“Although that’s nothing compared to the words Quinn’ll have for me,” said Jack ruefully.
“She really doesn’t like me, does she?” asked Aria.
This time, it was Jack’s turn to give a great sigh. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Quinn’s a hard one to read. I know she thought I was an idiot for even bringing you on board, but whether there’s anything beyond her thinking I’m a moron, I couldn’t tell you.”
“Have you ever considered that Quinn may have feelings for you herself?” prompted Aria gently.
“Quinn and I…we go way back. It’s complicated but not in the way you think.”
“Oh, it sounds like you should explain,” replied Aria, with a bit of heat.
“I will, my dear, all in good time. If I were to even start telling you the story of everything you want to know, we’d be here for days. Speaking of which,” he said, getting up, “we must be getting close to Myrios. I’m needed on the command deck. Would you like to join me?”
Aria shook her head. “Oh, no. You may be able to roll out of bed and go command a ship, but my hair is a mess, and I need to pick out some proper clothes. And before that, I need a shower. So do you, but something tells me you don’t mind greeting your crew while still smelling of sex.”
Jack laughed. “Well, I do have the reputation of ‘Mad Jack’ to uphold.” He checked himself in the mirror. “Yep, that looks mad enough, don’t you think?”
“Mad Jack. You’re impossible. Get out of here. Go command your ship,” said Aria.
“Ta. I’ll check in on you later, or you can join me on the deck if you wish. Just send a signal on the comms.” Jack blew her a kiss and stepped through the door.
Aria walked into the bathroom, making sure she had a couple of decent towels ready while she waited for the water to heat up. She gave a happy moan as she stepped into the stall, letting the hot water hit her skin and sluice away her cares.
Aria winced a little when she turned, and the water hit her sore and reddened bottom, but then sighed as the hot water brought her soreness some ease. For a glorious twenty minutes, Aria refused to think about anything at all, except for getting clean and letting the water massage her body. She had no idea what kind of hair products pirates were accustomed to using, so she just rinsed her hair thoroughly.
She stepped out of the shower and began the process of drying herself off. Aria looked at herself in the mirror, as if she was looking at herself for the first time. She was truly beautiful.
Why have I examined myself so critically all these years?The amount of time I’ve spent hating different parts of my body, I don’t even want to imagine. I’m beautiful.
A new, tingly warmth spread through her. “I’m beautiful,” she said to the mirror, and it didn’t feel silly.
It was nice, really nice, to say it.
“Well then, you beautiful girl,” she said to herself, “time to go to work.” Aria found a brush and began with her hair.
***
Jack had a spring in his step as he headed toward the command deck. At first he thought it silly, and tried to walk more sedately, but then he thought, fuck it, and let his stride express his happiness as he bounced along.
I can’t believe she said yes.She said yes and really meant it.Even the part of himself that always, always, watched for the double cross seemed to have taken Aria at her word.I don’t remember ever being this happy.
Jack walked onto the command deck, noting the sudden silence. Even though his crew all seemed to be concentrating on their tasks, he could feel the weight of their quiet attention.
Quinn, predictably, broke the silence. “Captain on deck!” she called out, and everyone stood to attention.
“At ease.” He waved and took his command chair on the dais. Quinn walked up to him with a cup of fresh coffee.
“Thank you, my dear,” he murmured, and followed with, “Go ahead, ask.”
“I don’t need to,” observed Quinn, “it’s written all over your face.”
“Then fire away,” he replied.
“Anything I could say, you have already thought of on the walk here, I suspect.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s not nice to know you care,” said Jack lightly.
Quinn shook her head. “That dancer in the bar on Altair, those telepathic twins on Tesserae…I never said a word, and you know it. Fair play to Mad Jack, I thought. But this is different.”
