"It's the biggest tank I could find," he answered, "And you'd best just get used to it.  You're mine now and that's that."  It felt... oddly good to say that, to admit that he wanted her...  Paige frowned at the thought, wanted... he had her didn't he?  Then the soft patter of her tear caught his attention and distracted him.  He let go of her neck to reach down and pluck the stone from the floor and lift it up to gaze at in the light before slipping it in his pocket as a cold and dark smile spread across his lips and face and a gleam lit his eyes from within.<br/><br/>"You know, maybe I've been going about this all wrong.  Maybe instead of making you sing I should just see how much treasure I can squeeze out of you..."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Kurt smirked and kept moving slowly forward as Artemis spoke.  When she waved dismissively and turned to walk away he laughed.  She truly expected him to simply turn and leave like some lapdog?  Something bristled inside.  He was so tired of obeying.  No, that wasn't right, he never obeyed anyone but his own heart, he was a pirate... a hard life but a free one.<br/><br/>Shaking his head he saw that she was slipping into the trees and he lept forward, vaulting over the edge of the fountain and pushing forward to catch up with her until his left hand could clasp her shoulder and spin her back to face him while he lifted his cutlass to lay against her slender neck.<br/><br/>"I didn't come to ask you for a boon or anything else," he told her, "You think you're so high and mighty... looking down on me and judging me?  Sneering at me for being part of the crew?  Calling me selfish for not wanting to be bitter and hurt and lonely like you are?"<br/><br/>The words made he pause.  They and the feeling of resentment that fueled them felt right but they seemed out of place.  He shook his head and smiled as he let his gaze flicker down to her soft figure.<br/><br/>"Well, neither of us is going to be lonely tonight," he added with a wicked grin.