My Precious Cargo ⚔ Volume 2 (An AtsuKage ff) ✔

VIII

"I like when we visit the ports, it's interesting to see the different crowds and cultures." Tobio commented as they pulled up to a new port, one with vibrant colours and banners.

"Aye, and it seems like there's a festival going on. Wonder what?" Atsumu added, adjusting his hat as they lowered the anchor.

Most of the crew exited the ship: they needed a lot of new supplies like food and rope, and to store up on water too. Mingling into the bustling crowds, Atsumu's hand found Tobio's as he guided them out of the main square and into the winding cobbled streets where stores littered both sides. 

By now Atsumu had learned the things his Prince liked and didn't like. If they passed a bookstore they had to go in and browse the shelves, Tobio sometimes telling him his thoughts about a book he might have read when young. And if they went by a bakery they had to get something sweet since he was denied of confectionaries at the castle. And Tobio knew what Atsumu liked as well, always enjoying entering the more crooked, spooky stores and joking about the oddities stacked on the slanted shelves. 

It was nice to wander around a new port town, since they didn't get much alone time out in the open when on the ship. Sure, the crew couldn't really care less about their affection, and the blond abused his Captain privileges to hug him or kiss him everywhere. But the nicknames and more intense making-out had to be done in their room. Alongside some other things... it's not like they had gone all the way yet but they liked to be hands on.

Just thinking about it reddened Tobio's cheeks to a pale rose, making Miya smile and wrap an arm around his waist pointing to a nearby bookstore.

"Wanna go look inside, darlin'?" he asked.

"Definitely. I've read all of my other books." Tobio explained, surprising his partner.

"But haven't you got like ten now by the bedside?"

"Yes. And?"

"When do you get the time? Yer always here and there on the deck."

"I read when I can't sleep." the Prince stated, pushing open the door and immediately heading to the back shelves where the older books were kept.

"Yer not sleeping again?" Atsumu asked with concern laced in his tone.

"It's not too bad, I still have several hours a night."

"And the... the night terrors?"

"Gone." Tobio replied quickly, almost too quickly as Atsumu noticed him pointedly not looking in his direction.

With a small sigh, he went over to the Prince and gently pulled him into a hug, surprising the younger male who took a moment to return the gesture. Staying there, holding Tobio like that for a moment, he placed a kiss atop the black locks before pulling back just enough to look into his eyes. 

"You know you can tell me anything, right? Anything."

"I know." Tobio replied with a smile. "And I promise that I am doing fine, they really are uncommon now."

"Okay. I trust you to be honest with me."

"And I'm happy you have that trust in me."

Sharing a brief kiss in case there were any other customers in the aisle, Atsumu followed Kageyama's wandering around the store before he picked up a new book. It was some sort of thriller, and Tobio seemed very excited to read it which made him happy too. After Tobio paid they left the bookstore, heading further up the street to get Atsumu's pocket-watch fixed. 

At first, Atsumu was confused about how Tobio could conjure money from nowhere. Asking about it one evening when they were making small talk between reading and mapping, Tobio showed him a hidden pocket in his belt that held a small treasure of coins, as well as a stash hidden in the sole of his boot that could be opened. The Prince explained that when he discovered he was to travel he wanted to have some of his own money on him at all times, in case something happened to him or the crew. 

And when something did happen, i.e. willingly getting kidnapped by Inarizaki, he had that money with him still. If he spent a coin or two here or there then it would last several months, but it wasn't a worry anymore since the crew had plenty of coins and jewels stashed away from their adventures.

But even though Atsumu now knew about Tobio's small fortune, he still insisted on paying for everything his Little One wanted, wanting to spoil him and give him things like he didn't get to experience back home. Sometimes they bickered on who would pay for things, but he knew Tobio liked paying for things, books especially, and so he gave in more often than not.

However, today, the money he had on him was specifically for fixing his pocket-watch; it was important for him to figure out journey times and what time it was in different parts of the sea, since it was more accurate than using the sun for estimate. They reached the shop and found it was rather busy considering the small space available. There were customers in at least every row, and so the Prince pulled his hat down further in case anyone spotted him.

The longer he spent with Inarizaki, remaining undetected and unrecognised by his father's ships or henchmen, the more comfortable he felt about going out in public. But when spaces were cramped it felt like eyes were ghosting over him from left and right. And since this shop required the visitor to have a fair amount of money, it was more likely he would meet someone with some relation to his father.

Sensing the discomfort coming from Tobio, Atsumu made quick work in heading to the front clerk and asking for a quick change of battery in his watch. Not wanting to spend time bartering over the price, he handed over the right amount of money and they stood to the side as the clerk passed over the watch to the watchmaker behind him, turning to serve the queue of customers curving around the edge of the shop.

"Okay?" he asked under his breath, seeing Tobio nod next to him.

It would take around five minutes to fix the pocket-watch, and Atsumu kept a relaxed expression as he looked around the store, measuring up the different customers whilst keeping an eye on Tobio. He did seem to be doing okay, but since he had discovered that his love was somewhat claustrophobic he wanted to be extra sure.

The watchmaker announced he was finished, and he was about to go up and collect his watch when a hand harshly tugged at his making him take several steps back. Not wanting to make a seen he pretended that he had tripped, leaning down to pretend to re-buckle his shoe whilst looking up at Tobio. The younger male was pointing at the window, particularly at the people trying to peer in from the other side, and saw the faint shake in his wrist. Whoever it was, were not good news.

He hastily stood back up, grabbed the watch, and they left the store. They spared no glance to the people outside the shop, but their gazes never left them and Tobio swore he could hear footsteps following.

"'Tsumu." he called out, placing a hand on his dagger for comfort.

"It's okay baby, don't look back. Let's head back to the ship, aye?"

"Y-Yeah." 

"You're okay Tobio, just take some deep breaths."

Knowing they hadn't been there long it was likely a lot of the crew were still out and about in the port, buying their supplies or looking around the festival parades. Once the ship was in sight, they speedily walked through the crowd and up the bridge before climbing over the railing. Tobio immediately went inside the Captain's Quarters and Atsumu told Aran to go and find everyone else: they were leaving immediately.