapt with hope and than it sank as quickly as it had risen.

“Don’t say that.” He folded his arms across his chest. “He didn’t want me.”

“I think you’re feeling him through your bond.” Abshir shrugged. “Would it be such a bad thing if he’d change his mind? It’d keep you on the planet a little while longer.” Izzy growled, implying that yes, that would be such an awful thing. It would be awful to have run only to have Lucius somehow chasing after him. It would mean he’d made a mistake and that he’d put them both at risk, and for what? He– he had heard what Lucius said. Lucius had said he didn’t want to bite him!

Tears threatened to spill and he marched back to his room, leaving Abshir alone on the deck.

However, in his room, Izzy tried locating the bond. Maybe he could take some of what he was feeling and send it to Lucius for a change. If he could take a break from feeling so goddamn awful, he would. His alpha could foot the bill this once.

The first time Lucius felt Izzy respond through the bond it knocked him flat on his face. He was able to play it off as he had tripped. That wasn’t hard with how he occasionally could be clumsy. But he couldn’t play off the devastation that he felt from his mate.

Izzy genuinely believed that Lucius didn’t want him.

A week of being ignored and this was the response? Lucius pushed as much regret and love as he could back through the bond, nearly flipping Izzy out of his hammock with the magnitude. He couldn’t let Izzy keep believing that. He loved him too fucking much to let Izzy keep believing that.

A week later, Izzy was in London. He said his goodbyes to Abshir and took his address even, meaning to keep in touch. He appreciated the other omega and his friendship despite how he showed his gratitude at times.

Izzy didn’t know where to go from there, so he headed home. He went back to the gutter to look at one more time. His sickness seemed to have eased up some, but it was still there in the ache in his bones and the hollow where his heart was. Lucius kept sending what felt like affection through the bond, but Izzy didn’t know what to do with that either. He felt like the alpha was playing with him at this point, and if there was one thing about Izzy Hands, that was he didn’t appreciate being jerked around one bit.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius Spriggs arrived in London five days after his mate. He didn’t know this, of course. All he had was the clothes on his back, his black ribbon around his neck, and a picture of Izzy that he showed to just about everyone at the docks, asking if he had seen this man.

No one had. At least, no one who would admit it. Then he started asking about the ship Izzy had come on and there he got a lead, heading further down to the docks where she was still berthed.

“Ahoy?” Lucius called out to the lone man on the deck. “Can I trouble you for a moment, sir?”

“What do you need, good sir?”

“I’m looking for an omega!” He called. “My mate. I believed he sailed with you? Can you look at a picture and confirm my information, please? It’s urgent.” Their bond had faded to nearly nothing and Lucius almost missed the little jabs of angst and guilt he had been receiving since Izzy discovered the bond. “Please, he’s sick, and I need to find him in time.”

The man slowly made his way to the railing, looking down at Lucius with a pinched expression on his face.

“Spriggs.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. And his name.

“Yes.” Lucius almost sobbed right there. “You’ve seen Izzy.” He was going to cry. “Is he okay?! Do you know where he is?!” The man narrowed his eyes and pushed off of the railing, making his way down the gangplank. He rounded in on Lucius with a sort of intention that made the alpha nervous. Just as Abshir had been hoping it would.

“You have some nerve.” Abshir whispered. “He’s a good man, but no man is strong enough to withstand what you did to him.”

“Me?” Lucius squeaked. “He ran! I’ve been trying to find him!”

“That bond is barely formed and he’s already dying from it!” The man roared and Lucius grew very still and went very pale. Izzy?! Dying?! His heart threatened to break at that news alone.

“No.” He whispered. “Please. You have to help me save Izzy. I came to keep him from getting sick. It was a big misunderstanding, please, sir, please help.” Of all the things Abshir had pictured Izzy’s mate as, it wasn’t this pleading boy who looked as heartbroken as the omega he had befriended over the course of three weeks. His heart, traitorous thing it was, went out to both of them.

“What happened?”

“You’ll help me?”

“If you deserve it. Some fates are more cruel than death, and I won’t change Izzy’s mind for a fool.” Lucius’ shoulders dropped and he nodded.

“He overheard me talking to someone. I think he heard me say I didn’t want to bite him.” Abshir scoffed, shaking his head, and Lucius hurried to finish. “I didn’t want to bite him under the circumstances that it happened! I did– I do want him– he’s my mate and I love him so goddamn much– and I just want to keep him safe and happy–” Lucius’ voice cracked and he covered his face. “We were taken by the French navy.” He forced himself on, finding no sympathy in his audience. “They separated the omegas from the rest of the crew.” He forced himself to look the omega head on. “They were going to sell them once they finished having their fun.”

“Fuck the French.” Lucius nodded. “Continue.”

“I told them he was my omega. We were together, but we hadn’t talked about mating yet. I had thought about it– had hopes– but Izzy’s– he’s suffered a lot and I wanted to do it right.” Lucius shrank in on himself slightly. Gods, he had fucked up. “They told me I had ten seconds to claim him as my mate or he was going to be sold at market. He was unconscious, bleeding from aborticide, and had been raped and god knows what else, and that was when I bit him, so I wouldn’t lose him.”

“Wow.” Abshir’s eyes widened. “He accepted the bite when he was conscious?”

“Yea.” Lucius blinked.

“And you kept whining about it when he could hear you?!”

“It was a lot to process! I didn’t hold it against Izzy! I just hated feeling like I forced him!”

“Oh, don’t be a twat.” Abshir snorted. “I’ve known him for three weeks, Mr. Spriggs, and even I know he wouldn’t have accepted that bite if he had felt forced.” Lucius sucked in a miserable breath and nodded his head.

“You’re right.”

“I’m going to help you.” Abshir decided. “But for Izzy’s sake. He needs a good alpha. He needs someone who is willing to cross the ocean for him to clear up a misunderstanding.” He fixed a glare on Lucius. “And you are going to do exactly what I tell you or I won’t help you one bit.”

“I’ll do anything.” Lucius said miserably. “I’ll fuck whoever you want. I’ll do anything.”

“Ew, no.” Abshir looked concerned. “I reckon your story has the same amount of sadness as his just in different chapters.” He shook his head. “All right, I’m going to set you up in a nice place, Spriggs.”

“It’s Lucius.”

“I don’t care.” Abshir snorted. “He gave me his last name as Spriggs, said it was the same as his mate, and that’s all I need to know.” Lucius’ heart ached over that little tidbit. Izzy took his name even as he fled from him, thinking he wasn’t wanted anymore. Gods, Izzy was so wanted, far more than he knew. “You’re going to get this place filled with flowers, good food, better wine, whatever, total honeymoon suite. We will find Izzy. You’re going to take him here. You are going to apologize. Grovel. You’re gonna feed him the best food you can find, give him the best drinks around town, buy him pretty presents, whatever your omega likes. And when he finally decides you’re worth his time again, you’re going to take him to bed and eat him out until he’s crying from the pleasure. You’re not going to touch your cock, you’re not going to fuck him, you are only there to make him feel fucking good. And then you’re going to do it all over again, every goddamn day of his life, because that is what the fuck Izzy deserves.”

“I would love to do all that, but I can afford only mid-level accommodations and food at this point. The pleasure I can do though... if he lets me.”

“He’s been through a lot. You’re gonna have to initiate that.” Abshir snorted. “He’s not gonna jump you. He’s gonna need to be wooed. I’ll put you up in my villa. It’s got everything you need. You can stay there as long as you need, as long you take good care of Izzy.”

“Where are you staying?”

“I’m heading out.” Abshir shrugged. “Need to get more omegas to safety.”

“That’s very… commendable.”

“Well, we all need someone to show up for us.” Abshir winked. “Let’s go find your omega.”

“Is he staying with you? Lucius asked.

“No. He wouldn’t.” Abshir smirked. “But I know where he is staying. I had him followed. Wanted to make sure he was safe.”

“Our crew will be coming for us soon. They sent me on ahead to try to get to Izzy in time.”

“Then it’s time to go.” Abshir grinned. “Or else that voyage would have been for naught.” He glanced over. "You know, deep down, I think he'll be happy to see you.""Gods, I need to see him." Lucius shivered. "I missed him so much it hurt.""Good." Abshir shrugged. "Then I know you'll make it up to him.""I will." Lucius vowed fervently. "I only need the chance."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What do you want?” Izzy growled when he happened upon Abshir the next day. “I told you I’d send you a card before I croaked.” He was surprised to see the other omega, but a little relieved too. His days in London had been filled with strangers and his childhood memories here had not been kind. It didn’t feel like the London he had left as a boy all those years ago. It was better. But it still wasn’t the right place for him. Izzy wasn’t sure he had a place in this world where he fit. So at the very least a friendly face was a pleasant surprise in the midst of all of that.

“I have a surprise for you.” Abshir announced. “Will you follow me?”

“Why should I?” Izzy was distrustful to the end.

“Because you’re curious?” Abshir teased.

“And you’ll drag me kicking and screaming through the streets of London if I don’t go with you?” Izzy folded his arms across his chest.

“Something like that.” Abshir shrugged. “It’s nice. It’s at my villa. Safe location. Good food. Omega friendly.” Izzy’s eyes glittered. Either Abshir thought he was an idiot or he didn’t care. Izzy had caught the hint of

Lucius

following the other omega and he hated how fucking eager it made him to pester his friend for answers.

“I can smell him on you, you fucking traitor.” He snapped with very little heat.

“He told me his side of the story. I think you should at least hear it too.” Izzy blinked. So Lucius was here. Why would the boy follow him?! It didn’t make sense. None of this made any sense!

“Why the fuck do you care?” Izzy snorted, keeping his inner turmoil to himself.

“I want you on the planet a little longer.” Abshir shrugged again. “Sue me.” Something twisted in Izzy’s stomach, something fond, towards the other omega.

“Is it really him?” He let himself ask. One moment of weakness didn’t matter as much with the end of his life looming ahead of him. Well, as much as he thought it had been. Izzy wasn’t so sure death was in his future just yet if Lucius had hunted him down across the Atlantic. Lucius hated the ocean. He was terrified of it. As much as it hurt Izzy’s heart to hope, he knew in his soul that Lucius wouldn’t have come after him across the ocean if it wasn’t important. He wouldn’t have come if he was only going to throw Izzy away.

Right?

“Shiny, black ribbon around his neck. Wooden finger. Big, sad, brown eyes.” Izzy’s tummy twinged at the mention of his eyes. That was Lucius all right.

“Fucking twat.”

“Agreed.” Abshir laughed. “But also, surprisingly, not as much of a twat as I thought he would be at the same time. I think I see why you like him.” Izzy barked out a light. “Well?” Abshir asked and Izzy figured the game was lost before it began.

“Take me to him.” Abshir grinned.

“I’ll have you know I laid into him pretty well. Told him all the ways I expect him to make this up to you, plus whatever else he had planned on his own.”

“And what did you demand on him?”

“Told him to eat you out for days without even thinking of touching his cock.” Abshir smirked. “I think he’s gonna do it.” Izzy’s laugh came out strangled and Abshir gave him a reassuring look. “Only if you want him to. He’s very big on consent.” Izzy nodded slowly.

“It’s one of the things that makes him safe.” He said softly. “He won’t do anything that I don’t want him to do, even if I try to lie and say it’s fine. He always seems to know.”

“Well, don’t lie to him. Especially if he’s the rare alpha who can handle the truth.” Abshir snorted. He led Izzy away from the gutter of London towards a nicer part of town. Izzy seemed in better spirits than when Abshir had seen him last and he hoped it was because of the alpha. Izzy’s mate had come for him and Abshir hoped for a happy ending for his friend. Izzy seemed like he needed a win.

He led him to his front door, stopping there. “Do you want me to come in with you?” Abshir asked. “Or is this journey one you need to do alone?” Izzy nodded.

“Gotta do this by myself.” He glanced over. “I’ve been mighty grateful to have you on all the other ones.” Abshir smiled.

“It’s been an honor, Mr. Spriggs.” He used Izzy’s mate’s name intentionally, noting how Izzy reacted far more fondly than painfully.

Maybe

he’d be okay. “Go on.” Abshir nodded. “I’ll check in on you two before I sail.” He promised. “If you have to kill him, just not in the villa.”

“Got it.” Izzy sighed. He stepped forward, brave and stoic to the end, and grabbed the door handle. He twisted it and pulled, letting himself in, disappearing from Abshir’s view as the door closed behind him.

Izzy sucked in a sharp breath as he stepped into the villa. Knowing that Lucius was in here, that he was going to see him again, made his heart ache and his steps quicken. Izzy needed to know the truth. He needed to know where he stood with his mate even if the truth ended up being more painful than he could bear.

Before Lucius he didn’t think he had limits to what he could bear, but the boy had made him soft. Had loved him to the point that Izzy only could continue to live with that level of support— with Lucius. The boy was his mate and Izzy didn’t want to do any of this without him.

He followed the glow of the lanterns on the wall until he came to another set of doors that were cracked open.  He peeked in, spotting Lucius almost instantly, working on something with a feverish intensity.

“He’s on his way.” Abshir’s voice called out and Lucius’ head whipped up. “I’m on my way. Just thought I’d give you a heads up.”

“He’s coming?” The relief and hope in Lucius’ voice hurt. “What did you tell him?”

“The truth. Best of luck, Mr. Spriggs.” Abshir chuckled. “To the both of you.” A door closed somewhere else and Izzy slid inside of the room where Lucius was glancing around the room, checking the paper in his hand. Izzy followed where he was looking, not expecting to see a giant horizon painted on one side of the room, like, like they were back on the island.

His little gasp must have alerted Lucius to his presence because the next thing he heard was his name in a hushed whisper.

“Izzy.”

Izzy stared over at him, Lucius staring right back, both of them desperately wanting the other to cross the distance between them. Izzy forgot how to move and how to speak and then Lucius was a blur, running over to him quickly. “Oh my god, Izzy.” Izzy blinked, warm arms wrapped around him, his alpha’s rich scent all over him. Lucius was crying, saying something about how he was so scared he’d never see him again and that he missed him so much, and Izzy carefully wrapped an arm around the boy in return.

“What’s happening here?” He croaked. “I thought you didn’t want me.” He was confused. He had the right to be confused. He’d heard Lucius with his own ears.

“It wasn’t true.” Lucius said in a rush. “I want you so very much, Izzy. Maybe too much. I want everything to be perfect for you and I struggle when it’s not perfect for you.”

“I wanted the bite.” His voice cracked and Lucius held him even closer.

“I wanted you. I still do.” He assured him fervently. “I just didn’t want to bite you in that situation where you didn’t know what was going on and I couldn’t ask. Abshir already yelled at me though– said you were fine with it and I should have believed you.”

“You don’t have to be perfect for me.” Izzy grumbled. “Just want you, Lu. Don’t care about all the other stuff. You know me, I’m not gonna stay where I’m not wanted and I thought– I realy thought–'' he sniffled, hiding his face in Lucius’ shoulder. He didn’t know how to say it. Didn’t want to tell Lucius just how badly he had thought of this whole situation.

“You thought I didn’t want you?” Lucius asked, his tone pained.

“Yea.” Izzy nodded.

“Well, it’s not true. I want you more than anything and anyone.”

“What about Pete?”

“I love Pete. I love you.” Lucius nodded. “But you’re my mate, Iz. Don’t you know how important that makes you?” Izzy shrugged. He didn’t. That was part of why he had run.

“I’m open to learning– maybe even if you wanted to show me…” he said cautiously and Lucius smiled, kissing him quickly, passionately.

“I will show you. I’ll show you every goddamn day you give me.” Lucius vowed and Izzy pulled him in to kiss him again.

“Show me.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“So tell me about this…” Izzy’s gaze was back on the walls. “I know that horizon but why is it here?”“Oh.” Lucius flushed a little. “This? I wanted to bring us back to the island the only way I could. That was where I first started wondering about if you’d let me woo you, maybe even mate you. I felt so stupid.” Lucius laughed at himself. “I didn’t think I stood a chance with you, to be perfectly honest.”“I guess then you know how I feel about you.” Izzy gave a little shrug. He had put physical distance back between them, but he wasn’t fully out of reach. He stood like a man who had to stand on his own two feet for too long– like a man who didn’t know if he had anyone to depend on. Lucius reached across the distance, just to brush his fingers against his mate’s arm, just to remind them both that they weren’t alone anymore.Izzy glanced down at his fingers and then back over at him, like he still couldn't believe he was there.“I missed you.” Lucius whispered. “I was so fucking scared, Iz. I thought they got you again, or worse, and then Pete figured out you must have heard and I just– it was like my heart fell out of my chest because then– then it was my fault you had run away. And I never want to make you feel that way ever, Izzy.” Izzy’s dark eyes shone in the glow of the lanterns Lucius had lit before his arrival. “I’d carve my own heart out first.”Izzy didn’t know what to say to all of that, so he turned his attention away from Lucius and back to the painting.“You did good work. Looks just like it.”“Do you ever miss it?”“All the time.” Izzy confessed. “It was simple with just the two of us. Maybe that’s selfish of me, but it was nice there, easier to figure out where I stood when it came to you.”“I’m sorry.” And by the gods, Lucius looked it. It was sort of flattering to see how wrecked he was over almost losing Izzy. Might he still lose Izzy? Izzy wasn’t sure how mate sickness worked… if it could be healed past a certain point… He hadn’t sought out any care in London. Had no plans for a future that didn’t have his boy in them. “I will do better, Izzy, I promise.”“Lucius.” The omega murmured his name. “I don’t like seeing you like this. You… Seeing you upset makes me want to try to make it better.” Izzy shook his head. “I’m not sure I can.” He sighed. “Do you want me as your mate?” He asked directly and Lucius nodded.“More than anything, Iz.”“Okay, well, then I need your help.” Izzy stepped closer and Lucius saw it, the unnatural brightness in his eyes, the red in his cheeks, the infection weeping from his bite.“Oh, gods.” Lucius choked out a sob. “You got sick.” He covered his mouth with his hands. “You got sick because of me!”“I don’t want you to feel bad.” Izzy shook his head. “It– it was a misunderstanding. You’re here now. You’re gonna tell me if you’re having a hard time with me to only me in the future, not Pete.” Lucius nodded, agreeing to everything if it meant this truly was a second chance Izzy was offering. “I don’t know if this can be reversed.” He pointed to the infected bite. “But from what I've gathered, you’re probably my only chance at a cure.”“The infection and the cure come from the same source.” Lucius shot him a look full of regret. “I’ll do anything to keep you, Izzy. I--I love you.” It was tenderly said, almost questioningly, as if the boy was trying to see if Izzy could accept such a notion.“I love you too.” Izzy said in a quiet mutter. “You’re gonna have to bite me again, I think, make it take this time. I’ll accept it.” He gave Lucius a small smile. “I want you as my mate, Lucius Spriggs, and I want to be able to enjoy all the benefits properly this time.” He unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off gingerly, exposing the spread of the infection. Lucius knew enough to be relieved that it hadn’t made it to his heart yet, although not for lack of trying.“Will you bite me back?” Lucius stepped over to him, running his hand over the puffy, raised skin. It was hot to touch. Izzy raised his eyebrows, glancing back over at him.“You’d want that?”“I’d need it, darling.” He quipped back, leaning in, and Izzy had to smile.“I missed you too, you twat.” He breathed, leaning in too, pressing their foreheads together.  Lucius let out one hell of a sobbed laugh as Izzy pulled him close. “Bite me, Lu, before I decide you don’t want me again.” He pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Only if you want me forever though. I can’t do anything short of forever.”“My gods, Izzy, forever is fucking perfect.” Lucius kissed him back, openly weeping, as Izzy shushed him gently. The omega hugged him first this time, nestling into his shoulder, exposing his neck of his own accord. Lucius was grateful for the clarity, for this second chance. He bit down hard, pulling Izzy in closer as the omega whimpered, pulling him in closer too. Then he tenderly began to tend the bite, licking and cleaning it before he started to suck on the wound, sucking out some of the infection. It tasted as bad as rejection felt, like the literal poison it was, so once his mouth was full, he spat it out on the floor, and then went back for more. Izzy was quiet, gasping here and then, his fingers full of Lucius’ shirt, clutching his alpha and keeping him close as Lucius tended to him in the way his instincts screamed at him too.Lucius eased them both down to the floor, cradling Izzy close as he continued to nurse the poison out of his mate. Izzy lay against him, still and quiet, eyes fluttering shut every now and then. It felt strange… but with the bite, he could feel Lucius through the renewed bond. Could feel how much he cared, and for that, Izzy was content to lie here as long as possible and soak it all up.Lucius got as much out as he could before he bandaged the bite gently. It was now nighttime and Izzy yawned, pressing into him more.“Abshir promised a lot of things.” He murmured. “But for tonight, I just want to sleep next to you.” He still clung to Lucius’ shirt, his knuckles stiff from holding on so long. “Sometimes when I slept on the ship, I could almost feel you.”“Bite me back.” Lucius whispered. “Then I’ll get you into bed. We’ll have a light dinner and then you can sleep.” Izzy pressed in quickly, latching onto his alpha’s exposed neck. His teeth were sharper than Lucius had expected, making a clean mark. Izzy nuzzled his mate gently, cleaning his bite in a similar fashion before letting his head fall back against Lucius’ shoulder.“Hold me?” He whispered, straightening his fingers before curling them back around the wrinkled fabric of Lucius' shirt.“Always.” Lucius vowed, pressing a kiss to his mate's forehead. "You're stuck with me now.""Good." Izzy grunted. "Always liked getting stuck with you."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lucius was true to his word and Izzy found himself not lacking in food or drink as the alpha made the bed. Then once Izzy had his fill, he was made comfortable on the bed. Lucius joined him, asking first before he touched him, and Izzy just pulled him close. They lay together quietly, soaking up each other’s presence— needing each other close.

“Is this okay?” Lucius asked softly, snuggling in closer. He seemed unable to stop kissing Izzy’s forehead and hair and Izzy jusy nuzzled into the freely given affection. He didn’t know what to do with all of that but accept it. He liked all of this affection. He didn’t want it to ever stop.

“More than okay.” He rumbled softly.

“Good.” Lucius didn’t seem to be able to stop scenting him either, but it gave more credence to his story, that he did want Izzy after all. Someone finally wanted Izzy, all of him, not just his cunt.

Their newly formed bond strengthened with each passing moment they lay together. Then they shifted, Izzy on his back, Lucius on his stomach, wrapped into each other as Lucius quickly fell asleep, holding his mate close.

Izzy was falling asleep as well, but he was also so aware of Lucius’ body pressed to his. Abshir had mentioned intimacy of another nature, and Izzy let his thoughts wander. He’d never been intimate with Lucius, at least not in a sexual way, and he found that he’d rather not leave that map unexplored. They’d bonded. Izzy wanted to make sure it stuck.

He thought he could get through the act with Lucius— he could at least try. And with that thought, Izzy fell asleep too.
  
The next morning, Izzy lay in the bed Lucius had made for the both of them, half naked. He reached down and undid his pants, pushing them down and then kicking them off to the floor. He got rid of his undergarments as well, going straight for the nude. Lucius turned at the sound of fabric, as he came back into the room, his expression flickering into surprise as he saw Izzy bare.

Izzy didn’t need the bond to know that Lucius liked what he saw.

“I’ve got some breakfast.” Lucius lifted the tray up, but his gaze was threatening to look away from Izzy’s face. Lucius was curious. Good.

“You might have to hand feed me.” Izzy smiled up at him. “I’m too comfortable to get up.” This bed was the most comfortable one Izzy had ever been in, piled with silken sheets, pillows, and soft furs and blankets. Lucius had made it in front of him last night with things he had pilfered from Abshir’s stores, so Izzy knew this bed had been made with only him in mind.

It was… nice. Luxurious. It seemed like a level of luxury only reserved for the likes of Stede and maybe Ed, not for him. And here he was, sprawled out like a next level whore– except… except that wasn’t the case at all. No, he was here with his mate who was taking care of him, who loved him.

Lucius loved him, right?

“Are you all right?” Lucius was sitting next to him on the bed, running his hand through Izzy’s hair, pushing it back from his face. Izzy flinched, remembering when it was another man’s hands in his hair.

“Lucius?” His breathing was ragged as he scrunched his eyes shut. “Is it just you?”

“It’s just me, love, just Lucius.”

“Okay.” Izzy tried to relax, but he couldn’t bear the sensation. “Please, my hair…” He propped himself up. “I can’t.” Lucius remembered now– the way the British captain had touched Izzy like he was his. No. Izzy was only his now. And Lucius was his.

“Thank you for telling me, love.” He pulled his hand free. “I’m proud of you for telling me. Is there anywhere else that’s off limits?”

“Usually lots of places that are off limits, alpha.” Izzy choked out a laugh. “But seeing how you and I just mated, I’m thinking maybe less places are off limits?”

“Are you– are you seducing me, Izzy Hands?” Lucius giggled, bending over to press his forehead to Izzy’s.

“Izzy Spriggs, if you please.” Izzy managed to grin up at his mate, nuzzling his nose up to his.

“Izzy Spriggs,” Lucius’ voice dropped down to a whisper, “are you trying to seduce me?”

“You’re already seduced.” Izzy gave him a look that almost felt like pleading. No, that wasn’t right. Izzy wouldn’t have to plead for anything with Lucius around. The alpha brought their lips together, slipping onto the bed next to his mate. His hand was gentle against Izzy’s cheek, tracing the dark lines of his tattoo. Dark eyes stared into his eyes before Izzy was kissing him back.

“I wanna know what it’s like with you.” He whispered back. “Never did it with anyone I liked like you before.” Never did it with anyone he’d liked at all.

“Iz.” Lucius breathed into his mouth and Izzy gave him a look, one of the most vulnerable looks Izzy had ever seen on him.

“I love you, Lu.” Izzy said simply. “Love you a lot.” He snuggled into Lucius’ chest. “Thank you for coming after me.” Then he pulled back, rolling up and over onto his hands and knees. It seemed only proper for their first time— and really the only position he had experience in other than just lying there and taking it. Izzy shook his head to himself. This time wasn’t going to be like that.

“Well, it’s gonna be hard to get my face down there like that, but it’ll feel good for you.” Lucius shrugged. “Lift this leg for me, love.” And he wiggled down until Izzy’s knees were on either side of his face.

“I thought you’d be on top from behind.”

“Nope.” Lucius pressed a kiss to the inside of Izzy’s pale thigh. “I’m going to start here if that’s okay with you?”

“Never tried that.” Izzy’s tongue traced his own bottom lip as Lucius mouthed a little further up on his thigh. It sort of tickled. “I’ll try it.” He glanced down, intrigued and daunted by how close Lucius’ face was with his cunt and cock, and the boy was still clothed. That hardly seemed fair.

“I’ll make you feel so good.” Lucius whispered. “Tell me to stop anytime and I’ll stop.” Izzy nodded, watching him intently. “Sit on my face.” Lucius’ eyes sparkled, guiding Izzy’s cunt down to his mouth.

He wasted no time on getting started, pressing soft kisses along the entrance, Izzy’s hair down there, even up over his soft cock, letting Izzy get used to the feeling of his mouth. Izzy’s brow furrowed, trying to adjust to the soft sensations when Lucius opened his mouth and pressed his tongue against a place that never failed to feel good on an omega. Lucius lavished Izzy’s clit gently, circling and teasing gently until the hard lines on Izzy’s face relaxed and he started rolling his hips forwards.

Izzy grinded down a little to meet his tongue and Lucius slipped his tongue up, deeper inside of Izzy to meet the slick that was starting to come out. Izzy gasped, legs trembling slightly. These were all new sensations, but they didn’t hurt. They felt rather good. And Lucius looked happy between his legs, opening him up with his mouth and sending sparks of pleasure whenever he went back to that little nub towards the front.

“Right there.” Izzy managed as Lucius shifted back to his clit a third time. Lucius did as he was told, sucking along his clit before flicking his tongue against it. Izzy cried out and Lucius couldn’t take his eyes off of him as he took his pleasure.

The way his strong arms flexed as he gripped at the sheets and his cheeks and chest flushed a lovely shade of red. His hair hung down unfettered by any sort of tie or product, silver and black artfully mixed together. Sweat clung to his forehead like a carnal crown. Lucius was going to draw this man for the rest of his life.
Izzy was beautiful. He was worthy of pleasure, of rest, and of happiness. And Lucius was going to spend the rest of his life making sure he knew that. He flattened his tongue, pushing up a little more, even as Izzy rocked his hips forward with more urgency. Lucius reached up to stroke his cock with his hand, using Izzy's own slick to ease the way. “Lu.”
Izzy bowed forward, gripping at Lucius’ shoulder. “I’m so close.” He panted, jerking his hips forward and Lucius nursed his clit just a bit more until Izzy cried out, a rush of slick answering his call as he came over Lucius’ tongue.

Izzy collapsed and for a moment Lucius wondered if this was how he died. It was a glorious way to go for sure. Wet in all the right ways, no ocean, just his mate’s delicious cunt. But then his mate wriggled away from him, slipping off his face, and Lucius gasped for air quietly. “N-never felt anything like that.” Izzy whispered, curling up on his side on the bed. And Lucius knew he was needed once again, but for something far different.

“That is what you deserve.” He rolled over to face his mate. “Only pleasure. Only good things. That’s all you’re ever gonna get from me.” Lucius whispered, sensing the surging emotions inside. He wrapped Izzy up in the softest blankets, settling down next to him so Izzy could hide his face in his chest.

“That’s what it could have been like?” Izzy whispered.

“That’s what it will be like for the rest of your life.” Lucius vowed, wrapping him up in his arms. Izzy whimpered, tucking himself under the alpha’s chin. Lucius seemed to know when he needed comfort the most, so he let himself be held as he mourned every time before this. He’d always just assumed sex was awful for him, because he was an omega, not that sex was awful because the alphas were just using him without a thought for his pleasure. He sniffled and Lucius scented him, nuzzling him gently.

It didn’t take long for Izzy’s tears to turn into soft snores, cradled close to his mate’s chest. They’d eat breakfast when he woke up a little later and then he’d shyly ask to go again, a request that would be eagerly met by his eager to please alpha until he had come again and again. Because this was Izzy’s new life now. He’d be taken care of from here on out.