I had no one but myself to blame. It had been my decision to keep this man on my ship, as infuriating as he was, I was determined to not succumb to his antics. To dance along to his pipe. 

I was still not sure as to how he had managed to escape, nor was I sure if I wished to ever know. The seemingly lean and average built man before me, must harbour more strength than he is willing to let on. I leaned down once again, making sure the iron chains were correctly locked to the hook on the floor, next to my desk. A thick piece of iron, made to secure furniture to the floor of my cabin, was now also securing the little beast of a man who’d resigned himself to sit against the wall, the furthest he could go away from me with his newfound shackles. 

- You seem pleased.

- What would give you that idea, pirate?

- I can tell from here. Though I have to give it to you, this is a rather creative solution, but it will not hold for long.

- It will hold for as long as I need it to hold.

My tone was final. A threat.

I watch the pirate roll his eyes before looking away from me, his eyes now trained towards the horizon, almost as if he could see something further off, along the line of where the sky and sea meet. If I would have known better, it was as if his eyes were longing for something, whether that be his crew, ship or something else. He sat still, quiet, as I began to go over logs at my desk, looking over the goods onboard, as well as the amount of food we had currently at our disposal. Though I couldn’t help but watch the man by the window after every other page, making sure he was going nowhere, or doing something foolish. 

If it weren’t for the fact that the small pirate had been nothing but trouble, a thorn in my side, I would have likely looked at him differently. From my desk I could observe his profile, and as he was facing the window, the sunset was like a delicate veil over his features, making them seem warmer, softer. Eyes steadily observing the one spot at the very edge of the world, not wavering once since he’d sat himself there a few hours or so ago. As if he could feel my gaze upon him, he slowly moved to now face me, his eyes finally meeting mine. Not a single word was said, a second or so passed in complete silence before a loud bang made us both whip our heads towards the door leading into my cabin. 

- Captain, have you seen- oh.

- For goodness sake, knock Alex!

- What the fuck is this little cunt doing in here?!

- Excuse m-

- Quiet.

- Aye, and he-

- Both of you.

It was not often, I would see this roaring anger so clearly cross Alex’s face. Her features aflame, a thick vein beating harshly by the side of her head, lips thin, eyes burning into my own. 

- Captain, what is the meaning of this?

- He escaped the cell, twice, the second time breaking the iron bars. He is staying chained here for now.

- For now? You think I was still nursing my mothers bosom yesterday? Do not take me for a fool, I know well enough to know what your true intentions are-

- You can go down there and see for yourself. Now if what you said was not important, then leave me be.

At that she blanches, stunned as she lets her eyes travel from me, towards the pirate, still sitting hunched over by the window. The silence that lingers in the room is suffocating, as if Alex's anger is strangling any air left in the room. At last she quickly whips her head back towards me, not meeting my eyes as she gives a half-arsed kneel, clearly mocking as she would never do something so ladylike intentionally.  

- As you wish. Icarus.

With that, she backed out of the room, eyes locked on the pirate by the window until she slammed the door closed between us, the force of it ringing in the otherwise empty room.

- You sure know how to find them, Captain.

- Not a single word from you, or I will cut off your tongue.

With that i went back to my task, not a single other word being uttered in the room, but as the night came crawling across the sky, and stars began to appear, I stood up, licking my thumb and index finger before pinching the wick of the candles littered across my desk. As I did, I could hear the chains being moved slightly, scraping in slow motions across the floor. Clearing his throat, the small pirate caught my attention.

- What?

- I wanted to ask where I am to sleep tonight.

- Here, is that not obvious?

- I just- I am not going to sleep with you.

At that I couldn't help but laugh, sharp and loud. I saw the pirate flinch slightly at the sudden sound of my booming voice.  

- You have made your own bed the moment you stepped outside that cell.

I pointed towards the floor beneath his own two feet, watching his eyes calculating my gesture, before realisation dawned on his face, was enough to make me smirk.  

- Now, lay in it.

- You can not be serious-

- Dead serious.

I made a move to walk towards my bed, unfortunately, the pirate was standing between me and said piece of furniture, and thus had the opportunity to grab a hold of my arm. His hand grasping at my jacket, pulling me towards him.

- I can not sleep on the floor.

- It is either that or sharing my bed.

- Never-

- Then goodnight, your highness.

I didn’t turn around to face him as I walked over, putting out the last candle, the only light source now coming from the moon and stars on the other side of the many windows littered across the room. I felt his eyes watching me as I stripped down to only my trousers, before laying down, back still facing the chackled pirate. I could hear him move around a while before sleep took over my body, lulling me into a false sense of peace.