provocateur_king | AU - Aboard The Provocateur

They'd taken harbor of the north shore of the Dark Kingdom, quietly doing some trade in the fishing village. Quietly. For pirates.

Bond was on deck at dawn, watching his sailors crawl back from a night of drink and flesh.

"Hurry up, hurry up. We'll miss the tide," he called.

And then he saw the sailor he'd been watching for.

"Klaus, I was wondering if you'd be gracing us with your presence," Bond said, teasing a bit, but his sharp criticism was something Klaus had earned over the years.

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From:

provocateur_king

Bond sighed heavily. This wasn't according to plan.

He lifted his saber.

"This isn't a negotiation. I can just as easily have him put you all back in the cold depths," he told him.

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus' hand made a little wave and he laughed. It was his voice, but not his laugh. "I don't think so. I rather like this body. Full of youth. And alive."

From:

provocateur_king

"You can't have the lad," Bond said firmly. "ANd if you want my ship, you'll have to take it."

He drew his saber and held it at the ready.

Gods forgive him, this wasn't how he'd wanted Klaus to find out about this.

"And if I win, you and all your fleet will help me take on the King's Realm for the throne."

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus grinned. "And if I win, I get the ship and the title."

Now, Klaus did not like swords, and therefore didn't typically carry one (also, he didn't really need one.) But as this was clearly a challenge; there was a sword ready for the captain.

He took it and accepted the duel.

From:

provocateur_king

The dead captain and Bond were well matched. The battle raged all across the deck. Bond took a slice to his arm and blood seeped through his linen shirt. He took a step back.

He looked at his arm, then looked at Klaus.

Bond had hoped Klaus would never need to know the extent of his abilities. Had hoped to keep from him that when they'd pulled the boy out of the ocean, he had been dead. Drowned and gone. Bond had meant to take him to shore. Surely someone must miss him. Instead, Klaus woke up. Back from the dead, fresh and unharmed. Bond had never told him, never told the crew. He'd simply taken the lad on as cabin boy and seen to it he was as fine a sailor as he could manage to be. The entire pirate empire knew that Klaus was Bond's favourite. He could do no wrong.

But now he stood before Bond, possessed by the spirit of a captain Bond had already killed once. If he had to best him again to get his allegience, then Klaus...

Klaus would have to die.

Bond found he was fine with that.

When he charged again, his blade sank into klaus's chest and exited his back.

"I win," Bond said coldly, jerking the saber back and letting Klaus's body fall to the deck.

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus was still in there znd ehrn the blade pierced his torso, it was Klaus' eyes that went wide.

Bond...killed him?

He spluttered and fell to the ground, lifeless and betrayed.

Without Klaus, the ghosts began to vanish as well, back to the depths... until...

Klaus coughed.

From:

provocateur_king

Bond kept just Saber in hand, but knelt by the pirate to assure himself he hadn't been wrong.

And Klaus coughed.

"That's a good lad. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me," he smiled tenderly.

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus coughed again. He looked down at his chest and the hole there. A hole that slowly diminished until it was gone.

"I... you!... what?"

From:

provocateur_king

"You're fine, Klaus," Bond assured him.

"I would have never run you through if I hadn't been sure you'd come back to me. What a magnificent Seance you are," he smiled proudly.

From:

seanceinfurs

"You knew?" Klaus asked, confused. There was blood on his hands, there was blood on the saber, there was blood on his chest, but the wound was gone entirely.

From:

provocateur_king

"I've known since the day we met," he told him.

Men were coming closer. That bond wasn't distraught made them curious. So much blood.

"Now let's get up, lad. You need to make the captain uphold his end of the deal. And...try not to let him possess you again."

He offered him a kind smile, then stood and offered him his hand up.

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus accepted the hand and stood, confused, conflicted, stunned.

He...was immortal? And Bond knew? And... damn, he was immortal?!

"Of course, sir," he told his captain. "Not now, though, right? Can I have...a moment?"

From:

provocateur_king

"Take all the time you need, lad," Bond said kindly, then turned to look at Tanner.

"Drop anchor," he commanded.

And then he returned his attention to Klaus. The crew was still staring in wonder and amazement. They all knew what Klaus could do, but this was new and miraculous. Even Tanner had a look of pride at what a magnificent Seance Bond had raised.

"Come into my quarters," he said. "Tom will bring us some tea. And once you're done, something sweeter than tea to smoke, hmm? Let's go. All better, see?"

Bond kept a companionable arm around him and the crew went on about dropping anchor. They all knew Klaus was Bond's favourite. Of course he'd see to Klaus personally.

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus wasn't sure about any of it, but he did feel safe with Bond's arm around his shoulders. He leaned in slightly. Well, Bond always smelled nice and Klaus needed the comfort right now.

At the prospect of drink and smoke, he smiled. "Yeah, sure. I don't... even feel it." That was true. He wasn't in pain at all.

In fact, he rather felt... powerful. That was a first.

From:

provocateur_king

"No, I can't imagine you'd have such a gift only to be cursed with pain," Bond said.

While Tom brought them tea and rum, Bond settled Klaus in a chair in his quarters and moved to a cabinet. He unlocked it, opened it, and took out another key for a lock box. Inside was the treasure.

When he returned to Klaus, he had an opium pipe and a small jar of a sticky black tar.

"Now, when you've finished your rum, you can finish the work, and then...this."

He knew Klaus's habits and he knew just how enticing the carrot he was dangling before the lad was.

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus' eyes went wide and he smiled, so very happy. "Yes, my captain," he said. He loved being Bond's favourite.

"The crew is eager to fight," Klaus supplied. "They can't be killed anymore, right? That's very appealing to them. The captain will come around," he promised.

From:

provocateur_king

"Then I'm sure you'll charm him into agreement, Klaus. You remarkable creature, you," he praised.

He truly prized the young man. There were so few, and Klaus was more powerful than any he'd ever heard of. But he could see how the power took its toll on him, and Bond had little mercy for anyone...except Klaus.

Klaus, he would use, but he would also reward him and treat him with a gentle hand. Burden and blessing, Bond saw that Klaus was well cared for.

"Drink that. It'll steady your nerves," he assured him.

From:

seanceinfurs

And Klaus, always craving for attention and approval, ate up whatever Bond gave him.

He drank and then asked, awkwardly. "So, how are things going here? I mean, besides the going to war thing?"

From:

provocateur_king

"Swimmingly," he replied. "My wizard has had some impressive spells to increase the power of our arsenal, you are a dream come true, and from what I understand, our chief rival, Captain Syrene, is destined for the gallows. Things couldn't be better."

From:

seanceinfurs

Klaus nodded and downed his drink. "And er... when do we expect to fight?" he asked, mostly because he wanted to know when he would be allowed the opium. Always after battle, never before.