"Who is it?" Dante whispered as they listened to people moving about above them. "And why is everyone discovering this on the same day? We jumped out of a plane yesterday. Jo and her team should be on the other side of the Philippines by now". Another thud sounded above them and there was loud voices. 

"I think she's closer than you expected", Sully commented. Something exploded in the distance. 

"It is her", Nate stated grimly as he peered through the open cannon hatch. 

"We'd better get smaller. Or in your cases, smaller". Sully glanced around for a place to hide. 

"Hey". Nate pointed a finger at him. "You're only like one inch taller than me, max". Dante didn't care for the insult to his hight. He was zipping more gold into the zip up pockets of his cargos while the other two were busy. As soon as his zip up pockets were full, he stood up. 

"I think its a little more than that, kid". 

Nate just ignored Sully. "Dante, follow me. I know where to go". Dante was on his tail as Nate led them back up to the captain's quarters. He peered under the desk and began kicking at the floorboards underneath. 

"Hidden space?" Dante muttered as Nate over the hidden trapdoor to reveal a dark space underneath. "Sneaky". 

"You go first". Nate waved. Unafraid, Dante easily slipped down and wriggled his way into the corner. The space wasn't very big and it smelt of mould and dust. The three of them would be able to fit but it would be a very tight squeeze with all other boxes of smuggled goods down there. It seemed like the space was more for secret storage than just a hideaway. 

"I'm not getting in there", Sully complained. 

"Hey you either stay up there and get shot or come down for a quick cuddle. Up to you but I'm going down". Nate sipped through and wormed his way in to press close to Dante's side. Above, they heard Sully groan before there were several thumps of the man climbing down. 

"Be quiet", Dante hissed as Sully pushed the trap door closed behind him. 

"Move over". He nudged Nate until the man was half on Dante's lap. 

Above, several loud noises of boots on wood echoed. They fell silent. Dante's hands gripping Nate's waist as their hearts thudded in their ears. The footsteps grew closer. All three of them peering up through the cracks in the floorboards as one of Jo's goons entered the room. Dante held his breath, counting the seconds until the man moved away. The trapdoor left undiscovered. 

Sully exhaled loudly and Dante scowled at him. "What is it with you and small spaces?" the older muttered at Nate. "And you too North. Remember that coffin incident?" 

"You weren't even there for the coffin incident", Dante's scowl deepened. "How do you even know?" 

"Sam told me". 

"Right". 

Nate wriggled and Dante pulled him further towards him until he was fully seated on his lap. "Something was digging into me". He rummaged around in the space he had just vacated and pulled out an aged and dusty bottle. There was wax on the cork and the label was so faded that the writing was long gone. Nate hummed at the discovery. 

"Don't even think about it", Sully warned. 

"Oh I'm thinking about it". Nate grinned and uncorked the bottle. 

"Is it rum?" Dante asked. 

The bottle popped open. "Oh my god", Sully rolled his eyes as Nate took a swig and immediately began coughing. Dante sniggered and sniffed at the bottle only to get a strong whiff of something very alcoholic. He pulled a face and pushed the bottle away from him. He would have said something if the ship didn't choose that moment to give a huge shudder. The whole thing began creaking and swaying under them. Objects clattering at the movement and the aged frame protesting. 

The three of them didn't even have to say anything before Nate was lifting himself steadily up to push open the trapdoor and peer through. Sully worming his way in next to him. "Get out of the way", Dante gave them a shove. Nate hopped out of the hold first and held a hand to pull Dante up after him. 

"What? No help for me?" Sully huffed as he clumsily climbed out. 

"I think you're doing fine", Nate smirked as Dante brushed cobwebs off his clothes. 

Sully had walked on a few steps ahead into the canon deck. He peered up through the grate. "Oh Jesus. She's flying the ships out. And us with them". 

"She wouldn't", Dante huffed as he stepped up to peer up at small patches of sky visible through the grate. He could just about make out the black shape of a helicopter hovering above the cave skylight. "If this goes wrong then this could be very bad". 

"What do you mean she's flying us out?" Nate exclaimed. His words were answered by the ship lurching violently to the side as it was hoisted up. Dante stumbled and Nate grabbed him by the arm, steadying him as they began to rise into the sky. 

"Shit", Dante cursed as he found his footing. Sully had thudded into the wall, almost breaking through it, but was back upright and stomping away to where they left the gold. 

"The boat is full of it", Dante reminded as he watched the man start to fill his backpack with gold. 

"Just in case", Sully huffed. Dante wondered if the man had noticed him and Nate filling their pockets earlier. It seemed that he had missed it. 

Nate tugged a old cutlass from were it was caught between two boxes. He held it up, noting the still slightly sharp edge. "You can give them tetanus?" Dante suggested. 

"Hey that's nice", Sully commented as he rose. "Can I see that?" 

"Real nice huh?" Nate grinned as he handed it over. "Want to go and show them what's what?" 

"Let's go". Sully strode away with the sword and Nate scowled at him. 

"You kidding me?" He turned to Dante with a gesture at Sully's retreating back. 

Dante just shrugged with a chuckle. He picked up a large knife he found on another crate and handed it over. "This better? Stop pouting". 

"I wasn't pouting", Nate protested as he took the blade. "What about you?"

Dante glanced around the hold for anything that might be useful. After a few seconds he spotted a old unlit touch resting on the ground. He picked it up and gave the wooden stick a few swings. It was old but still held a good weight. "Think I could play baseball?" He smirked. 

"You'd knock them out of the park", Nate grinned. 

Sully entered the hold and eyed them. "Come on! We haven't got all day". 

"Don't be a spoilsport Sully", Dante grinned as he and Nate finally got moving. "We can rush off to get killed in a second". 

Sully rolled his eyes. "I swear introducing you two was a mistake. I regretted so many times". 

"I definitely don't". Dante swung his free arm over Nate's shoulders. "How else would we have met?" He placed a large kiss to Nate's cheek and felt the other man grin at the affection. 

"Yeah", Nate chimed in. "How else would I have met my boyfriend". 

Sully turned his eyes upward as if seeking help from the heavens. "Oh god you're dating. I did not think you dated North. I have unleashed evil upon myself by introducing you two". 

"I do date. But only the right people". 

"Stop being dramatic Sully", Nate teased. "We have gold to steal". 

That brought the man back down to earth. "Right. Let's get a move on before you two start eating each other's faces or some shit". Sully shouldered his backpack and marched off, ignoring Dante and Nate sniggering behind him. 

unedited 

they are dating and they are going to make it Sully's problem.