Day 2
Waking up, Regulus’ body feels as stiff as a brick. His neck and back both ache, and he refuses to open his eyes, determined to stay covered under the warm bed sheets.
Wait, bed sheets?
Regulus sits up immediately, and then regrets it when his back pops in protest of the quick movement. He groans in pain, his hand reaching to rub the back of his neck. Looking around, Regulus realised that he somehow managed to move from the floor to the bed.
Pulling himself out of the warm bed, he pushes his way past the curtains and into the empty room. The difference in the room is that the candles are no longer light and light is flooding through the windows, creating little rainbows and patterns on the walls. Regulus also notices that the desk is again, a mess.
Moving closer to the window, all Regulus can see is water. Miles and miles of blue water, shimmering in the sun. There was no way he would be going back to the palace any time soon.
“Ah, you’re awake.” Regulus turns to see James walking through the door. James is wearing similar clothes to the ones he wore yesterday, although the cream shirt is untucked and his sleeves are rolled up, showing off the end of a tattoo that must be on his shoulder.
“How did I end up in the bed?” Regulus asks, staying by the window as James moves towards him, leaning against the desk in front of them.
“Yeah, I was a little surprised to see you asleep on the floor. I was expecting you to use the bed.” James crosses his arms, frowning.
“It’s not my bed.” Regulus mumbles in response, looking down at the floor.
“Doesn’t matter, you’ll use it for now.” James answers. “Right, I’ve got a lot of things to do today. Thanks to your guards, we’ve had to go off route to lose them.”
“You’re making it sound like that was my fault?” Regulus remarked, frowning.
“Well if you hadn’t screamed, you wouldn’t have woken the whole castle.” James replied.
“Well if you hadn’t kidnapped me, I wouldn’t have had to scream now would I?” Regulus retaliated. James watched him silently for a few seconds, a small smirk beginning to form.
“I’m going to leave you with Pandora down in the kitchen today. I don’t really trust you to be alone just yet and by being with Pandora, you’ll be out of harm's way.” James explains. “Well, to an extent.” He pushes off the table and walks to the door. “Come on!”
Regulus rolls his eyes but follows James out the cabin door. Once out on deck, Regulus can feel the bright shining down on him, warming him up a bit. The crew on deck are clearly busy, walking back and forth with different things, chatting idly with each other while doing their work.
James leads Regulus to one of the trap doors on the floor of the deck. Regulus watches in confusion as James pulls it open and gestures to it. Peering in, Regulus sees no stairs, but it’s only a short jump to another level. Rolling his eyes (yet again), Regulus kneels down and jumps in, wobbling slightly when he lands.
James follows after, landing without a wobble. He grins at Regulus, hands on his hips as Regulus glares back.
They continue down a corridor, passing a couple other doors. They eventually end up at a pair of double doors and Regulus could hear clattering behind it.
“Now, Pandora.” James turns to him, one hand on the door handle. “She’s a little… weird. But we love her. If I find out you’ve said anything wrong to her, or insulted her in any way, I will not hesitate to throw you in the hull.” Regulus is slightly shocked at the sudden change in personality, so he nods in understanding.
James slowly opens the door to reveal a kitchen. A guarded, lit fire at one end of the room, a wooden island in the middle and shelves all around holding various pieces of equipment and foods. Standing in front of the fire is a girl Regulus recognises from the deck. She has her back turned to them, her white blonde hair is tied in a very loose braid with strands falling out.
Sitting on the counter, the only one to notice the two boys, is a smaller version of Pandora, almost an exact replica. The little girl stares at the boys with a blank expression for a few seconds before hopping off the island and making her way round to Pandora, tugging on her shirt sleeve.
“Hmm?” Pandora looks at the little girl, who points at James and Regulus. Pandora turns to the door and smiles. “Oh, hello James.” James waves at her and ushers Regulus inside.
“Pandora, this is Prince Regulus. I’m going to be putting him under your watch while I’m on deck if that’s alright.” James informs the girl who looks Regulus up and done, a small smile on her face.
“That’s okay. I could use the extra hands.” Pandora answers, moving her gaze back to James.
“Wonderful. I’ll leave you to it then.” James gives one last look towards Regulus before walking out the kitchen. Regulus turns back to Pandora, who is back to staring intently at him.
“What?” Regulus says. Pandora blinks.
“You don’t look like a lion.” She says. Regulus frowns.
“Sorry?”
“Regulus. Heart of the Lion.” She replies, as if that is all the explanation needed. “You don’t look like you’d be a lion.”
“Well my name wasn’t chosen based on my personality.” Regulus deadpanned, still confused. Pandora hums in response.
“Can you cook?” She asks.
“No.” Regulus answers. He would have liked to have learned to cook, however that wasn’t ‘a part of his role as Prince and Heir’, so his mother forbade it.
“Oh well, time to learn.” Pandora holds Regulus’ shoulders, turns him and pushes him towards the island.
“Hey!” Regulus calls in protest to being manhandled.
“You were being too slow.” The girls answered.
“Wh-”
“Here. Cut these into batons.” Pandora doesn’t let him speak. She places about five carrots and a knife in front of Regulus and then walks back to the fire. Regulus stares in confusion at the things in front of him. He looks back to Pandora even though her back is turned to him. He turns to the carrots and realises that the little girl is standing next to him, watching him.
“Hello?” Regulus says to her. The girl waves a small hand back. “What’s your name?” Regulus asks.
“That’s Luna.” Pandora answers him, walking back over to join them. She looks at the carrots then at Regulus. “Have you never seen a carrot before?”
“I told you I can’t cook.” Regulus argues.
“There’s a difference between ‘can’t cook’ and ‘never cooked before’.” Pandora says, grabbing the knife and a carrot. “Can’t cook is when you try to cook but end up either burning it or not cooking it properly. Never cooked before is when you have never set foot in the same room as raw food.”
“Okay, then I have never cooked before.” Regulus tells her, watching as she chops the carrot in half, then half again, then slices it into what must be ‘batons’.
“Well that was obvious.”
“Then why would you-”
“Cut the rest of them into this shape just like I did.” She interrupts him again, moving around Regulus to pick Luna up and put her on the counter top. Pandora starts to run her fingers through Luna’s matching hair, a big wide smile on the little girl’s mind.
“I didn’t think kids were allowed on a pirate ship. It’s dangerous is it not?” Regulus asks, grabbing another carrot and attempts to replicate what Pandora had done.
“Me and Luna didn’t have anywhere else to go.” Pandora says.
“Is she your…”
“Daughter.” She answers.
“You look identical.” Regulus says. “Except for the eyes.” While Pandora had lovely light green eyes, Luna had beautiful blue ones.
“They’re her father’s.” Pandora answers, still playing with her daughter’s hair. “We were staying on another ship to cross the water and it was attacked while I was pregnant. I hid at the bottom of the ship, never found. Xenophilius went to help the battle.” She goes quiet, and Regulus could finish the story for himself.
“I’m sorry.” He says, understanding the feeling of losing a loved one.
“I stayed down there until James’ crew found the ship. Lily was the one who found me. They agreed to help me. However when I explained that we had nowhere to go they said I could stay on the ship. But I refused to work on deck, too worried for my little girl.” Pandora explains. It made sense then, why she worked in the kitchen and why Regulus hadn’t seen Luna on deck previously.
Regulus watches them for a moment and he can see the fondness and love Pandora has towards the girl. He is almost jealous, having never experienced that sort of love for himself. Pandora places a kiss on Luna’s forehead and Regulus forces himself to look away.
“How are those carrots coming?” She asks him. Regulus holds up a carrot baton to show her. “Good, now do that for the rest of them. I’ll need to cook them shortly. There’s so much to do for such a big crew and only one pair of hands.” She says, moving away from Luna and letting her watch Regulus. “Well, two pairs now.” Pandora smiles caringly at Regulus, and he feels like he’s just passed this little test. He gives a small smile back.
A few hours later, Pandora and Regulus (with the occasional help of Luna) managed to make a carrot soup for the crew. The soup was sitting in a cauldron-like bowl over the fire, bubbling away as Pandora stirred.
“Regulus, get me the bowls from that cupboard.” She points vaguely behind her. Regulus leaves Luna on the counter (who had been playing with Regulus’ hair) to get the bowls.
“Look at you, being obedient.” A voice says from the doorway. Both Regulus and Pandora turned to see James, leaning against the doorway watching them.
“She threatened to add me to the soup because I couldn’t cut the onion.” Regulus huffed, pointing back at Pandora.
“Maybe you should have known how to cut an onion then and I wouldn’t have to threaten you.” Pandora responded calmly. Regulus gestures Pandora to James as if to say ‘look what I’ve been dealing with’. James chuckles and walks over to Regulus, taking the bowls from him and putting them on the counter, scruffing Luna’s hair.
“I’m just teasing, love.” James whispers to Regulus, towering over him. “Were you nice?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I’m never nice.” Regulus whispers back, crossing his arms.
“He was very helpful.” Pandora says from across the room.
‘How did she hear that?’ Regulus thinks, frowning at her.
“Good.” James answers, nodding in approval. “Well just thought I’d let you know that the crew are ready to eat when you’re ready to serve.”
“Won’t be long now.” Pandora tells him. James takes another look at Regulus, smiles and then leaves again. “You fancy him.”
“What?”
“You fancy James.” Pandora takes one of the bowls and begins to fill it with soup.
“I do not! He kidnapped me, I’m not going to fancy him.” Regulus protests, taking the bowls from Pandora once they’re ready.
“Sure.” She answers, a sparkle of mischief in her eyes.
Dinner went down well. The whole crew was packed into a small room setup to be a dinning room. There were tables and wooden chairs and even pillows, most of the crew sat on the floor. Regulus sat near James, tucking himself into the wall as much as possible. Pandora sat next to him against the wall with Luna on her lap, the three of them sitting in silence as they watched the rest of the crew.
“Pandora.” Regulus says quietly. She hums in reply. “Why doesn’t Luna talk?”
“She can talk. She’s just not comfortable with it, so she doesn’t.” Pandora answers.
“Oh, okay.” They’re quiet for a little while. “Does she know sign language?” He asks.
“Sign language?”
“Yeah.”
“No. Never really had the opportunity to learn.” Pandora explains.
“I could teach her if you want.” Regulus offers. Pandora turns to him in question. “My brother and I used to use it when we couldn’t talk openly at home.”
“I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“I don’t. Not any more.” Regulus says, frowning.
“Oh. I’m sorry.” Pandora puts a hand on his shoulder in care.
“Yeah, me too.” Regulus sighs.
After a while, two of the crewmates took the bowls from everyone and went down to the kitchen to clean up. Pandora said that they all take turns washing up but she always cooks so she never has to. James pulls Regulus up from his spot and they head back to his quarters for the night.
“Where did you sleep last night?” Regulus asks. It’s been a while since dinner. James is sitting at his desk, looking at scrolls and writing things down while Regulus sits at the edge of the bed, holding onto the pillow with the curtains pulled to one side.
“I didn’t.” James answers, not looking up.
“What do you mean you didn’t?”
“Love, it was around 3 in the morning. We were off course. I had to be working to make sure we could get back on course without being caught by your guards.” James explains, eyes flicking towards him.
“Well that’s hardly healthy.” Regulus murmurs, James scoffs. “Where are you sleeping tonight then?”
“Why?” James asks.
“Just curious. I can sleep elsewhere if you want the bed.” Regulus offers.
“I love that you care for my well being, princess, but-”
“Don’t call me princess.”
“... But I have a lot of work to do before thinking about sleeping. So you go to bed, I’ll find somewhere when I’m ready.” James decides, smiling softly at Regulus.
Regulus sighs, he does feel quite tired. “Fine.” The prince manoeuvres himself so the pillow is back on the bed and so he faces away from James, forgetting to close the curtain behind him.
James continues to work throughout the night, looking at maps and figuring out where they’re going next. His eyes flick to up to Regulus occasionally, Regulus’ sleeping body. In his bed. The Prince is sleeping in his bed. Lord, how did he get here?
It’s the rustling that wakes him up. He must’ve fallen asleep at his desk. Sitting up and shaking his head, trying to reduce the sleepiness, James looks around. The candles in the room have burnt down, leaving only one that gives the room a very small glow.
James can hear Regulus’ heavy breathing from his bed. The boy is on his back now, one hand over his stomach, the other by his head. His head that keeps tossing and turning from left to right. James promptly decides that he’s done enough work for tonight, quickly dismissing it in favour of checking on Regulus. He’s mumbling, and the closer James gets he realises it’s French.
Now, just because James was in France when he kidnapped Regulus, does not mean he knows any French.
“Arrête, s’il te plaît, ne le fait pas.” James catches. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed now, just watching him. “Maman, s’il te plaît.” He whines. James catches the word ‘mum’ and assumes he’s having a bad dream, missing his parents.
“Shhh, it’s okay.” James whispers, combing a hand through the silky black hair on his pillow. Regulus turns his head onto James’ arm, trapping it. The whining and tossing have stopped, and the Prince’s breathing begins to slow. James attempts to pull his arm out from under Regulus’ head, but the boy just cuddles in closer, seeking comfort.
James sighs in defeat, knowing he won’t be getting out any time soon. So, gently, James moves Regulus’ body back , surprised the boy hasn’t woken up yet. James then slides into bed next to him, trying to squeeze in as much as possible because the bed isn't exactly the right width for two people and seeing as one of his arms has to be outstretched. Eventually he settles, finding a way to lie comfortably with a dead arm. Soon enough he drifts off, his breathing matching the Prince’s.
Regulus felt warm upon waking up. Warmer than he had felt the morning before. Still, he’s far too comfortable to actually get up so he decides to snuggle further into the warmth that seems to be enveloping him, sighing contentedly.
“Finally awake now are you?” A voice mumbles from next to him. Regulus freezes. Stops breathing. “You know, I have work to do so I’m going to need my arm back. Not sure it’ll be much use now though seeing as it’s dead from having your head on it all night.”
Slowly, and grumpily, Regulus opens his eyes to see that he is in fact lying on James’ arm, who happens to be in bed with him. Regulus lifts his head enough for James to pull his arm away from him.
“Thank you.” James says, moving his fingers and trying to get the blood circulation going again.
“How exactly did I end up sleeping on your arm?” Regulus asks.
“Uhhhh.” James stammers. “You were tossing and turning so I came over to make sure you’re okay. You were mumbling in French and you kind of just rolled over, trapping my arm in the process.” He explains. Regulus hums.
“But why was your arm close enough to my head for me to have rolled onto it?” Regulus asks, raising an eyebrow. James goes quiet, trying to think of how he could lie his way out of it.
“Your hair was in your face, I was moving it.” James mumbles as an answer, pulling himself up and out of bed.
“So instead of just pulling your arm out like any normal person would, you decided to just climb into bed with me?” Regulus questions, sitting up to stare at the other man. James frowned at the Prince, unable to come up with a response.
“I’m going to leave you with Pandora again today.” James decides, changing the subject. “Not because I don’t trust you, but you’re safer downstairs with Pandora than you are on deck.” Regulus sighs, accepting his fate.
Regulus’ days on the ship repeated, and he was beginning to enjoy them. The Prince enjoyed the feeling of freedom, which was more on the ship that he had at the palace. Him and Pandora very quickly got on better as she taught Regulus how to cook and he was happy to assist. Regulus began to teach both Luna and Pandora some sign language, as much as he knew that would come in handy on the ship. Regulus even began to become acquainted with some of the other crew members, especially Lily. The Prince quite enjoyed watching her shout at James.
James.
James, James James.
There hadn’t exactly been any more incidents where James slept right next to him. There were some nights where Regulus would have a nightmare, but he wouldn’t tell James that. When he would wake up, James would be sitting at his desk working (Regulus was convinced he never slept). James assumed Regulus missed his parents, and Regulus couldn’t exactly stomach telling him the truth. So instead of going back to sleep, the two would stay up until sunrise, or until the other falls back asleep (usually Regulus). Regulus got comfortable with James, maybe a little too comfortable than a Prince should be with a Pirate that kidnapped him…