A Pirate's Life for Me Drabble 2
"Captain- we're close." Duo looked up at the woman in the doorway and frowned.
"Signal?"
"The all-clear is flying."
He got up from his desk, pushing the charts to the side and stalked out onto the deck. Sure enough, the all-clear was flying over Sanctuary. "Wonder if the old bastard has any news."
"Heero did say that he'd send messages to Howard. I'm sure there are some waiting."
"I never should've agreed to let him go alone no matter what the old man said-"
"With all due respect Captain, it was a good plan. We had pirate hunters to catch- and Heero is adept at finding out information."
"I just hope the Navy hasn't caught him. This whole new crusade to clear the seas- even on dry land if anyone caught sight of his shoulder-" He never should've put such a mark on Heero, even if it had seemed like a good idea at the time.
"He's not going to be wandering around flashing it off," Hilde sounded amused. Duo glared at her. "Again, with all due respect, Captain, Heero's spent years hiding from people out to kill him. I doubt the Navy will give him any trouble."
"Let's hope not. They'd hang him if they knew what he was-"
"I'm sure he's safe. He'll have sent messages to Howard, don't worry. And we have good news to report as well."
Duo looked towards the crumpled pieces of fabric pinned to his mast. "So we do. A lot less hunters out there- for the moment." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "But there will be more, I fear."
"With the ransoms that the Navy is promising?" Hilde nodded. "I'm sure there will be."
"We're getting close. Bring us in."
"Aye aye sir." Hilde turned and began shouting orders to the crew. Duo watched as Sanctuary drew closer. He hadn't wanted to send Heero off alone- but he couldn't abandon his crew- not with hunters to catch.
Their ship had no doubt been recognized and the old man would want to see him as soon as they landed. He headed back towards his cabin to collect a few of the more interesting things he'd found on some of the hunter's ships. As Duo knew all too well, the old bastard managed to hang on to his Sanctuary through a combination of bribery, blackmail and out right threats. He'd discovered some choice bits that he was sure the old man could use.
And hopefully, he'd have news of Heero...
~*~
"Not a word," Howard said as he took the stack of papers from Duo.
"What? But it's been nearly six months! He'd have to have sent something!"
"Relax boy. He may have had to travel far to even get any information- and you know how slow news travels by land. I'm sure he's fine." Howard bent over the stack of papers as Duo began to pace.
"He would've sent some sort of message-"
"It's not all that easy to find a trusted messenger to deliver something here. More than likely he wanted to get the information and come back with it himself." Howard scanned the top page and chuckled. "This is priceless stuff, my boy! I'm glad you did so well-"
"I have some hunter flags for you to display too." Duo didn't stop his pacing. "He said he'd send a message-"
"If he ran into trouble," Howard interrupted. "Relax boy. You know damn well that I keep track of anyone that gets hanged for piracy. No one matching Heero's description has gotten their neck stretched."
"You keep track of the port hangings- but what if he was inland?"
"Why would he be inland if he was trying to get information about the Navy?"
"I don't know!" Duo spat and Howard laughed.
"I'm glad to see you worrying about him, my boy. It is part of your duty after all, him being a Yuy and all."
"That's not why I'm worried and you know it, old man."
Howard put the papers down and gave Duo a thoughtful look. "I'm still not sure what your father would've made of this. I know he wanted you to eventually go back, rebuild the house, find some nice wench and start the family up again."
Duo suppressed a shudder. "I don't think I could ever go back to the lands, Howard, not after..."
"I know, my boy, I know. But you are a lord, after all. What's to stop you from going back to the life of a gentleman? You have a fortune- you could settle down somewhere...."
Duo frowned at him. "What set this off? Since when do you want me to settle down?"
Howard shrugged. "It was just something Yuy said to me before he left-"
"What did he say?"
"That if he didn't come back, he wanted me to see you safe. And the safest place these days is ashore."
"Things getting bad?"
"Not for us- but elsewhere? Yes." Howard lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug.
"I see..."
~*~
Worse and worse, Duo thought as he hurried back to his ship. No word from Heero, the old man pressuring him to well, abandon ship...
He couldn't. What would his crew do? He owed them.
And Heero... he had to find out what happened to Heero... whatever his fate was....
Lu was waiting for him by the gangplank. "News?"
"None good. I'll need to speak with you, Sally and Hilde in the morning."
Hilde appeared behind Lu . "Cargo is unloaded, Captain. Permission for the crew to go ashore?"
"Permission granted- though tell them to please leave the livestock and clergy alone."
"Aye aye, Captain." Lu saluted and winked at him before striding off.
Hilde smiled slyly. "Cook left you a tray in your cabin. You look tired, Captain. Why don't you go get some rest?"
Why were they all so damn cheerful? Then again, it had been a long time since they'd been able to have a safe shore leave...
"All right. On watch?"
"Doro, Chang and I."
"Don't get distracted."
"Us?" Hilde lifted an eyebrow. "Not on while we're on duty, Captain."
Duo shook his head and stalked towards his cabin. He slipped inside and leaned against the door for a moment, eyes closed.
"Captain?"
Duo's eyes flew open. His missing lover was sitting in the middle of the bed, clad in nothing but a worn pair of pants, the laces half undone.
"Heero?" Was he hallucinating?
"I came down to the docks as soon as I saw your flag," Heero gave him a rueful smile. "But you'd already left for Howard's and the ladies... well, they wanted to surprise you."
Duo launched himself at the bed, catching Heero in a tight embrace. "Damn it man. I've been worried sick! Howard said there were no messages-"
Heero rolled his eyes. "I reported to him two days ago- and your ship was due in- so I just waited."
"So he knew you were in town? And didn't tell me?"
"The ladies aren't the only ones who like surprises," Heero reminded him. "If he realized you hadn't seen me yet..."
"Bastard."
"He does like his games." Heero leaned backwards, pulling Duo down onto the pillows. "You look exhausted, milord- haven't you been sleeping at all?"
"With you gone sniffing around the Navy and having to chase hunters all over the seas? Not much."
Heero slid his hands down Duo's arms. "Still in one piece?"
"Yes. You?"
"The roughest thing I faced was the ladies when I came on board."
Duo laughed. "I'm surprised they didn't tie you up."
"I believe they thought about it, but they settled for this instead. Something about you fussing over the idea of rope anywhere near me?" Heero smiled. "I am a better spy than that- no where near a hangman- I swear it. Unlike you."
"I didn't see one."
"All those hunters you caught put you up on the lists. You're worth quite a bit now."
So that's what had been worrying Howard.
"They haven't caught me yet." He leaned down and caught Heero's mouth with his. "I'm glad you're back safe."
"I'm glad to be back safe- and I have a lot to report, but-" Heero's lips curved up in a smile, "perhaps you have other duties for me at the moment?"
Duo smiled back, pressing Heero against the pillows. "Indeed I do." Everything else could wait until tomorrow...
OWARI
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