"Pal, I got him!" Azul's voice came out not just as himself but as his shadow filled voice as well.
Crew mates began to mumble and some put down their weapons after realising it is Azul.
"YOU SENT HIM!?" Mikel immediately accused, watching Kemal get put down.
"LISTEN HERE-"
The smaller one was about to burst out into a fit of rage but his surroundings kept him quiet.
All eyes were not just on him, but on Azul's high bounty prey as well.
"You're a man of great fortune." Kemal commented vaguely, sending a chill down his friend's spine.
His fingers twitched as if looking to shuffle something.
Where are my cards..
"Not fortunate enough if I still have to face you after all this." The other sighed only to scream when he was suddenly dropped onto the deck with a hard thud.
"Pal?" Azul called out unsure, Kemal quietly extended his hand.
With a quick whirl he turned into a little ball of flame, landing on Kemal's palm with a content sizzle.
"You did amazing." He praised nonchalantly.
Mikel's eyes shot wide open seeing the scene before him. "K-"
"Like you're in a place to judge?" The smaller man immediately cut off.
"Isn't that the thief..?" A whisper could be heard among the ship.
"Related to the unknown dirty boy.." Another voice mumbled.
Someone bit their lower lip, clearly frustrated with what they saw.
"Kier.." Kemal called softly.
"Yes, my love?" At Kier's words a few shipmates gasped while some could only growl or turn away.
"I need a room to talk privately with him." He dropped Azul onto his dragon's hands before turning to face his best friend who wasn't making any effort to get up.
"And if you could, perhaps inform me of Katil's arrival.." Kemal sheepishly added.
"Anything you desire." Kier bowed before snapping his fingers.
With a flick Kemal and Mike suddenly found themselves in an isolated room with nothing but a table and two chairs in the middle.
The smaller man suddenly began breathing heavily almost as if panicking. When Mikel approached him with great concern, Kemal suddenly switched up and slammed him down onto the table.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!!!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, immediately slapping his friend senseless.
He could barely defend himself while attempting to shove him off.
"I DON'T KNOW! I SWEAR!" Mikel screeched, only for the table they were on to fall and send both men flying.
"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO LIE!" Kemal yelled, his voice cracking.
"I'M NOT LIKE YOU!" The other retorted, which earned him a chair to the face.
"WHY DID YOU MAKE MIKE CRY!? DON'T YOU KNOW HE'S ALL WE GOT!" Kemal lunged at his friend once more, kicking and scratching at his body in frustration.
"MIKE CRIED!?" Mikel gasped out between attacks which made Kemal pause.
"Because of you he did." The smaller man responded softly, almost threateningly.
"Mikel, he won't tell me what made him cry. He has to tell me. But he won't." His eyes suddenly narrowed.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" He burst out once more, preparing himself for another attack only to get grabbed by the wrist.
"SO LETTING IT OUT ON ME WILL HELP!?" Mikel screamed back when suddenly Kemal's left hand landed a hard slap on his face leaving him breathless and speechless.
"It did.." He laughed without any mirth. "I'm listening, go on."
His legs carried his shaking form up to sit on the only standing chair before looking down at his good for nothing friend.
"I don't remember. I really don't." Mikel confessed with a genuine look.
I know he isn't lying. I know… But why can't I believe him?
Kemal's heart pounded wildly.
Was it betrayal? Was it hurt?
He couldn't decipher these feelings inside his heart and it only made him more and more anxious.
"Kemal." He out once more, a pathetic display of weakness.
Their eyes met as the lowly thief grabbed onto the man's leg and smiled.
"If beating me down will make you feel better then I want to bleed. I haven't raised my hand back, and I'm sure you noticed." He gestured at his already bruised face
Kemal was about to prepare for another beating, suddenly he fell down onto his knees to embrace his beaten friend. Tears rolled down his cheek yet he couldn't sob nor sniffle.
"Are you scared?" Mikel asked with a soft spoken tone.
Kemal refused to respond.
"Me too."
"Mikel…" Kemal breathed out. "What did you do to us?"
Mikel's heart dropped for a second. His face hurt, his body was almost beaten, and worst of all, his friend was unable to trust his word.
"Lynn…"
"Lynn?"
The man pulled back to look Kemal in the eyes. "I don't know what I did, but I know the name Lynn has the answer."
"Lynn." The boy repeated once more before shaking his head. "Mike knows, he knows something. Talk to him once he's better."
Mikel's eyes grew wide, clearly distressed.
"Right."
Suddenly a painful ache took over his stomach.
"AGH!" He yelled after receiving a painful punch.
Huddled up he held onto his stomach clearly taken aback by the sudden decision of violence.
Kemal wiped off his tears with a sleeve before turning away. "He told me not to be mad at you, so this is the last time I'm raising my hand towards you."
He clicked open the door without looking back and he spoke one last time. "But remember, I may not remember much, but I memorise my grudges."
The door slammed shut with a loud bang, followed by the sound of steps turning distant.
"I know that better than any one of us…" Mikel grit out between pained gasps.
---
Kemal was pacing around the halls visibly stressed. He had to think of this situation critically.
A prince, a thief, and a liar.
What do I say.. I don't wanna lie to them, what if they lose their trust in me! Or..
Kemal suddenly bumped into an open door and rubbed his face in frustration when suddenly a crewmate popped his head out.
"Are you okay?"
The man eyed Kemal up and down before beaming a smile. "Ah! The dragons mate! Are you lost here?"
"Lost in a ship?" Kemal crossed his arms before tilting his head. "How can you get lost on this ship? It has like one layer."
Silence filled the air before one burst out laughing.
"ONE?! this big ship and ONE layer?!" He laughed hysterically. "What a waste of space if that were true."
After wiping a singular tear he elaborated. "You're in the fifth layer."
Kemal's eyebrows immediately raised.
Sure he may have underestimated the number on purpose but why was he in such a low layer?
"What's on layer five?"
"Supply and important business, such as interrogations, deals, and other things other people shouldn't know about." The man explained further. "Only specific people are allowed down here! But I'm sure as the future bride of Kier you'll get used to this ship!"
"I'm on Kier's ship?"
"Yes sir!"
"As the future bride of Kier?" Kemal quoted the man's words.
"Are you not?"
....
Now I'm curious...
"Has your captain been talking about me?" Kemal questioned.
"Not at all, he's a man of few words! But he did turn sleepless. He even made you a room! Although if you could convince him to take a nap or two, it would be greatly appreciated..."
Hm?
"Why?"
"He hasn't slept for almost a month!"
"What?!" Kemal was taken aback when suddenly the larger man grabbed his arms while kneeling.
"PLEASE LET HIM SLEEP! HE WON'T LISTEN!! We tried everything, but dragons are so stubborn!! DO SOMETHING!!!"
"Ew..! Can you like, not touch me."
Taken by surprise the crewmate released his grip.
"Ew?" He repeated to himself as Kemal brushed off his sleeves.
"There's a person down here with me, before you help me up I should take them as well."
"Okay!"
—
Kemal peeked his head through Kier's bedroom door.
"Kier?" He called into the empty space.
With a pout but also some relief he invited himself in, familiarising himself with the same weights and plush bed once more.
He won't mind if I wait here! I'll talk to him if he finds me…
With Mikel relocated and him alone, he decided to take a look at the books again.
Lynn.. I wonder what he meant by Lynn? It wouldn't hurt to look at these books once more.
Kemal quickly moved closer to the shelf and traced his fingers over all backs of these books.
There didn't seem to be any new books, if there were he probably wouldn't have noticed.
The gentle aroma of candy filled the room.
"It still smells like candy.. He's so delicious!" Kemal fawned when suddenly the door kicked open.
His body stiffened immediately but calmed once he saw Kier.
"Have you been waiting long?" He huffed before approaching.
"Not at all." Kemal tugged a stray strand behind his ear.
Yes I did!!
"I wanted to talk.." Kemal confessed when suddenly a large tail coiled around his waist yanking him into a large chest.
"You don't have to talk, you only have to demand." His dragon grit through his teeth, clearly holding something back.
"I demand you to listen to me then!" He leaned into his dragon's embrace.
Something stirred inside that beast, his tail spasming around Kemal's waist.
"I feel like I'm asking for too much, but is it okay if we temporarily keep my two… Acquaintances."
Kemal added to his sentence by soothingly rubbing circles on the beast's tail.
Kier's eye suddenly twitched.
"And you'll stay with me if I agree?" He hummed deeply, his pheromones getting stronger.
"No, you would be stuck with me. You couldn't get me off of this ship even if you tried." A reassuring smile spread across his expression despite his body feeling heavy.
"Although.. I may need some rest.."
I feel so…
Kemal was about to step back only to realise his feet stopped touching the ground a while ago. Held up by the dragon's tail his eyes felt heavy, the smell overwhelming his senses.
Kier let out a heavy breath almost releasing a spark before resting his mate's body on the bed while following close by.
It didn't take long for the both of them to be in a more cuddly position. While Kier was tightly coiled around his wife, the latter didn't respond back as romantically. he was holding onto the beast's tail without too much of a grip.
Everything felt so euphoric.
Kier's head was nuzzled into Kemal's neck with a content sigh.