“Hey Jacob…”

The old man looks up at Nico from his seat, the crate beneath him creaking as his old fingers clasp around his cane, “Hey kiddo.”

“Feeling better?” He leans against the side next to him, arms crossing over his chest.

“Much…” Jacob smiles warmly, old eyes scrunching, “I'm glad too, because now I can teach that boy how to cook you all up some food and clean this ship right.” 

Nico smiles, “So he's doing decent?”

“Yep, might as well take my job now.” Jacob says with a sigh, “He's a good boy, that one… He's been through a lot.”

Nico feels his skin prickles with jealousy, jaw tightening as he tries to hide it, “He's told you about his past?”

“Oh no…” Jacob shakes his head slowly, jaw set forward for a moment before he shakes his head to himself slowly, “Some people… You can just tell. Certain words and certain things will make their eyes twitch or their face’ll pause in expression… Like something unpleasant has revisited their mind.” Jacob looks up at Nico with those wise, old eyes, “That boy just shows a snarl to hide those facts from sight. He stares off just as much as a man who's been to war.” He nods again, looking back out across the water thoughtfully, “Yes, he does.”

Nico hums, brows knitting gently as the words settle in. Something deep in his chest twists, and something about the pressure makes him feel like he's on the verge of throwing up for a moment.

“He can sing.” Nico looks up from the floorboards, watching as Jacob smiles tenderly, looking reminiscent as he watches the sun glitter across the sea, “He doesn't think I can hear him but he likes to sing.”

Nico still feels the bitterness of jealousy course through him. He would've liked to know that- or even hear Luca humming at the very least.

He blinks… Oh shit. He really does fancy him.

“Captain…” James walks over, looking slightly guilty as he smiles at him. Nico raises a brow, looking at the younger man, “Well… We all know how William can be competitive…”

Nico hums, pulling at ropes and tightening them from where they've come a little loose. As there's no further explanation given, Nico looks up, tying the course thread off, “What?” He asks, kinda annoyed.

“Well he and Luca are duking it out… For fun!” He urges but quickly deflates, “Well it was… And William said something kinda not good…” James swallows as Nico stops fiddling with the ropes, looking at the beta, “And uhm… Luca is winning now, but could you stop him? I think he's gonna actually kill him.”

Nico sighs, immediately turning to sprint towards the crew's quarters. He was wondering why they were all carrying on- he supposes a fight would be a perfect reason.

James is hot on his tail as he thunders down the steps, frowning as he sees his crew surrounding Luca who has William pinned to the floor tightly. The omega seethes as he clenches his hand around the older man's wrists, one pinned to his back and the other pinned above his head. William’s nose is bleeding profusely, and Luca’s right eye is looking darker than his hair as he stares down at William with this vindictive glee in his eyes. 

He's grinning. Ear to ear in fact. Nico blinks, watching as the younger man sneers down at the thirty year old man under his knee, “Say it.”

William scowls, cheek pressed harshly against wood, “No.”

“Say it.” Luca snaps again, hair flicking as his teeth clack with his words. William grumbles, and slowly his body falls loose, looking utterly defeated.

“You win.”

“Thank you.” The brunette's grip loosens immediately, eyes boring holes into the back of the alphas head as he stands up, “Be careful what you say…” He snaps, glaring up at William for a few strong moments before moving past people, barely sharing a glance with Nico before stumping up the steps without a word.