disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot

(A/N) well look what the cat dragged in, lol. Another chapter just for my hungry readers! I mean whoa, I was able to write another chapter with the slump I'm in? WTF? The story may seem a little slow, but I do have plans! So if you really like this story just stick with me and I'll try to crank out another chapter. So without further adu, Chapter 6 of The Life of A Pirate!

The storm looked as though it wasn’t going to let up, Roxas stared quietly up at the ceiling of his small room. It was little cozier now, a couple trunks, blankets on the bed, he hoped it would finally feel like a home after time. Turning on his side he tried not to think about the storm, how his room was dry, but just outside he was sure the waves were swelling well over his head. Pulling the blankets closer he wondered just who could weather the storm topside, steering the ship. The thought rolled in his mind over and over, till finally he was restless enough to get up Throwing the blankets off he stood up, shivering as his feet his the cold floor. Shoving his shoes on he rummaged through one of the trunks and finally pulled a long, heavy jacket out. Navy in color, the material felt something akin to cotton. Pulling it on he edged out of his room quietly, though he was sure no one would mind otherwise, he padded out into the hallway. The corridor was poorly lit with a couple lantern, the flames only gaining rest during the day. Roxas shoved his hands into the coat pockets and deftly made his way topside.

The storm was raging above when Roxas walked from the door to the deck. A strong wind met his body full force and he staggered a little, hunching his shoulder and burying his cheeks into the collar. Carefully walking to the railing he gripped it with his good hand and made his way up the slippery stairs.

Darkness was both a friend and an enemy to ships traveling at night. It provided the perfect veil to coast along in, especially the calm nights that carried the ship through glassy waters. But nights like the one Roxas was experiencing was one that struck heart into his already pounding heart. The constant sheets of rain, the greedy ocean violently caressing the ship’ hull, and the knowledge that if anything happened, he didn’t know how to swim. So, yes, you could say Roxas more then a little frightened as he shuffled to the person at the helm.

“Roxas!” he heard his name before it was swept away by the hungry wind.

Latching onto the person’s coat with a hand he stood close, shoulders still hunched. He squinted against the rain and up to better identify the person, and to his surprise, it was Demyx. He briefly wondered how the bubbly man could hold his own against the straining wheel and the elements of the storm.

“Demyx!” he greeted, voice raised.

“What are you doing out here!?”

The blonde took a moment to ask himself that too before replying “I wanted to see who was up here!”

Demyx was silent a moment before laughing loudly, “You’re crazy! What kind of a reason is that!?” he guffawed.

Roxas scowled a little as continued to laugh, alright so he had a point, but did he have to laugh so hard about it?

“So, what of it?” he replied embarrassed.

The dirty blonde was able to get his laughing under control for a response. “Nothing, it’s just odd, we’re in the middle of a storm, and you wonder who’s steering the ship suddenly in the middle of the night?”

Roxas was silent a moment, the wet wind tugged at their blonde hair, soaking it and slicking to their skin. He could fee the rain already soaking to his skin, he wondered if Demyx was just as cold if not freezing his ass of like he was. He edged closer in the hopes Demyx was at least radiating some kind of heat.

“So I hear you and Zexion are together!” he blurted out.

Demyx looked at him, teal to cobalt. A smirk on the older man’s face and he spoke, “Been with him since before we were part of the crew.”

“Really?” Roxas got closer so he wouldn’t have to shout, “um, I don’t…… understand it,” he admitted sheepishly.

The mullet haired man looked at him with amusement in his eyes “What do you mean?” he laughed.

Roxas paused before speaking “Well….. I don’t know..” he trailed off, not sure as to what he wanted to ask.

“Are you wondering how he do it?” Demyx chuckled, his hands flexed on the wheel. They were getting cold even under two pairs of gloves.

Biting his lip, Roxas tried not blush. He wasn’t sure he was comfortable with where the conversation was going. But as a teenage boy, and his lack of knowledge on the subject, only furthered his curiosity.

“By ‘do it’ you mean…”

“Have sex? Yes.” he laughed, all too amused by the boy’s inquiry.

Roxas cleared his throat, he only knew a little, but only that a man and a woman could partake in it, and he knew he was on of the results of the act. He didn’t know the details thought. Since he had been taken from school so early, he never had the chance to hang with other boys his age, who might have heard more the had and filled him in on the blanks.

Demyx sighed aloud then smirked “Since this is something your parents should’ve told you about,” he paused to look at Roxas, “ go ask Zexion, he’s the doctor, and the next best thing.” he smiled and looked ahead again.

Crossing his arms Roxas thought the statement over. Well if he was going to get his embarrassing answers, a doctor seemed to be the logical choice on a ship where he had no parental figure. Demyx was aware the boy had fallen quiet and looked to him, his shoulders hunched, his body shaking and a look of annoyance on his wet face. The older blonde chuckle and wrapped an arm around the boy’s shoulders and brought him into a tight, half hug. Roxas blushed, he felt Demyx was being a big brother almost, amused and condescending at the same time.

“Go get some sleep Roxas, you look half frozen.” Demyx instructed and pushed the boy toward the stairs.

Roxas grumbled under his breath about not being tired, but complied anyway. He slipped and stumbled to the door and was thankful for being out of the elements when he shut it behind him Ripping his soak jacket and shirt of his skin was covered in a layer of rain water. He shivered and walked through the hallway and to the next set of stairs. He was on his last set to the lower floors when his ears caught the briefness of someone’s voice. Pausing a moment to catch the noise again he stalked quietly into the hallway with all the crew’s quarters, listening for the source. It was the second door on his right. He edged up to the closed door and pressed his ear to it, his curiosity getting the better of him tonight.

“I told you! It doesn’t matter anymore!” someone hissed loudly. Roxas narrowed his eyes, it sounded like Marluxia.

“That doesn’t change the act that Axel doesn’t know about it. I can’t believe I never noticed it myself.” the other person stated “You’re telling me that no one on this ship knows of it?” it was Saix.

Roxas knit his brow, looking around the hallway, wondering just what the subject was about Was it that bad Axel didn’t know about whatever Marluxia had? And if no one on the ship knew, did that mean Marluxia was lying about something? Roxas swallowed thickly, daring to press closer.

“The reason I didn’t mention the other mark is because I knew Axel wouldn’t trust me if he knew I had it!?”

“You’ve already lied about it, you made it worse. I’m a little disappointed to find out where you’re previous loyalties were invested. Besides, Axel, doesn’t trust you much anyway.” Said chuckled.

“You can’t mention this to him, Saix! And why doesn’t he trust me? I’ve been a part of this crew 3 years now and not once have I ever done anything to-”

Saix interrupted, “You disobey his orders constantly, you’re sarcastic to him, and a prime example from out meeting, you question him!”

Marluxia growled loudly, the sound of him punching the door suddenly made Roxas jump and slap a hand over his mouth to stop from screaming.

“I’m just….. Keeping him on his toes is all. I don’t want a pussy for a captain, nay, a coward!” Roxas felt the door give way a little, Marluxia had turned the handle to leave.

“If you want to keep this between you and me, I advise you don’t let Axel bed you then,” Saix laughed.

Pulling away as if the wood were on fire, Roxas rushed past the door, catching Marluxia’s parting words as he passed.

“Just because I once shared a bed with Vincent does not mean I take a liking to my captains!”

Roxas glanced over his shoulder to see Marluxia slip out. Their eyes met and Roxas panicked, looking forward and hurriedly bursting into his room.

Marluxia stood quietly, watching the boy leave in a rush. It didn’t matter to him whether the boy had overheard. Even if the boy told Axel he could deny it, he had seniority over the boy anyway, hoping in the back of his mind that if the blonde crewman did tell, Saix would be there to vouch for him.

Roxas threw his wet clothes to the floor, sinking down against the door, knees at his chest and arms crossed around them. Vincent, he knew that was Axel’s rival. But if Axel didn’t know Marluxia was once a part of his crew, then what would that mean for both? He pondered the subject as he sat shivering. Were crewmen allowed to jump from one rival ship to another?

The boy sighed, rubbing his left arm and wrist. They were feeling better now, but he figured a visit to Zexion for a check up was needed anyway. Then maybe he could get some answers. Looking around his barely lit room he stood finally. Staggering over to his bed he stripped off the rest of his wet clothing and slid under the covers. Wrapping the blankets around him tightly he forced himself to sleep. Forgetting his jumbled thoughts and questions for when morning came.

Morning came all too quickly, and with it, Roxas's own personal nightmare. He woke not to the waves or storm, but to the sound of his door slamming shut. Azure eyes opened and Roxas sat up. A hand suddenly wrapped around his neck, and he was slammed back into his bed. Panic immediately took over and he clawed at the hand, another clamped over hi mouth and he looked up with distressed eyes. Seething blue met his and rose hair brushed against his cheek. Marluxia. He froze, the hand around his neck easing a little to let him breathe, but not enough to give him control. He felt unbearably vulnerable, the blankets twisted around his naked waist, to his relief, were constricting. His chest heaved and his pulse spiked when Marluxia leaned even closer, their nose almost touching.

"Now listen here you little rat," he spat. Roxas knew what this would be about.

"I saw you last night, don;t deny it. I don't know if you heard what was said, but I warn you now. Breathe a word of it to Axel and I swear, your life will be made a living hell."

The grip was getting steadily tighter around his neck as Marluxia's eyes narrowed to slits, sticking him with a glare laden in daggers. Snarling the man roughly shoved him back into the bed before sweeping up from the bed and out of the room. Roxas was deathly still, Marluxia's threat lingering in the air and his thoughts. Taking a shaky breath he instinctively rubbed his neck, swallowing hard. He didn't move for awhile, till finally feeling the initial fear lose its edge in his stomach. He got dressed, trousers and boots he found at the bottom of the chest given to him by Axel. They were a bit big, but he figured he'd fill them out in time.

He wasn't exactly in the mood to eat when he arrived to the small mess hall. The room smelled heavily of fish and something else. Taking a seat at one of the small tables he was served a round dish of gruel and a chunk of fish, hopefully cooked all the way. He managed smile at the cook, he was a little surprised that Cid had turned out to be the chef, but didn't question it; the food was edible. The man grunted and disappeared through a door to the kitchen. Using his fingers he forced the food down, small bones hindering him and the overwhelming taste of fish in the gruel, paste like substance.

With his quiet meal out of the way he supposed everyone was on deck. Upon arriving on deck he breathed in deep, his lungs filling with the smell of rain and the sea. The sky was ominous to say the least. Pregnant clouds threatened to dump themselves yet again upon the ship and the port it was docked at. He wandered to the railing and peered over. The ship had lines going down to the dock and he remembered that for the moment, they were merchants.

"Everyone is in the town if you're wondering!" a voice called from above.

Turning slightly and looking up he saw Zexion sitting in a chair, with a book, just a few steps from the top of the stairs. "So we're waiting to do the....you-know-what." Roxas looked around to make sure there weren't any eavesdroppers on the deck.

"Yes. Probably tonight if the weather doesn't turn bad. Its terribly hard to lug treasure away when the grounds a layer of mud and slime." Zexion replied, his eyes moving back and forth as he continued to read his book.

"But what about Demyx's prediction? It doesn't look-"

"Demyx, by some ungodly reason, is never wrong about his predictions. We are more likely in the calm before the storm." the slate haired man informed.

Roxas frowned and looked to the large town, "But then shouldn't we do the you-know-what right now while its calm?"

Zexion sighed, the noise making Roxas look back up at the man, "No. Because when its daytime, it means all the guards are alert, everyone is awake and more aware. When its night time the guards are usually getting themselves drunk and people are sleeping. That's why."

The blonde gave a slow "oh" in reply to Zexion's explanation.

"If I were you, I'd go stretch my legs in town. Maybe, see what the captain is up to." he mused aloud before burying his nose back into the book.

Roxas watched the man for a moment, not sure whether to take the statement innocently, or if it had another meaning. Frowning the boy looked down at the railing, it would be nice to be somewhere civilized again he pondered. The notion was more then enough to send the blonde on his curious way.