Cove sat cross-legged on top of a crate filled with salted fish. He was pointing at the other boys and directing them up and down the gangplank.
“You actually going to help with any of the work?” Drift bit out, hauling the last of the barrels back on board the Akashi after a successful day at market.
Cove laughed and shook his head, “Nah, think I’m much better suited to the role of manager.”
“Lazy brat,” Drift shook his head and spat at the ground before going back to shoulder a heavy sack of potatoes. Cove smirked and leaned back on his crate, tipping his face up to the midday sun.
It had been a week since the washroom incident and Cove had managed to try and forget about what he had seen. Sure, it meant he hadn’t allowed himself to jack off for a whole week lest his mind wander, but it was worth it to be able to look Drift in the eyes again.
“You still on for cards tonight?” Fletch asked, jogging over to haul himself up beside Cove and beginning to role a cigarette.
“Yup,” Cove nodded. The other boy had been teaching him how to play and tonight was his first official game along with a few other members of the crew and hosted by the ship’s doctor Benny in his quarters. Cove had received his first official pay check that morning so was excited to see if he could double it.
The doctor’s quarters, as it turned out, were even fancier than the captain’s. Benny had somehow acquired a special table for cards along with a dark green chaise longue and a variety of silken throw pillows.
“Looks like a brothel girl’s boudoir in ‘ere” Morris guffawed, clapping the doctor on the back and going to take one of the dark mahogany seats around the table. “You serving any grog Doc?”
“Can’t stand the stuff I’m afraid, but I have port?” Benny offered, lifting up a cut crystal decanter and handing out some similarly decadent glasses. Cove was scared to hold his, the damn thing probably cost more than Cove’s contract. The alcohol was sweet and pleasant though and Cove decided he actually liked it better than grog.
“Don’t get drunk again,” Drift warned as Cove glared at him. Cove was about to retort when Benny walked between them and moved to give Drift his glass.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for more will you Drift?” Benny smiled as their hands lightly touched. Cove’s mouth dropped open as he noticed a faint flush on Drift’s cheeks.
The game started with everyone laying down their first wager and Cove forced himself to concentrate on the cards in his hand as he eyed the amount of gold coins round the table.
“I’m telling yer,” Morris coughed, wrinkling his nose up in distaste at his port. “I overheard the Capn’ saying we was gonna go east after this.”
“Nah,” Fletch shook his head as he drew another card from the pack and stubbed out his third cigarette of the night. “We always go west and then down the straits of Cambu. Shin’s a creature of habit, he won’t go changing the usual route.”
“What’s east?” Cove asked curiously. He was only just starting to get a basic understanding of world geography, never having even left Rilantru before.
“The tropics,” Benny answered. “most of it’s unchartered sky though. But they say there’s great undiscovered riches.”
“Well that’s where we’re heading,” Morris grunted, tapping his nose knowingly, “I’d put coin down on it.”
“You’re already losing too much,” Drift noted wryly as he placed a full flush down on the table and began to sweep in his winnings leaving Morris to bluster and swear.
“Wait,” Cove said, leaning forwards. “I haven’t put my cards down yet.”
“You’re saying you’re holding something better than a straight flush?” Drift smirked.
“You tell me,” Cove jutted out his chin as he laid the set of royals down and elicited a chorus of disbelieving shouts.
“Hey good on yer kid!” Morris laughed, clapping Cove on the back hard enough to make the younger boy cough and wince.
“Did you teach him to cheat?” Drift snapped, wheeling on Fletch who threw his hands up whilst laughing.
“Beginner’s luck perhaps,” Benny noted wryly. “Oh talking of Cambu that reminds me I’ve got some excellent cigars from that region, anyone fancy a puff?”
“Hell yes,” Fletch grinned as Benny gave him a knowing smile and rose to his feet. A moment later the doctor cleared his throat awkwardly and walked round the table to where Drift was sitting.
The other men were laughing and drinking as Cove piled up his coins. He started to count them excitedly when he noticed Benny bend down to whisper something in Drift’s ear.
“Hey kid – watch it!” Morris exclaimed as Cove knocked over his coin pile.
“Sorry,” Cove muttered, glancing back up to see Drift nod and stand up before following Benny into the other room.
Five minutes past and another game had already started but Cove couldn’t seem to concentrate. His eyes kept flicking to the empty doorway through which Benny and Drift had disappeared.
How fucking long does it take to get cigars?
Cove’s knee was vibrating up and down and he felt restless in his seat. After another hand of clearly terrible cards he folded and took the opportunity to jump up and stretch his legs. He walked around Benny’s living area and wondered what the other room could be? Surely not Benny’s bedroom? Why would he keep cigars in there?
Cove perused the bookshelves for a while before glancing back to the table. The other men were completely engrossed in the game and still arguing about seasonal shipping routes.
Cove edged closer to the doorway, he could see in now. It wasn’t Benny’s bedroom after all but some kind of store room with shelves filled with odd boxes and bottles. He took one final look back at the table to make sure no one was watching him before stepping in.
The room didn’t look that big judging from the ceiling, but Cove still couldn’t see Benny or Drift. He froze a moment later when he heard a soft gasp.
“Drift?” Cove called out, moving forwards to round the corner of a particularly tall cupboard.
“Oh,” Cove stated dully as he took in the scene in front of him. Benny and Drift were stood merely centimetres apart and Benny had his fingers up and cradling Drift’s cheek. The action was so soft and tender and Drift was just stood there, allowing it.
Suddenly, Cove felt like he couldn’t breathe, his chest hurt badly and it was like one of the cloud cave icicles had been rammed mercilessly into his gut.
“Cove?” Drift asked unsurely, clearly having noticed the other boy.
“Sorry,” Cove stammered, turning to exit the store room and tumbling back into the main room.
“Cove?” Fletch asked, jumping up with a look of concern.
“It’s nothing,” Cove shook his head, all the men were looking at him now, staring at him with matching expressions of worry. “What-“ Cove stopped as he felt the wetness drip from his chin and with a sinking feeling of horror realised he was crying.
“Fuck,” Cove gasped, running for the main door and launching himself into the corridor.
“Cove!” he could hear Drift’s panicked voice behind him.
Cove hated that he was crying again, he hated that he was running away again, he hated that both things were happening again at night because of the same boy.
He hated Drift.
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