On Rotting Planks
Part Six of The Pirate!AU. MDNI 18+, CW: some crass language, blood, death, and remnants of the smut from the last chapter. (We finally get back to sea!) ~3.5k words
The rest of the night passes as a blur of whispers and in bursts of stars. Jason doesn't let you rest until the candles have long since burned to the wicks, leaving nothing but stumps of wax.
Your bath was seemingly good for nothing, as he covers your skin in sloppy kisses, makes your body shine with sweat, leaves your thighs, and the bed covered in a mix of his and your releases. You try to lose yourself in him, in desperation.
But it's hard to ignore what's between you when his steady, gentle hands tighten around your thighs. When he crawls up your body to settle his hips against yours.
When he tells you he knows you wanted to get caught. That a city only a day and a half ride from the nearest port could have never really hid you from him for long.
You rake your nails over his back, catching scars, in an almost desperate attempt to get him to stop talking. He doesn't, not until his voice is raw with words of devotion and love and heavy feelings you don't know how to hold in your heart.
He doesn't fuck you into the sheets. He does something you would argue worse. He makes love to you. Over and over until your brain is mush and all that exists is him and the idea that he loves you.
Only then does he kiss your eyelids and entwine your limbs together. Only then does he let you sleep.
You don't wake until sunlight bathes the room in a warm, golden glow of dawn. Your husband snores softly, arm thrown over your waist. His face is relaxed, and he looks so much like he did back when you were first married, hair falling into his eyes and lips slightly parted.
The thought drives you out of bed, almost stumbling over yourself to get dressed. You're lacing your shoes and tugging on your cloak when Jason calls your name.
Your head whips towards him, but he doesn't seem bothered to see you dressed.
He lounges lazily on the bed, eyes half open, "You should wear the pin, treasure."
You hesitate, but it's a simple request. So, you pull the silver rose out of the pocket of your cloak, and fasten it to your hair. You leave the room without another word. You're confused that he lets you do this, that he doesn't offer any sign of resistance.
At least you are until you get to the exit of the inn and an arm drapes itself over your shoulder, "Going somewhere, Sweetheart?"
You shouldn't be as excited to see Roy Harper as you are. You hadn't realized you'd missed his easy-going smile so much, that it almost distracts you from the fact that he's guiding you away from the door and to one of the tables scattered around the inn.
"Harper," You breathe out, eyes darting for the rest of the crew, "I was only– I was going to look for an apothecary." It's the truth, you weren't planning on going far. You had only wanted something to prevent any accidents that may befall from last night.
His hands settle on your shoulders as he guides you to sit down in a chair, the rest of Jason's crew smiling and continuing their conversations without missing a beat.
"No need to worry about that. Just get comfortable, I'll get you your favorite for breakfast," Roy chirps, not acknowledging your attempt to leave at all. You stare after him as he saunters off.
It's disorienting, how they're acting, including you like this is an everyday occurrence. It's like your months away from them never happened. That it's just another morning enjoying food that's not from the ship's galley.
You've hardly gotten to center yourself when the inn falls to hushed whispers. Your eyes trail to stairs as Jason swaggers down into the dining area. He grins when his eyes land on you.
It's not the sight of his fabled dark red tricorn hat that makes your breath catch. It's not even the way his long overcoat seems to sweep across the room that pulls the air from your lungs.
No, it's the sight of red and purple marks bitten into his skin that makes your eyes go wide and your face feel hot. He didn't even attempt to try to hide them. If anything, he looks smug as he settles in the seat next to yours, resting his arm on the back of your hair.
"Jason, your neck," You hiss immediately, looking between his crew and him. They seem to be pointedly ignoring the telltale signs of you mauling their captain last night.
He seems to just grin wider at your embarrassment, "My love, I'd let you leave all the marks you desired on my skin, just so that I may carry you with me."
You laugh, out of pure disbelief, "You cannot be serious."
"It's a pleasure to hear you laugh, treasure, even better to be the cause of it," he says happily and seemingly more interested in playing with the threads of your cloak.
Roy sets down a large tray of food in front of you both before you can argue further, "Eat up, we best be leaving soon if we want to make port before noon."
He's followed by a few staff members, who place more food down around the table.
Jason haphazardly tosses a pouch of coins to the staff, and pushes a tray closer to you, "Enjoy, love."
The crew dig in, and the atmosphere of the inn relaxes for the first time since Jason appeared on the stairs. You eat slowly, too wrapped up in how easy it is to fall back into a rhythm with them.
Teasing, tales, and laughter sound around the table, and Jason's relaxed grin grows with every time you crack a smile at his crew.
You're so distracted by one of Kori's stories that you don't notice how you've fallen into step with the crew as Jason guides you towards the stables. It's not until he offers his hand to help you into your horse that you stop short.
"I wanted– I was supposed to stop somewhere," You start, trying to avoid the reason why you want to stop at the apothecary.
"All the necessities you could need are on the ship, treasure," he drawls, lifting you by your waist despite your protest, "and anything you desire we can find in the next port."
He doesn't give you a chance to argue more as he pulls himself onto his horse, and before you know it, you're on the road towards port, surrounded by Jason and crew.
They don't let you get too wrapped up in your mind, and you have a feeling it's to prevent you from planning any escapes. You're not sure how you could even escape from them, if you wanted to.
Donna has just left you in a fit of giggles, recalling how Jason had reduced a well renowned naval commander to a blubbering mess with just a point of his finger, (You're almost positive it's more fiction than fact) when the smell of the sea and the sounds of the city reach you.
The clear blue of the ocean fills your vision as your traveling party crests the hill. It feels like your heart gets tugged in your chest. You hadn't realized how much you missed the water. How much it had felt like home.
"Beautiful," Jason murmurs, as if it's only for you to hear. You turn to face him, but his gaze is already set on you. He holds your eyes for a long moment, then slowly turns to face the ocean.
You exhale shakily as you follow his lead into the city. He always seems to find a way to make your head spin.
The people mulling about the city have the same hushed awe as the patrons of the inn did. Jason– The Red Hood and his crew of Outlaws are well-known, respected, and feared.
Just the sight of his signature red leaves the crowds parting, leaving a clear route to the docks.
The closer you get to his ship the more eager he seems, you catch him drumming his fingers over the pommel of his sword, and he's off his horse as soon as you get to the docks.
"My horse," You start to ask, swinging your leg to lower yourself to the ground.
"Will be well taken care of by people we trust," he promises, threading his hand with yours to pull you towards the ship.
You let him, but it feels like your world is closing in on you. Your throat tightens, and you come to the stark realization that this is it. There's no way out, nowhere to hide.
Jason leads you right to the familiar sight of his ship, and you stop short when his boot hits the plank. You rip your hand from his, and his head snaps to you.
"I can't," You choke out, hating the panic that catches your voice.
He stares at you for a moment. It only makes your heart pound harder. He reaches for you, and you instinctively squeeze your eyes shut.
You wonder vaguely if he'll haul you over his shoulder again, the same way he dragged you from Gotham to the sea.
He doesn't.
He takes your hand gently and lifts it to his mouth, pressing a slow kiss to your knuckles.
You open your eyes in time to watch him reach into your cloak pocket and remove the shiny ring you've been keeping alongside the hair pins.
You freeze when he slides it onto your finger. "Treasure," he says quietly, "there is nothing to fear from me. From my crew. From my ship. It is yours as much as it is mine."
You are scared. You just don't think he understands of what. It's the fear that it could be perfect again. That it's so easy to believe in him and the family he's found for himself. It's the fear to trust in your marriage– in him again, only for it to all be ripped from you.
You don't know how to tell him, how to make him understand. So you follow his measured steps up the plank, and before you know it, he's shouting orders to haul in the lines, to cast off the dock, and drop the sails.
You stand at the railing the entire time, grip tight around the edge of the ship.
It rotates, who stands watch at your side. But they hover so close that you're sure that they're expecting you to jump.
You have no intention of jumping, not that you don't think you could make the swim, but more that you don't think you'd get very far before someone followed you in.
You watch the port grow smaller and smaller. It feels like something is ending, but the salt, sea air that blows at your skin is almost soothing.
You're pulled out of your thoughts when Artemis presses a telescope in your hands, "We're being followed."
You blink once, then twice, "What?"
She gestures to the ship, flying the colors of the navy off the ship's stern, "They're hardly a danger. A few months ago, they wouldn't have dreamed of–," She cuts herself off, like she's trying to save you the guilt, "You'll be safer below deck."
"Or," Roy says happily, leaning onto the railing at your side, "You can stay and watch us work."
You frown, as far as you're aware, Jason's ship is the fastest on the seas, "Can't we out run them?"
"We could," Artemis agrees, "but the captain is intent on refreshing our enemies' memories."
Roy pats your arm, "He's not called a pirate lord for nothin', Sweetheart."
"That title is ridiculous," your husband mumbles, inserting himself between you and Roy so he can hook his arm around your hip.
"It's good for inspiring fear," Artemis supplies, and you have to agree. Before you know who Red Hood was, the idea of an unbeatable pirate lord did sound foreboding.
Jason hums reluctantly, watching the naval ship grow closer, "Take over the helm, Roy." He turns his focus to you, "I'll escort you to my quarters, treasure."
"I want to stay on deck," You say quickly.
He raises an eyebrow at you, "It could be bloody, my love."
"I know," You tell him, but if you're going to be a part of this, a part of his life, this is a piece you'll have to learn.
He studies you, then gestures to Roy, "Stay with him. Keep a weapon on you."
You nod quickly, and follow Roy to the helm of the ship.
Roy doesn't question you, doesn't push, just cracks lazy jokes as the navy ship gets closer, "Commodore Bullock's been after us for years. Thinks he can get his big promotion this way. I think he's lost more ships to us than the entire navy combined."
The knowledge is reassuring, even as the ship sails parallel to Jason's, even as they shout for him to surrender.
Jason offers the sailors a wicked grin, points his pistol, and shoots. Your eyes go wide when the feathers set in the commodores hat explode into bits and pieces.
You have to stifle your giggles at how red his face gets, how he gestures wildly to Jason. Your giggles fade when the sailors start to grab ropes and swing themselves to the deck of the pirate ship.
None of the crew seems half bothered, and Roy draws his sword with all the rush of someone who just woke up from a long, relaxing nap. He offers you a dagger, but you pull your own, one you keep hidden under your clothes.
He grins at you, and turns to the approaching men. It's almost embarrassing, how easily Jason and his crew disarms and takes down the sailors.
It's like dancing, how they evade slashes of swords and duck under wide swings. They laugh as they trip their opponents, shout to each other how many they've taken out, making bets and teasing without a care.
It's almost fun to watch, until you notice how the men seem to be converging on you and Roy.
You'll be the first to admit, your little training with a knife was months ago, and Ted focused more on showing you how to throw a solid punch.
Roy seems to notice this, too, and he sets himself closer to your side, trading his sword for bullets.
But you don't quite realize how much danger you're in until a sound of wood hitting the railing draws your attention. The Commodore himself walks across the creaking plank, sword drawn and smiles dark and gleeful.
"If it isn't the Captain's whore. Quite a pretty thing. I can see why he abandoned the sea for you" he says, eyes raking over your form.
Roy, for his part, does try to get between you and Bullock. It only takes a wave of the commodore's hand to send a group of men to keep him occupied.
For as sloppy as Bullock seems to be with a sword, his years of experience outweighs yours, and terror grips your throat when he knocks your knife out of your hand.
It all happened too fast. He raises his sword, swings for your chest, and all you see is red.
The dark, telltale red of Jason's coat. He stands steadfast between you and the sword, his fingers wrapped around the blade.
You don't know if you want to cry for yourself, or over the sight of blood dripping down his hand and onto the steel.
"It seems as though the seas have forgotten how I earned my name in my absence. But do not worry, commodore, I will remind you," Jason says lowly, voice flat and full of threats.
The atmosphere on the ship shifts. Any fun and lightheartedness disappears. Silence falls, and Bullock visibly pales, stuttering out nonsense and pleas for mercy. You could only imagine what he sees. How dark Jason's eyes must be.
The commodore tries to pull his sword free, but Jason doesn't budge. A few of the sailors rush to help their commander, and then your world goes dark. Fabric covers your eyes, a bandana thrown over your head, you think, and someone pulls you back.
"You shouldn't have to see this," they murmur, and a steady hand settles on your back. It's the only thing that keeps you tethered.
You might not see what happens. But you hear it. Smell it. Iron permeates in the air. Begging and screams fill space around you.
It's a massacre.
It's evident there's no fight that the sailors can put up. There's no sounds of metal on metal, only the tearing of flesh, the thumps of bodies hitting the wooden deck.
You stay still the entire time, fingers clenched into fists, and sight obscured by the fabric throwing over your head.
Eventually, the screams fade, and are replaced by the sounds of splashes in the water. They're throwing the bodies overboard, you realize.
"Sink their ship, Harper," Jason's low voice makes your head turn. You want to speak, but the words catch in your throat.
"Aye, captain," Roy answers, and the safety of the warm hand against your back leaves.
You lower your head to stare at what you can see, the familiar wood that makes the deck of the ship. And the tips of Jason's shoes, stained with drops of blood. That's not so familiar.
"Can you walk," he asks softly.
You nod, fingers twisting into the fabric of your clothes.
"I'm sorry, my love. I would carry you but," his voice trails off. You appreciate it. You think getting blood on you right now would send you spiraling.
He offers you his hand, carefully holding it out to where you can see it.
It's the hand he didn't use to catch the sword, you notice, and it's surprisingly clean of any blood. You take it, and he squeezes gently, as if he's trying to reassure you.
He carefully leads you away from the helm, off the deck, and to his quarters. He helps you sit at the edge of his bed, "I'll be right back, treasure."
You nearly laugh. You're back where it all started. You hear him rustling in the closet, and then hear a door open and close.
You tug the bandana off your head. The room is empty for the moment, and you start to fidget with the ring on your finger.
You're not alone for long, Jason returns freshly changed and not a drop of red on him.
"Are you hurt," he questions immediately, walking over to kneel at your feet.
You want to laugh again at how familiar this all is. You shake your head instead and reach for his hand, prepared to see a deep, nasty cut from when he caught the sword. You're ready to clean it, to bandage it, to apologize for being a poor fighter.
But when you lift his hand, there's only a fresh scar.
"What–" You breathe out, the shock of seeing his hand nearly completely healed, pulling you out of your dazed state.
He winces, "I wasn't– I haven't told you the whole truth. About what happened to me."
You drop his hand, hurt flashing across your features, "What?"
He starts slowly, avoiding your gaze, "I didn't know how to tell you. Back when– when I was captured, I died."
"Died," You echo, almost hollow.
He nods a little and looks up at you, "Died. The League, the people that brought me back– I don't understand it completely myself, but I– when I'm at sea, my injuries heal. No matter how major, no matter how small, wounds that should be deadly, simply turn to scars."
"What does that mean," You ask weakly.
"Nothing," he says firmly, "it means nothing. It only makes me a better captain. It only lets me protect you better."
You twist the ring in your finger faster. It makes your stomach churn. He jumped in front of you because he can't die on his ship. He threw his life around, risked everything, because there was no risk. Not for him.
You're almost relieved that he was never in any danger. But you can't shake the thought that maybe he wouldn't have done it if there were actually consequences. You know it's unfair, but the idea grows louder by the second.
"I'd like to be alone," You murmur.
His face hardens, like he can see exactly what conclusion you've come to on your face, "Treasure, whatever you're thinking–"
"Please," You don't mean to sound like you're begging, but it slips out nonetheless.
He falters, stares at you, then slowly stands, "Very well, darling. I'll send Kori to check on you."
He hesitates for a moment longer, and then he leaves.
A part of you wants to break down. A part of you wants to cry the same way you did on that wagon. But you don't.
You stare out the porthole, stare at the ring sparking on your finger. Cannons begin to fire, and you watch as the commodores ship begins to sink. And for the first time in a long time, you don't have a plan.
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