Theo had taken off in the morning before the other two had woken up. They had stayed up late the night before smoking and talking and they had said they were going to sleep in. Theo had informed them that she would most likely be waking up early and leaving for the city and that is what she did. When the sun was just barely rising in the sky, Theo woke up and packed her horse up before taking off. Theo needed to get back to regular life, she had spent far too long at The Grotto. Her ride back was peaceful and she was able to get lost in the scenery, her mind going blank.

At the first signs of the city, sporadically placed buildings, she began to slow her horse to a trot, and soon enough its hooves were echoing against the stone pavement. Theo guided her steed through the city and then back out of the city, heading up the mountain that held the large castle where the meeting was held and where Uncilo lived. It wasn't a castle, it was more like a fortress, but Theo didn't care for the semantics of it, she would continue to always call it a castle.

Once she arrived, she tied up the horse outside, greeted the guards that stood watch, and walked inside. Large wooden double doors, six times her height, opened up to grant her entry into the building. Theo walked the long winding hallways in an attempt to find Uncilo. She checked his office first, then his room, then the meeting hall. He was nowhere to be seen but the guards had assured her he was here. There were dozens of rooms in the castle and he could be in any one of them but Theo knew Uncilo well enough to know where to check. The only other room that would have made sense for him to be in was the kitchen and she was correct.

She swung open the swinging doors that led to the kitchen and Uncilo was standing over the stovetop, with a boiling kettle on it. He turned to the doors to look at who was coming in and then turned back around wordlessly. Uncilo stepped away from the stovetop and over to a cabinet where he pulled out a teacup and set it down next to one that was already out. When Uncilo was Theo's captain he would work best at night and sleep through the day, to see him up and about and not lying in bed was a surprise. She half expected to have had to go into his room and wake him up.

"You're up early," Theo commented and walked over to the counter and hopped onto it.

"I am finding myself rising with the sun more and more in my old age," Uncilo said, "I can say the same for you. I do not recall a single time where I successfully managed to wake you up in the mornings."

Theo rolled her eyes. It was an exaggeration, Theo hated waking up early but she still did it.

"Aye, I had to wake up to come to see you," Theo said, in an accusing tone, "Xyra told me that I was summoned."

"You were not summoned, I wanted to meet with you before you left. The same way I do every time you girls come to the island," Uncilo retorted and poured them some tea.

He didn't even ask how Theo took her tea because they prepared it the same way, Theo having learned how to make her tea from Uncilo. He readied the beverage and handed it to her when it was done.

"What? No liquor in this?" Theo took the cup from Uncilo with a cheeky smile.

"Theo, it is not even eight in the aftermor- You're joking," Uncilo realized and shook his head with a slight sigh but Theo could tell he was at least somewhat amused.

They sipped their tea in silence, Theo sitting on the countertop and Uncilo having taken a seat at the small table in the kitchen. Theo both wanted to get the conversation flowing and wanted to never start it at all. She wanted to both get the lecture over with and never start it all. Theo had already gone over her mistakes in her own head a hundred times, she had already gotten a talking from Xyra, and she had already had to do her own damage control. Uncilo piling on another talk was overkill, in her opinion.

Uncilo placed his cup down on the table, folded his hands on the table, and looked over at Theo, "I wanted to commend you on your work with the proposal. It was well made, well presented, and you showed quick thinking when Fletching got in the way."

Theo hadn't expected any sort of praise, Uncilo was not the type to give explicit recognition for a job well done. It had happened in the past, Uncilo wasn't a monster just a pirate, but she hadn't been gearing up for something nice. In light of how he usually dealt with these kinds of talks, Theo had preemptively been on the defense since walking in, which is why she ended up snapping at him.

"If you hadn't let him get in the way with his ridiculous requests then it might have been easier for me."

Uncilo flashed her a look that would have probably made her run to Xyra and cry when she was younger. It didn't have the same effect when she was older though but she still looked down at her lap.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"You worked well with Xyra and used Cooker's position to your advantage. Your new quartermaster, she seems competent as well," Uncilo carried on with uncharacteristic praise. But it was too good to be true, the other shoe was going to drop soon. He had his lesson tone on, one she hadn't heard in a long time.

"Aye, Red has been a very good addition to my crew," Theo sipped her tea and used it to warm her hands, "I told you I knew what I was doing."

"You've got good judgment," Uncilo nodded his head, "but I can name a few times during the meeting where you didn't exercise it."

"I knew it was coming," Theo rolled her eyes and set her teacup down, "you threw me off with your praise for a second there."

"I'm trying a new approach to leadership," Uncilo was still sipping his tea, "it was in a new book I read."

"Who knew you were capable of listening to what others have to say?" Theo quipped and this time wasn't fixed with a glare but was met with a sigh.

Uncilo placed his cup down, "The elders are upset with your lack of ability to control your emotions. Dare I say, your temper."

"When I snapped at Fletching, that was the first time I have ever done so publically," Theo barely hesitated, "I did many more things during that meeting that are considered not only impressive but also arguably the salvation of our pirate way of life."

Was it an exaggeration on her part, perhaps a little dramatic? Yes. Were the elders a collection of assholes that couldn't tell up from down? Yes. The elders were the Captains that had been in charge of a crew longer than everyone else. One had to reach a certain level of seniority to be considered an elder, usually over a classification at sea. There was only a handful of them, maybe ten at a given time, but they held immense sway and power. Their voices were not usually heard during pirate meetings or length to length business but during elections to staff Corinspian positions like the head of the council, their opinions were paramount. Having the elders on your side meant a future in pirate politics, something Theo cared nothing about.

"They are also upset with the division in the community. They say it is dangerously volatile right now," Uncilo elaborated.

"That's got nothing to do with me. I am not causing or promoting the division, Fletching and his followers are sowing those seeds,"

"They don't see it that way. They think you are behind the commotion."

"I don't give a fuck what they think," Theo said, and she didn't. Whatever they had to say, she would gladly do the opposite.

"Theo," Uncilo said, sternness in his tone.

"Captain," Theo shot back.

"You need to care. You are to be the one I nominate for my succession when the day comes," Uncilo said and with his words dropped a heavy anchor on Theo's chest, one that had just lifted a few suns prior.

Theo hopped off the counter and she felt dizzy, "No. Not me. Cook or Xy."

"Captains are the ones nominated. Not officers," Uncilo reminded and stood up to match Theo, "they made their choice when they agreed to support you as Captain and forfeit the possibility of becoming head of the council."

To be the head of the Pirate Council, one had to be nominated for election and then compete against the other nominees for the votes. The outgoing head got to appoint one nominee and, like the elders, always had a lot of influence on the way the election swayed. If the outgoing council head was popular, which Uncilo was, their pick was almost guaranteed to succeed. Uncilo saying she would be his nomination when the day came, was a threat to Theo. A threat that she would become the Head of the Council.

"Start scouting and grooming someone else for your pick because it won't be me," Theo insisted, "and just because Xy and Cook are not captains does not mean they are not more than capable for the position. If you wanted to, you could put either of their names forward for nomination and they would win."

"Theo," Uncilo raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and he sighed, "it is the greatest honor you can receive to even be nominated."

"I'm a pirate, I could give a damn about honor," Theo replied.

"Theo, you were born to lead. There are growing divisions and only a strong Captain can reign it in, can foster cooperation," Uncilo took a step closer to Theo but Theo took a step backwards, anger beginning to rise in her chest. Gods, Theo hated this feeling. The feeling like she was a young kid again, fighting with Uncilo over the latest mission she didn't want to go on.

"I have a crew. I lead my crew. They depend on me and I depend on them," Theo said.

"Theo, you will be my choice," Uncilo said decisively, "end of discussion."

"No, this isn't the end of the discussion!" Theo took a step forward that time, "I am not a child anymore. I am not under your command anymore. You can't just map out my life like that."

"Theo, you are more capable than you know. You can continue my legacy-"

"Your legacy?!" Theo's face curled up in pure rage and she cut him off before he could finish whatever rousing speech he was about to give, "I killed for you! I got you rich! I brought you prestige! Your legacy was built on me!"

"If you calm down we can talk about this with level heads," Uncilo raised his voice slightly and took a step towards her.

Theo scoffed and held her hand up, stopping him from coming any closer to her, "You are a fucking piece of work."

Theo turned around and began to walk out when she heard Uncilo call out after her.

"You will come around," he said.

She turned around, only long enough to say, "I will leave the council before I ever sit at the head of it. Consider that a fucking promise."

Theo turned back around and quite literally stomped out of the room, if the door was capable of it she would have slammed it. She felt almost blind with anger, the walk back to her horse was a blur of gray walls. Her thoughts were racing faster than she could keep up with and she wanted to bend over and throw up. Uncilo had most likely been planning this for lengths, had been keeping his intentions under wraps and pushing Theo to be a staple amongst Corinspian politics. He had taught her everything she knew about it, he had made sure when she left his crew she would be ready to run her own and also deal with other pirates. To think he didn't have any other intentions with it was foolish of Theo, maybe Ava was right. He wasn't a good person.

But Theo felt guilty for even thinking that which added to her turmoil. Uncilo had been good to her. She had helped him and he helped them. It was more than his legacy, it was about keeping Corinspe under good management and control. It was about having a head that would try their best to avoid a split within the pirates. He probably had selfless reasons for saying what he had but Theo wanted no part in politics. Not Baethan nor Corinspian. Theo had her crew and that is where her loyalties lied, no one and nothing else could shake that.

Theo got onto her horse and began to ride towards the city. She needed to shop around and tie up some loose ends before they set sail, it would be a needed distraction. All Theo thought about on the way back to town were Uncilo's words and how she reacted to them. She had not yelled or gotten into a fight with her old captain since she was on his crew and just a kid. He had brought out a visceral reaction from her that was fueled mostly by frustration at him but also fear that he would actually go through with it. That she would wind up as head of the council.

He had practically told her to behave and if he believed that the best way to get her to behave was to dangle a nomination above her head, he was sorely mistaken. If the elders didn't go for her, there would be no winning the nomination. They already didn't like her so her work was going to be easy and Uncilo's plans would be foiled. From that point forward, Theo would do everything in her power to piss off the people who decided council heads.

-----------------

Ava was curled up in her bed, a large blanket pulled around her shoulder warming her up. She was sitting up with a steaming mug of tea in one hand and a book in another. She had spent most of her sun in her cabin, packing for the upcoming trip and reading when the packing got too overwhelming. She had picked up a book about Baethos, which was most of what was in her personal library, and as always she had gotten very engrossed in the pages.

Time was a foreign concept to Ava while reading and she had let the sun fall out of the sky and plunge her room into darkness before she could properly prepare for it. She was climbing out of bed to go find a candle to light her room with when there was a knock on the door. Her heart started to beat a little faster, maybe it was Theo and she was back. It had been two suns and that was the length of time Theo said she would stay behind at The Grotto. She almost tripped over herself on her way to the door and she opened it with a huge smile.

Her smile dropped when she saw who it was and her chest deflated a bit, "Oh, hi, Mor."

Morgana laughed, "Expecting someone else?"

"Sorry, it is always nice to see you," Ava flashed Morgana a smile.

"Good, because I am here to invite you to come party with us," Morgana said.

"It's the hundredth night in a row we party, are you not tired? Can we not stay in tonight?" Ava groaned and threw her head back a bit.

"No, and absolutely not," Morgana reached into the room and grabbed her.

"Mor!" Ava laughed and tried her hardest to pull against the impossibly tight grip on her arm, "I am not even dressed."

"What you have on is fine," Morgana said and kept dragging Ava down the hallway, her door still wide open.

Ava thought it best to give up the fight and let Morgana drag her along. She would show up to whatever pub they walked into looking like a fool, it couldn't be more embarrassing than the ridiculous antics they had undertaken while drunk the previous few nights. But Morgana didn't lead them off the ship. Instead, she cleared the stairs, walked onto the deck, and tugged Ava in the direction of Theo's quarters. Her heart swelled again, Theo was back and they were about to spend some time together.

Morgana opened the door and Ava crossed the threshold, but the room was missing the one person she wanted to see. Theo was nowhere to be found but the two officers she had stayed back with were. Cooker was sitting atop one of Theo's dressers; it was taller than an average one and she probably had to climb a bit to be properly situated. Xyra was next to the desk in her signature chair. Tuni was sitting next to Xyra, sharing a tightly rolled cigarette filled with havcera. Ava found it odd that Tuni was partaking in any sort of substance but she kept any comment to herself. Tuni was also drinking earlier so she deduced it was probably a Corinspe thing, pirates let loose there, more so than usual.

Morgana made her way over to her partner, standing behind her and placing her hands on either of Tuni's shoulders, "I have returned with our beloved quartermaster."

Tuni reached up and offered Morgana a puff from the havcera which she accepted.

"Where is Theo?" Ava asked as she made her way over to Theo's bed and sat down.

"Great to see you too, Red," Cooker joked, "last time we saw you, you were naked on Theo's floor."

"Are you able to put yourself to good use and provide me with drugs, drug dealer? Or are you just going to talk all night," Ava said in a challenging tone.

Cooker's comment had been a joke, Ava was a part of the crew now and getting hassled by her crewmates was going to be a frequent occurrence in the future. Ava's comment though was not meant to be taken as a joke. They hadn't spoken to each other much since the morning Cooker came storming in and yelling at Ava. Ava was still upset with the way Cooker handled things but she had a feeling that Cooker was just projecting her panic at the moment into anger towards Ava and it wouldn't happen again. Being snappy with Cooker fulfilled a need in Ava's soul and she could now consider them even.

Cooker looked angry and her eyes narrowed in Ava's direction. The redhead thought that maybe she had taken it too far and aggressive banter from Ava was not going to be tolerated. But instead, Cooker eased up the stern expression and laughed before hopping off the dresser. She walked over to Ava and dropped something on the bed before walking behind Theo's desk and sitting in Theo's chair.

Ava watched as Cooker began to get a cigarette ready and then looked down at what had been dropped off on the bed. She recognized it as the weapon that had been displayed during the pirate meeting, the handcannon. Ava made sure to point, what she assumed was where it fired from, far away from her. She picked it up with delicate fingers, afraid that one wrong move would cause it to go off.

"It's not loaded," Cooker said from behind the desk. Ava was confused about what that meant and Cooker could tell, "it works like a cannon. Means it won't fire unless it has powder and it's loaded."

"Why'd you give this to me?" Ava pinched the handle between two fingers and held it away from her.

"As an officer on this ship and quartermaster you have a vested interest in all matters that pertain to this crew and its safety," Xyra said, "important that you know what one of these looks like and how it works."

"How does it work?" Ava set it down on the edge of the bed, a comfortable distance away. She still wasn't convinced it wouldn't go off and blow them up.

Cooker was going to say something but Morgana cut her off. She rushed over to the edge of the bed and picked up the handcannon holding it confidently in her hands. Morgana began to explain how it worked, pointing to places on the weapon while going through the steps. Morgana had clearly spent the past suns in Corinspe studying and using handcannons because she spent a long while going over it. Ava had been given her havcera and was halfway through her cigarette by the time Morgana was done.

"I feel like that could have been explained in less than a minute," Ava commented when Morgana had finished and she was met with one glare and many laughs. Ava offered some of her cigarette to Morgana as an apology which she happily accepted.

From then on, their conversation strayed away from weapons and they spoke about what had been going on in Corinspe in the past suns. Who went out to which pubs, which captains were still present, who was at odds with who. Ava normally would have been interested but her mind kept wandering to Theo. It had only been a few suns and yet her heart ached for the Captain, how would she survive for three cycles?

The havcera ran out and was replaced with another drug and then another, all able to be mixed together, or at least Ava hoped. Oceane was the next to join them and to Ava's surprise, Blue was right behind her. Ava and Oceane had been spending most of their nights together at different pubs and taverns and so there wasn't much time to spend talking about feelings and Blue and Theo. The small conversation they did have revealed that yes, Oceane and Blue had been sleeping together but Oceane neither wanted anything more to happen nor expected it to last past this Corinspian trip. Ava called bullshit but only time could tell. When they spoke of Theo, Oceane said nothing. Ava just received a squeal and a hug instead, Ava could safely assume Oceane was okay with it. Overjoyed even. Ava was pretty sure Oceane had bet on it.

After Oceane, a steady stream of pirates rolled in and they soon had every officer in the room but the one who led them was still missing and Ava's gut twisted with worry. No one else seemed to be bothered by the absence of Theo and maybe Ava eventually needed to learn how to adopt the pirate attitude of nonchalance.

A drinking game which Ava had never heard of was suggested by Navi and there was a clamor of agreeance then a shuffle of people fluttering in and out of room to get what was needed. Not even five minutes later, five full bottles of rum lined Theo's desk, a full glass was in each of their hands, and Blue had been kicked out to the street. The game was explained to Ava but Ava was three ravci cigarettes into the night and there was not much she absorbed from the explanation of the game.

Every person had a number that was given to them in the order in which they were sitting. Ava was the last one to be counted so she received the number nine. The person whose turn it was, the chancer, had to roll a pair of dice and whatever number it landed on, they had to make up something about the person with the corresponding number. It could be a guess as to something they had done in the past or something they would probably do. If the chancer decided to make a guess as to what their person had done in the past, the accused either confirmed or denied the accusation. If the chancer was correct, the accused would drink if not the chancer would drink. If the chancer decided to guess something that the accused person would do, the others playing had a role. The chancer would suggest something that the accused would most likely do and the other players either had to decide whether it was within the accused's personality or not. If the majority agreed, the accused would drink if not the chancer would; a tie meant both drank.

It wasn't until everyone else had gone and it was her turn to go that she understood the premise of the game. She rolled her dice, 12. No one was assigned the number 12 so it was a free pick. She picked Morgana, having noticed that the vanguard leader had slipped under the radar for the round. Ava was tempted to do something obvious so she could win, but that was frowned upon in the game. So instead of saying she bet that Morgana had killed someone, which she obviously had, Ava suggested something else.

"I bet Morgana a drink that her and Tuni have had sex in a public place," Ava said and was met with a loud laugh from Morgana.

"Drink," Morgana said with a smirk and put her arm around Tuni, "my lady and I are classy."

Ava brought her drink to her lips and took a sip, her face screwing up in disgust. Straight rum was not something she really liked all too much. Soon enough it was someone else's turn and she was the one being accused. Xyra leaned forward and narrowed her eyes, attempting to think of something that would get her a win.

"I bet a drink that if any of us were to get kidnapped, it would be Ava," Xyra said and then leaned back in her chair when she was happy with her accusation.

Ava laughed at that, "There is no context to that, no reason, and no logic. I don't see how that was a fair shot."

"Fine," Xyra crossed her arms, "if there was a situation in which there was a clear trap that we all knew to avoid, Ava would walk right into it without realizing and get herself kidnapped."

"I see that happening," Navi supported Xyra, cheaters.

One by one, each person cast their votes and it was unanimously decided she would accidently get abducted without realizing it. What added salt to the wound was not that she was assumed to be clueless or that it was unanimously agreed upon, it was that unbeknownst to her, on a unanimous ruling the accused had to finish their drink. For Ava, her drink was almost full and she had a very unpleasant time getting it all down. The game carried on and the night grew later and later. Ava was so engrossed in the game that she barely had another thought of Theo; until the captain barged in that is.

They were all laughing at Pearl who had to chug her drink, due to yet another secret rule that Ava hadn't caught in the instructions when Theo practically threw her door open. The captain took two steps in, a scowl etched on her face, before stopping and looking around the room. Her face dropped from anger and instead sported some confusion. She was so preoccupied with whatever was on her mind that she hadn't paid attention to the noise cabin from her cabin or the pirates inside until she herself was inside.

"Can I help you?" Theo said.

"One of our last nights together," Cooker said and took a sip of her drink, "we're playing I bet."

Theo raised an eyebrow, "What version?"

"The best one," Morgana chuckled.

"Dice roll determines the accused," Iona replied helpfully then added, "so, the best one."

"Wager?"

"Drinks," Xyra answered.

"And the drink?"

"Rum," Cooker held up a bottle.

Theo chuckled and peeled off her coat then threw it at Cooker, "Count me in."

Cooker huffed and pushed the coat off of her and poured Theo a drink, they had saved one glass for her, expecting her arrival. Theo grabbed the drink from Cooker and turned on her heel, looking for a place to sit. Her eyes caught with Ava's and she felt the anger that had been lingering in her chest all sun begin to dissipate. A temporary distraction but a distraction nonetheless. Theo made a beeline for her bed, with Ava on it, without breaking their eye contact.

"Is there space on this bed for one more?" Theo asked, directly at Ava even though there were others on the bed.

There was some shuffling, the others moving around the make room.

"May I?" The asked.

Ava smiled, "This is your bed, is it not?"

Theo finally broke their stare and slid into bed, the space made for her was conveniently situated right behind Ava. Theo settled in and then pulled Ava back to lean against her chest. Ava melted right in and Theo would likely never get over how perfectly they slotted against each other. Theo let the others fade into the background as she stared at the redhead in her arms, her redhead. Theo could only see her profile and her hair but even that was enough to make her chest feel light. It wasn't until someone bet against her that she was pulled from her admiration session.

Theo let the presence of her officers calm her, the pissed-off energy present in her body from her early meeting with Uncilo became hidden away. Not gone, but not present. She was going to enjoy her time with her crew, damn anyone who came in the way. The voices and the laughs of those around her filled the air for the next several hours and her worries seemingly melted away. Slowly, people filtered out and took the chaos with them. The last to go was Iona, who stayed back engaged in a passionate discussion with Ava. Theo didn't know quite what it was about, if she had to guess it was architecture. Iona was fascinated with it and Ava would listen to a lesson on just about any topic.

Theo was twisting a piece of hair at the nape of Ava's neck when the door shut and Theo looked up to see Iona out of the picture.

"She left?" Theo asked.

Ava looked back at Theo and a sweet sound filled the air, her laugh, "Yes Theo, she said goodbye to you and everything."

Theo looked to the door as if that would bring Iona back, and she frowned a bit, "Well, that was rude of me."

"She could tell you were distracted, I'm sure you're good in her book," Ava leaned all of the way back into Theo's chest and Theo's arms wrapped around the girl, "You've been quiet for most of the night. Everything okay?"

"Aye," Theo nodded and pressed a kiss to Ava's shoulder, "been away from large groups for so long I forgot how to function within them."

"Captain Theo, the anti-socialite," Ava hummed, her eyes fluttering up to stare at the ceiling.

Theo let the conversation fizzle after a soft laugh at Ava's comment. She was not angry any longer, the time with her friends having dissolved that feeling, but the knot in her stomach over Uncilo's revelations had not faded. Neither of them spoke, Theo unable to come up with something to say and Ava not wanting to push a conversation where there was none. Theo didn't mind the silence though, it filled every nook in her room and settled. lulling them into a peaceful moment. The only movement was Theo's fingers tracing patterns on one of Ava's arms.

"What have you been doing since you've been back in town?" Theo asked after what seemed like almost half an hour of quiet.

There was no response. Theo titled her head and jostled Ava a bit which caused her to roll her head back onto Theo's shoulder and Theo got a good look at her face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open as small puffs left her parted lips. Theo smiled to herself and shifted out from under Ava carefully. Mindful not to wake her, Theo made sure Ava's head was resting on a pillow and she was under warm blankets before she went to her desk. She pulled out a leather pouch and a small box then padded to her balcony.

Theo slid onto the ground and crossed her legs, looking out towards the hypnotic motion of the waves for a while before she brought her attention back to the items that had accompanied her outside. She opened her pouch and pulled out a pipe and began to stuff it. During the expedition for information, there would be little time to partake in any sort of leisurely or piratey pleasure and she was going to take advantage of having at least a few more suns without any true responsibility.

Theo let herself smoke from the pipe until her head felt like it was going to float off of her body and slip into the darkness of the night sky. Only then was she brave enough to open the little box she had brought out. She snapped it open and held the object inside between two fingers as she lifted it out of its home. It was the golden snake that Pika had gifted to her the morning before her death. Theo had locked it away shortly after returning to the ship that fateful night on Alenroux and hadn't so much as glanced at it since.

Theo felt like she was better though, or healing at least. She had made sure to ask that Riva guide them in the afterlife, she had come to terms with their passing, and she had talked it out with her family, Xyra and Cooker. The necklace was no longer something she was afraid of, something she could not face because of unresolved issues. Theo stood up and held it in the moonlight, admiring the craftsmanship of the piece. She opened the clasp on it and slipped the necklace around her neck, she was going to wear it proudly.

A chapter of danger, uncertainty, and unexpected gains balanced by unexpected losses was coming to an end and she was opening the book on a new chapter. One with a clear mission, with the opportunity to strike where it counted, the chance to fight back and protect what she held dearest. Theo tried and failed to fasten the necklace around her neck. She was fumbling with the clasp when a pair of warm hands covered her cold ones.

"Let me," a voice said, Ava.

Theo felt her heart skip a beat and her breath was caught in her throat. She let her hands fall to her side and let Ava secure the snake and dagger around her neck. When she was done, Ava wrapped her arms around Theo and put her chin on Theo's shoulder. Theo closed her eyes and let herself melt into the warmth holding her, letting herself bask in Ava's aura. The girl that had made a tumultuous few cycles easier to handle. The girl that had helped to make sure there was another chapter to write. The girl that had integrated herself into the family and seeped into every corner of Theo's reality.

"Thank you," Theo whispered.

Ava pressed a kiss to her shoulder, "Welcome."

"What have you been doing since you rode back to town?" Theo asked, running her fingertips along Ava's arm.

"Composing epics and poems about how much I missed you."

Theo could hear the smile on Ava's face and she laughed at the girl, "Can I hear one?"

"Aye," Ava laughed and let go of Theo and Theo turned around to face her, "There is a Captain. Captain Theo. Some say she controls the sea. Some say she controls death itself. I say she is just okay, I suppose."

"The romance, the drama, the genius of that poem will be one that is talked about for ages," Theo feigned a dramatic moan out and held her hand over her heart, "Someone contact the queen of poets and inform them there is a new monarch vying for the throne."

"Sorry to tell you I'll be renouncing my title as a pirate and becoming a creator of the arts," Ava chuckled and Theo watched as her eyes shamelessly fluttered between Theo's lips and her eyes.

Theo took the hint and closed the gap between them, bringing a hand back to hold the back of Ava's neck as they crashed their lips together. Soft lips pushed against each other's, tongues slipping out slightly to find each other. Theo felt her soul relax, like Theo was sick from lack of affection Ava's lips were the medicine she needed. It was like drinking water after a few hours working on deck in the sun.

Theo's hands found their favorite spot, Ava's hips. When she found purchase there, she used the newfound leverage to walk them back against the wall and away from the railing they were near. Theo pressed Ava into the wall and Ava instinctively lifted her legs up to wrap around Theo's waist.

They stayed like that for a while, sharing passionate yet sloppy kisses while Theo held Ava up. The only thing that pulled them from their small balcony oasis were shouts from the dock. Theo broke the kiss and slowly let Ava back down on the ground.

"Best not give any drunken sailors a show, huh," Theo said in a low voice, tone thick and laced with want.

"Right," Ava confirmed, a bit out of breath.

Theo laughed softly at how much Ava was also affected by just kissing and she pressed their foreheads together. Theo closed her eyes, taking in the moment. Soon, they would be oceans apart and Theo wouldn't get to steal steamy kisses on the balcony. Ava stayed still, unmoving, presumably also basking in Theo's presence.

Her peace was shattered when thoughts of Uncilo crept back into her head, refusing to be ignored. She was going to be forced to face the reality that Uncilo expected more of her than simply running her ship and being a strong voice during meetings. Theo had threatened to leave if that was Uncilo's choice and she would have to think seriously about the threat and if she meant it. Would she go rogue just to prove a point and alienate her crew from the safety Corinspe provided or would she go along with her nomination and botch her chances when elections came around. Either way, she hoped it wasn't a subject she had to deal with for a long time. She wished endless good health on Uncilo.

Theo felt a hand cup her cheek and she opened her eyes to see Ava already staring at her, slightly concerned.

"What's on your mind?" Ava asked, thumb running along Theo's cheek and jawline.

Theo pulled her forehead away with a slight smile and a shake to her head. She wouldn't even know where to begin or how to preface the situation. On top of everything, Ava already didn't like Uncilo. Theo didn't know if Ava would take her upset attitude as further confirmation for Ava's bad opinions of him.

"Doesn't matter. Just pirate captain things."

Ava reached out to Theo and fixed her shirt that had gotten ruffled earlier, "As the quartermaster and an officer aboard your pirate vessel I feel like I should be privy to your pirate captain things."

Theo rolled her eyes a bit at the playful tone with heavy notes of seriousness lying underneath. Ava raised an eyebrow, challenging Theo to debate what she said. Ava was right but Theo really didn't want to get into it. Plus, there was a chain of command that information had to be passed through first.

"You'll be privy to it soon enough," Theo pulled Ava's hand away from her cheek and kissed her knuckles, "I should probably tell Xy and Cook first."

"Mm, probably," Ava shrugged and sighed, "so if you aren't going to answer my questions, what else is left to do."

"I can think of a few things," Theo wiggled her eyebrows, but she was never quite good at it and probably looked ridiculous if Ava's laugh was any indication. Ava took Theo's hand and led them inside, letting Theo know she could also think of a few things they could do.

-------

Theo was laying on her side, hand tucked under her cheek and elbow supporting most of her weight. Ava was on the other side of the room, rummaging through one of Theo's dresser drawers. Her tongue was sticking out in concentration, something Ava tended to do when she was honed in on a task. Her slender fingers gingerly scavenged Theo's messy drawer until she found what she wanted. A small clear bottle with a brown liquid in it. It was an oil that made hair smell good and feel soft, Theo had given some to Ava a while back and the redhead had been obsessed with it since.

They had been lounging in bed after having reacquainted themselves with each other's bodies when Theo had made a joking comment about Ava smelling bad. The other girl had been bewildered at the accusation of smelling and rushed to the dresser to right the situation at once. Even when Theo had told her it was just to mess with Ava, the quest for the hair oil did not end. Once Ava found it, she put some on her hands and ran it through her short curls. Her fingers would reach the end of her stretched out curls and they would bounce right back into place when she let go.

Theo took advantage of the angle she had of Ava and quietly watched her. Ava had on only a silky white shirt. It was Theo's and it was far too big for her, her shoulder popped out of the opening of the shirt. While big, it wasn't too long on her so her legs were on display. The slight candlelight coming from various points in the room illuminated her features in a way that made her looked ethereal; like she belonged with the gods.

Theo didn't know whether Ava was this striking to everyone or if Theo was just under her spell, but she hoped it wasn't the former. She had enough on her plate with fighting The Center, rivals, and the ocean; the last thing she needed was to have to fend off potential suitors. Ava was hers and she would let no one get in the way of that. Theo made it a point in her life to work to give people their freedom and possessiveness ran contrary to that philosophy. But Theo couldn't help how she felt, the fierce fire in her belly that wanted to keep Ava closer, wanted to keep her safe, wanted the world to know she was Theo's.

The captain could sit still no longer; she was drawn to the redhead, a never-ending ebb of want. Theo stood up and walked over to where Ava was fluffing her hair in the mirror on top of Theo's dresser. Theo put her arms on either side of Ava, trapping her between Theo and the furniture. Ava barely acknowledged Theo's presence, trying to act annoyed with the captain over her earlier comments.

They locked eyes in the mirror and Theo stopped breathing. A sudden wave of fear washed over her. They were soon to be apart and when they were apart, Theo could not guarantee her safety. The only way to ensure Ava would come back to her was to never separate in the first place. Theo thought back to their conversation on the beach, the one about running away and it didn't seem like so bad of an idea. The dangers facing pirates, the impending separation, the looming nomination that could happen at any moment, all of that would be gone if she left.

"Run away with me," Theo said without even thinking about it.

Ava just laughed and shook her head.

"I'm serious. We'll get a boat like the one I talked about, one I could sail by myself. We'll visit every coastal Baethan city ever founded," Theo said and Ava's head snapped up and her fingers stopped their movement, stuck in her hair.

They stared at each other in the mirror for a few seconds before Ava glanced back at Theo with a concerned look on her face. She turned around to face Theo, "T..."

Theo heart lurched at the name. Ava had used it from time to time and Theo loved the way it sounded coming from Ava's mouth, "Say the word and we run."

Ava furrowed her brow and brought up both of her hands to frame Theo's face. Her eyes searched Theo's face, looking for a hint as to what she was thinking, "Theo, whatever you think you can't do, you can."

"What?"

"Whatever it is you're planning on running from, don't," Ava brushed a bit of Theo's hair out of her face. She didn't even know what Theo was worried about, "You're capable of whatever it is you are facing. You can fight it or achieve it, whatever the context, you will come out on top with the outcome you want. I have seen the willpower you have, I know it to be true."

Ava might not have known the details of Theo's dilemma but she had pinpoint accurate advice as if she could read Theo's thoughts. Theo didn't want to deal with what was to come with the pirate council, she didn't want to fail during her expedition for information, she didn't want to steer those that followed her into death's clutches but she had to. She had a crew, she had a family, she had an obligation, and she had people depending on her. This was the life she had chosen.

"I'll stop this crazy talk for now," Theo removed Ava's hand from her face and kissed her hand, "but I mean it. Say the word and I'll drop everything and go with you."

"That's a bold statement," Ava's voice was barely above a whisper.

"We've been over this, exal," Theo matched her volume, "I'm a bold person. Bold statements come with the territory."

"What if I take you up on your offer one sun, hm? What then?" Ava's gaze into Theo's eyes was intense, green locked onto brown.

"Then I will bid farewell to my life as a pirate and I will sail the seas with you," Theo admitted with ease, there was rarely a time where Theo told a lie and she wasn't in the business of tarnishing her credibility.

"Theo," Ava's breath caught in her throat. Almost scandalized by the mere thought of Theo giving up her life as a pirate so easily.

"Every sun I spend apart from you, my feelings for you creep up more and more," Theo confessed, "they're dizzying, the intensity in which they hit me when I think of you is alarming. I mean what I say, Ava, I would drop it all for you."

"You always woo me with your words as if you haven't already got me under whatever spell you put on me," Ava rolled her eyes but Theo could tell that she was trying to deflect from the attention on her. Ava's cheeks were bright red and not even the dim light could hide the somewhat shy face she sported.

"Gotta keep the spell alive by uttering morre wooing words," Theo played along and leaned in for a kiss but Ava didn't meet her halfway. Theo pulled away, "What?"

Ava didn't answer. She just looked at Theo with large, saucer eyes. Wide and somewhat exhilarated. The small tiny pieces of machinery were grinding away behind her eyes to fuel the thoughts going through her head. Theo could tell Ava had her thinking face on, a million things to say and too many to choose from.

"What?" Theo asked again and somewhat of a nervous laugh escaped her lips.

"I can't say it," Ava shook her head.

Theo raised an eyebrow, "What can't you say?"

"What I want to say."

The unspoken words hung in the air. Ava didn't have to utter them for Theo to know what she wanted to say, Theo felt it too. The three words in Common that Theo had only uttered a few times in her life towards a partner. The three words that had been at the tip of her tongue for longer than she cared to admit.

"And why can't you say it?" Theo asked and pressed herself closer to Ava, face leaning in closer to hers. As if challenging her to resist Theo, asking her to give in and say what Theo wanted her to say.

"Because then you will say it too. And I don't want to hear those words come out of your mouth and then have to live without hearing them again for three cycles. I don't want to hear you say it and then you don't return to me" Ava admitted, "I want to say it and then keep saying it. I want to hear it and then hear it endlessly."

Theo felt Ava's words in her gut. Ava was right. If she heard those words and then Ava was taken from her, Theo would be devastated. She could hold off for three cycles, she could wait until the moment was right.

"You make a fair argument, Red," Theo said as she leaned in and pressed a kiss to Ava's cheek, "Come back to bed with me."

"I am on a mission to smell good," Ava shook her head and turned back to the mirror as she ran her hands through her head.

"You're punishing me for making a joke," Theo tried to turn her around but Ava stood her ground.

"For being rude," Ava corrected and Theo rolled her eyes, making sure Ava caught it in the mirror.

"Were my romantic words not enough to forgive my actions?" Theo stepped away from the dresser and began to back up towards her bed, "Have I not proved my affection for you?"

"You can talk your way out of anything, Captain Theo. I am going to need more than words," Ava glanced over at Theo with a bit of mischief in her eyes, "I am going to need an apology."

"A what?" Theo sat down on the bed and crossed her legs, "Ap- Applegy? Sorry I am not familiar with the term."

Ava laughed from her belly as she finally peeled herself away from the mirror and began to walk towards the bed, "Say you are sorry."

"What good will it do me?" Theo crossed her arms too and looked up at Ava as she towered over the side of the bed.

Ava scoffed, "Selfish pirates."

"Oi," It was Theo's turn to laugh. Theo reached out and pulled Ava onto the bed in a way that she unceremoniously landed next to Theo. Theo leaned over, supporting herself on her forearms as she kissed Ava softly, "I'm sorry."

"Was that so hard?" Ava asked and Theo nodded which earned her a slap on the chest. Theo fell back onto the bed and Ava took her chance to climb on top of Theo, "For your trouble, I will reward you."

Theo felt Ava grab her wrists and pin them above her head. Theo licked her lips and couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her face as she watched Ava lean in. It was going to be a fun night