The pirate boy (Frerard, Petekey)

Chapter nine - layers of gay, like a gay parfait

Chapter nine - Layers of gay, like a gay parfait

i am very proud of this chapter title

(sorry for not updating, i have the memory of a concussed goldfish)

— — — —

"Love me or hate me, both are in my favour. If you love me, I'll always be in your heart. If you hate me, I'll always be in your mind."

— — — —

The Cove really was a haven. With the coins I had in my pocket for no particular reason (absolutely not for a prostitute), I purchased some britches that did not suffocate my crotch, along with a whole bag of lemons and oranges, which apparently were extremely important on the ship. After Dewees explained to me what scurvy was and how citrus could prevent it, I made it my mission to eat about eight lemons a day. And when James said proudly reminded me that he'd recently discovered that you could ferment lemon juice to make a completely disgusting but close to effective rum substitute, we bought another entire bag.

When we got back to the ship, almost everyone had gone. James and I had been among the first to realise that the ship had actually reached port; everybody else had left a while after us so were still out in the town.

We went down to the cargo hold and restocked the food store, and I went to my room to change into my new pants. Once our new stuff was dealt with and put away, James and I sat at the table with a lemon and a non-maggot-infested biscuit each, nibbling eagerly away at the first food we'd got a hold of in about twenty four hours.

"So," Dewees mumbled through a mouthful of biscuit (which was actually not stale for once). "Have you slept with Gerard yet?"

I choked on my food and spluttered until I could breathe again. "What?" I rasped, my throat dry with biscuit crumbs. "Why would you say that?"

He nodded at the dark purple mark on my neck.

"Wh- how do you know it wasn't Ryan?"

James shook his head. "You had money today, it couldn't have been." He took a bite of his lemon and gagged a little bit. "Plus I heard you two last night."

I squeaked embarrassedly and tried to cover it up with a violent cough. "We didn't sleep together," I said in the most composed voice I could manage.

James laughed roughly. "I know, I'm just messing with ya. Gerard would never forgive himself if he let that happen. Sullying his only chance."

I froze. "What?"

"It doesn't matter," James said dismissively, examining his lemon.

"Yes, it does!" I said insistently. "This is that thing I heard you talking to him about last week, isn't it? About the scorpion or something. I'm a key, right?"