For What It's Worth

 I hope you like this! ^^ I tried something different with this one. Sorry for any spelling errors this may have.

Glissander looked out to sea, absentmindedly playing with the end of his braid; this was a habit that he displayed when he was nervous or deep in thought. In this case, it was both. Far out to starboard, on the horizon, Glissander could see dark storm clouds brewing forebodingly. In his mind, he was already working out the precautions that would have to be taken. Of course, the clouds might fizzle out and disperse, or they might pass by the ship entirely before the storm began, but it was better to be safe than sorry in Glissander’s book. Additionally, he had a gut feeling that the tempest would catch them. He sighed softly, and then jolted as he felt a warm, calloused hand on his shoulder. He turned, and then relaxed when he saw who it was. 

“Lomytion, you startled me,” Glissander murmured, and leaned his head onto the taller man’s chest. Lomytion gently wrapped an arm around Glissander’s waist.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Glissander closed his eyes and assured,
“It’s alright.” Lomytion looked out to where Glissander had been staring.
“Storm coming?” he guessed. Glissander sighed deeply.
“Yep. A big one, by the looks of it.” Lomytion let go of his partner.
“Better go and tell the captain.” At this, Glissander looked down at his boots.
“I should, but I… I don’t think the captain cares for me. I don’t want to risk making him mad. You know how he can be,” he explained. Lomytion bit his cheek and rubbed his chin.
“Yes, I know. Hey, tell you what. You go ahead to my chambers and I’ll go and inform the captain myself about the storm.” Glissander looked up and met eyes with Lomytion, a half-smile forming on his face.
“Really?”
“Sure.” Lomytion kissed the shorter male on the forehead and stepped back. “See you soon.” He began walking away, his bare feet silent against the waterstained boards of the deck. Glissander bit his lip and turned to walk in the other direction. He was relieved that nobody was on the top deck, because it meant that he wouldn’t have to encounter anyone. He pushed his thick braid over his shoulder and it landed against his back with a heavy thud.

Glissander looked out over the water, which had already begun getting choppier. As he rapidly strode forwards, his feet thunked on the deck. His boots were three sizes too big. Without a doubt, the crew below could hear Glissander clunking around above them. The frigid wind whipped around him, making him wish that he owned a coat. Lomytion would probably let him borrow one, although he didn’t want to ask him in fear of seeming needy.

Glissander reached the door to Lomytion’s chambers and stepped in, relishing the warmth and closing the door behind him. The main room was simple, but it was a hundred times better than his own shared, meager bunk. A single lantern hung from the ceiling of Lomytion’s room, and unlit, dripping candles were placed sporadically about. A twin-sized bed was squeezed against the corner, with a cluttered desk beside it. A door on the other side of the room led to the bathroom, and against the wall was a small bookshelf containing a dozen well-loved volumes.

Glissander collapsed onto the bed and looked up at the lantern, where several moths were congregated. He thought how lucky Lomytion was to be the first mate. Instead of being just a passing job to earn some money, being a pirate was Lomytion’s life; the ship was his home. While Glissander had only been a member of the crew for less than a year, Lomytion had for nearly eight. He’d began working on the ship at the age of sixteen, and slowly climbed up the ranks. Glissander wondered, for what was probably the hundredth time, what had prompted Lomytion to become a pirate at such a young age. From what he had told Glissander, his home life had been pretty good before he’d joined the crew. Whatever the reason that he had left home, Lomytion was keeping it a secret. Glissander thought that that was fair. He kept his own reason for becoming a pirate a secret.

Glissander heard the click of the knob turning and looked up to see Lomytion entering the room, the wind howling behind him. Quickly, he shut the door.
“The captain brought some of the crew up to prepare the ship for the storm.” He crossed the room and laid down next to Glissander. “The old coot had his nose in a book and his curtains drawn.” Lomytion laughed at the memory. “Wouldn’t even have known about the storm until it was too late.” He reached over and tenderly brushed some of Glissander’s dark hair out of his face. “But, of course, he pretended like he already knew it was coming.” Glissander smiled faintly when he heard that and sat up. He kicked off his giant footwear and untied the faded blue ribbon on his plait. Waves of lovely hair cascaded around his lithe form as he pulled apart the sections, and Lomytion caught his breath.

Self-conscious, Glissander looked down, his face beginning to flush. He undid the buckle of the belt keeping his long, sleeveless vest tight to his frame and dropped it onto the floor. The vest was soon to follow, leaving Glissander in his gray tank top and rolled up, baggy breeches. Lomytion hastily pulled off his coat, unbuttoned his shirt, and pulled off his undershirt, letting them join the pile of clothing on the floor. Lomytion grabbed the piece of twine holding up Glissander’s oversized pants and fumbled with the knot to untie it. He slipped off the garment and pushed it off the bed. Glissander did the same to Lomytion, undoing his belt and removing his tan breeches. They looked into each other’s eyes as they both outstretched their hands to the article of cloting still remaining around the other’s waist. Lomytion took off Glissander’s linen drawers first, and then Glissander returned the favor. Unceremoniously, they joined the heap of clothes.

Lomytion was left naked, and Glissander in nothing but his tank top. Lomytion started to pull it off, but stopped when he saw Glissander recoil and wince.
“I’m sorry.” His hand dropped. Glissander said nothing, avoiding eye contact. “I just wish you’d let me take off that drab old thing for once and let me see all of you.” Lomytion’s eyes were suddenly filled with concern. “Are you disfigured or something? I won’t love you any less, you know.” Glissander turned his head away. “Look, just forget it. If you really don’t want to show me, I can respect that,” Lomytion added lightly. Glissander took in a shuddering breath.
“It’s about time that you know..,” he decided, barely audible.
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to show me. I’ll understand,” Lomytion responded in a worried tone.

Glissander whipped his head around and met Lomytion’s deep brown gaze.
“It’s just-” He swallowed. “There’s… scars. Not just physical ones. It hurts… it hurts to be reminded of what happened, even if it was almost five years ago,” Glissander expressed quietly, and broke eye contact again.
“I told you, you don’t have to show me-” Glissander grabbed Lomytion’s hand and pulled it close to his body.
“I trust you.” He gave a comforting look to Lomytion, eyes filled with earnesty. Lomytion delicately began pulling the top over Glissander’s head, carefully bringing his arms through the holes. When he was finished taking it off of Glissander’s body, the smaller man tugged his hair free of the garment. The shirt was put aside, and he swiftly wound his hair up into a messy bun.

With bated breath, Lomytion watched as his lover turned around to display his back. He gasped sharply at what he saw.
“Who did this to you?”
“I didn’t see her face,” Glissander remarked in a low voice that was full of bitterness. “There was no moon that night.” He felt Lomytion’s gentle, weathered hand against his bare back.
“Why… Why didn’t you tell me?” There was a note of panic and hurt in Lomytion’s voice. Glissander drew his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, leaning forward.
“I-I was afraid that you would want me to leave. After the… the incident, I was thrown out of my home.” Tears welled up in his dark blue eyes, although Lomytion couldn’t see them. “I joined a crew to get some money, but once they found out what I was, they wouldn’t let me stay. I’ve shuffled from ship to ship, and now I’ve ended up here.” Glissander let out a sob.

“Oh, Glissander, I won’t make you leave.” Lomytion brought his partner into a tight embrace.
“Even though I’m not a human?” Glissander whispered.
“I still love you the same,” Lomytion promised.
“My own mother couldn’t love a- a wingless fairy.” Glissander stammered, pain and anger evident in his voice.
“Well, she must have been shallow and cold,” Lomytion replied. “I’m not like her. I wouldn’t stop loving you over something as material as that. When I look at you, I see a lovely, kind, gentle person.”

Glissander was silent for a moment.
“Thank you.”
“I’m glad you told me.” Lomytion said, and gave Glissander a soft squeeze before letting him go. He ran a hand down Glissander’s back, his fingers brushing over the stumps of what must have been massive butterfly wings.
“She took my ear tips too,” Glissander added quietly.
“You don’t have to tell me if it’s too painful,” Lomytion told him quickly.
“No, it’s alright.” Glissander laid down, and pulled Lomytion down next to him so that they were facing each other. He uncovered his right ear to show it. The ear stopped abruptly where a human one would normally end, but Glissander’s was roughly hewn and covered in scar tissue. “Just the tips. I don’t know if you had noticed that before…” Glissander then touched the bridge of his nose. “She gave me this scar, too. Just for laughs. No particular reason.” Lomytion gently traced over the scar with his fingers. “And then she hacked off my wings.” Lomytion clutched Glissander’s hand. “And then… And then she cut off my hair. To here.” Glissander gestured to his jaw, his hand still grasped in Lomytion’s. “All to sell… Fairy wings, ear tips, and hair…” A single tear slipped down his face and he closed his eyes. It splashed onto the sheet, leaving a tiny water stain.

“It’s a good thing your hair grows fast.” Lomytion joked sadly and affectionately, stroking Glissander’s hair, which was still confined in a bun. Glissander only smiled contently in response. Lomytion let go of his lover’s hand and stood up to blow out the candle in the lantern overhead. The room was plunged into darkness.

~~~~~~~