Black Hearted

Part 34

Sean raised his hands to touch both Nate and Mark's shoulders. He could almost feel the heat between them. He didn't get a chance to say anything, before Mark snatched Nate's black jacket and yanked him back into the cabin. Sean glanced at the perplexed onlooking crew, letting out a nervous chuckle.  Feeling suddenly awkward, Sean bit his lip and quickly crept inside the cabin after them.  Closing the door very carefully behind him, Sean turned around to see Mark shove Nate away from him, yelling out bitterly. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Nate rolled his shoulders, adjusting his jacket. Once it was straightened, Nate casually looked over at Sean to say. "I know that wasn't the plan, but I had to do it." Mark glanced between them, snapping out in a heated tone. "What plan? Nate, what did you do?!" Nate turned to face Mark, giving him a disgruntled sigh. Sean turned his glaze to the floor feeling guilty. While Nate piped up to state out bluntly. "Sean pointed out some good points. We need each other to get what we want. It wasn't supposed to go this way, but I have my reasons." Sean snuck a glance at Mark to see him staring at him with betrayed eyes.

Sean immediately lowered his eyes to the floor, telling him nervously. "Mark, just hear me out please?" Mark huffed loudly, spitting out distastefully. "Why? Right now, I feel like you two lead a mutiny against me!" Nate rolled his eyes, muttering out spitefully. "I had to take my ship back. It has more value than you could ever imagine, and you ruined her by painting her in filth!" Mark started talking over Nate halfway through, snapping out louder. "Don't pretend you did it for anyone, except yourself! You only wanted to humiliate me in front of my crew!" Nate took a step toward Mark, his voice growing even louder as he yelled back. "Damn it, Mark! Will you shut up and listen for five fucking seconds! I'm trying to explain!" Mark pointed a stern finger at Nate's face, bellowing out even louder than Nate. "NO! Before you hypnotize the whole crew, I want to get my say in! So, you will shut up and listen!" Sean shook his head, then jerked his head up to let out a sharp quick scream that made them both cover their ears in pain.

Taking advantage of the silence, Sean quickly rushed out. "Mark, Nate can give you a legitimate claim to be a Pirate King. BUT he wanted his ring and ship. We BOTH will need him because he can read Atlantean. If the vault lock has any Atlantean writing... We'll need him." Nate gestured to Sean, stating out seriously. "There you go. Satisfied?" Mark lowered his hands from his ears, mumbling out. "It doesn't change the fact that you took everything without even negotiating in the first place!" Nate tossed his hands in the air, retorting back sternly. "You never would have agreed in the first place! You never do! I did us all a favor. Now we can learn to trust each other the old-fashioned way." Mark shook his head defiantly, causing Nate to quickly defend himself by telling them both. "Look. Robin said that everyone was afraid I'd kill them if I got my ring back, right? Well, you're all still alive! I should've talked about the ship... but what was the point? It only works for ME anyway and we can't go into Atlantean waters without it activated! So, you can consider this an investment. My way of upholding my end of the deal. Savy?"

Sean gestured toward the door, asking perplexed. "Wait a minute... Are you saying that this ship... is Atlantean?" Nate nodded, answering coolly. "Yes. My father was a ship builder. He built all the ships for Atlantis. It's why no war ships ever got passed our borders. There are wards protecting it. Only an Atlantean ship can pass through. And currently... The only Atlantean ship still floating is MINE! Even if you painted over all my father's carvings!" Mark waved a dismissive hand at Nate, moving to take a seat at his desk. Sean moved to stand where Mark had been to be closer to them, asking excitedly. "The Battle Ballad? It all makes since now... The ship is activated by song isn't it?!" Nate nodded with a smirk, informing him lightly. "Every Atlantean vessel my dad built was built to listen to a Jellymaid song. Think of it like charming the ship. The runes allow me to control every feature of the ship. That way the crew can help defend and care for the ship during a battle. It's why we were undefeated. Our crews could board and fire upon the ships without having to worry about who was driving."