Fullbody was never sure quite what had made him return the next day.
But there he was, with the guard giving him ‘the look’ as he inspected the contents of the small package the Marine had brought with him. Once the guard was satisfied that the man wasn’t stupid enough to try and sneak a key, a lock pick, or anything of that matter in, he opened the outer cell door for him. Instructing him that the prisoner was in the same cell as before.
“You again?” Jango stared at the man now standing outside his cell. If possible he was more surprised to see him now than on his first visit.
“I see you still don’t like using manners.” Fullbody smirked. “You could at least try being a little nicer, I brought you something.”
The marine held up a small bundle, wrapped in a kerchief that smelled utterly delectable to the hungry pirate.
Jango’s eyebrow raised just over the rim of his glasses, sceptical about what the Marine was trying to do. Or even get at.
“Just take it. They’re not poisoned or anything.”
The pirate hesitated, and then finally took the offered bundle.
Three rice balls.
The fluffy white balls were slightly off shaped because the guard had to check them, rice balls with a light sprinkling of sesame seeds and a small strip of dried seaweed wrapped around the bottom.
Fullbody scratched his cheek. “Well you did say the food in here sucked.”
At that point Jango didn’t care if they were poisoned or not. He shoved them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing as fast as his body would allow. The marine stared at him with a slightly disgusted face as it looked like the pirate had been starved for several days. Though with the conditions at the prison, it really was like he had been starved.
“Jeez, don’t choke or anything.”
“I’m fine.” The pirate swallowed the last bite, and wiped the side of his mouth off with his sleeve. “Thanks.”
Fullbody just nodded. It was nice to know all the flirting he done with the grumpy mess hall lady this morning to get those rice balls had been worth something.
“You didn’t owe me anything you know.”
“I know. I just felt like doing it. Ok?”
A small smiled tugged at Jango’s lips. “Yeah ok.”
What else was there to say anyway? Thanks for being nicer to me than anyone else has in pretty much my entire life even though you’re an asshole about it? He wasn’t about to say that to the Marine’s face. Of course, Jango may have been a little stupid sometimes, but not an idiot.
“My trial is tomorrow.”
Fullbody coughed. “Good luck with that.”
“Fat chance! You know just as well as I do what the outcome will be.” Jango snorted as if it were a joke. Too bad it wasn’t funny in the least bit. “I’ll be executed.”
Fullbody frowned. How was he supposed to read any kind of emotion behind those stupid pink heart-shaped glasses?
“And?”
“And what?”
“You’re not scared of dying?”
Another snort, then a laugh. Then another, and another. Until Jango was shaking so hard he had to grip the bars of his cell for support. His head hung, white hair obscuring his face. His knuckles began turning white, from the grip that he held on the bars, it was inevitable that his nails were digging into his hands. But he didn’t care.
“It’s not funny you stupid pirate!” Fullbody had had enough. Reaching into the cell, he grabbed the prisoner’s collar, pulling his face right up to the bars, forcing Jango to look him in the eyes.
Whatever he had meant to say next stuck at the back of his throat when he saw the tears rolling down the pirate’s cheeks. The way he was biting his lip was hard enough to draw blood, his body shaking like a leaf.
“Of course I’m fucking scared.” Jango had never wanted anyone to see him cry, especially not this man. He had tried so hard to convince himself it didn’t matter whether he lived or died anymore. But he didn’t ‘want’ to die.
The hand on his collar released and in its place, two strong arms wrapped around his shoulders. Fullbody didn’t know why he stood there, holding a man that should have been his enemy and nothing more. Letting tears that refused to be held back any longer fall onto his nice shirt.
He didn’t care at the moment.
He just couldn’t let the man go.
And he would not let him die.
Not even if it cost his own life.