Better than We've Had (boyxboy)

Chapter Eight

Midday, the captain put a stop to the normal goings on deck and decided we'd celebrate with some lighthearted excessive drinking down in the canteen. Up until the time the festivities would start crew members were urged to sleep.

Sebastian and I had other ideas. We spent hours in each other's company and spent most of the day allowing ourselves to explore the other with lazy caressing, gentle whispering, and promises of further exploration. It was beautiful and melancholy all at once because I longed for more moments like this but knew we couldn't get used to indulging ourselves in this way.

I was glad for this celebration the ship was having. Thanks to the successful raid Sebastian and I got to spend time together. I hoped for many more successful raids if it meant more moments like this in Sebastian's arms.

His hand made a lazy trail up and down my spine while the other played with my hair. Taking a long drawn out inhale Sebastian kissed my forehead and sighed, "We should probably make an appearance at the celebration."

I'd much rather stay in the room with him and I told him as much even though I knew he was right. It would look strange if we didn't show up. We slowly untangled ourselves from each other and got dressed. Once presentable, we made our way to the canteen.

Chaos awaited us. People were dancing merrily to a jig someone was playing on an accordion and merriment was all around. The jovial atmosphere aided by the amounts of drink.

Cookie sauntered over to is and handed is each a pint.

"Time to get smashed," Sebastian said to me with a grin.

Wesley also made his way over and handed is both another pint.

"Why'd you give us another one?" I asked. I had barely taken a sip from the first glass and already I had a second in hand. It didn't make sense to me.

"Look around you," he waved his hand in an unsteady erratic manner, "everyone's already drunk. You need to make up for lost time."

I laughed and agreed quickly downing first one pint then the other.

An hour later I sat at one of the many eating tables accompanied by the more reserved Wesley. "Look at them out there," he nodded toward the dancing crew. And look I did. The crew was over the moon with alcohol and emotions floated high but one pirate held my attention more than any other. Sebastian was out there, ale in hand dancing without a care in the world. Somehow his shirt had disappeared and his body glistened with a fine sheen of sweat. "They're gonna hate themselves in the morning," he continued.

I nodded my head. I agreed completely with the doctor's prognosis and could feel myself on the way to morning self-loathing. My face was red with the drink and my extremities warmed and tingling.

Sebastian made his way over to us laughing merrily. "Come on William, dance, live a little."

I shook my head. I didn't know how to do this particular jig and didn't feel like making myself a fool by trying to learn it drunk. I had two left feet on my best days. But Sebastian was persistent. He began tugging at my shirt telling me I had to dance.

"I don't know how," I insisted.

He hosted me out of my seat and into his arms. "I'll teach you, my love," he whispered into my ear.

I shuddered and gave in easily letting him lead me to the dance floor. There were some scathing remarks from some of the crew but most were too far gone at this point to notice two of their own dancing together in an excessively friendly manner.

Sebastian was patient with me and didn't mind when I stepped on his toes. We laughed and danced for what seemed like only minutes, but was really a lot longer.

I found the whole experience freeing. This was what it felt like to live openly to not have to hide your affections for the person you loved behind closed doors. It was a remarkable feeling that I wanted to hold on to forever because all too soon it would have to end.

The sense of peace and freedom that overtook me was the last I would have for a long time because shortly after Sebastian and I danced together my life was thrown into a Hell where not even he could save me.

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Pic of Wesley

AN: Just a friendly heads up that this story will begin to get more and more brutal. If you haven't listened to the song "Gay Pirates" by Cosmo Jarvis, I strongly recommend you do. This story is based heavily off of that song. If you want some warnings on what's to come, that's where you'll find them. I'm not writing them at the beginning of the chapter.