Fic: And A Star To Steer Her By, part three | Remus/Sirius, James/Lily, Hestia/Emmeline, Remus/OMCs

[ceredwensirius]

And A Star To Steer Her By, part two
The following morning after breakfast, Lily and Remus set out to visit the tailor. Coming up the walk to the tailor’s door, it opened and out stepped a tall, rather good–looking blond. He greeted Lily warmly and shook Remus’ hand. They talked for a moment, and Remus picked up that he was in textiles and also quite wealthy. Lily smiled knowingly throughout the whole interchange and invited the man to stop by the Stag and Doe. When he walked away, the man looked back once at Remus with a small smile which Remus returned. He was rather good–looking, after all, and a bit of a flirt.

When they entered the shop, a slight, short man with a shiny pate and small paunch walked out of a rear door, his quick, light steps propelling him over almost comically.

“Lily, Lily, Lily,” he trilled. “So, is this the Mr. Lupin you were telling me about yesterday?”

“Mr. Faraday,” said Lily warmly. “Yes, yes it is.” She kissed the man’s cheek and gave Remus a little push forward.

The tailor walked around Remus, looking him up and down, plucking at his clothes, adjusting them, the whole time tutting under his breath. Remus felt like a prize cow being evaluated for sale.

“Well, Lily, I’ll just need to get his measurements. I’ve a few things started that I can alter to fit him,” he said finally, frowning at James’ borrowed clothes.

“That sounds fine, Mr. Faraday,” said Lily. “I’ve a list of a few additional things I’d like for him as well.”

Lily handed him a list and the man looked it over, murmuring to himself about what she wanted. Then he took Remus’ measurements and once again Remus felt like he was being evaluated. The man’s touch was light but also lingering in certain areas, such as apex where his thigh met his body, almost intimate and rather disconcerting.

And then he was done, stepping lightly away like a bird fluttering up to light on a branch. He brought a few pieces out for Lily to consider, holding them each up to Remus and pointing out where he would let things out or take things in. They spoke for a moment, Lily and Mr. Faraday, discussing Remus’ wardrobe without ever asking for his input. Not that he had any input, really, but it was another reminder that in his whole life, the things he was allowed to really make choices about were few and far between.

“Ready, Remus?” asked Lily. He looked up and saw Mr. Faraday disappearing into the back once again. He nodded and let Lily take him by the arm, guiding him back out into the bright Caribbean sun.

*

“Do you think you’re ready for your first customer?” Lily had come in to Remus’ room to visit with him a few hours later. He’d spent the day mentally preparing himself for what he was to do, going over what Lily had detailed as his customer’s request.

“It’s… a little – unusual – isn’t it?”

“I’ve long since given up labeling things unusual,” said Lily. “It’s not too much, is it?”

Remus looked up, resolved. “No, it isn’t. I can do this, I’ve just never – I mean on board the ship it was all very quick, wasn’t it? Nothing near so, er…”

Lily nodded. “I imagine it was all quick wanks or sucks, wasn’t it?”

Remus looked at his shoes and blushed a little, nodding.

“If I told you that you had already met him, would that help?”

Remus looked up. “It might.”

“The man from the tailor shop this afternoon. See, that’s not so bad, is it?”

Remus thought back and remembered the flirtatious blond. That actually wasn’t bad at all.

“No, he was nice. Attractive.”

Lily blinked a little and then patted his hand. “Well, good, then. I’ll just leave you to prepare. He’ll be up in about a half an hour.”

As soon as Lily left, Remus jumped in front of the mirror, straightening his clothes a bit and then ran a brush through his hair. The powder blue waistcoat and white silk undershirt were both a bit too large, hanging a little from his thin frame, but were otherwise acceptable. Behind a canvas screen in his room sat a chamber pot and a shallow basin. He ducked around it and rinsed his mouth with the solution he had brought with him, and then spat into the basin, smelling his breath on his hand.

Satisfied, he hastily straightened his bed, thinking back to the blond, tall and muscular with clear blue eyes. It came as little surprise to Remus that this man, obviously important in the community and wealthy as well, needed to hide his taste for men. His request, what he wanted Remus to do, was nothing Remus had any experience with, but he could already feel his libido responding to the thought of spending time alone with him. He wanted very much to please this beautiful man and keep his secrets. It didn’t hurt that it served as a distraction to avoid thinking about another gorgeous man.

He hadn’t seen Sirius since the altercation with Severus. The pirates had been gearing up for a raid and were all occupied with their ships and loading provisions. Remus had almost gone to the docks to see if he could catch a glimpse of him, but had opted to spend some time visiting with the girls instead. That way led only to heartache, and since he was done with sailing, and Sirius was not, it only made sense.

When the light, melodic knock came at the door, Remus stilled for a moment and went over Lily’s instructions in his mind. He could do this, he could do this, he could do this. He’d been doing similar things since he was seventeen; this just wasn’t that different, not really.

When Remus opened the door, looking up expecting to find a smiling blond–haired, blue–eyed beauty; all he found was empty space.

“Good evening, Mr. Lupin,” came a voice from below his chin line. Remus looked down at the shining pate of the little tailor he had met that afternoon. He had to catch himself lest his disappointment show on his face.

“Mr. Faraday,” he said, not completely keeping the surprise out of his voice.

“You were expecting me?” asked the man, a little uncertainly.

Remus remembered himself and forced a smile. He opened the door wider so the man could enter. “Of course,” he replied, not as pleasantly as he would have liked. “Come in and make yourself comfortable.”

Mr. Faraday flitted through the door, calling to mind a fluttering bird once again. He landed lightly on the bed and smiled at Remus. After closing the door, Remus stared at it for a moment, and then turned around with a pleasant smile affixed to his face.

When they were done, Remus wanted nothing more than to shove the man out the door. “That was very enjoyable, Remus, thank you,” said Mr. Faraday. “I think you’re going to work out fine, once you relax a little and get comfortable with satisfying fantasies and not just base needs. There is a reason Port Royal has been called the Sodom of the New World. Anyone can get anything here – even pretty young men to come on their face.”

Remus didn’t want to hear another word about it; he wanted the man gone. Mr. Faraday wasn’t being deliberately unkind, but as he stood to leave, dropping a sack of coins on the bed, Remus had to suppress the urge to shove him out the door. Once he was finally gone, Remus curled into a ball on his bed, pulled one of Lily’s books into his lap, forcing his mind away from any thought of Mr. Faraday, his payment, or his mention of seeing Remus again next week.

*

The next morning the tavern was filled with exuberant pirates gearing up for a raid. They were low on treasure and their vices demanded that they set out to sea once again. That morning, the Stag and Doe was closed to her usual patrons, catering only to The Marauders, and of course Lily’s stable of prostitutes. Remus watched everything, sitting quietly by himself as the captains barked out orders and the girls flirted, giving the men ample incentive to plunder the riches of the Spanish Main.

Eventually only the captains remained, the other pirates that served under them having gone to prepare the ships to set sail. The captains were finalizing their plans, and with a little sigh, Remus watched Sirius. He was in fine form that morning, jostling and joking and generally behaving like an exuberant puppy. If puppies carried swords and looted for a living, that is.

Remus knew he was torturing himself, but he was still repressing the events of the night before. James looked over and caught Remus watching Sirius, and gave Remus a wide grin. Remus flushed and looked back down at his now empty plate of food.

“So, Remus,” said James loudly, getting everyone’s attention. “Sure you don’t want to come with us?”

Sirius looked intently at Remus, rising a little out of his chair. Remus tried to focus on James and not on the hopeful look on Sirius’ face.

“Is that such a good idea, James?” asked the peg–legged Moody. “Might want to them let shag themselves stupid before putting a distraction like Remus there on Sirius’ boat.”

There was a rumble of laughter from the other pirates. Remus couldn’t believe they were being so open about Sirius’ affection until it hit him that there was a slightly different culture among the captains. These were all men who answered to no one but each other so long as they continued to be successful at what they did.

“Oi!” snarled Sirius, but Remus could see there was no heat behind it. Didn’t change anything, he still wasn’t stepping foot on a ship if he could help it.”

“I’ll just keep an eye on the women, how about,” countered Remus.

“Since when has Lily needed anyone looking after her,” grumbled Sirius. Remus blinked; it was hitting close to the truth, that.

“Aye,” said Moody’s partner Shacklebolt. “I’d wager she does not actually need that one’s help at all. Bit skinny and scrawny, pretty though.”

James shot a sharp look at Sirius, but it was too late. The wheels were already turning. Sirius stalked over to Remus, a squall brewing in his eyes.

“You work for Lily?” he demanded. “She finally got her fucking rent boy and it’s you!”

What was he supposed to say? Sirius knew what he had done aboard the Phoenix Rising, and as much as might like to spit out a retort at the man, Sirius was a pirate and a hot–headed one at that. Denial was stupid, so Remus just looked away.

“You’d rather do that than sail with me, is that it?”

Remus braved the storm in Sirius’ eyes and looked up at him. “Yes,” he replied quietly. At that Sirius spun on his booted heel, pushing over a table in his rage.

“That got his attention,” said James, chuckling quietly. “Won’t be long now, Remus, before he just takes you hostage on that boat of his. I’m sure in the good captain’s quarters he can give you a few dozen reasons to love the sea.”

James might not have understood the sharp cruelty of those words, Remus didn’t know, but the thought of being a hostage on another ship chilled him to the bone. In contrast, the other captains found James quite hilarious, and as Remus exited, their low laughter pushed him out of the tavern and up to his room.

*

It was a week before the sail of Sirius’ ship broke the horizon. Lily had kept him busy with customers and breathed not a word about the row with Sirius. In that week, he had learned from Hestia, the inveterate gossip, that James had mentioned to Moody and Shacklebolt the precise capacity in which Remus worked for Lily. Remus wanted Lily to be furious with James, but from what he could tell, though he didn’t know her that well, this didn’t seem to be the case.

Along with providing anyone who would listen with an ample supply of salacious news, Hestia tittered on about how lovely handsome Captain Black would be with Remus. She and the other girls were enamored of the relationship between Moody and Shacklebolt, and soon Hestia had them all convinced that it would be splendid if Remus and Sirius went the same way.

Which, from where Remus sat, was ridiculous, a farcical daydream. None of them seemed to realize that the obstacle standing in the way to true love and harmony wasn’t just ‘silly Captain Black’ who needed to ‘get over himself.’ Remus was a prostitute, a fact that Sirius found extremely objectionable, not that Remus didn’t understand. Port Royal might be the Sodom of the New World as Mr. Faraday liked to say, but a whore was a whore, and he knew it. He didn’t indulge their fantasies, made no admissions of his feelings, however bloody obvious they might be. Nor did he explain that Sirius wanted a fellow pirate, a man to sail and plunder with, and that if he could help it, Remus would never again serve aboard a ship.

Not that Hestia needed him to blabber on; she was fine under her own power.

That afternoon, with the Marauders returned, there was a festival air among the girls as they readied themselves for the night. More than once his quiet was intruded upon as one of them burst into his room asking for ‘a man’s eye’ on their wardrobe.

He had Mr. Faraday that night, who had opted to conduct their business at his shop to steer clear of boisterous, drunken pirates. As he left to meet the man, he passed by the door to the Den, the loud barking laugh of Sirius sliding under the door to his ears. Remus could well imagine what was going on behind that door, and really, he’d just as soon not entertain such thoughts.

On the returning walk home, Remus took an alley to avoid as much of the city’s merry–making as possible. Pirates in town laden with gold was a cause for celebration as tavern owners got richer off the backs of whomever the pirates had looted. The alley was empty, save for a lone cat wailing its love into the night. He was almost to the main thoroughfare when he heard the footfalls behind him. He wasn’t alarmed, only curious when he turned his head to look. A figure that seemed to be one with the night was moving toward him, the metal of a drawn sword gleaming in the light of the nearly full moon. Remus bolted, turning onto the street and then ducked into the Stag and Doe, fleeing up the stairs to the safety of his room, breathing heavily and drunk on adrenaline.

He hadn’t been able to identify his would be attacker, but it could have been almost anyone. Only one person had threatened him, however, and he had to wonder how serious Severus was about making good on his promise. He considered telling Lily about it, but he was concerned that would only bring him more trouble, so he put that thought aside and decided instead to be more careful. If he hadn’t taken the alley, he would have been in plain view and that was likely the opportunity that Severus had been waiting for, if it was indeed him.

For the rest of the night, he decided to stay in his room and read; Hestia, however, had other ideas. Remus hadn’t even had a chance to toe off his shoes when the knock came. He opened the door to find Hestia along with Emmeline grinning at him. They didn’t wait for him to invite them in, simply pushing their way through and making themselves comfortable on his bed. Quite frankly, he was surprised to see them, and said as much.

“We just wanted to see how you were,” said Emmeline, which only made Remus suspicious. “And to share something with you.”

“Have you ever smoked hashish, Remus?” questioned Hestia. In her fingers was a long, dark pipe made of mahogany wood.

“No, I haven’t,” he replied, eyeing the pipe curiously. “But I have heard of it.”

“It’s marvelous,” cooed Hestia. “Do you want to try some?”

Remus wasn’t entirely sure that he did, but in the Den there was money to be made but here was Hestia and Emmeline taking time out of their busy night to bring him hashish.

“Why aren’t you two in the Den?” he asked, avoiding the question.

“We just needed a break,” said Emmeline. “How was Mr. Faraday?”

“He was fine,” replied Remus curtly. He hated talking about his clients. He suspected that Emmeline’s hurt look was mostly for his benefit, but it made him feel bad just the same. “Sorry. How do you…?”

“Watch me,” said Hestia. He watched her light the pipe and take a pull off the end.

“It’s your first time, so don’t take too much,” said Emmeline taking the lit pipe from Hestia. She pulled Remus to sit on the bed beside her and handed the pipe to him. “Just a quick pull and hold it in.”

Remus’ first inhale on the pipe sent him into a coughing fit. Hestia and Emmeline laughed and encouraged him to try again. The second time was easier, the smoke was thick and sharp, or maybe just hot. He held the smoke as long as he could and then released it. He waited for “marvelous” to happen but he honestly didn’t feel anything. He took a second pull on the pipe and then a third. Still nothing.

“Maybe it doesn’t always work,” he suggested, handing the pipe back to Emmeline.

“Just give it a minute,” she said.

Remus felt a little uncomfortable with Hestia and Emmeline watching him so very carefully, as though any moment he would turn into something else. To alleviate the tension he felt, he stood, and the world suddenly took on a different quality altogether. He sat back down immediately, a pleasant, warm giddiness sliding along his nerves.

“Goodness,” he said, and grinned. Marvelous was a very apt descriptor, he decided, and was going to share this with the girls. Just as he opened his mouth to share, he found he had quite forgotten what he was going to say and grinned foolishly.

Beside him, he heard Hestia and Emmeline laughing and then Remus was laughing too, but he had no idea why. He just felt wonderful and light, like he could step on clouds and float away. He was made of sea foam, and the rhythm of the ocean swayed a pleasant to and fro in his mind.

“Come with us,” murmured Emmeline, low in his ear. She took his hand, and Remus rose with her, desiring nothing more than to go along with all of her wonderful plans. Emmeline, he decided, was a bloody genius.

When Hestia, walking beside, laughed and grinned at him, he realized he must have said that out loud. He grinned and tipped back his head, laughing with her, and after a moment, realized he didn’t know why he was laughing and laughed all the harder for it.

He was led out of his room and down the hall. He could hear a familiar laugh as they neared the door to the Den.

“Sirius,” he said, and then grinned.

Emmeline said something low to Hestia that Remus didn’t catch and then opened the door. Remus stepped eagerly through to a room filled with smoke and loud laughter. He had imagined what went on in the Den, things like wild orgies with still wilder men, all intertwined in a mess of mouths and hands, cunts and cocks. What he found, his mind thickened on hashish, was slightly different.

The Den was large, though not as large as the tavern, with a small bar to provide its denizens with a steady supply of liquor. Like the tavern, there were tables around which were large chairs, more suited in size and shape to a drawing room than a dining hall. Some in the Den were merely playing cards and laughing loudly, attended solicitously by one of Lily’s girls. Others had given up all pretences and had a girl grinding in their lap.

Remus looked around the room for familiar faces. It seemed that this evening was mostly a party for the The Marauder captains with one exception - there was no James or Lily anywhere. When his gaze landed on Sirius, it was to find the man was already staring at Remus with wide eyes.

“Oh, girls, well done,” said Captain Moody. “You’ve brought forth the recalcitrant Mr. Lupin.”

Hestia and Emmeline guided Remus over to Moody and his partner Shacklebolt, though his eyes still hadn’t left Sirius. That was a bit of a mistake, as it caused him to trip over his feet and land in Shacklebolt’s lap. He was going to hop up and apologize, because a even stoned Remus had manners, but Shacklebolt chuckled low in his ear and pulled Remus closer, situating him more comfortably. He looked between the two men and watched as a small purse was pulled out of Moody’s waistcoat and handed to Emmeline.

“There’s some of that for you, too,” said Shacklebolt in Remus’ ear. “We’re going to play with you a bit and show old Captain Sirius what he’s missing.”

Remus looked back to Sirius, the delightful edge of his high abated by the turn of events. This was a bit disappointing. Not that Shacklebolt was hard to look at - far from it, with a solid body and thick arms that felt wonderful around him, his best looking trick so far. But Sirius’ reaction was a let down, now no longer gazing at Remus with hungry eyes. Now he was focused on his card game, and stayed focused, though a flush had crept up from his neck and his jaw was set and tight.

Moody and Shacklebolt were skilled with their hands and mouths, kissing Remus’ neck, fondling his crotch. Through it all, Remus watched Sirius, willing Sirius to watch Moody and Shacklebolt touch him as he gave into the performance. But Sirius was resolute to the very end, even going so far as to demand a girl to service him.

When Remus cried out his completion, still clothed and eyes glued on Sirius, he knew that Sirius wasn’t as oblivious as he seemed. Though it was Marlene’s mouth around Sirius’ cock, when Remus came, Sirius’ head tipped back, hips pumping into Marlene’s mouth.

*

The next morning, Remus felt dreadful. Remembering events from the previous night didn’t help matters. Sirius might be jealous, but he wasn’t prepared to fight his fellow captains over a whore. Remus told himself it didn’t hurt; besides, if Sirius had gotten belligerent, the night wouldn’t have ended satisfactorily.

Looking back, he realized that Moody and Shacklebolt had been baiting Sirius, trying to see if they could get him to bite. Well, now they knew, didn’t they? All Sirius had done was pay more attention to his game of chance, and later, Marlene sucking his cock.

Truthfully, that had hurt – watching Sirius enjoy her mouth. So what, though? It wasn’t as though hurting had ever made a bad thing better. Best to just ignore the pain; dwelling on it served no purpose. Neither was thinking about it going to make his head stop aching.

Remus climbed out of bed, freshened up behind his screen and then got dressed. Mr. Faraday might not be his favorite customer, not that he really had one, but the man was an excellent tailor. The clothes he had sent over fit Remus perfectly and were the finest things he had ever owned.

When he entered the tavern, he found it to be empty save for one person, his mate Peter, smiling and waving him over.

“Morning, mate,” chirped Peter, far too chipper this early in the morning. “I hoped I’d run into you.”

Remus gave him a tired smile as he sat. Bessie the cook brought over a plate of bacon and eggs and a fresh basket of rolls. Remus smiled up at her and found a quiet moment of relief in being predictable.

“You like it here?” asked Peter before sipping his coffee.

Remus frowned. It was comfortable, he was never mistreated, but as much as he would love to have the girl’s blasé attitude, he couldn’t quite muster it. He was a simple country boy at heart, a man with old–fashioned values caught up in something that wasn’t meant for him. When his life had depended on it, he could justify it, but that justification was gone. A soft bed, good food, nice clothes, all of it, wasn’t the same as keeping the lash from your bare skin, or worse.

“Yeah, I like looking after the girls,” he replied, keeping his thoughts to himself. It wasn’t as though he was going to change anything.

“Bet they’re all safe as house with you around,” teased Peter, grinning at Remus before stuffing some bacon in his mouth.

Remus laughed. It was true enough, wasn’t it? He’d not even really had to do much in the way of rebuffing any of the girls. As a collective they were waiting for Remus and Sirius to quit being silly and shag already. Even Marlene had seemed a trifle guilty whilst sucking Sirius’ cock, which was just absurd.

It amused Remus that they had all fallen in platonic love with him and wanted him to have his happily ever after. Hestia and Marlene were the most persistent and the most ruthless, but he couldn’t bring himself to rouse any sense of anger. They meant well, and after ten years of no one ever meaning him well, he’d take it, whatever it happened to be.

“I suppose that’s true; perhaps that’s why she hired me,” suggested Remus. It was a relief to know that Peter didn’t know what his true occupation was.

Captains, generally speaking, would like to remain as such. Their promotion to the position was democratic enough, although in James and Sirius’ case they had started out as privateers with ships bought with private money. They were the exception, not the rule, and had adjusted well enough to the rules of the pirating game. Letters of Marque and a close enough relationship to the crown to obtain more for whatever captain worked with them had helped them to forge a niche here. That said, the demotion process was equally democratic and often a death sentence as well. So the captains kept a culture unto themselves, or at least they did in this outfit. They wouldn’t expose Sirius to his men, though they did take pleasure in teasing and cajoling, all above the awareness of the crew.

“Smart woman, that Lily,” said Peter. “She’s the only one of these girls good enough for James.”

Remus lifted his cup of coffee to his lips to hide his smile. Peter did so love his captain.

“Mhm,” agreed Remus. He hadn’t decided if the relationship, or rather business relationship between James and Lily was parasitic or symbiotic. After all, it was her tavern and brothel where his pirates dropped the bulk of their treasure. But then, he had bought the place for her and she did a lot to cater to his men. Remus did like Lily, quite a lot, and thought she was a savvy businesswoman. Ahead of her time, really.

“How about we walk down to the harbor?” said Peter when he’d finished his breakfast. “I haven’t seen you for a while.”

Remus agreed, and so the two of them left a few minutes later. Remus was glad he and Peter had remained friends, where he had lost touch with most of the others from Greyback‘s ship. Some had returned home to England; most were serving under one of the twenty–three captains that collectively called themselves the Marauders. Of them, only Peter had remained his friend as life’s current carried them on different routes.

Peter had come aboard the Phoenix Rising two years after Remus and before the heavy influx of names he never learned. They were survivors of something, and though it was subtle, there was an acknowledgment of that in the simple act of friendship. In some ways, Remus regarded Peter as his only family, the last person standing in his world that could be proud of him. He wasn’t about to spoil that by telling Peter he was a whore.

“Can I tell you something?” asked Remus. Rows and rows of skeletal masts towered in the distance where the fleet was moored. “I’m in love with him, I think.” Peter laughed and Remus smiled, glad that he didn’t have to clarify.

“Oh, I think I knew that,” said Peter, smiling, but then turned a somber face on Remus. “I’m sorry, you know – that it isn’t different for you, that he doesn’t want something like Captain Moody has with his quartermaster.”

“They’re both sailing men,” said Remus quietly.

Peter scoffed. “So are you, Remus. You weren’t bad at it, just scared, we all were. Your mistakes were never as bad as you thought. It’s just, Greyback, well–”

“Yeah,” agreed Remus. Greyback. Now hopefully rotting in the belly of a shark. “Doesn’t matter, though does it? He doesn’t have a taste for men.” Remus was good at keeping the secrets of other men.

“Hestia says different, you know,” offered Peter. “She thinks highly of you, and you’re bloody obvious. I think it’s just wishful thinking. Especially since she says it’s a big secret and I’m not to tell anyone.”

Peter, however, couldn’t keep a secret if his life depended on it.

“Hestia is a gossip,” said Remus. “Sweet girl, really, means well, but she sees a relationship where there is only heartache possible - my heartache, to be specific.”

A breeze picked up speed between the towering craft, bringing with it the smell of the ocean. Remus breathed deep, surprising himself with having missed that heavy, salty scent. It dissipated somewhat in town, competing for dominance with the smell of food, spilt liquor and human industry. In the Stag and Doe, the softer, more feminine essences so popular with the girls drowned the sea out almost entirely.

As they drew nearer still, they could see that most of the ships were vacated of their crew - all save one. It was farther down the docks, and Remus couldn’t tell if the men belonged with one of the captains that Sirius and James sailed with. He assumed that they must when several pointed in their direction.

“Is it very much different?” asked Remus. “Sailing with James, I mean.”

Peter’s face brightened like the sun, and turned to walk backwards, gesturing wildly with his hands. “Completely! It’s an adventure, Remus! There’s just no comparison, really. You have to work, of course, but the raids are… well, almost too easy.”

Down the way, several men spilled onto the deck. As they neared, Remus couldn’t identify any of them, which was odd, because most of the Marauder’s crew had come through the Stag and Doe at least once. He dismissed it, however; perhaps these pirates preferred to stay close to their ship.

“Too easy? Don’t they put up a fight?” Remus looked up in time to see the men drawing swords and picking up their pace. “Peter, do you know those men?”

Peter turned to look and blanched. “Remus! Run!”

Remus realized too late these must be Snape’s men come to collect him. He struck out but wasn’t quick enough. The men overtook him, easily pushing Peter out of the way and to the ground. His hands were pulled behind his back, and a sack was pulled over his head. The last thing he saw was Peter scrambling to his feet and running back toward town.

*

For the second time in Remus’ life he was kidnapped and brought on board a ship. No one touched him while they got underway, likely concerned with Peter running back to James. Remus knew Sirius and James wouldn’t make it in time, though. He just hoped it wouldn’t hurt too much, but that seemed unlikely.

Despite the bag over his head, Remus knew everything that was happening around him, knew the moment the wind filled the sails by the way the ship lurched. He could tell they were fighting a current in an attempt to reach open water. It was comforting and familiar, the sea all around and under the craft, the gentle rock he hadn’t realized he missed.

He could also feel the current’s drag on the ship, despite which they made better time than the Phoenix Rising ever had. They were speeding along at impressive clip, and part of him wished he could feel the wind on his face. For a few hours he was allowed to simply sit in darkness and contemplate his own death.

“So, you’re Black’s bitch, are you?” came a familiar voice. Remus knew the voice, knew it was Captain Snape hoping for a rise. Remus was disinclined to give the man any additional reasons to hurt him so he just stayed quiet.

“I asked you a question,” snarled Snape, yanking the bag off of Remus’ head. He was crouched low, close to Remus, and peering at him nastily.

“Make it quick,” asked Remus quietly. “Please, just make it quick.”

Snape got to his feet. “I don’t think so. You see, for the past hour we’ve been spotting the flag of what appears to be a merchant, which may very well be true, but until I know for certain, I’m keeping you alive for insurance. If Black does come after me, I want a little leverage.”

“We’re sailing East, against the current,” said Remus. He didn’t want to talk about Sirius, didn’t want to think about the life he was having to give up. It might not have been everything he he’d hoped for, but it had had its moments.

“There is a current that flows between the continents, close to the equator. Once we leave these islands I am going to use it to cross to Africa,” replied Snape. “Thanks to you, I’m leaving these waters, at least temporarily. There I’ll make my fortune on the Barbary Coast. Once I’m richer than Potter and can offer Lily wealth beyond her imaginings, she’ll leave him for me.”

“Sail, ho!” called out one of Snape’s men. “It’s another merchant ship, Captain! Different flag this time and bearing east of the last one.”

Snape smiled viciously at Remus. “You know, I do believe it is your beloved and his band of ruffians. No matter, they won’t catch us in time.”

Remus thought it was a bit rich, Snape calling Sirius and James ruffians, but he kept his mouth shut and instead focused on what he had learned. He had a picture in his mind, two sails, the ships of which stayed beyond the horizon to avoid being identified - two ships that also kept their distance from each other. Which struck him as odd – why would they allow Snape to see them unless they wanted to give him a sense of ease in being able to escape? They had not allowed Greyback to get a single sight of them.

For all that Snape was full of bravado, Remus felt the ship turn north, losing some of the drag as they ran across the current instead of against it. It wasn’t a heavy current, that much he had already ascertained, just something that ran between the islands, or perhaps the islands and a continent; South America? They were close, he knew, so perhaps that was it.

He had, quite honestly, expected to be beaten and thrown overboard. He wasn’t sure how long his usefulness would hold out. Perhaps only until they cleared these islands for deep water.

An hour later the watch called out the sighting of another flag, this time with considerably more urgency. “Captain! Another ship, full sail and flying a red flag!”

“What the devil are they doing?” snarled Snape. Remus watch as the man pulled out a spyglass, wishing he could stand and see what was happening. “Damn, damn, damn.”

Snape shouted orders, a note of panic in his voice, or so Remus thought. The ship was turned back into the current, heading more in an easterly direction once again, listing portside so hard Remus was rolled and forced to his feet. One look aft told him why Snape was turning again. There were three ships in pursuit, in full sail, all flying the red flag. They were spaced so that Snape was forced to run back toward the islands in order to escape. But from their formation Remus suspected there was more to this.

“Oh buggering fuck,” hissed the watch. “Captain! Look astern!”

Remus turned his head, his breath catching in his throat. There, spread out in front of them was the rest of the Marauder’s fleet; twenty ships in full sail, twenty ships flying the red flag, twenty ships promising Snape death if they could manage it.

Snape screamed orders, turning the wheel hard. It would slow them down, but it was clearly a better option to run from twenty than to run from three. The ship groaned beneath them, the mast quivering with the strain, sails trembling as the crew fought to keep wind in them.

The three ships that had been chasing Snape into the trap turned into the current, closing the distance. Remus could see it was going to be a blood bath, and so could Snape. He grabbed Remus and hauled him to the highest point of the ship where he could be easily seen, a knife curving against his throat. Remus looked from one ship to the other, trying to find Sirius. Remus felt his heart leap into his throat at when he found the man, a red bandana around his head to keep his hair out of his face. He was at the helm, a spy glass held to his eye. Remus knew the moment Sirius found him because he pointed and started shouting orders Remus couldn’t hear, his face thunderous with rage.

It was obvious what Snape offered. He would return Remus in one piece in exchange for his own life. Sirius’ reaction was instantaneous. He shouted something else and the red flag was lowered. Snape moved swiftly, dragging Remus to the side of the ship before pushing him down into a small craft tied to the side. Snape’s ship hadn’t slowed a bit, still barreling forward as the crew prepared to free the little dinghy into the ocean. Something went wrong, however; one of the ropes slipped, and the boat capsized when it hit the water. He clung to the hull of the little boat, watching as Snape sped off.

Sirius brought his ship around, snarling orders at his crew, though Remus could only make out his tone, not the words. Frankly, he had bigger concerns than Sirius’ temper. Ropes were lowered and Remus was brought on board. He and Sirius regarded each other; his crew all standing around, gawking at Remus and that was when he realized not one of them knew why the entire fleet had been sent out for one man.

It was disappointing that nothing had changed, though Sirius would have to come up with some explanation, one that likely didn’t involve acknowledging his feelings for Remus. It was fine, though, really it was; he was alive and safe, and Sirius had cared enough for him to put himself in an awkward position.

“Thank you, Captain,” said Remus sincerely. He lowered his eyes to let Sirius know he understood as he stood on the deck and dripped.

“Oh, bollocks to that,” said Sirius and strode toward Remus. Sirius caught him around the head and pulled Remus forward, crashing his mouth to Remus’. Remus melted into Sirius, wet and all, pulling off his bandana so he could sink his fingers into soft black hair.

“Oh thank Christ and all the angels,” muttered one of the crew. “’Bout bloody time, don’t you think, Captain?”

“Ah ha,” laughed another, giving a short man with brown hair a shove. The short man didn‘t look happy and cast disparaging glances between Sirius and Remus. “Told you Cap’n was after this ‘un. Don’ mind this fuck, Cap’n, better a happy cap’n than what you’ve been since this ‘un showed up.” He pointed a finger at Remus, grinning toothily.

Sirius cast a dangerous eye at his crew. “Back to work with all of you!” he snarled, though something was off. If Remus wasn’t very much mistaken, there was a bit of relief there, and amusement as well.

Remus pressed closer to Sirius. “I’m all wet, Captain Black. Don’t suppose you’d want to get me out of these clothes?” Remus almost laughed when Sirius swallowed.

“Right,” said Sirius, and then louder to the crew, “I‘ll be in quarters looking after our guest.” The crew was still chortling and cat–calling as the door to the captain’s quarters was shut.

Sirius leaned against the door, his hair still attractively ruffled from Remus’ fingers running through it. Remus smiled a little and then plucked at his soaked clothes. They took a moment to regard each other and then as though by unanimous declaration moved as one, meeting in the middle with a smashing of one mouth to another. Sirius’ bed was small, but large enough for two, and they fell into it, Remus still wet. So urgent were they for each other that they just kissed and kissed and kissed, rutting against one another mindlessly until both shuddered and then stilled. They clung to each other for several long moments, neither saying a word until Sirius broke the silence.

“I thought I’d lost you. Peter came barging into all our rooms and told us what happened and I thought I would never see you again. I couldn’t bear it, Remus, I just couldn’t. I don’t know how this happened; I’ve only just met you but–”

Remus shushed Sirius with a kiss. “I love you, too.”

*

Hours later Remus awoke, alone, nude, wrapped in blankets on Sirius’ thin mattress. It was hardly a luxury, this rickety bed and these cramped quarters, and yet there was nowhere else he would rather be. He knew he had slept in Sirius’ arms, altogether twined in a heap of arms and legs, the pitch and sway of the sea better than any lullaby. He had missed it, though he didn’t think it possible.

Outside the little cabin, he could hear voices, Sirius’ voice above the others, a lightness to it Remus hadn’t heard before. It put a smile on his face and color in his cheeks and made him duck under the covers though there was no one to see him.

They hadn’t just slept the day away, of course. They had woken several times, hands and mouths greedy for each other, and then drifted off after, only to wake up and start over again. He was delightfully sore and more sated than he ever thought possible.

In between making love, Remus had learned Sirius’ story, why he had left home, what his hopes and dreams were, why he had become a pirate, eschewing a posh life in favor of one that let him be who he truly was. With the exception of his brother, Sirius had been estranged from his immediate family, too cruel for him to abide any longer, though the loss of his sibling had cut deep.

Somewhere during all of this, Remus had come to a decision. Sirius made no demands, had left the choice entirely up to Remus while making it perfectly clear what he wanted. Sirius wanted Remus to sail with him, to share in his adventures and his life, but he was also willing to compromise. Remus decided that would be unnecessary.

On a narrow table nailed into the floor were a cotton tunic and a pair of breaches. He pulled them on, though they proved a bit large, and opened the door, stepping barefoot out of Sirius’ quarters. Up on deck the man himself was joking with his crew, a most jovial pirate this. Remus paused halfway up the stairs and just watched for a moment, leaning against the railing, taking this man all in. His hair was pulled back in a bandana again, and he wore a tunic similar to the one Remus had on, though Sirius wore it open, exposing his chest that glowed in the failing light of a setting sun. It didn’t take long for one of Sirius’ crew to spot him, and the brief spell was broken. Sirius turned at a word from one of the crew and smiled widely at Remus.

Remus desperately wanted not to blush, but that was made impossible as several men posited lewd theories about what Remus and their captain had been getting up to. What he had done, all that he had done, had been in secret and in shame. There was a delicious freedom in living outside the confines of the law, a freedom a man could not find on land, only at sea with other like minded souls, with Sirius. So Remus lifted his chin despite the blush and smiled at Sirius and walked onto the deck, as an equal, as a man, as a pirate.

Comments

[callmebombshell.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful :D I love the idea of James and Sirius as pirates, but still good men, taking care of their own. Very nicely done; I'm not usually a big fan of AUs, but you kept the characters essentially the same and the story was very very interesting and I loved every bit of it :D

[indusnm.livejournal.com]

Oh very sweet, thanks for posting this great fic. I recently got back into this fandom after about five years out, so I'm enjoying the fact that some people are still in it and very prolific!

[james-padfoot.livejournal.com]

Holy mother toast. I haven't read a decent HP fic in months, and this. THIS. Is just brilliant, it really is, and the premise, and the characterization, it's both warming and horribly heartbreaking.

I do think Remus will make an excellent navigator, with a little training. A+

[protegonox.livejournal.com]

DUDE. AWESOME FIC.

Pirates FTW. This was well written and interesting. I loved how you adapted each character to this story. These words pale in comparison to your fic! One of the best AUs I've read in a while, that's for sure. ;)

[closet-zebra.livejournal.com]

This fic is just SO, SO good. I just re-read it.

Please do a sequal though! Really... Navigator!Moony is just too cute for words... ahhaa.