A/N: Okay, this is a little weird, but I'll tell you about it: in the extras it just said Tom's "childhood friend" was killed. While it's implied that it's Huck, I decided it doesn't have to be. I like Huck, and in Tom Sawyer, they mention another person as one of Tom Sawyer's "bosom friends." So, yeah. And this is just the intro, so don't worry if it's a bit boring. Um, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Well I was just recently informed that the penname Mark Twain was already taken, so I don't own Tom, Huck or Joe. I also don't own the other characters that come in later. And I made up Carrington, SC, so if that's a real town then I'm sorry!
A new day was just beginning on the booming coastal town of Carrington, South Carolina when Tom Sawyer decided to wander the streets. The town was almost completely silent, but not dead silent, and he liked that. He had grown used to the fact that the Nautilus would always have something creaking or there would be someone aboard shouting orders, but he still craved the peacefulness of a sleepy town kicking back their covers and begrudgingly greeting the new day.
A thick fog rolled in from the sea, one which covered up the majority of the massive Nautilus. There were going to be quite a few confused and, maybe a little angry townspeople, when they saw the gargantuan ship (or so he guessed it was) blocking their port, but hopefully they would make up for it with all the provisions they were intent on purchasing. Growing up in a small port town, Tom knew the economy most likely lay in the port, so he planned on supporting it as much as he could. Of course, for all he knew about sea ports, the economy could be completely dependent on communication.
Tom found a dry bench among all the damp ones lining the street and sat down. He was quite happy none of the others had decided to accompany him on his expedition into town; they were quite conspicuous. Well, except for Skinner, technically, but he had to be naked for that to work and that part always troubled him a little bit. Jekyll wasn't too bad either. That is, if he wasn't talking to Hyde. That's when you had to sidle away from him and stare at him with all the other people in town. And Mina could be all right, when she wasn't sucking the blood out of someone's throat. Maybe Nemo would be accepted in a port town, dressed as he was, but as a group they were quite noticeable.
The tinkling of a bell in the distance told Tom shops were opening. He heard footsteps echoing down the sidewalks and a carriage or two were clomping along in the distance. The only thing he needed was a steamboat whistle.
Tom let his head drop back against the bench. He heard more footsteps, but this time they were closer to him. He smiled to think it might be someone he knew. What he would give right now to see a familiar face from St. Petersburg.
Someone cleared their throat nearby. Tom raised his head again, but all he saw was the fog in front of him and no one to the sides. It must have been a trick of the senses, he thought.
"Why Thomas Sawyer, I hain't seen you in a dog's age," a familiar voice sighed in a teasing tone from somewhere beyond the fog. Tom narrowed his eyes and looked for the origin of the voice. He shook his head, he must be hearing things. It must have been his wishful thinking, there was no way he could be here.
But then the familiar face appeared through the fog. In a way, Tom wasn't the least bit surprised to see him standing there, looking like only a taller version of his younger self, completely unconcerned with anything around him. His hands were on the hips of his ripped and filthy jeans and he had a large clump of chew bulging out of his lip.
"You know damn well that's the name they whip me by, and I hain't ben whipped in near on six years."
"Tom, you ben outta school longer'n that. What, they whip ya when you mess up on yer job?"
"You never could count very well, could you Huckleberry Finn? I ben out little over five years. It's you ben out longer," Tom countered his old friend with amusement. Tom and Huck had been pretty close as kids, but a lot of that was by coincidence. Huck had been the forbidden boy, the one all mothers (or, in Tom's case, aunt) hated, so he was naturally admired by all boys. Then, after the murder and the finding of the treasure, it was pretty much implied Tom and Huck were good friends. Huck's adventure with Jim, which later involved Tom, just sealed the deal. Who knew what would have happened if Huck had been just another school boy? They most likely wouldn't have been friends, as Huck was a shade small and fairly shy and passive by nature while Tom was always up for an adventure or a fight.
"So where's Joe?" Huck changed the subject with an abruptness that caught Tom off guard.
"Joe?" he repeated. "Joe Harper?" Huck sat down on the bench next to his friend and spit some of his tobacco out on the ground.
"No, Injun Joe, o' course I mean Joe Harper. Last I heared you 'n' him were workin' together in some high-and-mighty govment job." Tom sighed deeply and hung his head.
"Joe's dead. For reals this time," he smiled, thinking of the time the town thought they were dead when they were really off being "pirates." "We was partners and we was runnin' after this guy that wanted to turn the whole world again each other. So we come up again him and we find out he only got one bullet, and he was 'termined to kill one or t'other. So I told him 'Shoot me, he don't deserve to die.' So he shot Joe right in the head.
"Don't worry, I got my revenge Huck; I shot 'n' killed him from near 500 yards off right after he killed one of our team." Huck gave Tom an curious look, with a touch of pity and concern. But Tom didn't see it. "His family refused to believe he was dead until they saw the body, after the humiliation o' last time, but when they saw it, they decided they hated me. I did a lot o' stuff growin' up, stuff that almost got me, him, an' even you killed, but when I try to save him they decide to hate me. I don't reckon St. Petersburg will ever let me back. I'm just glad Aunt Polly moved afore it happened."
"How many people you seen die in your life Tom?" Huck asked bluntly.
"People I knew?" Huck nodded. "Well, there was Mama, but I was only four then, and then Dr. Robinson, Joe, and Quatermain— he was the one in our team that was killed. So four I guess."
"That's a lot o' people Tom, a lot o' people. I don't think I could stand t' be you."
The two friends sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the sounds of more shops opening as the fog began to thin out.
"Didja see that monster of a boat in the harbor?" Huck finally sighed.
"Yeah, you wanna see it from the inside?" Tom looked to Huck, a slightly fake smile plastered on his face. Huck laughed and shook his head.
"You always got a surprise fer me, don't ya Tom?" He paused. "Alright, le's go."
"Alright, but I gotta warn ya— my friends are a little odd."
