kh_drabble | [163] Treasure

Challenge: [163] Treasure
Title: Destiny's Flames
Word Count: 430

The man who, by ill-gotten means, now held the title 'captain' leaned against the railing of the Black Pearl, tainting the soft night's salty air with his bored sigh. Black sails full with invisible winds, the ragged yet beautiful vessel flew quietly over the deep waters. Another man, dressed in a flowing black cloak, staggered drunken-like to Barbosa's side. Trying hard to keep his dinner in his stomach where it belongs, the Flurry of Dancing Flames gripped the polished wood of the railing until his long thin fingers turned even whiter (if possible). Axel's too-thin frame swayed, then slumped against the railing as he muttered, mostly to himself, "Why would they send me? Why me?! Demyx would love this freakin' world! Superior needs to go and..." Even Barbosa, the well-seasoned sailor, reeled a bit at the colorful language that followed.

"Not got yer sea legs yet, eh, twiggy? How 'bout yer sea belly?" He gave a grisly chuckle, delighting in Axel's discomfort.

The Eighth muttered something unintelligible in response. Barbosa laughed at him again.

"What?" Axel defended. "Just 'cause I don't like this mobile garbage heap, this stupid little boat." He glared into the waves below.

The captain pretended to look offended. "Yeh can't be talkin' about this beauty, the Pearl, now, can yeh? She's the glory of the seas! Calypso herself's wonderful treasure!"

"Ha... yeah. Right. Treasure." (Axel secretly wondered who Calypso could be.)

"Don't scoff at what you don't understand, boy."

"This dump is worth nothing more than firewood."

"What do you think you've got that's so much better, eh? Treasure-wise, are we now, twiggy boy?"

"Huh?"

"Yer treasure, fool! Rum, gold, wenches, fame... What have you got that's better than the Pearl?"

Axel avoided Barbosa's greedy stare as he thought.

_______________

Friends look out for each other, right? I was only trying to warn him of his mistakes, before something really bad happened. "You get on their bad side and they'll destroy you!"
"No one would miss me." There it is. When he talks like that its like he's a different person. That has to be someone else's voice, and not the best friend I know... knew. I thought I knew him. Is this all just a lie?
"That's not true..." How could he say that... after all the things we've done together and all the promises we've made, he's just... walking away. I know he's changed, I know we've all changed, but he's become so cold. Why can't I reach him anymore?
"I would."
_______________

"Well?" The captain prompted impatiently.

"I have no idea." Axel lied. "No idea..."