Oneshots/Drabbles but written by Ate

[Tides] Nick and Ashlie Bonding

Hey everyone, this is a oneshot for my upcoming pirate comic with the gang, Tides. I hope you enjoy!

 It was a calmer day on the S.S Jubper.

They had docked on the port of a town called Coronis, what others called the pirate town. It was said to be the birthplace of the famous Pirate Blackbeard, whom none have seen him and his crew for the past 5-6 years. Or at least, no one has lived to tell the tale.

Most of the crew had gone out to the bars of the town or to explore the natural caves in the tall mountains that surrounded the city. It was said that Blackbeard had buried treasure in one of the caves. Tommy and Cory were rather excited when they heard it. They, along with half of the crew, rushed off the ship as soon as they had anchored.

Uni, on the other hand, had decided to join Tommy's father and the other half of the crew to explore the city, maybe get into a couple fights. Uni said he wanted to get a good view of the old clock tower, maybe a view from it so he could draw a picture. Whatever the case, he seemed happy for once.

That left Ashlie and Nick.

When asked, Nick had downright refused to get off the boat, which was odd of him. He usually liked to explore the natural forests of places they visited, but today he snapped at Tommy when he had joked about dragging him off. Ashlie, concerned, reassured her friend that she would stay back with him, and ushered the others off. Then, she went to check on Nick.

When she got to his "room"( a small corner of the boat separated by barrels and boxes and curtains) she found him hacking at his straw dummy that he used to train in secret, as Herbert the turtle swam lazily in his bucket. She watched for a bit as Nick, in his frustration, kick and stomp and stab at the dummy with his sword, too busy to realizes she watching. Then, Ashlie cleared her throat.

"You know, I think you missed a spot, it looks like he's still breathing." Nick looked back at her, scowling.

"Straw dummies don't have genders." He muttered, giving the beat up doll another kick. Ashlie squatted down, taking a closer look at it.

"You know, when we say 'Cut me a Piece', this isn't what we mean, right?"

Nick sighed, running his hand through his hair and dropping his sword.

"What do you want, Ashlie?"

"Can't a girl come and check on her friend? Who snapped at her other friend? Who happened to also be the friend of her friend?" Nick cracked a smile.

"Okay, now you're confusing me." He sat down on his hammock.

"What's wrong, Nick? You usually love exploring." Ashlie sat down next to the dummy, staring up at her friend.

"Look, I'm sorry I snapped at Tom, and I'm sorry I'm keeping you here with me but that town..." he trailed off, and he seemed to become smaller. "That town holds some bad memories for me. Also, if anyone there recognized me, they'd-..." he clamped his hand over his mouth, deciding he said too much. Ashlie leaned forward, intrigued.

"Who are they? And what would they do to you, Nick?"

A moment of silence. Then, Nick exhaled.

"Nobody important." He managed, tightly. "They're in the past, they can't hurt me anymore." He said that rather fluidly, as though he's rehearsed it over and over. Ashlie reached over to touch his arm, as if to comfort him, but, perhaps out of habit, he shrank away. Ashlie purses her lips in concern, before getting up, taking Herbert in her hands and placing him on Nick's head. Nick seemed to relax a bit, taking Herbert and bringing him close to his face. Finally, he seemed to be at ease.