Fine Line

Fine Line

Prompt #022 Enemies

By: Kuroi Neko-kun

Summary: Mac was a marine. Danny was a pirate.

Disclaimer: I don’t own them.

Warning: Slash

Pairing: Mac/Danny

Rating: FRM

Beta: Julia/Daniel Jackson

A/N: Set in what I call the Pirateverse for now. It’s a different setting from our world.

He was a marine. He had been for the past ten years but it was only recently that his job meant something. This was what was called the Age of Pirates. Since the days of the destruction of civilized lands, pirate activity spiked. More people had turned to the seas now that land was no more, creating this age. To him it was nothing more than a rebellion, just like how it was on the civilized lands.

Then again, he could only see the logic behind this. With the mainland gone, survivors of the destructions turned to the many island settlements. But these settlements scattered all over the world could only hold so many people. Others have made ship life their alternate choice of living. Which was better by far than having none.

Until the bill passed by headquarters that all unregistered ship in the seas were considered pirates and were placed as a threat. Most of the ships couldn’t afford the registration. This bill however became the cause of a huge marine headache.

This was when the Age of Pirates was given meaning. A group of rebels started to wave the Jolly Roger in the face of the marines. It pissed off many people in high places. Now, it became top priority to capture them. In his opinion, he felt like the marines were playing into their hands.

Besides, he thought that resourceful energy on both sides shouldn’t be wasted on a proverbial game of police and thief. Instead, they should be working on the remnants of civilization, hopefully able to scavenge some form of living for the masses. But egos were bruised and egos were boosted. He couldn’t win against that.

It had been the fifth time he brought the younger man into interrogation. They had captured a pirate ship, only to have the captain trade his own life if his crew could land on a safe island. In the end, he left them the ship but disarmed them of everything else.

The younger man was known as Captain Danny Messer, a man from a respected family once upon a time. Now, he was on the most wanted list, being the one of the few that sparked the rebellion. And, from what he knew, was a man who could take a beating better than anyone else other than him.

When he entered the room, Danny was slouching against his seat, smirking at him.

“Well, hello Captain Taylor,” he greeted. “Still trying to pound some information out of me? I’m going to tell you that it’s not going to get you anywhere.”

Cocky. He had to admit the man had guts and a rather hefty pound of endurance.

“I’m still wondering why a Messer would end up a pirate,” he said as he sat opposite Danny, a table between them.

He shrugged. “Not all Messers were thrown out on his own when his parents found that he was interested in being something to talk about, Mac.”

“You mean having a job that held some social outstanding?” he asked. It had been awhile since anyone actually talked about the civilized lands without having some sort of sadness with their words.

“Yeah. I didn’t want to be a mantelpiece for mommy and daddy. ‘Sides, I’m already the black sheep when I decided to bed another *man*…” He trailed off, anger reflecting in his eyes.

Mac sat there, calmly assessing Danny. He understood why this man took the sea. His need to be free from all judgments was fulfilled here. Mac understood that sense of need. Having lost his wife, he needed that same freedom. It was better than drowning his sorrows at the end of a bottle.

“But I guess you don’t want me to get into detail on that,” Danny said before leaning in, a playful smile on his lips. “Or do you, captain?”

Mac was slightly taken aback by the sudden closeness between the two. He was uncomfortable with being this close with Danny. And Danny knew that. He had always peeved the marine by casually flirting with him.

It wasn’t the flirting that bothered him. Mac had been through enough interrogations to get used to desperate pirates, both male and female, using their charm on him. It usually never worked.

In Danny’s case, it was done not by desperation but to see what responses he can get from the marine. It was a game to Danny and Mac played like a fool because he couldn’t stop his own impulses. And Mac knew why, despite how he tried to ignore the facts. He was attracted to Danny Messer had been since the day the man was locked up in shackles in his cell. The sight did arouse him and it sickened Mac that he had thoughts of taking Danny there and then. Despite the fact the man was a pirate, he was still a man to respect. But Danny was pushing his buttons, accidentally or not.

Mac cleared his throat before leaning back further. “What I’d like to know you’ll never tell me. Who started this rebellion?”

“You know the answer to that, Mac,” he said, leaning back, an easy smile on his lips.

“Okay, why be a pirate?” Mac asked. Danny just looked at him.

“You wouldn’t understand. Try again next time, captain,” he said.

Mac tossed and turned in his bed. He had too many things in his head. Most of it was about the interrogations of a certain pirate captain. The recent one was the most civil one between them. Mac didn’t even have to raise a hand.

He didn’t mean to ask a personal question but it was the only thing that got Danny talking. He was eager to talk about his past life on the civilized lands. Mac wondered if everything was set up for the pirate’s desire.

Giving up on sleep, Mac threw on a jacket and decided to take a walk.

He wished he had a window. The only thing he missed while he was a free man was the sight of the moon. He sighed. He just never could sleep with such silence in the boat. His crew was never this quiet. They made noise even in sleep. They were, without a doubt, noisier awake.

With the silence, he could here the clanking of boots to stairs as someone came to the holding area. He sat up, raising a curious eyebrow as who would visit him at this time of night. He was surprised that it was the marine captain.

“Captain Taylor, this is an honor,” he said, grinning. “If you’re worried that one of your subordinates would come down and rape me, don’t. Be reminded that I’m a pirate.”

Mac smirked. “I’m sure none of my subordinates would do that. It’s against the law.”

“I should be thankful but I’m a rule breaker. Comes with the whole pirate thing,” Danny said.

“I’ve noticed,” Mac pointed out before coming closer to the bars. “Listen, I just want to know why you told me that.”

Danny lifted his head. “Told you what?”

“That I wouldn’t understand why you became a pirate,” he said.

“Ah, so that’s what’s been peeving you,” Danny said, smirking now. “Do I always keep you up, captain?”

“Not always,” Mac replied, looking at him. Danny stood up, standing close to the bars facing the marine.

“Then why the sudden interest in me?” he asked in a whisper. Half of Mac wanted to take a step back, get more space between them. Even the iron bars weren’t enough to distance him from Danny.

“Mac, why don’t you tell me?” Danny moved closer, leaning against the bars.

He couldn’t. The answer was something he wished to bury and never speak of again. He needed to move back but he couldn’t. Instead, he gravitated towards Danny.

Danny’s hand rubbed against his chest. “You know, you’re interesting to me too.” Mac only let out a low growl; enjoying the sensations the hand was bringing to him.

“You want to make more out of this?” Danny whispered.

“Can’t,” Mac nearly choked out.

“All you have to do is open this cell and I’m yours.” It was an enticing thought but he knew he couldn’t do it. He wasn’t about to break his own rule.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered before backing away. Without a second glance, Mac went back to his room, leaving a dejected Danny Messer behind.

Danny never saw Mac again the next day. The marine captain was obviously avoiding him, knowing that he would never get anything out of him. Danny knew that this meant he didn’t have to stay any longer. He pulled out the key he had snagged from the junior officer since the day he was caught. He could’ve left on that night but his attraction to Mac kept him from leaving.

He waited till night fell again before he opened the door to the cell and quietly snuck out. He tiptoed on the deck, searching for a lifeboat. It was the only way for him to get out of there.

Danny found one and began untying the boat, unknown to any of the guards. He was about to finish the last knot when the cold of a steel blade was pressed against his back.

“Going somewhere, Captain Messer?” Mac said. Danny stood up slowly, hands raised, before turning to face him.

“Me? Just searching for my freedom again,” he answered nonchalantly. Mac just smirked.

“And what makes you think I’m going to allow that? For all I know, you’re the one the Marine Government is looking for.”

At that, Danny snickered. “Sorry, Mac. I don’t have any reason to start this rebellion. Why would I want attention from marines when I want to kill one?”

Mac blinked. “What?”

“Well, you asked and I answered. We’re through. No point in keeping me here.”

Mac raised his sword. “There is no way—“Grabbing the sword hilt and Mac’s free wrist, Danny pinned him to a wooden wall before kissing him deep, giving the marine a shock.

“You should’ve taken me, Mac,” he whispered. “Maybe, you’d know.”

“I don’t break my rules,” Mac muttered.

“I know. That’s why you’re interesting, captain,” Danny said, pushing himself off before jumping on the lifeboat. The last rope snapped under the pressure of the jump and landed with a splash in the sea. Staring the engine of the boat, Danny sped away from the marine ship. As he did, he couldn’t help but feel like he left something behind.

Once the ship was out of sight, he slowed down and looked back. Mac was a marine, his enemy. But for all he knew, Mac was more than just that. He felt a deeper connection between them.

Maybe he left his heart with the enemy. He crossed a line between enemies and lovers. Now, he just didn’t know where he was.

Not wanting to look back anymore, Danny moved on. He needed to be a pirate again.

End… For now.