A Pirate's Tale [Larry Stylinson]

23 - Steps

When the fight was over, the grass was drenched in blood. Corpses lay scattered all across the field, lifeless and impaled.
The calm after the battle was often the first reminder of the gruesome acts committed by all involved. And the silence lingered as Louis glanced over the battlefield.
All the guards were dead.

A smile of relief laid itself onto Louis' lips. His heart calmed down as he repeated it to himself: They were all dead.

His eyes caught on Dean, who was looking back at him like a startled deer. Big eyes and heavy breaths.
He seemed fine, though. No scratches, no blood, nothing.
This perhaps calmed Louis even more.

He put his sword back into his belt and then locked eyes with Niall. His temporary mate in battle.
,,You ok?" He asked in his worried Irish accent.
Louis nodded.
He was fine. He could relax.
Everything was cleared.
Niall was fine too.
And Harry?

Louis didn't need to wonder long, because the captain came rushing over. And he didn't look pleased. Not the slightest bit.

,,Are you insane?" His teeth gritted, while his fingers clenched around Louis' jaw. He didn't hurt him, but it was nonetheless a shitty feeling.
,,To randomly shoot at the fucking army? You know how dangerous that was?"

The roughness of his voice got Louis out of his shock-like state. He was forced to focus on Harry.

,,Calm down captain. It's fine. No one died," Niall chimed in, laying his hand flat on Harry's shoulder like it could in any way change anything about the rage within Styles.

Niall was obviously hoping that hinting at the fact that none of Harry's men had died was enough to besiege him.
But that wasn't really what Harry was bothered about. It was the principals.

Louis had endangered everyone. He hadn't listened to the captain's orders and on top of it all, he had also stolen Harry's weapon. A triple offends. Nothing Styles would let slide so easily. Usually.

,,C'mon Harry." Niall mouthed, urging him once again to leave Louis be, but he only got shushed away. And obviously he obeyed, not wanting to provoke the already angry captain even more.
So he left, dragging Dean with him.

,,I'm sorry." Louis finally choked out, only expecting the worst to follow. He knew Harry's mood swings.
But surprisingly, Harry merely twisted his face to each side, observing him carefully.
,,Are you ok?" He asked quietly. And only then did Louis realize that Harry wasn't angry. He was worried.

,,I'm fine." Louis said quickly, hoping that Harry would let go of his face. And he did. At least after glancing over him one last time, like he was trying to find wounds or scratches. But there was nothing.

,,I'm sorry." Louis mouthed again, not really expecting an answer. He also didn't get one, cause after all that chaos and trouble that Louis had plunged the crew into, the captain believed it to be better to reassemble and organize his crew again, instead of staying for a chat. Something Louis understood.

So he was obedient, yet a little disappointed, and trotted alongside Harry, back to the other men.

,,You did a noble thing though," Harry said, still out of ears reach for anyone else to hear. ,,Saving the kid, I mean."
,,Thanks. But I should have listened to you. I know what I did was reckless."

True. And Louis meant it. He saw himself at fault and though no one died, he still was disappointed with himself. He knew he should have waited for Harry's orders. He was the captain after all. But at the same time, he couldn't help himself but feel accomplished for helping Dean.

,,Promise me you'll never do that again?"
,,Promised!" Louis said. ,,But I highly doubt such a situation will happen a second time."
The last sentence went ignored. Harry only needed to hear the first word.

,,You're forgiven then." Harry announced. The corners of his mouth twitched, forming into a slight but undoubtable smile, while his hand brushed over Louis' shoulder. But not for too long. Not long enough to see. Nor long enough to feel, for all that Louis was concerned.

He needed Harry's comfort right now, and he was happy that he got a little at least.
But enough of that. The gold was the next objective.

,,I think it'll be another twenty minutes till we reach the treasure." Louis informed as they entered the range in which the other men could hear them. So naturally, they changed topic to something less suspicious.
,,Sounds good." The captain said.

Soon after, they were all moving again. Louis behind Harry and Niall at the back, next to Dean. On occasion, Louis would turn to see how Dean was doing, but he seemed to be doing rather well. He saw him cracking jokes to Niall again. So he was back on track. What a relief.

And Harry wasn't mad at him either, so all went well.