Work Text:
Aaron had meant to leave Hangman’s Rest behind, where it belonged. He hadn’t even been there for a day, and he never wanted to go back. Now, having been followed by that asshole- Aaron had already forgotten his name- for several hours, he was tired. Zane had been ranting about everything that he’d seen happening between Aphmau and that guy for far too long. The crab was just repeating himself at this point!
Aaron groaned as Zane began another angry schpiel about the duo’s diving contest that Aaron had heard about 5 separate times in the past hour. “Look, crab, can you shut up for once?! I’d rather be on a ship with that creep than you right now!” He yelled, cutting off his crewmate while gesturing vaguely towards the other ship.
Zane was quiet for the first time in a long while. “That’s.. not a bad idea!” The crustacean exclaimed, jittering with excitement. Aaron froze. That was never a good sign, no matter what. “What’s a good idea?” The captain asked carefully, not entirely sure he wanted to know.
The crab scoffed, exasperated. “You getting on a ship with that moron, Caspian, somehow.” So that was his name. Aaron could not process how the idiot shellfish had come to that conclusion. “Explain.” Aaron demanded. Zane snickered like the mean little bitch he was. “You have no idea, do you? Obviously I meant that you go on that ship and make him talk. See what his intentions with the mermaid are. Duh!” The crab elaborated proudly.
Aaron scowled. He had to give his crew mate some credit this time around. It wasn’t a horrible idea.
“Watch over the ship.” Aaron ordered, marching over to the wheel so he could steer close enough to jump onto the other vessel. Aaron heard the other pirate let out a string of curse as he landed on the edge of the boat. “Hey! Asshole! Get off my boat!” Caspian yelled, striding towards the taller man. Aaron sighed, standing his ground.
“We need to talk.”
It wasn’t a demand, just a statement. Caspian glared at Aaron, shooting him a challenging smirk. “And why should we do that?” Caspian questioned. “Because you’re trying to make a move on someone from my crew.” Aaron explained through gritted teeth, trying desperately to keep his cool.
The other captain let out a huff, not happy to be interrogated. “Fine, but I’m not doing it out here in the cold. Come inside, maybe grab a drink.” Caspian suggested, already shivering from the night air. Aaron rolled his eyes at that, despite having goosebumps from a particularly chilly gust of wind. “Fine.” He agreed after a moment.
Caspian chuckled self-satisfiedly, already walking towards his cabin. The other captain followed with a grunt, his footsteps falling heavy on the wooden planks.
The door slammed shut behind the two captains as they entered the pirate’s quarters. Caspian plopped down on a stool in the center of the room, gesturing for his companion to sit across the table from him. Aaron briefly hesitated before deciding fuck it and sitting across from the other pirate. “So, what did you want to talk about?” Caspian started, picking up a glass of beer from the table that he must’ve left there before going onto the deck. “What do you want with Aphmau?” Aaron demanded, tone accusatory.
Caspian clicked his tongue, suddenly very interested in what the other man was saying. “So that’s her name then? Interesting.” He mused. Aaron groaned, dropping his head into his hands. “Godammit.” He said to no one in particular. Caspian chuckled, already tipsy.
“You know who you remind me of?” He asked. Aaron stayed silent, assuming it was a rhetorical question. Caspian continued despite this. “My father.” He started, a wistful looking in his eye. “He was always so serious, to focused on something else to pay attention to his son. The old man’s dead now of course, but it never really mattered. He never liked me and I never really liked him.”
Caspian sighed, suddenly sounding very mature. “He never approved of my drinking habits, even though I inherited them from him. It’s alright though since I never approved of his parental techniques.” The captain let out a sad laugh, taking another sip from his glass for emphasis.
“Whatever. At least he left me this ship. Anyways, what’s your story then?” Caspian interrogated the other captain, resting his cheeks in his hands, eyes half open.
Aaron choked on air. “Why the hell are you asking me that?” The pirate was almost offended by the questioned. What the hell did this guy think he owed him?
“Cmon, I shared my story, now you have to share yours. It’s the rules.” Caspian declared, downing another gulp of beer. “I never asked you to. Besides, I don’t have a story.” Aaron simply stated, glaring at the other pirate. Caspian shot him a sleazy grin. “Don’t be like that. Besides, I’ve met too many people to count. They all had stories to tell. You’re no different.” The other captain insisted. Aaron sighed. Unfortunately, the man was right. That was very frustrating indeed.
“Why do you want to know that?” Aaron questioned, genuinely curious for a split second. “You intrigue me.” Caspian answered, as if that explained anything.
Now, reasonably, Aaron should’ve said no and done what he was sent here to do by that dumb crab. Instead, for some perplexing reason, Aaron opened his mouth. “My village burned down when I was little. Everyone died except for me and a couple others. My parents were not one of those few. Currently, the only living family member I have is my sister who hates me, and she’s a pirate so she might not even be alive. How’s that for a story?” Aaron ranted, dangerously close to yelling at his companion.
Caspian let out another chuckle, which the other captain assumed must’ve been a sort of coping mechanism for sadness, if he was doing this. “That’s one hell of a story.” Caspian voiced, chugging the last of the alcohol in his glass.
Aaron suddenly remembered why he agreed to be within a 5 foot radius of the other pirate. “You never answered my question from earlier. Now, tell me. What are your intentions with my friend?” Aaron demanded. Caspian grinned, a look Aaron had seen too many times overtaking his face. “What if I told you that I’m not interested anymore?” Caspian inquired, definitely drunk off what was definitely not his first or last glass of beer for the night.
He was looking directly at Aaron when he said this, blush spreading across his cheeks. Aaron’s face went up in flames. “What are you trying to tell me?” Aaron stuttered out, pretending that the implications weren’t clear. Caspian grinned, standing up from his seat and walking to Aaron’s side. “I’m trying to tell you that I’m interested in someone else now.” Caspian explained.
The next moment came and went all too soon. For a split second, Caspian and Aaron’s lips were pressed together and it was heaven. Caspian tasted exactly like how you’d expect him to. Bitter from the alcohol, but with an underlying layer that tasted like the sea, Aaron’s home. Aaron wanted to pull him closer into his lap, to make this last forever.
Unfortunately, the door flung open with a loud slam, and Aaron pushed Caspian away, jumping to his feet. In the doorway stood that bitchass crab. “Aaron! We’re leaving! He screeched angrily. Aaron made sure to glare extra hard at the crab for this. He turned back to Caspian, who was still on the floor from when Aaron pushed him away, regretfully. Aaron extended his hand toward his new friend (lover?) to help him up, which Caspian accepted without hesitation.
Even when Caspian was standing upright on his own two feet, the two captains held their hands there, like they were closing a deal. For a second, they stared into each other’s eyes like there was no one else in the room. Zane coughed, which Aaron didn’t even know crabs could do, and the two men separated immediately.
Zane began to scuttle away and Aaron instinctively followed him, only briefly turning back to wave to Caspian. The other pirate only left him with a knowing smirk and a wink that made Aaron’s face turn a brighter shade of red than his coat.
When the crab and his captain were finally aboard their own ship and away from Caspian’s crew, Zane instantly went into interrogation mode. “What did he say?” The crustacean demanded, jumping atop a barrel in attempt to match Aaron’s height- that failed embarrassingly, just in case anyone is curious. Aaron walked straight past the barrel and towards his quarters. “He’s not interested in Aphmau.” Aaron informed him, just loud enough for the shellfish to be unable to mishear anything.
Zane restarted his rant.