Chapter Text
Waves crashed against the shores of Port Royale as the Caribbean sun shone down on the streets. Sailors and civilians alike walked the cobble stone roads going about their day to day, British soldiers patrolled the roads for the rogue pirate but found none. At least none they could see or touch. Seagulls cried out as a ship pulled up to the docks, after weeks new shipments had finally arrived to the town dock without being molested by Pirates. The master called out to his handlers.
"Make fast, Men! Secure those mooring lines! This is the first ship we've had in weeks and I'll not lose her to the sea now! Bendy! You and your brother catch those heaving lines!"
The mid morning sun glistened off the inky skin of a short demon, who nodded diligently. "Aye, sir! Boris, come… Boris!" The tall younger wolf suddenly jumped from where he'd been staring out toward the horizon. "Pay attention, Boris! Or he'll dock your pay again!"
"Right.. sorry, Bendy." Boris nodded as he moved to help his brother. Soon the smaller ropes were tossed over the side and the pair worked together to get them secured to the posts as the ship came to a complete stop.
The brothers watched as the older deck hands boarded the ship using the now lowered gangplanks. While they worked the ropes, the other stronger dock hands began carrying the heavy crates and sacks off the ship. They stared in wonder as everything was unloaded onto the docks for the dock master's inspection. Said man was on the ship discussing business with the captain, namely the pay for using his specific dock. Spices from the other side of the ocean, fruit and vegetables, even animals they had never seen before made up majority of the cargo. Others were silks from India and China, and gunpowder.
"So many new things." Boris said aloud looking at the cage holding strange colorful birds. He backed up in surprise as they started squawking at him.
"Aye, lots of things on the other side of the sea." One of the crew members smiled. "It's a miracle we made it here in one piece if I be honest."
"Rough seas?" Bendy asked studying the rather spiky fruit in one of the open crates.
"Nay, pirates, lad, pirates." The man shook his head. "Twas lucky another bigger ship was sailing our same course, God rest their souls but their sacrifice got us here."
"Wait, so you didn't even try to help them?" Bendy demanded. Of course it was pirates. "So you were cowards then?"
"Mind your tongue, demon." The man straightened up as he glared down at Bendy. "You have no idea what it's like tangling with the likes of them. Though someone like you belongs on a pirate crew. You sure you aren't a pirate, Boy?"
Boris just managed to catch his brother before he launched himself at the sailor. "Bendy, calm down, brother, please."
"Don't ever call me a pirate!" Bendy hissed as he kept struggling in his brothers arms trying to get at the man.
"What are you going to do about it, Runt?" The man smirked. "Why not tell your pet wolf to let you go and we can settle this like men!"
"Boris ,let me go right damn now!" Bendy ordered his brother.
"Yes be a good dog and let him go!" The sailor laughed. "Do you want a bone?"
Boris couldn't hold onto Bendy anymore as the demon thrashed harder, the sailor's smile instantly disappeared as the others fist connected with his cheek and continued to do so. A crowd had gathered and cheered the fight on, crew members and dock hands exchanged coin on who would win the fight.
By now the captain and Dock master noticed the commotion and hurried down the gangplank to break up the fight.
"That is enough of that!" The Dock master yelled as he moved toward the man and demon, he reached down and easily grabbed said demon by the back of his shirt and pulled him away. "Lad, when I tell you enough I mean ENOUGH!"
"Honestly, Dock Master, you should know better than to employ a demon." The captain stated helping his man to his feet. The two looked down their noses at the demon dangling from the other man's hand. "They are rather dangerous and unpredictable. Perhaps next trip we'll chose another dock to bring in our goods if he's here."
"That won't be necessary, Captain, I can assure you this won't happen again." The dock master said putting Bendy back on his feet. "Apologize, Bendy, or you and your brother can forget about this job."
Bendy glared over his shoulder at the Dock master and wanted to tell him where he could shove this job but then he saw Boris. His ears were pinned down against his skull and his tail had curled around his legs. He was scared, of the fight or them losing one of the very few jobs they could get in this whole port town, Bendy wasn't sure. But they couldn't afford to lose it so he swallowed his bitter pride down.
"I… apologize for attacking you, sir." Bendy bit out.
"Well, who knew you could tame a demon?" The sailor laughed. Now that he had his captain and the dock master backing him, his bravado had returned.
"Alright, Jones, that's enough." The captain stated. "Get yourself back on board and patched up. And as for you, Demon, that apology wasn't enough so I'll be taking part of your pay to cover supplies we'll have to use to patch up my crew member."
Bendy stared at the man in shock, "That's-"
"More than fair." The dock master nodded already grabbing the coin purse from his belt. Bendy could only stare as part of their money was handed over to the captain. Once done, the man turned and shoved the rest of the coins into Bendy's hand. "You two are done for the day. Get off my dock."
Bendy started to argue only for Boris to gently grasp him by his shoulder. "Brother, lets just go." He wanted to ignore his brother and demand the rest of their money but before he could a vicious cough ravaged his throat. Boris hurried over to his brother's side as the demon collapsed to his knees coughing. His eyes widened as he saw ink seeping through Bendy's fingers, ink had also began to melt slightly on the side of his head nearly covering one of his eyes. "Bendy!"
"So not only is he a problematic demon, but also a sickly one. Again I ask you, Dock Master, why you keep him around?" The captain sniffed. "Get him out of here, Wolf, before he spreads whatever disease he has."
Boris didn't argue as he carefully got Bendy on his back and hurried away from the dock, headed for home. Bendy was unconscious in minutes.
*
When they were finally close to home Bendy began to stir on his brother's back.
"I got ink on your shirt." Bendy said his voice rough and scratchy from his coughing fit.
"We'll wash it out or I could always wear a vest." Boris said. "How do you feel?"
"Same as usual, like my insides are trying to melt out of my body." Bendy replied. "How much did that bastard take from us?"
"I haven't been able to count yet, wanted to get you home first." His brother stated as they walked through the front door of their little shack. He carefully set Bendy down on his moth eaten bed and hurried to get the demon's medicine, dropping their meager earnings on the lopsided table.
"I'm alright-" Bendy had started to say when another coughing fit started up, causing Boris to hurry.
The brothers had lived on their own for over ten years now, after their father had been murdered and his body taken by pirates. With Bendy being a demon he'd been ridiculed and looked down on his whole life. Unfortunately that extended to his little brother as well. There were many days the brothers were chased away from shops and even the steps of the local church. Some times they were able to find work that wouldn't chase them off or resulted in less savory methods. As the dock was always looking for workers, the Dock Master had taken pity on them. When Bendy had turned eighteen he'd went to sea to try and build a better life for them. He'd left his brother in the care of a close friend. His plans sadly didn't work out as he'd hoped. After four years Bendy had come back with very little earnings and the Blot sickness.
The Blot was a strange sickness that had appeared one day. It only appeared in Illusies, like Bendy, Boris and countless other odd beings that lived in the world. No one knew what caused it or how to cure it, the only option for treatment was to temporarily prolong the person's life with medicine. The other option, that was sadly the choice most poor people had to make was to simply find somewhere peaceful to die. Bendy still remembers the day Boris found out he had it. It hadn't been long after he'd come home and he was trying to find them work. A merchant had told him off and even shoved Boris down, Bendy had lost his temper then and went to confront the man. Just like with the Dock Master, he broke out into a horrible coughing fit that had him spitting up inky blood. Boris had only heard about the symptoms of the sickness, to see his big brother with them now devastated him. The medicine that treated the sickness was made by the royal apothecary and sent out among the colonies. Most of the stock sent here was bought up by the rich governors and lords that resided in Port Royale, even though they didn't need it. Boris had camped outside of the medicine shoppe for days when he learned the new shipment was coming in. With what little he'd been able to save up, he only got a single small bottle. Thankfully Bendy only needed one sip to calm his cough, but Boris knew that wouldn't be enough eventually.
Boris had hurried back to his brother's side with the dark glass bottle, uncorking it he carefully pressed the lip of it to Bendy's mouth. Bendy made sure to only take a little, he knew the medicine was getting low.
"Thanks, Little Brother." Bendy breathed as he pulled the bottle away. Slowly but surely he could feel the medicine working. "Sorry… I got us kicked off the job."
"Its fine. It was just for the rest of the day." Boris shook his head. "Are you okay now? Do you need anything else?"
"I need you to calm it down." Bendy said taking the bottle and cork from Boris. He stood from his bed and walked toward the pitiful looking cabinet, re-corking the bottle he placed it back where it usually was kept. "It was just a little fit, nothing I haven't had before."
"Yes but.. they are getting worse." Boris stated as he stood as well. "Are you sure you don't need anymore medicine?"
"I'm fine now, Boris, you're starting to sound like Shelly." Bendy tried to wave off his concerns. He turned toward the table and gathered up the money to count. "Only three silver and two bronze, damn bastard took almost everything." He moved toward the small basket that rats hadn't gotten into yet, where they kept their spare clothes. At the very bottom of the basket was their small stash of money in an old sock. After adding the coins to it he started looking for one of Boris's shirts. "Lets get you another shirt, there should be a clean one in here."
"You should still rest, Bendy, you passed out this time." Boris said moving toward his brother. He let out a small yelp as a shirt was suddenly thrown at his muzzle.
"Not the first time, Pup, and won't be the last I'm sure." Bendy shook his head. "Hurry and change, we're going to the Ink Tavern. Maybe Betty has some work for us tonight."
"But.. Bendy-"
"I SAID I'M FINE, BORIS!" Bendy yelled as he turned to face his surprised brother. Guilt formed in his chest as he saw tears begin to form in the corners of the wolf's eyes. He sometimes forgot that even at his age of twenty five, Boris was still a sensitive soul. Bendy sighed as he moved closer to the taller wolf illusie, "Boris, I know you're worried about me and I appreciate and love you for that. But I promise I'm alright. We need to earn a little bit more so we can eat something other than moldy bread and spoiled cheese tonight, ok?"
Boris leaned down and pulled his older brother into a hug, "I just want you to be around a little longer."
"I know, Pup, I won't be around forever though. You know this." Bendy soothed his brother as he stroked between his drooping ears.
"Doesn't stop me from trying." Boris said with a small sniffle. As the brothers pulled away Boris quickly started changing shirts.
Bendy looked out the open window that framed the sea beyond. He didn't know how much longer he really had left, but he wasn't worried about himself. He worried more about what Boris would do when he was gone.
*
The Ink Tavern was bustling with human and illusies alike as the brothers walked toward the entrance. It was the one of the more 'respectable' places that lined the streets, at least the only one without half naked women hanging out the windows. The working girls here, while scantily dressed at least covered themselves more. You'd think that would kill the business as that was what most sailors came to see after months at sea. But the tavern was as busy as ever, it wasn't just the women and ale the men came for. It was also the entertainment.
Betty, the owner, was said to have the voice of an angel and when she sang it could heal even the most weary of souls. Said owner looked up as the brothers walked in and smiled brightly.
"Bendy, Boris, my favorite boys!" She said as she moved through the tables with practiced ease. She stood as tall as Bendy, short black hair curled all over her head. Her red tavern dress was hiked up one side revealing a pale leg with a black garter belt. Betty wrapped her arms around the demon illusie before doing the same to his brother. "I'm so happy to see you two, work at the dock finished already?"
"You could say that." Bendy grumbled.
"Bendy, did you get into another fight again?" Betty asked arching a thin brow at the man.
"That blagard called me a pirate!" bendy defended himself.
"That's no excuse for fighting." Betty shook her head. "That dock master was one of the few I knew that would accept a demon working for him you know."
"Well.. I don't think he let us go. He just said we were done for the day." Boris said.
"You'd better hope so." Betty sniffed. "Now, since you two are here I can only assume it's for work. Well, Boris, there are some crates of ale that need to come in from the back alley. Bendy you can get to work washing the tankards."
"The tankards?" Bendy bemoaned. He didn't get to complain long as Betty grabbed him by his horn and started dragging him behind the bar.
"Yes. You got you and your brother in trouble, you get the worst job." Betty nodded.
The illusie woman had always treated the boys like her own since she found them digging through the trash heap behind her tavern. Betty had taken them in and fed them, giving them both work until Bendy had left for sea to make a better living for them. After Bendy had struck out with the merchant, Betty had introduced them to the Dock Master who was sometimes a regular.
"Boris, help!" Bendy called for his brother.
"Sorry, brother." Boris shook his head already headed for the back door of the building.
"Traitor!!" Bendy yelled after him.
The sounds of the tavern drowned out his yells. At the far end of the bar, sat two men with cups for heads. The red one glanced over at the commotion but paid it no mind.
"You sure he's gonna be here, Mugs?" The cup with the red straw asked the blue one.
"Give it time, he was still at sea when my informant sent me his note." The mug with the blue straw stated. "We'll just have to wait a little while longer."
Just another day.