I took a deep breath, the fresh smell of the sea filling my lungs as I held my head high. The breeze blowing through my golden blonde hair as I enjoyed the change of environment. It had been two days since the bandits attacked, leaving their bodies and swords behind as they didn't stand a chance. The mere moment I had kicked down the door still brought a smile on my lips as I couldn’t help but savour the face Icarus had when he saw me on the deck among his crew. I sure had missed the excitement of a battle, the smell of iron from the blood my victims shred as my blade sliced through their flesh. I had gotten a bit carried away during the fight as I had noticed my vision was getting red, losing a bit of control but I had quickly come back to my senses. I didn’t know if my eyes had shifted or not but since no one had said anything, I assumed that it went unnoticed.

After the fight with the bandits, me and the Captain had argued, he was obviously not happy about me getting out of his chains, and also ruining the door to his cabin. I had a hard time holding in the laughter as he kept mouthing off, calling me every name between heaven and earth, before finally offering a parlay of sorts. I would get to walk around freely on the upper deck, but not be allowed below it. As well as being chained up at night, as to make sure I wouldn’t “get up to anything”. Whatever that means. Compared to how I was being treated before I happily took the offer without complaining. I also helped the crew scrubbing the deck and throwing bodies overboard, discreetly taking the opportunity to get some blood and flesh on my tongue. Finally being able to satisfy my hunger slightly gave me shivers, as it would help me keep my hunger down for a while longer along with my sanity.

I opened my eyes, meeting the bright light from the sun as I looked down towards the horizon. The waves were hitting the ship in slow motions, the breeze feeling a little cold to the touch of my skin as it gave me goosebumps. I could feel it. The familiar lightness and strength flowing through my veins as the night of a full moon was getting closer. I could always tell whenever it was near, swallowing as a worry grew in my chest. I still had time as it would arrive until the night after tonight.

I looked around the deck once more, seeing the crew buzzing around doing chores as the Captain did his bidding in his now not-so-private cabin. A smile grew on my lips as I walked towards the open room, entering the cabin to see the pirate fibbing with his fingers between a few thin papers.

- You know, it's pretty nice like this, it has a welcoming feeling to it.

I could feel him giving me a vicious glare, like a pair of knives sinking into my skin. It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen that stare before, waltzing right up to his desk before taking a seat onto its wooden corner before continuing.

- I mean you get a good flow of breeze in here and blelieve me, you needed it.

- Do you need anything?

- Some attention, yes.

His eyes were still watching me, giving me a look which I couldn't really understand the intention behind. 

- Is this ship not satisfactory enough for you?

- Well as I'm still not allowed below deck my entertainment is limited.

- I am not here to entertain you. You seem to forget that you are not a guest on board this ship.

- As if I didn't know that already, however~

I took a hold of the ink feather he held in his hand, pulling it out of his grasp as I played with its soft fibers along my skin.

- Why not take a break from work for a bit?

- What are you suggesting?

- Well as I doubt you will share some ale or rum, just tell me a little about you and your crew.

- Why?

- I'm curious. About what adventures you have been through.

- You expect me to sooth this curiosity of yours? What do I get out of it?

- Answers.

- To what?

- To any questions you have. Satisfying our curious minds one after the other.

I let my words sink in, watching as Icarus gave it a thought before agreeing.

- Fine. What is your first question?

I couldn't help but smile, happily surprised that he even agreed in the first place. Without waiting another second I let my first question escape my lips.

- How long have you been a Captain?

- Five years.

- Then how long have you been a pirate?

- For as long as I can remember, but I believe that is two questions now. So, I will ask you two.

- Busted.

I said with a playful tone, knowing that I did it on purpose in hope to get a free question answered.

- How long have you been a pirate?

- Since I was nine.

- So roughly three years, huh?

I would normally say something back whenever this kind of comment would be thrown at me but as a slight soft smile escaped Icarus lips I wouldn't. A shivering feeling came over me as I couldn't help but return the gesture.

- Ha Ha, very funny. But I will let you keep guessing.

- Why were you captured by the Empire?

His question made me almost choke on my own saliva, the embarrassing event being something I tried to forget. I let it sink in for a moment, avoiding eye contact as a slight blush started to erupt on my cheeks.

- It... It kinda just happened?

I wasn't lying but by the slightly confused and utterly unconvinced look Icarus was giving me; I could tell he wasn't satisfied with my answer.

- It just happened?

- That is what I said aye.

- Care to elaborate?

- ...On second thought I will leave you with your work.

I wasn't really keen on telling him about the memory. Ready myself to leave and hoping he wouldn't come after me.

- I think you still owe me an answer, since you said you’d answer any question.

I stopped in my tracks, knowing I wouldn't be a man of my words if I didn't tell him, which made me rethink my actions, asking myself as to why this was a good idea in the first place.

- Well, it did kinda just happen.

He motioned for me to continue, probably enjoying seeing me like this as it was a side I hadn't shown him before. I put my pride aside and slowly started to elaborate.

- You remember that royal I was pretending to be when we met?

- Yes.

- Well. My crew did kidnap the real one and were being chased by three royal navy ships. But said royal decided to hang himself in our brig. So when the navy caught up to us we had to fight, and I jumped over to one of the ships with some of the others and started to fight on their ship instead.

Throughout telling him the story I felt frustration taking over instead of embarrassment, remembering the "punch in the stomach" feeling from when we had found the royal dead.

- And the navy ship kinda started to sail away... with me still on it...

I quickly went back to being embarrassed once I came to the end, feeling my cheeks once more blush up in a rosy colour.

- I have a hard time believing you normally, but this story is too absurd to not be true.

I raised my leg up onto the desk, placing my boot onto the edge as I laid my chin on top of my knee, sulking at his rude comment.

- Shut up. It was in the middle of the battle. I made a mistake, everyone makes mistakes from time to time.

- Of course. I just assumed a seemingly well-travelled man such as yourself would be more mindful of where your fellow crewmen are, even in the midst of battle.

- I usually lose myself in the heat of the moment so, no. I didn't notice. 

I let the scene play out in my mind, remembering the angry navy captain's reaction as it brought a slight smile on my lips.

- Though I did get to make fun of their Captain which was hilarious.

- Good for you. Are there any other questions or are we done for now?

- I have another I would like to ask.

I gave it some thought, a couple of questions running through my mind, wondering which one I should ask. Until I settled for one I had had answered before but wasn't too convinced about.

- What are your true intentions with me once I've shown you the treasure?

- I’ve already told you. Nothing. I will return you to the nearest port. I am a man of my words.

I didn't know why that answer gave me an uncomfortable feeling, still not entirely convinced that what he said was actually the truth. Because of that it felt like I just wasted a question.

- Okay that wasn't really my question, let me go again.

- It was a question, and I answered. So it’s my turn again.

I wasn't too happy to not get to ask another one but I held my tongue, unwillingly letting it go as I let Icarus tell me his last question.

- Are you really valuable enough for your crew to keep looking for you?

The question took me by surprise, and thanks to that I wasn't sure what to answer. 

- What do you think?

- I think you might be. For some reason that I have yet to understand.

I didn't want him to know who I was to my crew, at least not before I met up with them again. So instead of actually answering the question I told him a truth that avoided it. 

- I don’t know if I would agree, if anything I’m a burden.

As the words left my lips a heavy pause was shared between us. Looking right into each other's eyes as I for the first time since we met showed a serious look on my face. No smile or cheekiness in any way, just silence.

At least until I couldn't bear it, breaking the tense atmosphere with a convincing smile.

- Even you must have noticed that by now.

I let my thumb graze the soft feather in my grasp one last time before placing it by his papers on the desk, jumping off its wooden surface before opening my mouth to say one last thing.

- Thank you for entertaining me, Captain.

Without looking back at him I left him alone with his paperwork as I walked back out into the afternoon sun.