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Frederic wished he didn't wake up immediately knowing that he'd been drugged, but unfortunately such things were becoming familiar the longer Ethan was back in his life. Most days the trade seemed fair. Reconnecting with his brother often outweighed his eccentric methods, but he couldn't manage any optimism at that moment as he slowly dragged himself to his feet.

"I told you not the poppy, it gives me a headache," he grunted, teeth clenched.

"That's why I made you this," Ethan replied, holding out a steaming mug. Frederic opened one eye and leaned forward as he sniffed the air. Ethan's smile curled as his frown deepened, taking the cup of tea with a sigh.

"You have until I finish this, and I get to opt out," he murmured into the mug, closing his eyes on his first sip. Ethan laughed and Frederic felt his headache intensify.

"The bad news is, there's no getting out of this one, little brother," he said, winking at Frederic's heavy glare. "But the good news is you slept the entire way here! Do you feel rested?"

"Are you insane?"

Ethan clapped him on the shoulder and grinned. "That must be a yes, then."

--

Phe climbed the stairs to the deck and heard a clattering that made her hand jump to her pistol. The cussing that immediately followed made her wish she could use it. Ethan, Garai and Cass were standing around a fallen body, each one in different levels of physical distress.

"Keys of Lilike," Cass groaned, hands on his knees. "You'd think with all that metal on him, he could manage a set of wheels. Little ones, on his heels or something."

"How long's he out for, Garai?" Ethan asked, stretching his hands to his toes.

Garai, standing with his arms crossed over his chest, gave a small shrug. "Three hours, give or take."

"Seems we have time to explore that notion, Cass."

"Ethan!" Phe yelled and all three of them snapped ramrod straight except for Ethan who melted the instant after, arms widening in a ‘what-could-we-do’ gesture as he began stammering out endearments.

"Phe, goddess, sweetheart, let me explain."

"All it takes is one," she focused her ire on each one in turn, lip twitching as if she wanted to snarl. "One person to see you and put two and two together. We just confirmed the prince's spies aren't following his crew anymore. I swear, you never think-!"

"The Kaplan matter, darling," he ventured half a smile, watching the gears turn in Phe's head. "In the lowlands? I thought he could, you know," the captain waved his hand in a vague gesture.

Garai and Cass chanced a look up from the floor.

"Oh. That would make it easier. Alright," Phe nodded and the three simultaneously relaxed. "The guest bunk's already made up."

She walked around the complex negotiations in picking him back up and sighed, mentally adding a trip to the market to her schedule for Frederic's favorite brand of tea.

--

"You drink it first," Frederic said, immune to Ethan's look of outrage. "Drink it first or I'm walking out of here right now."

"Fine, fine!" He rolled his eyes, and took a good swallow of the cider before handing the bottle back. "But for the record, I have never been less than a gentleman with you. Can we order now?"

The innkeep walked away with their dinner orders as Ethan poured them out more cider. The conversation rolled through the various journeys they'd made recently, slowly at first until they found a natural rhythm of discussion and banter. Frederic was in the middle of the latest romantic falling out in his crew when he stopped and smiled at his brother.

Ethan made a show of looking over his shoulder before asking, "What is it?"

"It's just, nice," Frederic cleared his throat and looked down at his food for a moment. "It's nice to catch up, you know, just a dinner, no shenanigans, no," why was his chicken turning colors, "No, oh no. Ethan. No."

Ethan pushed the plate out of the way before Frederic's forehead fell flat onto the table. The older man let out a groan and laid his head down, pillowed on his arms.

"Garai'll get us in a minute."

"Bastard," Frederic slurred. "You drank the s-same fucking..."

"Worth it," Ethan replied, just as everything went dark.

--

Ethan wondered why Frederic even bothered to have locks on his windows. Drugging Frederic was hard work, something he didn't think his little brother appreciated as he should. It was dark inside the captain's cabin, but Ethan made his way to the side of the bed with ease. His brother's snores were louder than usual. He made a mental note to inform Frederic about proper sleeping positions in the morning. Ethan pulled the needle from his belt and grabbed the blanket, easing it down to bare Frederic's neck.

The blanket slipped down further and the faint glimmer of a knife was Ethan’s only warning before its edge was pressed against his throat. Ruth rose up on one hand, curled protectively around Frederic's form.

"Ah," Ethan frowned. "I forgot you sleep here now."

"Close the window on your way out," she hissed.

"Right, wouldn't want him to catch a cold," he backed up, palms held out. His exit a step behind, Ethan paused and whispered, "But maybe later tell him there’s a job I think he'd–" the knife landed with a dull thud in the wood beside him. "Right then, sweet dreams."

The window closed and Frederic snorted, eyes opening in a blur.

"Wha’s it?"

"Just a dream," Ruth whispered, kissing him on the cheek.

Frederic grabbed her hand with his metal one, wrapping it around his waist before drifting back to sleep.