Resist Everything Except Temptation

Chapter 5

"Alright, run it by me again."

Louis exaggeratingly groaned as he continued to pace across the quarterdeck. Niall had his hands gripped around two spokes of the wheel, his eyes darting between the horizon and Louis. Steve was sat on the banister that overlooked the main deck, his feet lightly swaying as he listened.

"Niall, I've told you ten times now," Louis pouted, his hands shifting to rest on his hips.

"And I want to give ye educated advice," Niall chirped, completely unperturbed by Louis' antics. "Now tell me how it sounded."

"Alright," Louis rolled his eyes and stopped his pacing. "I told him no and as I was leaving, it sounded like," he broke off to exhale a light sigh.

"Okay, like a," Niall mimicked the sound, putting a tad more yearning into the noise than Louis had.

"No," Louis shook his head and made the sound again. "A little less loud, but I know I heard it."

"Got it," Niall nodded seriously, his forehead slightly wrinkled in concentration.

"So..." Louis drawled out, his fingers fidgeting by his side as he looked between Niall and Steve. "What do you think it meant?"

Steve shrugged, "This is all beyond me, if I'm being honest."

"Useless," Louis huffed out. "What do you say, Niall?"

"Sounds like he was relieved you weren't goin' to get yer cock wet," Niall mused.

Louis groaned as his nose scrunched up, "Do you always have to be so vulgar?"

"Aye," Niall laughed, easily shrugging his shoulders unapologetically.

There was a heavy set of footsteps trotting up the staircase, pulling all three men's attention towards the sound. Liam bounded to the top step with a slight flush in his cheeks, his tunic already matted with sweat from running around deck all morning. He looked worse for wear and it hadn't even reached mid-day.

"You alright, mate?" Niall laughed.

"The hold brushed against a bit of coral last night and I 'ad to go an' patch it up." Liam begrudgingly scowled. "Perry is helping get rid of the extra water, but I swear I want to gut him out anytime he opens his mouth."

"I'd help you," Louis piped, having an irrevocable sense of hatred for the man.

Liam grinned and clasped Louis on the shoulder, "Good lad."

"Is it all patched?" Niall asked, a frown tugging his lips downwards as he looked at the billowing clouds in the sky. "Suspect we're in for a bit of a storm tonight."

"Aye," Liam gingerly nodded, looking a bit worried as he watched the grey sky circle above them. "Right," he shook his head and replaced his grimace with a private grin, "Captain wants Aoki and Tomlinson in his cabins."

"Why?" Louis anxiously asked, glancing towards Steve who was equally confused.

Liam folded his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels with faux innocence, "You'll see."

"Go on," Niall rolled his eyes. "If he was tossin' ye lot, he wouldn't have given you a formal invitation."

"Clearly you've never seen a formal invitation," Louis mumbled.

Louis and Steve followed Liam down the steps, keeping a respectful distance between them. They paused outside of the captain's quarters, waiting for Liam to knock on the doors.

"Aye," Harry called from inside.

Liam pushed the door open and gestured for Louis and Steve to file in. Louis frowned when he saw Gemma lounging on Harry's bed, her dagger mindlessly twirling between her fingers. Harry was bent over the table, his eyes trained on a map stretched across the surface.