Tidal Waves

16. Understandings

"You're not my keeper!"

Emiko glared up at Roy as they stood before the rest of the crew.

"Look, I'm just trying to save you the hassle," Roy retorted and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Trust me Emiko, I would know. He's not worth the time or the effort. He's just going to push you away, just like he did me."

"He's my brother, and I will see him," Emiko stated, her gaze shifting from him to the boy standing behind her. "Right, Damian? You promised."

Roy glanced at Damian, who was silently watching the scene unfold. "You take her to Seattle and you're dead, kid."

"Uh oh," Maya quietly said and glanced at Raven nervously. "This is gonna be bad."

Damian narrowed his eye at the taller man, taking a step forward. "Excuse me?"

"She's not going, so don't even think about dropping her off," Roy repeated and turned to walk away. Damian's voice caused him to halt.

"Last time I checked, she was part of my crew. She's an adult and can make her own decisions."

Roy scoffed at his comment and turned back around to face him. "That's ironic, coming from a kid himself."

Damian grit his teeth, and as if a switch had been flipped, his closed fist swung across Roy's face.

When Roy got back on balance, he grabbed Damian by the collar of his shirt, pushing him against the pole behind him. "Don't mess with me, kid."

"Stop calling me that!" Damian ordered and head-butted the taller man, pushing him to the ground while he was in a daze before straddling his waist. Once he was pinned, Damian roughly grabbed him by the throat. "I'll kill you right now."

"Stop! Both of you!" Emiko pleaded, teary-eyed.

Raven watched the scene with wide eyes. She'd never seen him this violent before.

Roy let out a raspy laugh as blood trickled from his nostril. "I'm still not scared of you. You're just some stupid little kid."

Damian ruthlessly slammed his fist back into the other man's face, his face scrunched in anger. "Fuck you!"

The sound of Jason's laughter caused both boys to freeze in their spot. "No, please, continue. I haven't been this entertained in days."

Damian stood up from his spot, his expression blank. "He started it."

"Yeah, whatever," Roy said before getting back to his feet, making sure to shove Damian along the way. "You're the captain, Jay. Tell him we're not taking Emiko to Seattle. She doesn't need to go."

"Just let me off this damn ship and I'll find another way then," Emiko said, her gaze shifting between Damian and Roy. "I'm tired of being in the middle of this. If you let me go, I won't cause trouble anymore. Promise."

Jason looked at her, pondering his decision. Before he could speak, Suren shouted aloud from the Crow's Nest.

"Bounty-hunters! On our tail!"

Everyone's mood quickly changed at the information.

"Shit!" Jason said and reached for the pistol he kept put away in his side holster. "Get ready!"

"I got the cannons!" Maya informed and quickly made her way back inside the ship.

"Here," Raven spoke as she approached Damian, handing him the sword she'd kept. "You can use it better than I can."