Xan made it back to his door with the still steaming plate of food. It was much easier to unlock the door without having to orchestrate a balancing act.

He didn’t know what he expected to find Finn doing when he came back. Maybe brooding in a corner for being cooped up. Maybe digging through his drawers or even trying to escape.

What he hadn’t expected was to see Finn sound asleep tucked into Xan’s bed. Xan could see he had something in his hands but he couldn’t see what it was, the blankets were bunched up around it.

He placed the plate on his desk and went to wake up the sleepy kid. As he got closer, he saw Finn had a book still clutched in his hands. Xan slowly slipped it from his fingers using his thumb to mark the page. He found a short piece of twine on his desk and slipped it in to mark the page. Finn had taken a good chunk out of the book for only starting it that morning. Xan was even more intrigued when he saw the title.

The simplest books on his shelf would have been the small bestiary he had amassed through his travels. They were as potentially useful as they were interesting. Yet, of all the books on the shelf Finn had chosen Hamlet. A Shakespearian tragedy set in Denmark of all places. Truly a classic.

It raised more questions for Xan. It was obvious now Finn had been baiting him earlier, this was no picture book.

Who is Finn? Why was he kidnapped? Xan was tired of these odds and ends pieces and wanted to see the full picture. He knew better than to push though; he had to be patient.

He approached Finn much like he had earlier that morning. Xan placed the book near the bed before perching on the edge. Since Finn had fallen asleep reading, he wasn’t burrowed down this time. He hadn’t fixed his hair at all; it was still a wild halo splayed across the pillow. He looked just as peaceful but now Xan was more suspicious of his new charge.

Xan stared down at the sleeping boy trying to see if he could put the pieces together but kept coming up short. He was just to rouse Finn from his sleep for his meal when his peaceful face pinched.

His eyes squeezed shut, his slack mouth turned into a grimace, and his body twitched minutely but steadily increasing in its unrest. He began muttering intangible sounds that soon turned into a soft “No” steadily leaving his lips. It seemed like he might be trying to say something else, but no words formed discernibly besides the soft, hoarse, “No”. His sleep was becoming more fitful and Xan decided enough was enough.

Just like before, he tried to gently rouse Finn from his much-needed but now fitful sleep. Xan put a gently but firm hand on the shoulder and gave a soft shake. He started calmly calling his name.

Finn seemed trapped by whatever he was trying to stop or get away from in his dream. Xan pressed a little harder, made his words firmer in their call.

Finally, Finn’s eyes shot open, and he jolted upright. Xan moved back just in time to avoid a head-to-head collision. The kid was nearly gasping for breath, but he was trying his hardest to not let it show.

Xan kept a hand on his shoulder and moved it in what he hoped was a comforting, soothing manner. He kept his own breathing calm and tried to make his breaths deep and deliberate. Something Finn latched onto just like he’d hoped and mirrored him.

Soon enough Finn seemed to come down from his nightmare and began to relax again. Or at least relax as much as one could expect from a kidnapping victim now caged on a pirate ship. Xan slowly eased himself off the bed.

“I brought lunch if you’re interested.”

Finn looked up at him with large round eyes that looked just this side of too watery. He gave a hesitant nod and a hard swallow before getting up and following Xan to the desk.

Xan motioned for Finn to sit at the desk since he wouldn’t be dining with him. Finn was even more suspicious about this setup. Why wasn’t the pirate eating with him? He felt anxious.

Finn hesitantly lowered himself into the desk chair shooting looks back and forth between the pirate and the plate of food in front of him. He sat down unmoving for several moments before Xan caught on.

The pirate pulled up the stool he’d had Finn sit on during their last meal and sat down beside the desk. The stool was entirely too small for someone of his size to be using as a seat. He ended up putting his back against the wall so he could spread his long legs out in front of him and lean back. He must have looked ridiculous but at least he wouldn’t look threatening from this absurd position.

Finn was still sitting at the desk staring at the plate and the pirate out of the corner of his eye. He made no move to eat his lunch.

“Aren’t you going to eat? You can’t tell me you’re not hungry.”

Finn turned his head and gave the pirate a look he couldn’t distinguish but it made his stomach sink a little. He had to work to earn the kid’s trust, and he’d already stuck his foot in it.

“It’s not poisoned I promise. I have no reason to kill or harm you.”

The pirate couldn’t be certain, but he swore he heard a muttered “Sure you don’t.” under Finn’s breath.

The kid seemed to finally give up and began eating his lunch. Xan sat there in silence just watching. He felt marginally more content seeing Finn finish the plate and knowing he’d have a full stomach. Xan came from a kingdom of prosperity, taking care of others was in his blood.

“Are you full or would you like more?”

Finn shook his head.

“I want to apologize.”

At that Finn seemed to jolt, his head snapping to look at the pirate in bewilderment.

Xan pressed on. “I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that this morning. I swear I’m usually more levelheaded, but I need to prove that to you. I didn’t do that this morning. I know you’ve been having a rough go of it and I’ve forced you into this position. I promise I wanted… and still want, to help you.”

Finn was staring almost open-mouthed at the pirate but slowly nodded his head in acceptance.

Xan continued. “We lifted anchor this morning and we’re on our way to the Caribbean. We’ll be there in a few months. After that I’m not sure what the Captain has planned but I have a feeling we’ll be coming back to Europe sooner than I’d prefer. When we come back around if you’d liked to leave, I’ll help you stop off. For the time being I’ll show you around and you can help around the ship. There’s always odd jobs and I really could use an assistant sometimes. Would you be up for that?”

Again, Finn slowly nodded his head in affirmation. This time he choked out a soft “sure”.

Xan nodded his head back. Not expecting much but accepting what little he had received.

“You won’t be starting today though. Maybe not tomorrow either. I’d prefer if we had the chance to get past most of the cold weather. I’d like for you to build up your strength more before I set you loose working around here.”

Finn gave one last nod and Xan seemed to take that as the end of the conversation. He straightened himself and stretched his bunched muscles, a few joints popping as he did.

Xan prepared himself to leave again. That was when he heard a very soft “Thank you.”

He turned and stared at Finn who was looking up at him with those same round eyes just this side of too watery. God, he hoped the kid didn’t cry, just the glassy look made his chest constrict. If the kid cried, he might cry too. He also had no idea what to do with a crying teenager. He really was a terrible pirate.

“I’m… I’m sorry too.” His voice was a little hoarse, most likely a little from his sleep, a little from the cold and maybe a little from all the yelling he’d been doing lately.

“I know I’m a smartass. Most people find it more annoying than funny. I crossed a line and I’m sorry. I don’t think this has been ideal for either of us. You have an odd way of helping but… thank you.”

And yeah didn’t that just make Xan’s heart crack wide open. The kid was snarky because it gave him something to hide behind.

“I’m also not a morning person.” Finn gave a small hopeful attempt to joke and Xan took it happily.

Xan felt a grin split across his face and couldn’t stop himself from snorting a laugh.

Finn’s eyes seemed to clear and a small smile tried to cross his face too. Maybe they could do this after all.