Disclaimer: I do not know the celebraties in this piece of fiction. Do not read if you are underaged or offended by homosexual material or alternative universe material.
Seahawk's Cruise Part 5
Nick jolted awake to find himself in darkness. Where am I, he wondered. "Here." a soft voice offered. He felt something go to his lips and was grateful to taste water. "Eat this, you'll need strength."
He groaned and accepted the food in his mouth. "AJ...thank you." he rasped.
"Pearlman can be rough on his trials, can't he?" asked AJ as he sat down. "Don't worry, we plan to get him back."
Nick snuggled his head in AJ's lap. "It was you, wasn't it?" he asked softly. "It was you that took care of me when I got sick the first week and not Peter."
"About Peter." AJ sighed. "I found out why he was a stow-away. He wanted to come to America to start a new life."
"He was going to leave me hanging in London forever, wasn't he?" asked Nick. AJ nodded. Nick thrashed. "BUGGER! THAT BASTARD!" AJ remained calm. Nick froze then sighed. "AJ, you're more of a gentleman than I am at this moment." Nick sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I don't even know if I'll survive this trip. I don't know if it's night or day. God, what would I give for a breath of fresh air?"
"I find this ironic." AJ smirked. "You wanted to stay in your stuffy cabin in the beginning and you call THIS stifling?" he laughed. "What have we done to you, Cartier?" he asked.
"You happened to me, AJ. You showed me what a life I could live if I wasn't so stifled to a bride that doesn't even know me. You taught me that a man sails in the direction the wind takes him. If anything, AJ, you taught me how to live." Nick stared at AJ in the eye. "I swear to you that when we reach land, I will come out to my parents then set sail with you."
AJ smiled, tears suffusing his eyes. "It's late, I got to go." He stood up and walked out of the hold. "Good night, Nick."
"Good night, AJ." Nick called out.
~The Next Morning~ "GET UP, MAGGOT!" shouted Lou. Nick winced and dutifully walked up the steps and into the sunlight. Lou stood at a tall podium with a stool next to it. Nick sat with his eyes cast upon the ground. "How do you plead?"
"I plead innocent." Nick whispered.
"You plead innocent after hosting the stow-away then killing him?! One crime, I understand but TWO?" Lou roared. "Is it orerly to run around with the rest of these drunken bastards?" he shouted as he waved to the small crowd of the rest of the crew. "They hexed you! Churned your eyes from innocence and order to a rough-rugged pirate! That is not how a gentleman is to live his days! The penalty of both crimes will be fit for a pirate. Nickolai Jean Cartier will walk the plank and drown in these waters. Does anyone have anything to say in his defence?"
A revered hush befell the crew.
"WELL?!" No one said a word. "Well then, Mr. Nickolai Jean Cartier will walk tomorrow at sunset." He sneered at Nick. "A good little boy gone bad. Such a sad loss."
Again, Nick was thrown into the hold. He sat up and hugged his knees. He cried. Cried more than when Peter left him. More than when he saw his lover dead in his arms.
A soft clatter came. "Nick?"
"Go away!" Nick shouted. "Why bother to help me now when you didn't then?"
"I'm sorry, Nick." AJ replied. "That was selfish for me to do. Kevin had to hold me back before--"
"Hide in the shadows!" Nick whispered as he heard boots clanging. He glared up at Lou Pearlman. "What do you want?" he seethed.
Lou extended a chubby hand and brought Nick's chin up. "Nickolai, so frail, not used to the seas, I had fallen in love with you. Your beautiful body working in the sun. Marry me. Marry me and I'll spare your life." Lou whispered in his ear. "Be my mistress and I will make one of the crew walk the plank."
"No." Nick said firmly.
"WHAT?!" he roared.
"I said no." Nick replied evenly. "Now leave me to collect my memories so I can go to Davy Jones' locker in peace."
"You WILL regret your choice, Cartier." Lou hissed. He clanked back up the steps and to his brandy, sitting open on his desk.
"Y-you'd risk your life for one of us?" AJ asked. "Why?"
"Because we've grown closer than brothers, AJ." Nick replied. "And I love you. That's why."
"Nick, I want you to look me in the eye." Nick did as he was told. AJ leaned down and gently kissed him. The kiss was gentle and long, passionate and sweet. Something that really blew Nick away. "We WILL live through this."
"I hope, you're right, AJ. I really hope you're right." Nick whispered.
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