The privateer and his tracker

Chapter 1

Being on solid ground was refreshing for Nikolai's body. Even though he relished every moment spent on one of his flying ships, he still liked to be grounded every now and then. Hearing birds chirping, trees swaying in the wind and people calmly talking around him, was something he couldn't experience on his ship, but enjoyed deeply when he could feel the earth beneath his feet.

As always, some things slightly bothered him. He was so used to the swaying of his ship that his battening skills were a bit... well... lacking when he wasn't at sea or high above land. He was so used to the rhythm that the constant movement gave him, that the only thing he was good for on land was shooting.

That's how he, on a sunny spring day, found himself in a barn abandoned by workers with, one and only, the tracker that for some reason followed Alina around. Don't get him wrong, Nikolai knows a lot about Mal. From his name down to what happens to his family and his morning routine. And yet, there is a glint in Mal's eyes he lo-likes so much he enjoys calling Mal random things and messing with him. Even if he gets mistaken for a simple pirate in exchange. Which, he hates to admit, turns him on just a bit when he thinks back to those moments.

He never once complained about needing some time to get back his tricks after he returns to Ravka, yet somehow Mal had a little hunch and offered to, uhm, train?

A joke about there being nothing that Mal has to teach him was made, but he still reluctantly (not so) accepted. And oh boy, did Mal have a lot to teach him. Maybe not about fighting but about himself.

Being attracted to Mal when he was all sweaty and smug about his tricks wasn't even the thing that irritated our king the most. He couldn't get past how Mal just knew the King needed some help but didn't know how to ask for it. He wasn't even smug when he approached Nikolai about it!

Another quite irritating feeling was Mal knowing his every move. Which was especially annoying when Nikolai didn't even know his next move.

They weren't friends, and certainly, they weren't anything more, but somehow it felt like they'd known each other forever.

The thought shook the privateer back into reality. Why would he even think about that? He returned all his attention to the task on hand. He swung his sword over his head to gain friction and into Mal's direction with intention of gaining back some respect. Which, of course, didn't happen and Mal dodged him easily, once again, anticipating every single shaky attempt the king made at attacking.

Nikolai felt like a peasant. Mal had him wrapped around his little finger and he didn't even know about it extensively less reciprocated his feelings.

"You're abnormally quiet today," Mal observed and at the same time lunged forward to score yet another point (not that they were still counting). And just because he could Nikolai decided to put on the mask of the confident king that he was supposed to be and act a bit flirty.

"You've been talking awfully too much and I had to balance it out," that was the biggest lie Nikolai ever spoke, as he desperately wished Mal would talk more and constantly wondered what his voice would sound like in different... inappropriate situations. And on top of it all, it wasn't nearly as flirty as he wanted it to be. He tried to get back at Mal but only ended up on the other side of him, which would have granted him some point if Mal wouldn't turn around before his mind fully fought up to his advantage.

"I had to keep myself awake somehow since your attempt at putting up a fight failed miserably and I feared I would fall asleep and be terrible company", came Mal's reply so quickly it made the not pirate wonder if he finally found someone who is able to keep up with him. His match, of sorts. But he just as quickly realized thoughts like this will get him nowhere and he'll just long for Mal more and more with each passing day and in frustration surged forward and dogged Mal's attempt at the same time, finally showing off a bit.

"I'm flattered that you care about how I feel in your company," he threw back with a chuckle and a roll of his eyes, stopping for a second.

"I have to impress the king of Ravka somehow," came a reply in a suggestive voice and oh, how Nikolai wished, even yearned to hear that tone, preferably with Mal's head between... okay, no. Nikolai had to chill out a bit. But of course, he doesn't know how to do that so he quickly bit back.

"Oh, you impress me plenty, tracker," and just because he felt daring added a wink. That caught Mal off guard and he finally had the opportunity to whip around him and align his sword with his neck, granting him a win.

"I've always been an overachiever," Mal whispered back and dropped his sword in a sign of defeat. Nikolai, victoriously, took a second or two to admire how Mal's body felt against his and let his mind wander a bit too far.

In that split moment of his weakness, Mal knocked the sword out of his grasp and turned over with the intention of them both tumbling to the ground. However, the fall was quite graceful and Mal watched out for Nikolai's head, so he didn't find himself being mad about it. What he was mad about is that his mind made silly little fantasies and he wanted to yeet himself off a cliff and hope he lands on something sharp.

"I believe you just proved an overachiever is exactly what you are." He was very thankful that his mind offered a reply and they didn't have to sit there in silence, or lay in theory, as Mal was spread over him like a comfortable weighted blanket.

Mal looked him up and down and Nikolai expected to feel like he was on
fire, but he actually felt... butterflies? He doesn't know, he's a dumbass who never felt them before.

"Didn't know you liked being pinned to the ground this much" Mal whispered into their shared air and for a second Nikolai wanted to surge
forward and finally outline the scars on Mal's lips with his.

"Didn't know you enjoyed having men almost spread out under you," was said far too loudly for Nikolai's liking and he wanted to take it back until the second Mal threw his head back and started laughing. He wants to make Mal laugh forever.

"One can barely call you a man, sweetheart," Mal said standing up and winking while also helping Nikolai stand up. His hands were scarred, rough, his fingers thick and Nikolai had to physically distance himself before he'd do something far too stupid and retrieved his sword.

"Look at this, you destroyed the king's sword," he claimed lifting the cracked sword to Mal's eyes, which, by instinct, dodged but then took a closer inspection.

"Unlucky me. I suppose I am forever in debt to the Ravkan council," Mal looked down, sarcasm seeping through his words, but all Nikolai could find in his eyes was... some kind of softness.

"I will collect that debt someday, tracker." The privateer hoped Mal caught the hint, he offered on a silver plate.

"I know you will sweetheart," Mal said already leaving, taking the king's sword with him, and blowing a kiss in Nikolai's direction which left him frozen in spot long after the tracker left, wondering what'll now happen to his dear sword.

--- le time skip ---

After a filling dinner, the king retrieved to his chambers and was pleasantly surprised by a little something waiting for him on his bed.

"Had to bribe a guard or two to place this here, x - your favourite tracker" was a note placed beside a brand new sword carved with carefully picked words: Sexy Privateer Sturmhold on one side, and Caring King Nikolai on the other.

It made Nikolai positively melt for a moment or two and he startedgaining hope that maybe, just maybe, his feelings weren't so out of place as he imagined.