Stolen By Black [manxman]

Chapter Six

Days passed as the Midnight Thief cut through the water like a knife through butter. Jeb and Vesper had spent the majority of their time together, whether down in Jeb's quarters reveling in the carnal delicacies of one another or on deck with the crew, enjoying life and traveling and the unknown.

What was lingering unsaid, however, was that Vesper could not return home. The day after Vesper saved Jeb, they'd explored the Sunken City, ransacked it, and reboarded the ship, splitting the spoils as Jeb had promised. They'd started charting a course back to the Raptured Waters, but Vesper had noticed they were taking the longest route possible. He didn't mind. If anything, it gave him more time to figure out how to tell Jeb he was no longer welcome in his home territory or in the ocean at all. Vesper either had to ask Jeb to stay aboard the ship or to give him a lift to the next port they passed.

Vesper finished dressing from his midmorning roll in the sheets with Jeb and headed back up to the deck. When he emerged, he went over to the bow, where Jeb and Matilda stood, speaking to one another over a map. Jeb's brows furrowed, causing a wrinkle to form along his forehead. Matilda didn't look much happier either, her mouth twisted into a grim frown.

"What's going on?" Vesper asked, not the least bit bashful about his eavesdropping.

Jeb sighed. "Well, it looks like we're coming up to your waters sooner than anticipated, so..." He bit his lower lip for a moment. "Vesper, I know this is a lot to ask, but, I don't want you to go."

Vesper blinked.

"The crew doesn't either, actually. I've never had a right hand, but the crew and I have talked it over and I put it to a vote—the crew unanimously voted for you to come aboard as my right hand. It's up to you. If you want to go home, take your treasure, and forget about all of this, I understand. You have a family there, and you've only known me for a couple weeks, so—"

"Captain Black," Vesper said, speaking up to cut him off. Jeb stopped, raising his brows, waiting on the edge for Vesper to say something, anything. "I have no desire whatsoever to return to the Raptured Waters." Vesper smiled. "In fact, I've been trying to work up the nerve to tell you that I actually can't go back home."

"Can't? What do you mean?"

"When I went into the Sunken City to find the flowers, one of my ancestors told me that by saving you, I would become a traitor to all merfolk. I wouldn't be welcome home or back in the ocean, so I can't go back."

"Vesper, why would you do that just for me?" He shook his head incredulously, stepping over to stand in front of Vesper. "You left your home and family... How could you—?"

"Because I hate it there. I'm trapped there, and I feel like I can't breathe when I'm there. And you're a good man. There was no reason for you to die just to let myself go home. I like you. I like this lifestyle. This was a fair trade."

"How are you going to refresh yourself?" Jeb frantically searched his face and cupped Vesper's cheeks with his warm hands. "Won't you die?"

"Fresh water. As long as I don't take a dip in the ocean, everything will be fine." Vesper smiled. "Jeb, my home has never really felt like a home. My life has never really been my own... It's only been this week that I've really enjoyed my life, and it's because of you. I'd love to be your right-hand man."

Jeb beamed and stepped around the wheel to come over to him. "Welcome aboard, Prince Danique." He extended a hand.

"Ex-prince," Vesper said as he took Jeb's hand and shook it firmly.

Soon after, Vesper lost himself in Jeb, enveloped in his embrace, in his silk lips, in the scent of sunshine and sea. As he stood there, on the Midnight Thief, attached at the mouth to Captain Jebidiah Black, Vesper couldn't help but to think that his life was changing for the better even if he was giving up his crown, his family, and his territory.

Maybe it wouldn't last forever, maybe it wouldn't even last a month before the worst happened and he was slaughtered for his treason. Freedom was something Vesper could finally call his, though. The world had been opened to him like it had never been before, and surrounding him were individuals that he enjoyed, he trusted, and he'd gotten to know over the last two weeks. And right in front of him was the man that stole him away from a comfortable prison, showed him a sliver of the world, and changed his life forever.

Jeb pulled back and wetted his lips, smirking. "Where to now?"

Vesper slipped his hand into the pocket of Jeb's trousers, extracted his compass, and took a look at it. "East," he said, tilting his head. "If I recall correctly, there was a fae cavern you wanted to take a look at."

And so, the Midnight Thief sailed on, the pirate and the merman exploring happily ever after.

~*~The End~*~

A/N: Thank you guys so much for reading, voting, and commenting! If you enjoyed the story, please make sure to either follow me or add this story to your library! I plan to combine this short story with a couple others to make a paperback later this year, so make sure this story is in your library or you're following me if you want that update! Also, let me know if you guys would like me to make a free official ebook for this one <3