Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤5 You know things

The first thing Maria felt upon waking was the warmth of another body close to hers. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the cabin window. The ship creaked softly beneath them, but it was the steady breathing beside her that made her heart skip a beat.

She turned her head, her gaze meeting two sharp, ice-blue eyes staring right back at her. Stephen lay there, his dark blonde hair untamed and falling loosely over his forehead. There was a quiet intensity in his expression, as if he had been waiting for her to wake, calculating, watching.

Before Maria could pull her gaze away or even process the sudden closeness, Stephen spoke, his voice low and commanding. "I have a question."

She blinked, still groggy from sleep, trying to grasp onto the moment. His piercing eyes didn't waver. He wasn't one to waste time with pleasantries, and Maria knew it.

He shifted slightly, propping himself up on one elbow, still watching her closely. "You told me once, back in that cabin, that you come from a different world. You know things that I don't. Things about power... about the future." His tone was steady but carried a subtle edge of curiosity, and maybe something more.

Maria's throat tightened. She hadn't expected this-this vulnerability from him, a request for advice. His unpredictability had been one of the few things she could count on, but this moment felt different, more grounded.

Stephen's eyes narrowed, his gaze still locked on hers. "I'm trying to climb the social ladder, lass. I've wealth from plundering, but that won't get me where I want to be. I need something more. You're going to help me figure out where to start."

The air between them felt charged, his request both a demand and a strange confession. Maria swallowed hard, still caught in the intensity of his gaze. This was a man who had survived by instinct, by cunning and brute force. Now he wanted more-something beyond piracy. And for some reason, he was asking her to guide him.

She shifted in the bed, sitting up slightly, her pulse quickening as she considered her words carefully. "You can't just buy your way into society," she said slowly, watching his reaction. "Wealth helps, but it's about connections. The right ones."

Stephen's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes sharpened as he listened. "And how do I make those connections?"

"You need influence," Maria continued, her voice steadying. "Reputation matters. Not just any kind of reputation, though. You need to appear respectable, even if you're not. People need to believe you have power, control. Marrying into the right family could give you that."

His lips curled slightly, though it wasn't a smile. "Marriage," he repeated, the word rolling off his tongue with a hint of amusement. "And what kind of lady would marry a man like me?"

Maria hesitated. The question, though playful, carried weight. She could see the challenge in his eyes, the underlying test. But she answered honestly. "Someone who either doesn't know your past, or who can benefit from aligning with your future."

Stephen shifted closer, his presence overwhelming, and the bed creaked beneath them. His eyes hadn't left hers, not for a second. "And what if I don't care for some noble's daughter? What if I want someone who's more... practical?" His voice dropped, and the air between them thickened with something unspoken.

Maria's breath hitched, but she kept her expression neutral, trying to hold her ground. "Practical or not, you still need the right alliances," she replied, her voice softer now, though her heart raced. "The game you're playing-it's not about what you want. It's about what will get you where you want to be."

Stephen chuckled softly, the sound low and dangerous, but there was an edge of appreciation in his tone. "You've got a sharp mind, lass. I'll give you that."

He shifted again, his fingers grazing the back of her hand, causing her breath to hitch. "But," he continued, his voice soft yet commanding, "I don't much care for games."

Maria felt the intensity of his gaze deepening, the moment becoming heavier, more charged. Whatever game they were playing, it was evolving into something far more dangerous than mere words.

Maria sat up further, her mind racing as she pieced together a strategy for Stephen. He watched her with those piercing blue eyes, his gaze steady, waiting for what she had to say.

"You want to climb the ladder?" she said, her voice growing more confident. "Then fake it, Stephen. You need a reputation that makes people invite you in. Once you're in, you'll find the connections you need."

He cocked an eyebrow, intrigued but not yet convinced. "And how do you suppose I do that? I'm not exactly the kind that gets invited to tea parties."

Maria gave a small, knowing smile. "What if you find a ruby mine? A discovery like that would make anyone take notice. In the future-my time-there's one in North Carolina, the Cowee Valley. I don't know if we're early enough to find it, but if it hasn't been discovered yet... you could claim it. That kind of fortune would give you the name you need to open the doors."

Stephen's lips twisted into a half-smirk, his expression unreadable. He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he considered her plan. "And you think that'll work? Just announce to the world that I've found rubies, and they'll fall at my feet?" His tone carried skepticism, though there was something more beneath it, a flicker of interest.

"It'll take more than just an announcement," Maria admitted, her pulse quickening. "But with wealth and the right story, people will want to be around you. They'll see an opportunity for themselves, and that's where your real power lies."

He stared at her for a long moment, the silence between them growing thick. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "You're clever, lass," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "But cleverness alone doesn't make a man like me trust someone."

Her heart pounded at the closeness of him, his presence filling the room. Maria held her breath, watching him carefully, unsure of what his next move would be. Stephen's unpredictability always kept her on edge, and she could never tell when his charm might turn into something more menacing.

He leaned in, his voice a quiet rasp near her ear. "You've given me a path... but what's to stop me from just taking this idea for myself? No need for any advice from a woman who fell out of the sky."

Maria stiffened at his words, the tension in the room palpable. Stephen was testing her again, pushing to see how far she would bend. But she wasn't about to back down now. Swallowing her nerves, she met his gaze, her voice steady. "You could," she said carefully, "but you'll need me to navigate this world. I know things you don't. You want to climb that ladder? You'll need more than rubies and a dangerous smile."

For a moment, there was silence, his expression unreadable as he considered her words. Then, with a slow exhale, Stephen chuckled darkly, pulling back just enough to give her space. "You've got spirit, Maria," he said, his tone shifting, though the dangerous edge remained. "I'll give you that. But don't think for a second that I'm an easy man to manipulate."

His gaze softened ever so slightly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he added, "But... I do like your plan. So, perhaps I'll keep you around a while longer."

Maria let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her pulse still racing from the intensity of the exchange. Stephen's smile widened slightly as he stood up from the bed, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. "Let's see if we can find those rubies, then," he said, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and challenge. "And if you're right, perhaps I'll even thank you."

With that, he turned and walked toward the door, leaving Maria sitting there, the weight of the conversation still hanging in the air. She knew she had struck a chord with him, but with Stephen, nothing was ever certain.