As thy returned to the SS Jospehine Arrhur watched the other man carefully, there was something about him that he couldn't put his fingers on; it was something that left him on the verge of breathelessness when he thought about it and the perilous danger it threatened: a deadly undertow that could sweep Arthur off his feet and away if he allow it to. Merlin looked back at him and smiled.
They walked through the deck doors together, to where the crew where going about their jobs in preparation for the next flight, excpectig Gwaine who sat cross legged, dragging a bandana across the floor as Leo sat crouched to the ground, haunches wiggling as he prepared to pounce. When Gwaine looked sulkily around at the two men walking in the cat mewled in complaint and nudged his head into the pilot's causing him to smile sadly and pet his flank gentle.
"What did he say?" Leon, the man, asked.
"We need to find Alator" Arthur sighed grimly.
"I'm on it." Elyan offered, moving into action.
"Who's Alator?" Merlin asked.
"He's the Catha - kindof a spy master. He knows everything and everyone and how to find them." Arthur looked at him and explained gesturing with is hand a 'kind-of' motion.
"Why doesn't he like you?" asked the pale man, his eyes as alight as his rosy lips with mischief.
"I might have....broken his special stick." the blonde captain answered, embarrassment creeping into his voice, a sneaking raccoon stealing a family picnic on a sweltering midsummer's afternoon..
"It was a staff, Arthur, made from wood from the old world and millenia old." Leon said, with patient sage.
"He was goign to hit me with it!" Arthur bakled in contriteness.
"I have yeet to meet anyone who doesn't want to hit you within five minutes of meeting you." joked the pilot, Gwaine, his handsomely ratty face taking the verge off the cruelty of his joking words.
"Do we need to go over the heirarchy of the ship again?" Stormed the captain's voice.
"No sir!" Gwaine's eyes rolled.
"I've found him - or at least where he will be - there's a gala at the Royal Hyperion Celebration Hall in about...six hours." Pecival interjected, giving Gwaine a waggle of his strong eyebrows to encourage him to behave.
"Can you get us in?" Arthur asked Elyan, the most subtle of his crew.
"Easily, but...." Elyan drifted off.
"What is it." ounced the captain with neutral ensthisuam.
"It's a costume ball." Eylan revealed: concisely and undramatically.
"I'm in." Gwaine sat up and announced.
"Who said anything about you comeing?" Snapped the blonde man, more sarcastic than vicous. Merlin watched.
"Oh come ooonnnn! I want to dress up as a pirate!" the pilot grinned, with the exaggerated petulancey of a toddler.
"Aren't you dressed like a pirate now?" Merlin ventured in confusion and Gwaine turned to him with a blinding smile.
"But a fun pirate! A sexy pirate." He waggled his eyebrows. Silence range througoutthe bridge.
"'Oh but Gwaine, aren't you dressed as a sexy pirate now?' Come on guys!" the Irish man wined and threw up his hands as Percival and Elyan snorted and sniggered at their consoles. Arthur rolled his eyes, not missing the blush that welcomed itself on Merlin's little cheeks as he did so.
YOU ARE READING
Dismantle The Sun
Science FictionFor Arthur Rothwell, space has always meant freedom. Since he was young he has been called to a dangerous life amongst the stars, but the arrival of a mysterious man on his ship changes the course of his life. If only he could work out why the stran...
