Other Fan Fiction ❯ The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything ❯ Family Guy ( Chapter 9 )

Authors' Note: Yep, our chronically lazy Adara-chan has done it again! She kept this chapter in her drawer for a whole week before she finally started typing it. Adara bows her head contritely Sorry, guys…

 

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Chapter 9

 

The bar had fallen silent as Benji and his crew went still. The captain was the only one who heard Erik's whisper, but the others—even total strangers—knew that something big must be happening to make Benji voluntarily pull back a punch.

 

“Simon, it's…it's me.”

 

No answer. The stranger looked just as shocked as Erik did.

 

“I…what are you doing here?”

 

Still no reply, but the “Simon” person was quickly getting over his shock, and a smirk was beginning to cross his face.

 

“Erik, what…?” Benji began to ask, but was stopped by the feel of Miguel's hand on his and a warning shake of the Spaniard's head.

 

There were several long moments of silence, and then Erik turned and shoved his way through the crowd, the bar suddenly feeling as though it were far too small. The walls and the people…they were pressing in too close. He needed out, he needed air…

 

He needed to be away.

 

XXX

 

The harbor was nice at this time of night. Very peaceful, as everyone had finished their work and was at the tavern or sleeping off their hangovers. Erik was extremely grateful for that at this moment…

 

Of all the possibilities, this was the very last thing that Erik had expected to happen. In a million years, he had never for a moment dreamed that he would ever see Simon again. Now not only was he back in Erik's life, but…he hadn't changed a bit since the night Erik had last seen him.

 

So much for that dream…

 

XXX

 

Back at the bar, silence still reigned. Most of the customers had left during or after the commotion had started, and the few that were still there had lost interest and gone back to their drinks. The crew of the Archangel still stood in the center of the room, gather in a rather intimidating line and facing the stranger who had caused Erik such distress.

 

“Who the hell are you?” Benji finally demanded, an anger he hadn't quite figured out how to explain rising in him.

 

Simon—which they had already concluded to be his name in a clever and cunning show of their Incredible Smarts—blinked, and then smirked. “What, he didn't tell you?”

“Tell us what?”

 

Simon looked around at them all, that sickening smirk still on his face. Then he laughed quietly, almost to himself. “Figures,” he muttered, turning back to the counter and dropping some money on the table. “Have a good night, boys.”

 

And then he was gone.

 

Benji blinked, very confused by this time. “What the hell was that?”

 

XXX

 

When the crew returned to the ship, it was to find Erik in the galley, staring blankly down into a cup of coffee. Benji send the others off to bed, but he, Miguel, and Jiro (who could not be persuaded to leave even by the most threatening glares) remained in the doorway. They stood there for several minutes, unsure whether or not it was safe to enter.

 

Erik, of all people, was the one to break the silence. “He's my brother.”

 

The others blinked, unsure of what to say. More silence.

 

“I'm going to bed.”

 

With that, Erik stood and shoved past them, not meeting their eyes as he left them standing rather awkwardly in the galley.

 

XXX

 

Benji sighed quietly as he stared at the ceiling, his arms folded underneath his head.

 

Miguel turned away from the mirror, setting his brush on the dresser. He smiled sadly as he stretched out on the bed and laid his head on his lover's chest, throwing one arm around his waist. “What're you thinking about?”

 

Benji let out another sigh, folding his arms around the redhead and running his fingers through the newly detangled hair. “Nothing, just…why didn't he tell me?”

 

“I don't know, Benny.”

 

“I mean…we're supposed to be best friends. He knows everything about me, and I…I thought I knew everything about him.”

 

“Well, maybe…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I…don't know, Benji. I just don't know.”

 

XXX

 

The ship was completely silent by the time the door to the doctor's cabin opened and Erik emerged. He was very thankful for this, as the very last thing he felt like dealing with right now was a barrage of questions from his friends.

 

The bar was completely empty by now, except for the bartender, who was just finishing wiping down the counters. He looked up when Erik came in, and gave him a sympathetic smile. “You look like you could use a drink, kid.”

 

“”Believe me, that is the last thing I need right now,” Erik replied with a small smile. “I actually came to ask you something.”

 

“Eh?”

 

“That guy that was in here earlier…tall, brown hair, lots of muscle, sorta mean looking…know who I'm talking about?”

 

“Think so. What about him?”

 

“What do you know about him?”

 

The bartender shrugged as he started to wipe off the dirty beer mugs with a filthy rag. “Not much. See him in here from time to time. There's lots of pubs in this town, I'm pretty sure he hits one every night. Always sorta keeps to himself…still manages to go home with a different girl every time he's here, though. Don't know how he does it.”

 

“Do you know if he lives around here?”

 

“Nah, never asked. Didn't see a point. Guy doesn't seem too big on the sharing.”

 

“Well…do you know what he does during his free hours? Do drugs? Drink a lot? Start bar fights? Murder innocent puppies?”

 

The bartender sighed. “Look, kid. Guy comes in, orders up the whole kitchen more often than not, pays in full…I don't ask who he is or where the money comes from. Would you?”

 

Erik smiled slightly. “No…no, of course not. Thank you.” He turned to go.”

 

“Hey, kid.”

 

The doctor paused, and turned halfway around. “Yes?”

 

“Were you in that scuffle earlier? Were you part of it?”

Erik thought abut it for a moment. “More than you know, sir.”

 

Then he disappeared into the night, and the bartender put the strange encounter out of his mind.

 

XXX

 

The next two days passed quietly. Erik was not seen outside his cabin for all of that time; what had transpired at the bar had affected him deeply (perhaps more deeply than it really should have).

 

Jiro was the one most disturbed by Erik's adoption of this new hermit-like personality. He was seldom seen anywhere except outside the doctor's door, and when he wasn't there, he was skulking around the ship in a thoroughly foul disposition.

 

Benji wasn't much better off. He was still bothered by the question of why Erik hadn't told him about Simon from the beginning, and that combined with his worry for his friend to put him in a profoundly unhappy mood (worrying annoyed Benji to the extreme). And since Miguel's mood usually resembled Benji's in one way or another, and then affected the rest of the crew…the Archangel was not an ideal place to be during those two days.

 

When Erik finally emerged from his hole, it was to find that most of the crew had taken up residence outside his door and were slumbering deeper than hibernating bears. He chuckled in amusement and nudged Benji with his foot. “Wake up, moron,” he whispered affectionately, kneeling down next to the captain as his eyes opened. “I need to talk to you.”

 

“Erik, wha…?”

 

“Shh,” Erik murmured, putting a finger to his lips and motioning to the sleeping people around them. Then he got to his feet, tugging Benji up with him. “Come on.”

 

Silence. Then…

 

“Oh, hell no.”

 

The door to Erik's cabin slammed open and Benji barged angrily out, ignoring his crew as they started into wakefulness. “You can't be serious!”

 

“Benji…” Erik began tiredly.

 

“Erik, I've seen what he's done to you—what this one time has done to you. I don't even want to think—” He cut himself off, taking a deep breath, and when he spoke again, it was in a quiet, controlled voice. “Erik, this is my ship. I make the decisions. And it's not happening.”

 

Erik's voice was equally calm. “It may be your ship, but it's my life. And if…” He trailed off; he couldn't bring himself to finish that thought. “Benji…please.”

 

There was a long silence, during which everyone leaned forward slightly and anxiously awaited Benji's answer—though they weren't quite sure what the question was.

 

The captain looked at Erik's face, and it suddenly occurred to him that he had never seen so many raw emotions in the doctor's eyes. Seeing them now, he felt himself caving. “Okay,” he finally conceded. “All right. But I'll be the one to talk to…it.”

 

Erik smiled in relief. “Fair enough. You'll probably be able to find him in one of the bars come nightfall. Now come on, let's go get some food! Miguel's cooking!”

 

“Oh, am I?” Miguel asked, his eyes twinkling in amusement under raised eyebrows as the group headed off towards the galley, still slightly confused by what had just transpired.

 

“Hey, Erik, wait.”

 

Erik paused, and turned back to look at Jiro. “Hmm?”

 

“Can we talk for a minute?”

 

The doctor sighed inwardly—gay, straight, bi, asexual, whatever you were…those were not good words to start off a conversation with. But what else could he say?

 

“Sure.”

 

A long moment passed, during which the two stood and stared in awkward silence at one another. Erik finally turned to stare out at the ocean, just to give himself something to do.

 

“Erik…” Jiro finally began, going to join the doctor at the rail. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“I…I don't…” Wait. No. That wasn't true. Pause. “The same reason I didn't tell Benji, I guess. Or anybody else.” Another pause. “Look, you guys…you're my new life. Simon's…not. And I didn't want you guys to know about that other Erik, because…if you know about him and you acknowledged him…then that would mean he actually existed. And I just wasn't ready to face that yet. I don't think I ever will be ready.”

 

“Then why did you ask Benji to get him on the ship?”

 

Erik looked down at his hands. “I don't know.”

 

“Yes, you do. Erik, if there's one thing I've learned abut you, it's that you always have a reason for doing the things you do.” He paused, then reached out to lay his hand over Erik's. “Come on. Talk to me. Please.”

 

The doctor was silent; he really had no idea what to say. So instead of answering the question, he turned his hand over so that their fingers interlaced, and whispered, “Jiro…”

 

The chaplain frowned at the tone in the other man's voice, but waited for him to continue.

 

Erik smiled slightly as he looked out over the water. “Look, Jiro. I get that you care about me. I'm still not totally clear on why, but I get that you do. But…you and I haven't been together for very long at all. It's all been really fast…absolutely great, don't get me wrong, but really fast. There's still a lot we don't know about each other, and….there's not a lot holding us together at this point.”

 

Jiro opened his mouth to interrupt, but closed it almost immediately. Erik was trying very hard to express this, and if interrupted, he may never be prevailed upon to finish his thought.

 

“And this thing with Simon…it's gonna be really hard. I'm bound to get pretty neurotic. I'm gonna end up trying to push you away more than once…when I'm not clinging to you for dear life, that is—literally and metaphorically speaking. And whether you want to believe it or not, you'll get fed up with me eventually.”

 

Jiro started to speak again, before Erik interrupted him.

 

“All I'm saying is, if you want to run, or if you think you're going to want to somewhere down the line…that's all right. Run, by all means. But do it now. Don't run away later when I'm going to need you the most.”

 

Jiro was silent, realization dawning on him. “You're giving me an ultimatum.”

 

“Pretty much, yeah. Believe me, I'm not thrilled about it, either. I've been hating myself ever since I started talking, but I don't know what else to do here.”

 

“No, I get it.” Jiro smiled sadly. “I really do.” He looked down at their intertwined fingers, then back up at the doctor. Reaching out to stroke one of the pale cheeks, he said softly, “You really are different from anyone else I've ever met, Erik. I hope you'll see that one day.” Then he pulled the other man closer for a kiss. The motion had a sad, bittersweet feeling behind it. And, giving Erik's hand a gentle squeeze, he turned and walked slowly away.

 

XXX

 

Jiro elected not to go with them to the bar that night, and as he drank with his friends (minus Benji, who had gone to find Simon), Erik began to winder if he had destroyed everything that was good about his life in the course of a single day.

 

These concerns were quickly laid to rest, however, when he returned to his cabin that night to find a rose and a note attached to the door. The note consisted of only three words: I'm not running.

 

Smiling happily, Erik inhaled the rose's scent and walked toward Jiro's cabin, not entirely sure what he was going to say when he got there.

 

The room was dark, but he was able to find the bed without much trouble. Removing his shoes, he stretched out on the bed with his back to the apparently sleeping Jiro. He couldn't explain it, but he needed the chaplain's company right now. He had just closed his eyes and started to relax when a strong arm came around his waist and he was pulled back again Jiro's strong chest.

 

The smile was evident in the chaplain's sleepy voice as he said, “You didn't really think you were getting rid of me that easily, did you?”

 

Erik chuckled quietly, turning his head to look up at Jiro.

 

Jiro smiled back at him, reaching out with one hand to gently stroke Erik's hair. His hand then wandered to the back of the doctor's neck, and he drew the blond closer. “Come here,” he whispered, drawing Erik into a gentle, reassuring kiss.

 

XXX

 

Benji didn't return until the next morning, and when he did, he was dragging a very angry-looking Simon behind him. Jiro and Erik were still asleep, but the rest of the crew was on deck when Benji shoved the newest passenger against the rail. “Someone make sure he doesn't cross any lines, and for God's ever-loving sake, keep him away from Erik until I can figure out where he really stands on the situation. I'll be in my cabin.” Then he stalked to said cabin and slammed the door behind him.

 

“Oh, yeah, this is gonna work out great,” Rin muttered sarcastically.

 

XXX

 

After Simon's rather impressive entrance, it was safe to assume that no one was very eager to have a heart-to-heart with him. Even Rin, who was not a very sardonic person, had the man dubbed as “the evil death spawn that Satan himself would spit upon.”

 

Right after Benji's outburst Miguel rushed to comfort his lover. He didn't know if he could for sure, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try.

 

XXX

 

Rin was just as upset as everyone else on the Archangel, but she was still in need of a cannon that went boom. Her destination was clear as the made her way past the multitudes of slobbering drunkards. At that moment she let her mind wander to things probably more epic than anything she could actually say.

 

Rin wasn't much for theatrics. She was, in a word, raw. With her feelings, mannerisms, and most importantly her beliefs. Being as she was, she rarely gave herself much chance to reflect. And now seemed to be the perfect time to do it.

 

She looked to the stars as she thought. Anyone else who passes this town would just see the filthy and retched remains of what could have been a thriving city, once upon a time.

 

But to Rin it didn't seem that awful, or horribly taboo; to her, this town was the epitome of freedom and righteousness. She smiled wittingly to herself, knowing that she had been right in thinking this.

 

Her sentiments, however, ended as swiftly as they came when she reached her destination—a smithy shop that belonged to a friend of hers. Hearing the once-familiar sounds of “clink-clink,” she followed the noise.

 

This led her to the main room where a slightly tan, ginger-haired girl “panged” on a hunk of red-hot metal with a giant mallet. Rin smirked, and leaned back against the door frame. “Got anything for lil' ole' me back there?” she called to her friend's back, batting her eyelashes.

 

Turning around, jade green eyes twinkling, the girl dropped her hammer slightly. “Do I know you? You're ugly…I can't have ugly people chasing away my customers. Why don't you leave?”

 

“Oh, yeah? Well, you…you're a…you smell, Ida.”

 

“Yeah, well, you're no daisy, either,” the smithy said, cracking a smile.

 

“It's not time for my bi-monthly shower yet!”

 

“Oi! Where's my hug, then, freak?”

 

“Right here,” Rin squealed, encompassing Ida in a great bear hug.

 

Ida choked. “But on a serious note, Rin, sweetie…”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“…You are going to bathe soon, right?”

 

XXX

 

Benji lay on his bed, his head resting on the headboard. His eyes studied the ceiling, but not on any part of it in particular. As Miguel crept inside the cabin the captain's eye averted to his first mate.

 

Miguel attempted a smile, but Benji swiftly fixed his gaze to the wall opposite the redhead.

 

“Benji,” Miguel whimpered, sounding hurt. He climbed onto the mattress and laid down to rest his head in Benji's lap. “Please talk to me.”

 

The man didn't respond with words, only a sigh that let Miguel know he wasn't going to be easy to cheer up.

 

Miguel sighed and drew circular patterns with his finger on Benji's chest. They sat in silence for awhile until Miguel had the courage to keep going. “Benji?” Miguel asked, his voice on the verge of cracking.

 

“Yeah?” Benji replied, in an equally soft whisper.

 

“I…don't like him.”

 

Benji sighed. “I know.”

 

“Not in a million years would I even consider him. Just you…and only you, forever. You know that, right?”

 

Benji tightened his hold on Miguel. “I know. I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to freeze you out,” he pleaded.

 

Miguel groaned. “Oh, great. Well, I don't want to be the one to break the news to Berkeley.'

 

Benji chuckled. Miguel sighed happily and nuzzled closer into Benji's chest. Finally, there was a smile on Benji's face. Mission accomplished.

 

The white-haired man stared into the emerald eyes that were resting just above a sprinkle of freckles. He skillfully brushed back the fiery red locks of his counterpart as Miguel stared back.

 

“Are you all right now?” the redhead asked.

 

“It's just…Erik.”

 

“Will be fine.”

 

“I know. He had Jiro now. He can do more for Erik than I'll ever be able to.”

 

“Oh, Benji. That's not true…”

 

“But it is.”

 

“Erik will always need you, Benji. You're his best friend. And when there are those times when he needs Jiro more than he needs you, just remember that I will always need you.”

 

Benji sighed heavily. “God, I'm stupid.”

 

Miguel's face had a dawning look of confusion suddenly. “That's not true either, Benji.”

 

“No, I am,” Benji said, exhaling sharply and drawing Miguel in as close as he could. “This whole time I was sulking and I didn't even think about what it was doing to you. Miguel, I'm sorry.”

 

“No, I'm fine…”

 

“You don't sound too convincing.”

 

“Okay, so I'm not fine, far from fine, but Erik's hurting right now. I wasn't about to make you ignore him and tend to me.”

 

Benji touched his lips to Miguel's forehead. “Tending to you has never been a chore. I'm kinda in love with you, remember? Therefore I get to reap the benefits.”

 

A mischievous look crossed over Miguel's face. “Benefits, hmm?” Smiling slightly, he slid on top of Benji's chest, his hands sliding under the captain's white shirt, exploring the familiar body underneath.

 

As Miguel began kissing a trail from Benji's chest to his neck, the man felt his eyes flutter closed. With his head dropping back against the headboard, he let himself become totally relaxed.

 

Miguel slowly worked his way up to Benji's neck, until his face was right in front of Benji's. Benji's eyes opened slowly, and he stared at Miguel, who smiled at him and leaned in for a kiss.

 

Instead, Benji seized the opportunity to seize the initiative. He captured his younger partner's lips and eased him down onto the soft mattress, watching the way his hair spread out around the pillow to his green eyes clouding over in surprise. But before Miguel could protest the alabaster-haired man kissed the side of his lover's neck, tugging lightly at his faded shirt.

 

Miguel leaned his head back, panting in attempt to get some air. “Benji…” he whispered, letting his lips glide over Benji's cheek. In reply Benji leaned down and kissed Miguel's pale cheek in a comforting gesture. He then shifted his position to hover just beside Miguel instead of completely over him.

 

The Spaniard faced Benji, the man he trusted more than anyone, and more importantly the man he loved more than anyone. For a moment his fair hands and arms seemed pinned to his sides. In agitation? Or maybe in admiration…

 

Benji stopped for a moment. The redhead freed himself from the spell long enough to caress the face of the man before him. If Miguel was going to say something, he didn't get a chance to; he was cut off as the distance between them closed into a deep, longing kiss. Benji's hands started roaming through Miguel's hair, moving to his lower back to gently cradle him. Miguel, too, pushed himself closer to Benji, wrapping his arms around his rough shoulders.

 

Miguel looked up at him thorough half-lidded eyes. Benji smiled again. He noticed how calm and relaxed his partner seemed now and decided he would like to keep it that way for a moment.

 

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly. Miguel opened his eyes blearily and nodded, a small smile gracing his kiss-swollen lips. Benji returned the smile before placing a kiss on his lover's forehead.

 

“I love you,” Miguel whispered, curling up next to Benji, burying his face in the crook of the other's neck. Benji smiled and pulled the comforter over them, wrapping them up to sleep.

 

“I love you, too.”

 

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Authors' Note 2: Well, that's it. Short chapter. BUT, in order to make up for that, and the general lack of humor in this chapter, we have for you…A SUPER-SPECIAL CODA THINGIE!

 

So…here it is!

 

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Coda

 

Karasu sat in the royal bedchamber with a Dell computer in his lap, exploring with the mouse and the keyboard, and grinned. This thing was awesome…

 

“Hmm…YeeTube…sounds interesting…” He clicked on the link and opened the page, studying it. “Let's see…Post Thy Videos Forthwith…” Then he began to browse through the videos, until he found one that piqued his interest. “The king and queen consummate their marriage…” He clicked immediately—and the screen froze up entirely.

 

Karasu pounded the mattress in frustration. “Stupid dial-up… curses…”

 

As he was waiting, a small box popped up in the corner of the screen. Thou hath postage! Immediately, he went to check his postage.

 

“What do you mean Huzzah! is down?” he cried out. “Drat! Well, I guess I'll just have to resort to Gander then…”

 

But once he decided to go to the Gander search engine, he had to choose something to find, so after a moment of intense thought he typed in The Perfect Prince Karasu.

 

He was rather insulted when he didn't get many results, but there was one link that looked interesting: Ye Old Story Hour. Release thy imagination and free thy soul.

 

The page was filled with stories, and Karasu started reading the summaries, trying to find something to do with him. He didn't find much, but soon he found something that sounded very interesting.

 

He opened the story and began to read—and burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter. Without preamble, he opened Huzzah!—it worked this time—and sent the story to his nemeses.

 

This would teach them to mess with the Almighty Karasu!

 

XXX

 

On the Archangel

 

“Hey, what's this?” Miguel asked curiously.

 

“What?” Benji asked, getting out of the bed to come and peer over his shoulder at the screen.

 

“Karasu's sent us an e-post…” Miguel replied, opening it curiously. “It has a link…he says it's a really great story…” He clicked the link and started to read. “Hey, the characters have our names…and…wait…”

 

A second later, Miguel screamed and leapt out of the chair. “Oh, God! Oh, no, no, no…no, that's not…BENJI, THEY MADE ME AND RIN KISS! AND YOU AND…AND…HIEI! I was…I was straight…and…you…and Hiei! It burns, it burns, it burns…”

 

XXX

 

Back at the Palace

 

Karasu cackled insanely as he pictured the gang receiving his e-post, and after his mirth subsided a little he went back to Gander and did another search.

 

“Hmm…a detailed diagram on how to build an A-bomb for the sole purpose of taking over the world…I wonder…”

 

XXX

 

Shura studied his grandfather for a long moment, then said, “You're making this up, aren't you?”

 

Yomi snapped the book shut and said, “Glad to see the idiot box hasn't completely ruined you.”

 

“Oh, go eat a salad, you manicured old geezer.”

 

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Authors' Note: We don't own the re-named websites or the motto of FanFiction. That is all.