Waking up the next morning was different than any other morning that had passed as of late. I had become somewhat accustomed to the presence of another warm body in my bed. What I had yet to experience was the proximity of said warm body, as it was now closely entangled with my own. When I opened my eyes my vision was filled with bright blonde hair, I could make out the smell of sea salt and something more sweet but unidentifiable in that moment. I gently unwrapped myself from Crow, his face relaxed in a way that I had not seen until now, something which made him look youthful, almost vulnerable in the soft morning light. I blinked, my head finally taking in what was right before me, the heat of his skin against my own finally starling me awake. I leaned away from him until we were no longer in each other's embrace, his arms slowly adjusting unconsciously on the now empty side of my bed. The thin linen tunic crumpled enough to show a slit of his stomach, my eyes involuntarily inspecting the exposed skin. His restless movements startled me enough to look away and begin changing into proper attire for the day. I shucked off the thin tunic and trousers that I had had slept in and exchanged them with a fresh set of comfortable working clothes, as I was not planning on doing much else but physical labour around my ship all day. Before I had the chance to fasten my belt, my door was swiftly swung open.

- Captain, a ship is on us shortly, they seek to parley.

I looked over towards Crow, who was still fast asleep, eyelashes fanned across his sun kissed skin, face relaxed and seemingly in complete bliss. I looked back towards Thomas, one of the crewmen onboard, nodding in affirmation before joining him outside on deck.

- Captain, I believe you should see this.

- Aye, hand it over then.

David swiftly handed over his spyglass, letting me look through the delicate instrument, now pointing towards the general direction of west-southwest. There was a ship, seemingly large and grand for a pirate ship. There was a smaller white flag flying in the wind, showing they were not seeking to fight, but to exchange words. 

- Return the gesture, if they are only here to speak, then they might be here for Crow, if not, perhaps they need direction.

- Aye.

With that, I returned David his spyglass before heading over towards the railing on the side of the ship facing towards the quickly oncoming ship. A thought struck me in that moment that they were either lost in the midst of the archipelago, or they were in hiding and had perhaps trailed us for much longer. You could never be too careful out on the open seas, where no pirate law could be witnessed by other pirates, unless they lived to speak of the crimes committed. It was no more than half an hour until the grand ship was close enough to steer itself alongside my own. The ship was made of dark wood, almost black unless the sun showed directly on it, the detailing was largely deep red. An intricate dragon had been placed at the front of the ship, as a part of the bowsprit, in the same colours as the ship. It was quite excessive, but it spoke of the greatness likely on board of such a ship. The fact that no outer damage could be seen spoke of either great craftsmanship in their repairs or that they were greatly feared by their enemies. Just as I watched a handful of them prepare to board our ship, I felt someone walk up to my right side, body close enough to feel his arm brushing against one of my gun holsters on my hip.

- I believe these are the Crimson moon.

I looked over at David, his eyes locked in on the men now walking over the plank laid out between our two ships, functioning as a make-shift bridge.

- Are you sure?

- Almost positive, if they mention a Captain by the same name of Crimson Moon or possibly Warwick, then it is certainly them.

- Aye, understood.

I had heard of Crimson moon, as many other pirates had. It was an infamous crew of pirates that had shown up on the open seas not too many years ago. They had made a name for themselves as rumours had been going around every low-life harbour between Tortuga and Barbados that they were involved in cannibalism. As many pirate rumours, most were to be taken with a whole carriage of salt, but if there was some truth to it, one could not be too careful of their presence on board. I did not have much more time to digest the information David had given me, as there were now half a dozen men on my ship, in various states of anger or mild interest staring us down. I walked up towards the men, letting my eyes rake over their appearances'. A man with shaggy blonde hair walked a step closer, making it known that he was the man in charge.

- I believe you have something of ours.

- If you mean Crow then yes. He is currently on board.

- If you don’t mind I would like for him to return to us.

- Oh thank fuck, just take him!

I looked over towards Alex, giving her a disapproving look, which she quickly brushed off, rolling her eyes in retaliation. 

- Then I suppose we are doing you a favour.

- You could say that, if nothing else you should perhaps learn to count the heads of your crew before sailing off.

The man gave me a sneering glare, his eyes dull yet disapproving as they raked over me once more, sizing me up. 

- I suppose we do. I hope he hasn’t caused too much trouble.

- No-

- Yes.

- Regardless, who do we have the pleasure of speaking to?

The man looked back and forth between his men, before meeting my gaze once more, a small but almost mocking smile growing on his lips.

- Warwick, is my name. These are some of my fellow crewmen.

- I see, well I will fetch the mutt.

- Alex-

- No need. It is quite alright.

Before any of us had the chance to react, a sunburnt man, who had been seemingly uninterested and quiet mere moments ago now began to holler loud enough to burst the otherwise quiet atmosphere currently on deck.

- CROW, GET YOUR SCRAWNY ARSE OVER ‘ERE!

His mouth was wide and voice booming, hands cupping the sides of his mouth as he shouted loudly calling for Crow. It didn’t take long before the door to my cabin swung open once more, Crow quickly making his way half-awake still squinting as his eyes had yet to adjust to the bright sunlight.

- AYE! I CAN HEAR YA’ YOU FECKING GOOD FOR NOTH’IN SCABBY SEA BASS- Gibbs!

Suddenly Crow came to, as he quickly ran across the deck, right past the rest of my crew to throw himself around the neck of the loud man. The two seemed close as they began to rub their knuckles in each other's hair, smiling and swearing at each other in what I could not help but identify as somewhat irish sounding. An accent that Crow had not shown an inkling in knowing of, until just moments ago. 

- There ya’ cunt. Can’t believe you haven’t even grown an inch for as long as you've been gone.

- Who’s fault is that now again?

- I believe they call it natural selection?

The two kept bickering on, seemingly unaware of the tense atmosphere between the rest of both crews, now standing in silence, watching these two in complete disbelief or disinterest. Finally breaking their bickering, Warwick cleared his throat, before handing over a hat that he had been holding in one of his free hands. One which Crow took without a second thought, as if on mere instinct he adjusted the piece of garment on his head.

- Good to have you back, Captain.

- Aye, it is good to be back.

For some reason, it was not as surprising as I would have once thought, if I had been told that I were to house the Crimson Moon on my ship to my own self a few moons ago, my past self would have laughed me across the seven seas. Yet here we stood, David seemingly unbothered and Alex with her jaw uncomfortably dislocated. Feeling my own face scrunch in slight apprehension and annoyance that was hard to suppress. 

- This runt, this one. Is a captain??

- Aye, he is Captain of this crew, the Crimson Moon.

- The-the what now?

- We will speak of this later Alex, for now I think it is best to bid farewell.

For the first time in what felt like days, his eyes met mine across the small distance between our crewmen, though it could have just as easily been miles between us. There was almost something delicate in his expression, something fragile. Though it was quickly lost as he suddenly looked away, avoiding eye-contact as he let himself motion for his crew to tread back across to his ship. Still looking on the newly swabbed deck of my ship, he spoke in a softer voice, quiet enough for only my ears to hear.

- Thank you, Icarus. If fate makes it so, I believe we might meet again.

- Perhaps.

Without looking at me again, Crow followed his crew across, and not too long after they sailed off, leaving me and my crew to resume our day, now one man less than before, but also just the right amount that it had always been. Though I couldn’t help but feel there was something missing onboard as the day went on, I found myself attempting to fall asleep in a much colder and seemingly much more desolate cabin than I had ever remembered it to be before.