Kidnapped (Arthur and Francis)

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis feigned a look of surprise, but it was soon taken over by a grin. "Why, is that a compliment from you?" His tone was playful. "For me?"

Coming from Arthur, the Francis considered the acknowledgment as praise. It was difficult to wrestle the truth of how Arthur really felt and what he really thought, and Francis valued Arthur's honest answers more than jewels.

Francis stood to face Arthur, quiet now. He considered what Arthur really meant, what he promise really was.

"Do you mean it?" breathed Francis, wide-eyed. "Will you - will you stay? With me?"

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur rolls his eyes.

"I won't run away or try to avoid you any more. Uhm. I'll even bloody pinky swear if it satisfies you. Or we could do a Pirate's oath. Which I don't think you'd enjoy."

Considering it involved cutting and shaking hands no. He does find himself with colour on his cheeks, though.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis shook his head, but his smile had yet to fade. It had turned softer as he gazed tenderly at Arthur. He felt warm, with his stomach imploding with a thousand butterflies, trying not to give in the urge to throw his arms around the pirate.

Even the thought of a Pirate's Oath, which he had to endure quite a few times in the past and hated, did not faze him.

"No." Francis reached up and cupped Arthur's cheek carefully. "I trust you. You'll keep your word. I know you will."

Francis leaned forward slowly, inching closer until their foreheads touched. So close to the pirate, he could feel the warmth and scent of Arthur wrap around him.

"But do come find me, won't you?"

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur's eyes flutter close, and he takes a slow breath, composing himself. The tinge of butterflies can be felt too, but he's not quite sure why.

"Promise," he murmurs, before shifting and gently wrapping his arms around the man, hugging him.

His shield had finally started to crack.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis was stunned into stiffness when Arthur took him into his arms, but once realization set in - that it really was happening, that Arthur was embracing him - Francis melted into his touch.

He would his arms around the pirate captain, gripping him tightly. Francis felt suspended in time, that he could stay like this forever. Closing his eyes, he buried himself in the myriad sensations of being to close.

He hated the moment they had to pull away. Part of himself was with Arthur now. Still, Francis was glad for everything that had happened.

"I'll prepare myself now. Will you accompany me to the dock, at least?"

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur gives a curt nod. "Just come out onto deck when you're ready. I need to do a few things." He remarks, before turning away and walking out onto deck.

Feeling rather more light-headed than he anticipated.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis grasped Arthur's hand for as long as he could, but Arthur soon left. For a moment, Francis stared at the doorway, feeling like he could fly. The bubble of happiness in his chest kept expanding, until he had to quash the urge to shout with joy.

Instead, he just continued to smile and grabbed his trousers, freshly laundered and smelling clean. He slipped it on and found his own shirt, but he decided to lay it on Arthur's pillow. In turn, Francis would keep the shirt he was wearing, which was Arthur's.

With a sigh, he took a last look around the room, knowing he would miss it dearly. But he stepped out without glancing back, closing the door behind him before meeting Arthur up on the deck.

He was quiet as he took Arthur's hand and they made their way down the pier. Thankfully, it was almost empty.

Francis stopped just before he could set foot on land. He turned to Arthur, a heavy feeling settling on him. How could he bring himself to leave Arthur now?

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

Arthur was slowly becoming aware of their hands fitting together. How nice they felt. How well they linked together.

For now, he did his best to ignore it.

As they reached the dock, Arthur stopped, and looked at Francis. He raised an eyebrow.

"I regret to say I'll have to throw you into the water if you take too long stepping off the boat," there's a pause, "otherwise I'd probably get thrown off too, by one of the crew. It's happened before and they're probably all watching us."

And he'd have to face them once Francis had gone. Great.

He surprises himself by not really feeling too fussed by this.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Francis chuckled, feeling a little bit of the weight in his chest lift. Of course he would see Arthur again. They were connected now, and their paths would always lead them back to each other.

"Does it matter?" He squeezed Arthur's hand. "They wouldn't dare throw off their own captain."

He contemplated Arthur for a moment, still stalling, until he could no longer hold back. He stood on his toes and brushed his lips against Arthur's forehead gently. Sighing, he planted his feet firmly on the ground once more.

But he had one more thing to impart, and this was infinitely more significant. Francis leaned forward until his lips touched Arthur's ear to whisper everything he felt for Arthur. Those three small, simple words would never be heard by anyone else but Arthur.

With that, he stepped back and took in the sight of Arthur one more time. Then he turned away and headed for land.

[Cpt. Arthur Kirkland]

And Arthur was left to stand there, not quite sure to do with those words, not quite sure where to put them or how to respond to them.

All he can do is watch a little blankly as Francis steps off the ship and head back into land, the memories of the left couple of days hitting him on how everything had changed so quickly.

Arthur didn't quite know what to make of it.

So for now, he stored those three words safely in his heart.