Thread by @VivaLaBratLife

#HQMaritime @HQMaritimeEvent
Day 2 - Sea Shanties
#UshiSakuAtsu

All eyes were on him.

The tavern was filled to the brim, loud noises everywhere. And yet, all eyes on the room were on a truffle of golden hair framing a devilish face.

Sakusa broke his entrancement for a brief moment to glance at his captain.

Sure enough, Ushijima was no exception. He was eying the singing man just like the rest of them.

At the feel of eyes on him, the captain stared back at his right-hand man.

A challenging smirk took over each of their features.

One that no one would notice but them. Smirk was perhaps a bit too generous of a term considering that outside those who really knew them, no one would be able to tell the difference between that expression and their glares.

The challenge was established all the same.

One of them would bed the blond sailor before the sun rose.

He really was something else. Singing shanty after shanty, somehow always getting at least one chorus by himself amidst all the cups banging on tables.

Other crew mates and locals would join in for most of the familiar lyrics, but it was an unspoken agreement that every once in a while the room would quiet down to fully be graced with the man's enchanting voice.

Sakusa was not one for the usual tavern ruckus, even if he'd come to accept it as an unfortunate part of a pirate's life.

Tonight though, as he saw how the blond's eyes tingled with delight as he sang, he thought for the first time that it might not be all that bad.

Hell, he thought he might just get up and fucking dance if the man asked.

Huh, maybe male sirens really were a real thing.

As long as he had a night with the man before he drowned him, Sakusa couldn't care less.

Ushijima was closer to him, but Sakusa had positioned himself on the blond's direct line of sight across the room.

Not that it mattered. The man seemed well aware of the attention he was getting. He swept his eyes across the whole room, assessing his options.

Sakusa could swear his eyes lingered on him a bit longer than they did on his mates, but that might've well been wishful thinking.

His eyes definitely lingered on Ushijima.

He couldn't exactly blame the man. His captain and closest friend had a posture to him that allowed no mistakes on who he was.

Stoic and strong, and a commanding aura to him that screamed "captain". Sakusa himself had had his fair share of fantasies about the man.

It never led him anywhere. He knew they wouldn't be able to give each other what they both seeked.

Ushijima wouldn't bulge, and neither would he.

They were a bit too similar that way.

Golden locks looked like he would bulge though. Not easily, but that just made it all more thrilling.

The only question was who he would choose to give in to.

The rhythm of slamming cups was picking up, and Sakusa recognized the tune once words were thrown in.

He'd never had a favorite sea shanty before, but "Away, Santiana" was now really close to winning the spot.

The blond got up from his stool in preparation for the chorus, and stomped one of his boots on the table in front of him.

It should've disgusted Sakusa. He had thrown knives at his crewmates' ears for less.

Only nicking them, of course.

For the first strike, anyways.

When the man did it though, it felt right. Like he was commanding the spotlight that was rightfully his among this rowdy crowd.

He'd never heard someone chant with such life before.

Raw feeling pushed into common words, somehow making them sound unique.

The feeling was more addicting than the taste of rum, and Sakusa wanted more.

Once the song was done, the man mockingly bowed before turning his back to the hollering audience.

He was leaving.

Just before the last hints of gold disappeared through the door, the man did two things.

First, he looked over his right shoulder, directly at Ushijima.

A Kraken feasting on an entire fleet couldn't beat the smugness adorning his expression.

Second, he looked over his left shoulder.

Directly at Sakusa.

It didn't occur to either man not to follow him out the door.

They fell in step side by side trailing after the blond, who didn't once glance to check if they were still after him.

Sakusa couldn't for the life of him figure out why he found that attractive.

They ended up in nice inn room, Ushijima closing the door behind the three of them.

"If you're hoping that we duel for your affections, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed."

Leave it up to his captain to be even more blunt than him.

The blond threw his head back and laughed.

"Do I look like a princess ta ya?"

Sakusa lifted an eyebrow at him. "I don't think they make princesses with a mouth as foul as yours."

That earned him a snicker. "Nor as talented, I'd bet. 'Em royals wish they had fun like that."

"So," Ushijima began taking a step closer to the two other men in the room. "If not for a duel, why are the two of us here?"

The blond took his time letting his eyes roam from one man to the other.

"Ya see, I've always been greedy."

When realization finally hit them, both pirates had mirrored hungry smiles on their faces.

🌊🎶

end, for now?
i really feel like writing more of this au!

also I'M LATE but honestly who could blame when i was too busy singing my heart out to sea shanties