Stormy Waters

Regulus Arcturus Black is nothing near a simple man. Neither is he innocent. He walks out on deck to the fresh air, the sounds of the waves, calming but alarming. Evan Rosier is currently seated in the front of the ship looking at something in his lap. It doesn't take a genius to guess what he’s looking at. The man is obsessed with the hunt of treasures. Regulus is not surprised when he reaches his friend at the bow and Evan is, indeed, looking at a map. papers scattered around him alongside compasses, parchment, ink and quills. Regulus sits down next to him silently.

Evan Rosier, sitting cross legged next to him with the wind whipping in his hair. The color scheme did match quite well, the wild dark blue ocean in the back combined with the pale olive of his skin or perhaps Regulus was just a painter.

“Have you found any places that might have something valuable?” Regulus speaks calmly but his voice has a tendency to make his words come out threatening. Evan though, doesn't even blink, he just answers.

“not yet, we are pretty much surrounded by only water right now, there might be some treasures under the sea.” Evans' brows drew deep together. Regulus looked at the map where Evan circled a few places in the ocean. “There may be but it’s not the best choice; it could be rusted.” Evan looks up at him, clearly thinking over alternative options. “Still worth a shot, you can find pretty valuable things under water if you look closely.” Regulus meets his eye with the hint of a smile. “I suppose so but I’d prefer sticking to searching on land, I’ll let the rest of you handle the water”

Evan looks back down at the map with a grin.

“Yeah no shit, you can't swim” he responds. Regulus just rolls his eyes at this statement. Seeming to sense his eye roll, Evan keeps going. “I'm not wrong though am I?” Regulus scoffs.
“I guess not but you're annoying”

At that moment Barty Crouch Jr walks out on the deck heading towards them. He looks like absolute shit. His thick brown hair with green streaks messy and slim structure without precision. Regulus would bet all he’s got on Barty being hungover. That man does not get seasick. ever. Just to confirm his alcoholism Barty speaks up.
“I'd kill for a whiskey right now”

“Then get yourself some” Evan didn’t even spare him a glance. Barty looked at him, a line appearing between his brows.

“I've just vomited my guts out. I don’t think I'd be able to keep it down.” That got Evan to look up. Disgust painted on his face.

“Okay I didn't need to know all that”

“Your breath stinks, Barty. it reeks of dead things and fish” Regulus chimes in.
Barty shoots him a sarcastic smile. “You're so kind, Reggie.”
“I know” Evan looks back down at the map before speaking.“isn't he always?” He said it as if it was an afterthought, the ghost of a fond smile on his lip.
Barty beamed at Evan. “What are you two doing up here anyway?”
Evan grimaces.
“I'm trying to look places for new treasures, it’s not going that well”

“shittttt, Oh my god I almost forgot.” Regulus peered at Barty. His expression deadpan.

“If you think I'm going to bite you're dead wrong.”

“I was actually hoping Evan would ask.” Evan keeps looking at the map as he answers.
“Don't worry, darling. I’ll bite. What did you almost forget?”
Bartys head snaps towards Evan, who’s still looking at the parchment in his lap. Barty’s grin long gone. Regulus observes as Bartys eyes widen and his mouth snapped shut. Regulus doesn't get it. Barty wanted Evan to ask, why is he surprised? Barty clears his throat, A light pink creeping up his neck. oh.

“My father sent me another letter.”

Evan sighs. “I thought you had good news.”

Barty groans and throws himself down on the ground, laying sprawled on the floor.
“I can't cope. He’s so persistent.”

“How are his birds still finding us? our location isn’t meant to be known.” Regulus Exclaimed.

Bartemius Crouch Sr. Bartys father, also known as the bitch of the century, has been harassing them with parrots for weeks on end. Evan and Regulus have managed to keep Barty from opening any of the letters sent. Barty doesn't need a childhood trauma reminder.

“cause he's a psycho, Reg.” Regulus drags a hand over his face in frustration.
“yeah that checks out”

“Just shoot the birds,” Evan says. Dead serious.

“My father would have come here and murdered me with his bare hands if anything happened to those shits.” Barty squeezed his eyes shut, dread shoving in his every movement.

“drown the birds though” Evan suggests instead.

“drown Regulus,” Barty began with a smile. Regulus lets out an offended scoff.

“Bartemius I will throw you off this ship and take your place as captain.”

“You love me too much, Reg.”

“You’re hungover, it’d take me five minutes. Don’t test me.” Regulus warned.

Barty opened his eyes again, sitting up. He’s leaning his back against the railing that leads to the deck. “Anyway, my dad just wants me to pretend to still love him for some shitty family dinner. like no.”

There goes the two and a half week streak of keeping Barty from opening the letters.
“Curse him,” Evan mutters. Regulus gives him points for creativity. But honestly, if Regulus knew a way to curse Bartys dad, he would.
“Good idea,” Barty grumbles.

“If I don’t get to rob someone soon I will drown.” Regulus Groaned. He could wait, absolutely. He had patience. Just not for three weeks.

“Learn how to swim then” The corners of Evans' eyes crinkled. It wasn’t even a funny joke. Regulus doesn't understand his crewmates' humor.

“Maybe we'll come across captain Potter's ship” Barty shrugged. Regulus tore his eyes from the horizon to frown at Barty.

“I doubt they have anything valuable or useful on that ship”

“emphasis on nothing useful” Barty responded, mouth curling into a grin. Evan faked a gag and Regulus eyed Barty.

“I bet Potter says their most valuable object is the crew,” Regulus criticized. Barty scrunched his nose in faked distaste.

“Fuck that. most valuable thing on this ship is my booze.”

“Of course you say that. personally I couldn’t care less about anything on the ship. Regulus declared. Barty gasped dramatically.

“Fuck u then” Regulus just raised his eyebrows, the hint of a grin on his face.

“don’t, Evan might get jealous” Evan choked on the water he was drinking and looked at Regulus with a face that so clearly said ‘excuse me?!’ that he could have just spoken up. Instead Barty spoke with a laugh in his tone.

“wow, original” “In your dreams” Evan reiterated. Regulus smiled sweetly at him.

“in my dreams none of you idiots exist”

“aren't u just a ball of sunshine,” Barty said, holding back a laugh.

“You love us regulus, however my life was so peaceful before I met any of you, just me and my siblings,” Evan returned. Regulus glared at his friends. Barty scoffed, smiling.

“nothings peaceful when ur around Rosey”

“As annoying as you are, my life is much better away from land. Sadly I am not allowed to sleep peacefully anymore because Bartemius snores like a pig. ” Barty gaped at him, a hand over his heart like Regulus had wounded him deeply.

“atleast im not gay” He answered.

“Barty count your fucking seconds” Regulus growled as he stood up. Evan smiled and continued the conversation like Regulus hadn't just suggested making an attempt on Bartys life. An ability to admire really.

“I'm glad i sleep with a little angel”

“lucky. i have to sleep in a cage so that reg doesn’t smother me in my sleep” Barty blurted, watching Regulus carefully. Like he should. Regulus grabs the glass of water Evan was just drinking from and throws it in Bartys face.

“You Barty are about as straight as a camel's back.”

Evan breaks into laughter at this and it doesn't take Barty long to join in. Regulus just smiles at his idiot friends.

“Reggie made me wet. Funny coming from the bastard who can't swim” Barty exclaimed through giggles.
“also pot meet kettle”

“Annoying bastard” is all Regulus can think to say as he sits down again.

Barty shrugs. “You love me.”

“I hate you.”

“Smash.”

Evan went back to studying his maps as he spoke.

“I hate you both, U make my life stressful”

“feelings mutual” Regulus returned.

“yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me” Barty punches evan in the shoulder playfully. Evan looks up at him.

“Barty, I'm about to push you off”

“don't threaten me with a good time, Rosey”

“I can threaten you as much as I like”

“That's hot” Barty wiggled his eyebrows at Evan.

“Ugh, you are such an idiot” Evan rolled his eyes.

“a hot idiot. I've seen a mirror.”

“Idiot indeed, hot? I'm not so sure.”

“You wound me.”

Regulus’ gaze flicked between Evan and Barty.
“Leave, honestly take you flirting somewhere else.”

“Jealous reg?” Barty winked at him and Regulus almost forgot himself and poked out his tongue at him but instead he just glared.

“Please do push him off it would be the best decision ever” Regulus told Evan without breaking eye contact with Barty.

“And I’m absolutely not jealous, Barty.”

Barty looked over at Evan with a smirk.
“he’s just sad he can’t see captain potter” Evan immediately matched his smirk.

“missing potter i get it” He said.

“I have nothing going on with potter we hardly even talk, personally i hope you're both abducted by another pirate ship” Regulus scoffed.

“As long as Rosey’s there they'll ditch me in like 4 seconds. flirt my way off the plank.”
Barty laughed.

“Excuse me?” Evan piped up.

“I said what I said.” Barty blew Evan a kiss.

“I hate you so much, Barty”

“I have to agree with Evan. you’re insufferable Bartemius.”

Evan leaned over for a fist bump which Regulus reluctantly returned.
“Hot. But have you met my dad? Don’t wonder where I got it from.” Barty tried to defend himself.

“the only hot thing here will be your feet as you are standing on the fucking plank, ready to be pushed into the sea. Because either you shut up or that will happen.” Evan returned.
Barty grinned “kinky.”

“Oh fuck off, Crouch.”

Regulus watches as Evan hits Barty in the back of the head while Barty tries to lick his hand.

“Disgusting, both of you. especially Barty.”
Barty just smiles at him and shrugs “it is what it is”

“it absolutely isn't what it is. Regulus, I didn’t do anything?” Evan said.

“That's why I said especially Barty,” and Barty in question chose that moment to pull out a bottle of whiskey.

“You have drinking problems” Regulus sighed.

“You have no bitches”

“I don’t want bitches, I want riches”

“get it I guess” Barty says as he takes a swing.

“You wouldn’t know what real love is if it hit you in the face, Barty” Regulus said in a bored tone. He regrets his words a bit as the humor fades in Bartys eyes, perhaps Regulus hit a bit of a soft spot but apologies aren't exactly his thing.

“go suck potter” Barty snarls back at him and Regulus raises his eyebrows.

“If he was here I absolutely would” Regulus has no shame in those words. James Potter is quite handsome and to be fair he’s bored now. A loud splash cause the three men to look down at the east deck. Regulus looks back as Barty starts speaking again.

“damn”

“Okay, ew” Evan wrinkled his nose. “too much information.”

“Didn’t know u had that in u to admit u fancy James Potter” Barty decided on.

Regulus looked at him stone faced. Voice neutral.

“I never said I fancied him” Which he didn’t, Regulus knows nothing about this guy. Well he does know a lot about him but he doesn’t KNOW James Potter.
“Regulus. What you said was close enough.” Barty laughs.

Regulus rolls his eyes and gets ready to get up.

“alright fuck you losers I’m going to the living room maybe I can find a book to read”
“bye then you fugly prat” Barty blows him a kiss.
“Go kiss ass Barty.”
“Don’t tempt me” Regulus gives him the finger while Evan gives a ‘go away’ wave.

Regulus smiles to himself when he reaches the door into the ship itself. Fucking idiots all of them, except Pandora and perhaps Dorcas.

Regulus crosses the room to reach the large bookshelf placed next to the open fire. Someone is here with him, he’s sure of it. Regulus has a past of being utterly paranoid but sometimes it pays off, like right now when the stranger emerges from their hiding spot and Regulus turns around with a dagger.
In one swift movement he grabs the stranger, banging their head against the bookshelf to disorientate them before pressing the blade to their neck.

“Fucking shit” comes a slurred voice from the stranger.

“Potter.” Regulus hisses, glaring at Captain James fucking Potter who's currently pressed against his bookshelf.

“That's no way to treat a guest.” Potter slurs. He notices the dagger and puts his hands up.

“You stopped being a guest when you sneaked yourself onto an enemy ship”

Potter smirks at him

“oh I don't know about that," he responds "I felt very welcome when you suggested you’d suck my-” His voice was cut off by Regulus pressing the blade harder against his throat, drawing blood."

“I suggest you shut up if you know what's best for you.” Regulus watched The Captian Breath hitch, probably from the pain. “Not only did you sneak yourself onto our ship but you also spied on us.” Regulus felt his feet get kicked away causing him to fall on his back. Potter pressed him into the carpet with his own body.

“Oh my god, just let me kidnap you.” He hissed. Regulus just smirked up at him. Screaming has never been beneath Regulus. Potter must have realized what he was thinking because just as Regulus began screaming Potter slammed his head into the floor and everything went black.

“I’m so sorry, Regulus.”

***

Barty never really understood social cues. He’s not awkward, nor is he bad with people. He just never seems to know what to say. So now he's here, with Evan, at the front of the ship leaning against the railing.

Watching Evan work is actually quite fascinating. His pale blue eyes are sharp, focused. In the sunlight they have a hint of green, beautiful really. Evan in general is fascinating. But who doesn’t think their friends are beautiful, Barty doesn’t exactly make friends of ugly people. Barty felt a small smile curve his lip as he observed Rosier.

“I can feel you staring at me” Evan doesn’t look up when he talks, it makes Barty a bit sad, missing the opportunity of seeing his eyes that is. He ignores this tho because what the fuck. Instead he takes a swing of his whiskey.
“Problem?” he asks.

Evan pauses what he’s doing. “no” Evan sighs.
So Barty keeps on watching Evan circle in places and check the placement of the stars on another map.
Barty shifts uncomfortably and Evan looks up at him.

“You good?” Evan asks, concern creasing his brow.
“My binder. At this point I’m about to perform some DIY surgery.” Barty takes another swing.

“You don’t have to wear it around me, I know you’re a man.” Barty just gives a tight smile. As stated earlier, Barty always seems to say the wrong things, so this time he’ll be quiet.

“Spit it out, Barty.” Bartys gaze snaps towards Evan.

“You're gay.” He blurted out. Evan looked at him like Barty’s a mad man before smiling.
“You don’t say.”

Barty just mumbles something back.
“Barty crouch jr I'm actually about to beat it out of you.”
Barty groans quietly “Sometimes I get scared that I'm not man enough.” For you.
He doesn't say that though, why would he. He just wants his friends to support him, that's why he cares.
“ok? happy now.” Barty pushes himselfs of his leaning position and chugs the rest of the whiskey. He's built up quite the tolerance over the 2 years he’s been away from that house.
“You are man enough Barty, no matter what people would say to me, my mind won't change.” Evan sighs as he also gets up to stop Barty from pacing restlessly.

Barty turns to his friend, facing the blue eyes. Suddenly he's reminded of how he used to act when he first met Evan and Pandora. It makes him stand straighter to avoid hiding from his own skin.

“Okay. Thanks. I'm sorry, I'm being stupid. its fine ev there's nothing-”

“You are not being stupid Barty.”

Barty didn’t realize he’d closed his eyes until he opened them and Evan wrapped his arms around him. Barty rests head on evans shoulder
“I'm bad at all this talking and feeling stuff so bear with me ok?” Barty breathes out.

“Anyway,” Barty breaks free and grins brightly, “I need a cuppa.”

***

When Regulus wakes up he’s met with a cozy red and gold room, which can only mean one thing. He’s on the ghostly fleet. Potters ship.

"You're awake.”

Regulus tries to turn around but as it turns out he’s tied to a chair. nothing too hard to break out of but it definitely takes longer than a cell would.

Captain Potter comes into view.

“Why am I here?” Regulus asks and Potter flinches at his tone. Regulus didn’t actually mean to sound menacing. This time.

“uhm… I’m kidnapping you?” The other man drags a hand through his already messy hair. Regulus just glares at him.

"Why." It wasn’t a question, Regulus commanded the Captain in front of him.

”The order needs information a true Black heir would have.”

”You’ve never held someone hostage before have you?” If Regulus could he would cross arms but since he can’t he settles with raising an eyebrow, blowing a strand of hair out of his face. Potter puts a hand in his neck and grimaces.

“It’s more Sirius’ thing to be honest.” He mutters. Regulus shakes his head disapprovingly. Of course Sirius would be their professional abductor.

“How did you even manage to sneak onto the rotten nemesis without us noticing? You're the dumb one?” Secretly Regulus is a bit impressed. He thought they had control of the ship but obviously they were not careful enough. Potter crosses his arms and leans against a wall. Even more secretly Regulus observes the muscles flex under his shirt.

“you’re mean, did you know that?” Regulus rolls his eyes.

“No, I never noticed.” James glares at him.

“Don’t hit my head again, that shit hurts, Mate.” This kid did not just call him mate. 

“You’re lucky you’re harmless, pretty boy, or I would’ve killed you.”

James stood straighter. “What?”

Regulus let out something between a sigh and annoyed groan. “I said I would’ve kill-“

“No I heard that part, the other part.” James did a motion in the air with his hand as if urging Regulus to keep going.

“The one about you being harmless? Thought you knew that.” James throws his hands up in defeat but Regulus just keeps talking since it seems to frustrate James.

“Or was it me calling you a pretty boy?” Regulus looked up at the Captain through his lashes grinning. Potters eyes widen just a little bit, anyone else would've missed it but Regulus is an observer.

“How is it you’re captain? You’re quite incapable.” Regulus continues, dropping the suggestive tone.

“I don’t know! ask my crew. they were the ones who chose it!” Potter walks out of the room, slamming the door after him and Regulus smiles to himself while shrugging.