Black Hearted

Part 55

Sean squealed loudly, trying to push them both away. His resistance only made them kiss him more, until they finally stopped to let him catch his breath. Sean laid on his back, staring up at them with a blushing face. After everything he had gone through, he felt so safe right here with them. Mark reached out to stoke his knuckles down Sean's cheek, then curled his fingers into a fist with a muffled groan. Sean sat up a little, worry spreading across his face. Beside him, Nate asked Mark seriously. "Mark? You ok? I told you. You need the doctor to take a look at you." Sean touched Mark's shoulder, peeking over it to see the wounds that were still raw and bleeding. Shifting to get up, Sean rushed out in a slight panic. "I'll get him. You can't leave these untreated Mark. They could get infected from the sea water." Sean didn't get up before Nate pulled him back down across the floor. Climbing to his feet, Nate seriously told Sean. "You're naked. Stay here with him. I'll get him."

Mark growled out from between clenched teeth. "I'm fine. It just hurts." Nate rolled his eyes, opening the door as he snapped back firmly. "Then you're not fine. I'll be back." Nate slipped out before Mark could yell something back, leaving Sean to whisper to him very softly. "Mark...? How did... How did you feel after being touched by... someone else?" Sean started to shake again as the memory flooded back, causing him to reach out to grab Mark's bicep. He needed to feel his warmth. To feel steady and grounded to something. Mark winced but shifted enough to drape his arm over Sean's chest. Sean clung to it, pressing his temple to Mark's shoulder. In a deep soothing voice, Mark admitted to him seriously. "I felt dirty. Guilty. Like somehow, I had encouraged it. When it was happening, I felt like a prisoner in my own skin. My body kept telling me it felt good and my mind kept screaming that it was wrong. By the time it was over... I was just mentally and physically drained." Sean sniffled, snuggling into him harder as he mumbled out. "I can still feel them... How do you make it go away?"

Mark sighed heavily, kissing his head before grimly telling him. "Stuff like that doesn't go away. You can bury it after a while. But every now and again it will come back to haunt you. To loom over you like storm clouds. I drink until I can't think anymore. Nate usually takes a bath that he practically boils himself in. We each deal with it differently." Sean shivered thinking about how many times he had seen them do things like that without making that connection. Swallowing hard, he muffled out into Mark's bare shoulder. "I didn't want to like it... I thought... I thought my body only did that for people that I... liked." Mark huffed lightly, informing him gently. "We all like to think that... but no. The body responses to pleasure just as easily as it responses to pain. The only thing that makes sex special is the emotional attachment you have with the person you're doing it with. The trust between you and them." Sean exposed his neck more to let Mark kiss him. Despite his mind flickering between Mark and the Siren... he tried to mentally fight through it.

The door opened back up, causing Mark to lift his head. Nate gestured Robin back inside, who quickly dropped down by Mark to open his bag. Sean quickly scooted out from under Mark to give him space. Although, Mark looked thoroughly upset by the action. Nate set a bottle of rum on the floor by Mark, when Mark snatched his wrist. Sean watched Mark pull Nate closer to whisper something into his ear. After releasing him, Nate looked directly at Sean. Sean blushed a bright red, scooting back up to the wall to wrap his arms around his legs. He wasn't afraid of them, but just as Mark had said... he felt guilty and dirty. Unworthy to be theirs anymore. Nate moved closer to him, setting his clothes down for him. Sean pulled them closer to dress himself, while Nate told him sweetly. "Come with me?" Sean finished dressing and adjust his arm beads, then took Nate's hand. Nate pulled him to his feet, telling Mark casually. "We'll be on the deck." Mark grunted taking a long swig of rum, before Robin set to work.

Outside the cabin, the deck was empty except for a few patrolling merfolk, the helmsmen, and the lookout up in the crow's nest. Everyone else appeared to be below deck, their loud chatting and laughs drifting up from below. The night was clear enough to see all the stars and the moon was bright enough to charge his amulet with a soft glow. Nate lead him out to the center of the deck, then pulled him up against him. Sean wrapped his arms around him in a hug. Nate's arms wrapped around his waist, swaying with him as he whispered close to his ear. "What happened wasn't your fault. Bad things happen to good people all the time. The thing to remember is that we are here for you. We'll always be here for you. Come hell or high water." Sean smiled against Nate's shoulder, listening to the soft music that some of Mark's crew were playing from below. Nate started swaying more playfully to the music, until Sean blushed and tried to pull away. Nate took his hands though and began dancing with him to the music.