𝟏𝟏𝟓.  𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

runnin' (lose it all)   ──── naughty boy

☀︎ 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

𝖤𝖲𝖲𝖠𝖮𝖴𝖨𝖱𝖠－ 𝖳𝖧𝖠𝖳'𝖲 𝖶𝖧𝖤𝖱𝖤 𝖶𝖤 𝖠𝖱𝖤．Pestered and harassed by several vendors in the town, we come to a stop in front of the statue of Murad, the Barbary Pirate, also known as the guy who made the map in order to find the Blue Crown.

Now that we know the statue is real, we just need to find Groff── cue the gagging.

Although, if Emory finds him first, she's made a promise to both us and him that she will kill him for her mother, for JJ's mother, for JJ, and I don't think I'd try and stop her. I don't think anyone would try to stop her, if I'm being honest. She's been staring at her knife with a strange affection, looking downright murderous as she plots her father's death in her head.

But before she kills him, I'd love to do nothing more than rip him to shreds, berate him for being a shit father, for making JJ believe that he could have it better, for hurting Emory and JJ.

Speaking of JJ, after our talk last night, he's doing a lot better. With him be mentally and physically stronger, I've made him promise me that he'll be careful, that he won't be let out of my sight, and that he'd get that crown with minimal, preferably zero, complications. After nearly losing him, I'm painfully conscious of him, constantly needing to keep him close and safe in the same way that he keeps me close and safe.

His hand is currently tucked into mine as he guides me through the claustrophobic alleys and streets where street vendors stand, pushing all kinds of items and food at us but we can't afford a damn thing, and it sucks because I'm really hungry, on the verge of passing out.

"You feeling okay?" JJ asks, seeming to read my mind about passing out, not that I'm actually serious... I think.

I nod, tilting my head towards his shoulder. "Are you okay?" He's the one who's still got a giant wound on his stomach that's covered by a bandage that I checked last night, and with all the walking we've been doing, it's got to be bothering him. But here he is asking how I am.

He looks to me, the corner of his mouth tugging upwards. "Do I not look okay?"

"You look great," I say, boosting his ego as I squeeze at his hand. "You're just hurt, that's all."

"I'm fine, beautiful." He pushes a hard kiss to my head, lingering for a moment. "Now are you really okay? You look..."

I bring my head back, eyes narrowing. "Not great?" I pout, nose scrunched.

"Oh, you look beautiful, Sunny, you know you do," he compliments, brightening my face with a hue of pink. "That's not what I mean though. You just look a little... sick. Are you okay?"

I hum, appreciating him for recognising. "Think it's the heat," I reply, unsure if that's the whole truth. "It is way too warm and I'm really fucking hungry." I'm anxious which probably accounts for the twisting sensation in my stomach, but I'm also starving which, again, contributes to the nagging feeling below. I really want some food.

"I'll get you some food, babe."

"Ah, my knight in shining armour."

"Don't downgrade me, Sunshine. I'm King."

I raise a brow, breathing out a laugh. "My king? Does that make me your queen?"

"Since day one, Queen."

I grin, nudging him. "Ooh, I like that."

"Get used to it, Sunshine."

A smile touches my lips, my head pressing into his shoulder. I go to speak again, but am instead interrupted by my brother. "Hey, Sarah. Hey, what's wrong?" I snap my head over to John B and Sarah, worry blooming in my chest. "You okay?" Before us, Sarah is holding her stomach, her breathing seeming to deepen.

"Oh, God. I-I need to sit." John B moves towards Sarah, helping her sit down up ahead, tucking her away in our own corner away from the rows of stalls and vendors.

"Are you okay?" I ask, immediately stepping away from JJ, slipping my hand out of his so I can check in on my sister-in-law. "Hey." I crouch down in front of her, placing a hand upon her knee. "What's wrong?"

"Nauseous," she replies, releasing a heavy breath, swallowing it down harshly. "I'm really nauseous."

"You probably just need some food," Kiara says, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's been, like, what? Two days?"

"Yeah, we gotta get her something."

"No, I'm fine. I──"

"No, you need to eat, Sarah," I insist, not wishing to have anything bad happen to her or my niece or nephew that she's carrying. "We'll get you something, okay?"

"How?" Emory questions. "We have no money."

"We can do it the old fashioned way," Cleo suggests, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Ooh." Emory grins wickedly, flashing Cleo a smile as she tucks her knife into her back pocket.

"A little five-finger discount?" Cleo hums, grinning back at Emory── the two of them looking damn mischievous.

"I don't wanna hold up the group," Sarah mutters, and I hate that she thinks she's some kind of inconvenience when she's far from that. She might be pregnant but that doesn't mean she could ever hold us back. We've gotta take care of her, keep her and that baby hydrated and fed. Besides, I think we could all use something to drink and eat before we each collapse.

"No, we're good," Kiara assures.

"Yeah, don't worry about it," I say, looking up at John B who is turning to everybody else.

"Let's do it," he speaks. "Let's just do it fast, alright?"

"I'm coming with. You need an experienced thief," Cleo states, pushing past JJ who is also following, his thieving mediocre at best compared to Cleo.

"Experienced thief?" JJ's face scrunches as he falls into step with her. "I got my PhD in thiefology."

I snort out a laugh. "Right. Be safe, Doctor."

He winks. "You got it, baby."

Pope also moves to follow his girlfriend and JJ. "Alright, I'm gonna go too, and just try to keep a lid on all the bullshit," he tells us, and I can't help but feel a little relieved. I need Pope to act as some kind of mediator if things go south which, when it comes to us, will happen.

Emory frowns, elbow nudging Pope. "I'm hurt, Pope. Do you not trust me?"

He pins her with a unamused glare. "Do you really want the answer to that?"

She shakes her head. "Knife in the heart, Pope." She then practically skips off after her brother and Cleo who are moving away, Pope following with reluctance.

"Hey, I'll be right back," John B says, speaking softly to his wife.

"I'll be fine. Go." Sarah places a gentle hand on his cheek, offering him a relaxed smile.

"We're gonna be right here, we promise," Kiara assures, looking to John B who is taking a step back, trusting that we will keep Sarah and his unborn child safe.

"Just keep breathing, Sarah," I say, unsure exactly on how to deal with a pregnant woman. Breathing seems like the right thing to do, right?

Rafe groans, reminding me that he is here, and I'm internally rolling my eyes, feeling more sick to my stomach at the loud reminder of him. "What are we doing? What the hell are we──"

"Just stop, Rafe," John B snaps, walking by us and following after the others.

"Alright, just hurry up with whatever dumb shit you guys are doing, alright?!" Rafe yells, his voice raising an octave higher than necessary, earning a glare from me and Kiara who so don't need him and his pissed off tone. "We're wasting time!"

"Rafe!" Sarah shouts.

"We're trying to be lowkey. Blend," Kiara instructs, her tone strict. Rafe backs away, holding his hands up defensively, his face contorted in annoyance.

"Make busy, jackass," I snide, preferring if he remains very far away from me.

"Yeah." Rafe turns away slowly, going to leave us which I love.

I shake my head, refocusing on my pregnant sister-in-law rather than the dick that is moving away. Looking to Sarah, I find her focused on her brother, watching as he moves away. I think I see something sad in her expression, perhaps disappointment, upset, confusion. Either way, I recognise something in her eyes as she looks towards where Rafe stood.

I understand her expression, understanding that he's her brother, and despite all the bad he's done to her, to us, she still feels this... need to just be his sister, to just be there for him. I understand it, I do, even if I hate that bastard for hurting Sarah, for trying to drown her, for shooting her, for hurting her in more ways than one. Personally, I don't think he's a good brother. I mean, look at the evidence piled against him.

Although, I guess I am grateful for him in the smallest of ways as he did stop us from being arrested by Shoupe. He offered us help, and that is appreciated, it really is, but that small token he offered us does not excuse all the bad things he's done over the past few years.

He claims he's only here for Groff, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he's here for more, that he perhaps wants some money out of this even though he deserves zilch.

When Sarah brings her attention back to us, we do our best to keep her calm, telling her to keep breathing and to let us know if she feels worse. While I love her deeply, I so don't need her being sick on me. No, thank you.

When Rafe unfortunately returns, he leans against the wall opposite us, looking anywhere but at us. Luckily, we aren't stuck in tense silence for long, not when the rest of the crew return from their thieving.

"Hey," Kiara says, straightening herself. "How'd it go? Everything smooth?"

"Yeah," JJ huffs out, scratching the back of his neck, his eyes not greeting mine.

I hum, also straightening myself up and moving to him. "How'd it really go?" I ask, tilting my head at him, knowing him well enough to know when he's lying.

His gaze meets mine. "Great," he chimes, chucking an apple into my hands, forcing himself to smile so I don't question how the thieving actually went. "For you, Sunshine."

I sigh, holding real food in my hands that will keep me occupied for now. "Thank you, baby." I would kiss him, but I instead take a bite out of the apple, very close to moaning at the taste of something real.

I look back to Sarah, finding an apple in her hands, John B crouched before her. "So, uh, an apple a day keeps the baby hap-pay," he laughs, making such a dad joke that it makes my chest warm. That man, my brother, is going to be a freaking dad. Wow.

"You're eating for two now."

"Or three," JJ and I say, clapping our hands together as Sarah and John B practically shoot lasers at us. "Sorry..."

She could have twins, I'm sorry.

"You good?" Pope asks Sarah who nods, enjoying the apple just as much as I am.

"I'll be alright," she replies, exhaling a breath.

"Okay, good."

I look to JJ, seeing that he's eyeing the apple Sarah is eating like he's starved, and I don't need my man collapsing on me, so I hand off the apple I've taken a few bites from. "Eat, babe."

His eyebrows knit together. "But──"

"Eat," I insist, pushing the apple into his hand, and he doesn't argue with me this time.

"Okay, well, the wharf's that way." Cleo tells, looking away. "Think you can make it?" Sarah nods, already beginning to stand.

"Alright, we should probably get a move on."

Suddenly, a whistle rings out from behind us, snatching our attention towards several men in uniform who seem to be running in our direction. I shake my head, eyes narrowing on JJ. "Great, huh?" He swallows, apple in hand, and he lifts his shoulders in a shrug. Damn him.

"Uhh, are those cops?" Kiara asks.

"Wow. Wanted in two countries. That's so going in my biography," Emory laughs, stepping away as the cops begin to near.

My face scrunches. "Biography?"

"Oh, shit. We gotta go." JJ pushes his hand in mine, disregarding the beautiful apple that was barely finished, moving us away quickly. "We gotta go. Double-time, double-time, double-time!"

"Why not triple-time?" Emory asks.

"Not now, Em!"

"Anymore attitude and you won't be in my biography!" she fights, weaving through several townsfolk, the others following behind as JJ pushes me ahead and close to Emory.

We race through the town, pushing in and out of the crowds of people in the hopes of escaping the cops that, of course, had to be on our case too. It's not enough that we're wanted in our country, we're also wanted in another. I keep a tight hold on JJ's hand, needing him to remain close as I can't afford to lose him.

I've said it before, I'll say it again and again. I hate fucking running, and in this kind of heat, it is so not fun, not that it ever is. If we didn't smell before, we certainly fucking do now.

When we no longer hear whistling or yelling coming from the cops, we immediately slow down, catching our breaths, that apple I ate ready to make a special appearance if I don't regain composure.

"Okay, I think we're good," JJ exhales, and I spot him going to press his hand against the wound that must be bothering him, especially after we just ran straight into another part of town.

I cough, swallowing down the unsuspecting bile. "You okay?" He nods, face twisting as he straightens, pain evident in his eyes. "Hey, JJ." I step to him, placing my hand over his that presses down on his side, his eyes squeezed shut. "JJ, talk to me."

He clears his throat, eyes blinking open. "I-I'm okay, Sunny. Don't, uh, don't worry about me, alright?" He shakes his head vigorously, puffing out a tough breath. "I'm good."

How can he seriously expect me not to worry? He's in pain, that much is obvious, and the fact that he's attempting to hide it makes it worse. If he's hurting, I don't just need to see it, I need him to talk to me so I can help. I want to help.

Before I can say another word, Cleo speaks up behind me. "I think we lost Rafe."

"Who cares? Big whoop. He's on his own. We're not going back," Pope states, his feelings on Rafe perfectly clear.

"What do you wanna do?" John B asks Sarah who, once again, has that look in her eye that I saw earlier── that look that almost feels bad for her brother, like she wants to help him in some way.

"What do you think? I mean, should we try to go back and help him or..." Sarah trailed off.

"No. Hell no. We don't have passports. If we go back, we're gonna get arrested," Pope fights, receiving several head nods from the others who agree in abandoning Rafe as we don't exactly need him, not for the next part of our mission.

"I agree. I'm with Pope on this one," JJ says.

"I'll do whatever you wanna do. He's your brother," John B tells, not listening to us as his only focus is Sarah which I understand, of course. After all, Rafe was her brother so it absolutely is her call on what we should do.

"It's up to you, Sarah. I mean, I'd probably go back for mine, but..." Pope and Kiara shake their heads at me, wanting me to be quiet. "What?"

"John B's never tried to kill you," Emory comments, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Uh, I beg to differ. The jawbreaker incident of two thousand and ten?"

"Okay, it is not my fault that you started choking," he argues.

"You gave me the jawbreaker, ergo you're the reason I started choking," I bite out, eyes laser focused on my dear, old brother who, yes, did try and kill me once.

"Wow, and you live to tell the tale?" Emory mocks, obviously not amused by our friendly sibling rivalry.

"Okay, nobody cares, guys," Pope speaks, planting a hand on my shoulder, shutting us down quickly. "What are we doing?"

"Let's just go to the wharf," Sarah decides, and despite seeing that she feels somewhat guilty for leaving Rafe, she's doing the right thing by leaving him to fend for himself. He will be absolutely fine, and I imagine we'll unfortunately cross paths with him later on.

"Let's keep moving," JJ encourages, sliding his arm around my back, wincing again which concerns me but he doesn't give me a chance to ask, instead talking again. "Gotta stay on mission and find Groff."

"Damn straight," Emory utters, that fucking knife in hand again.

"Hey, where's Cleo?" Pope asks, bringing our attention to the worry of Cleo's presence that is not present.

"Where'd she go?" We each look around frantically, worry settling in that we've lost not just Rafe, but Cleo as well which is far worse scenario.

"Cleo?!"

Somebody could have gotten to her── one of the mercenaries, Groff, the cops. I don't know, but somebody could've snatched her without any of us realising, and we need her. She's far more valuable than Rafe, not that it's exactly hard to be more valuable than him. Where the fuck──

"Hey!" Suddenly, Cleo appears from an alley with a pile of clothes over her arm.

"Shit!" Pope breathes out, relief written all over his face as his girlfriend is fine. She's alive and standing right before us. Thank God.

"I permanently borrowed these from this clothesline," she tells, handing off different items of clothing to each of us. "We need better disguises. The coppers is looking for us."

"Okay, maybe you are the best thief," JJ admits shamefully, head dropping.

"I know that." Cleo grins, a bounce in her step as she turns away. "Wharf's this way!"

Following Cleo, we journey to the wharf, travelling through crowds of people, actually blending in thanks to the clothes Cleo supplied us with. Instead of sticking out, we're barely looked at which is good seeing as the cops are likely trying to find us.

We wear loose clothing over the clothes we already had on with headscarves to shield our faces in case we bump uglies with one of the mercenaries who I know will kill us without even a consideration.

While these clothes aren't what I'd normally wear, not by a long shot, I can deny that I feel and look comfortable. The outfit is beige and soft shades of yellow while my headscarf a navy blue, and I can't deny that blue is my colour.

Passing by a few locals, we come to a stop in front of the water, spotting several boats. "Looks super wharfy," Kiara says, looking around. "It's gotta be it, no?"

"Yeah. Groff was on Hollis's boat, so look for something fancy," JJ tells.

"It's not here," Emory mutters, also knowing the boat Groff was travelling on as she was with JJ before he was shoved off it. Also, if this boat is fancy, it should be sticking out to us but all I see are plain fishing boats, nothing fancy in the midst.

"I don't know 'bout no fancy boat, but that's Terrance's boat," Cleo chimes, pointing across the wharf at the boat that was supposedly Terrence's. "The one on the right."

"Are you sure?"

"I grew up on that boat, I'd know that boat anywhere," Cleo states, voice certain and firm.

"Yeah, you can see the singe marks, Pope."

"If his boat's here, that means the Corsairs are here," Pope realises.

"Which also means Groff's here," John B voices, and I spot JJ and Emory's faces display the same expression of distaste.

"And the one who killed Captain T," Cleo comments, and I suspect she is going to do exactly what Emory plans to do to her father when she sees him.

"No lights."

"Weather sat's not turning."

"I'm not seeing motion on the boat."

"My vote is, we go storm the fort, see if we can use anything," JJ details, already beginning to walk away to get to Terrance's boat.

"Woah." Emory holds her arm out in front of him, head shaking. "Not you."

"Not you," Pope repeats. "They know what your face looks like." Pope's eyes flicker to me as we both know the mercenaries know what JJ and I look like, perhaps even aware of Emory too, but I'm unsure. Either way, they absolutely know of me and JJ.

JJ sighs, shrugging. "Alright, Pope."

"Somebody else needs to do it," Pope states, looking around at the group.

"I'll do it," Sarah volunteers, surprising each of us, more so the boys than us girls.

"What?"

"I'll do it," she repeats firmly.

"Hey, maybe──"

"What? I'm fine. I can do things," Sarah defends, obviously not appreciating the unnecessary concerned looks that John B gives her, but I can't blame him. She is pregnant, but she's also not incapable. Hello, she'd do just about anything, pregnant or not.

"I believe you. I believe you. I'm just──"

"They don't know what I look like," she interrupts. "I'll do it. I can do it. It's fine." She begins to move away, set on her decision to storm that boat.

"I'm coming with you," John B offers, also backing away with his wife, his eyes on us for a moment. "Um, you guys keep a lookout. We'll storm the fort."

I nod, giving him a thumbs up. "Okay."

Kiara turns to face us── the remaining six. "Divide and conquer?" she suggests, looping her arm through Emory's.

"Alright."

"Yeah, eyes peeled!" John B calls.

"Three high, three low?"

"I'd love to be high," Emory mutters, and I don't think she means up top high.

I nod, pushing my hand into JJ's. "Break."

Emory raises her hand slowly. "I'm part of the high group, right?"

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❀ soph speaks

god i hated writing this chapter but im rlly trying to drag this shit out lol so the chapters r a little shorter and a bit boring but hey

any suggestions on what you think i have planned??

it's fun to see the extremes people go to lol

thankyou for reading!!