Chapter Text
The moon lit up York's cell, keeping him well awake. It had only been three days since his trial and now he was just waiting for his punishment. In the morning he'd step up to the platform and...
Well.
He didn't want to think about it. He heard foot steps approach his cell door.
"Come to mock me in my last hour? Can't a guy get some sleep without being ridiculed by his guard before he dies?" York frowned, not getting up from his bed.
"Depends." A familiar voice drew his attention. "Does the guy who's dying want to avoid that or not?"
York sighed. "North." He got up and walked over to the cell bars as North opened the door for him to come out. "You shouldn't have come here."
"And what? Leave my captain to die? What kind of friend would I be if I did that?" North dragged York out of the cell and through the halls quietly.
"The guards won't be pleased."
"Shh."
York frowned but shut up and followed his quarter master out of the jail through tunnels and finally appearing near the docks. "How long did it take you to map that route up?"
"As long as it took South to sell your ship."
"She did what?!"
North scowled. "Quiet. We're not out of this yet." He slapped a hand over York's mouth and directed him through alleyways and streets until they reached the back door of a rundown home. York was a bit surprised North brought him to place so common and surrounded by other homes. Surely he would be spotted here. But North just dragged the captain in and locked the door behind him.
The house was well lit with candles and lanterns. It was a modest home, but very clean. Someone had only left out a loaf of bread and some smoked meat out, probably for North when he returned.
York pulled the hand away from his mouth. "This isn't your house, is it? Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
"Best place to hide for you. No one would suspect you being here." North sat down to eat, letting York adjust to his new surroundings.
A small patter of feet was heard from the stairs and a small blonde boy stuck is head around the corner into the kitchen. "Pa? When did you get home?"
"Shouldn't you be in bed, Theta?" North frowned at the young boy. York was a bit surprised turning to the tiny voice unsure how long the boy had been staying up while his father's risked his life getting York out of jail.
The young boy pouted. "I was worried. Grandma said you went out for business. Usually you don't come home for days." The boy climbed down from the stairs and went to hug his father, who was smiling at the seven year old boy.
"Had to bring a friend home. You remember York, right?"
Theta grinned at the other man before frowning. "What happened to his eye?"
"Theta, don't be rude."
York chuckled. "Its fine, North" He bent down to grin at the boy. "Canon fire. Got into a fight with one of the most deadliest pirates of Armonia."
"Woah." Theta's eyes widened and before he could ask for the whole story, he was sent to bed.
York sat down to eat with North. "So, ships sold and you're living at home now? What else did I miss?"
North shrugged. "Wash took the rest of the crew. They have their own ship now. I guess they've been getting into trouble with a Navy ship."
"Captain Church?"
"No, just a low level Navy ship. The Captain hasn't bothered us after the news of his daughter's death."
"Oh." York frowned, looking down at the plate of bread and meat. He hadn't forgotten about what happened with Carolina. He had been so close. He could have helped her, but in the end it was too late. She fell into the icy waters and didn't resurface.
"I'm sorry, York."
"Its fine. I'll be ok when we can steal my ship back and head out. I just need to get my mind off of things."
North seemed nervous. "About that. My father's in the hospital. I need to stay and help pay for food and Taxes. Heck, I even got a job. Not a great pay but it helps make ends meet."
"So what you're saying is..."
"Is that I need to stay here with my son. York, there isn't a crew left, and I'm really too tired to be stealing things for the rest of my life. Plus it sets a bad example for Theta. I don't want him joining this life if I can help it."
York sighed. "Yeah, I knew this would happen some day. Its fine. I'll just find Wash, or something. What about Tex and Epsilon?"
North shrugged. "Epsilon has been missing since you got captured. Tex is looking for him. She probably wouldn't mind the help."
"Guess that'll be my first stop."
"How do you plan to find them?"
York grinned. "I know a guy"
---
York left early in the morning, saying goodbye to his friend before going to an old partner's home. His older partner had pretty much raised York before he left to become a pirate and the man had also help in a lot of... well... not so legal business deals. The older man was kind but logical and always made it easy for York to scam other's in his younger days.
York knocked on the door and was greeted by the old and tired green eyes of a graying man.
"No."
The door slammed in York's face.
Rude.
He knocked on the door once more. "Delta, come on! Its serious!"
"The chances are that its not at all serious and you just lost another bet. Just like the last time. Why can't you just visit for once?" There was an sigh from the other side of the door.
"Cause that would be boring. Look, I just need help finding someone. Nothing more than that."
The door cracked open and York could tell that Delta was debating whether or not the pirate was telling the truth before finally opening the door completely. "Fine. Who do you need to find?"
"Church and Tex."
"Impossible. They don't even have a single base. The best I can do is find their ship."
York shrugged. "You could, but I know you have a list of safe houses Church has. We could start there. Come on, Delta. Don't be so negative."
Delta frowned, still unsure if he should agree. He knew better than to expect payment for this, but York was a good friend. How could he say no? "Fine. But we're doing this my way."
"Oh hell no. You know I hate how you travel." York whined. Delta wasn't much of a sea fairing man, much to York's dismay.
Delta scoffed. "Fine, you can find them on your own. Though, knowing you its very likely you'll just get lost or captured considering I'm sure someone is going to hunt you down for bounty once the news you've escaped gets out."
"Alright alright, geez." York huffed. "We'll take your stupid horses."
"Iota and Eta are not dumb. But thank you." Delta barely let out a hint of a grin before letting York in. The feeling of dread washed over him though. There was no way this could end well for the two of them.