A/N: Hey Everyone! This was a plot bunny that would never leave after watching Pan, which I thoroughly enjoyed. But sadly it's more of a side a story that I will update less frequently than my other stories (Masks and Pasts- Teen Titans and Runner- Rise of the Guardians). But I still hope that everyone who reads this enjoys. But also please review because this one is unbeta.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pan or the characters of the Peter Pan story.
"Look flyboy," James T. Hook looked at Peter Pan, his new first mate. "Now that we got yer crew, I suggest that we go looking in those fairy mountains for any lurking pirate activity." Hook watched as Neverland came closer. It looked peaceful and lively. Yet Hook felt that deep in the darkness something lurked to destroy all of that. In his gut he felt that Blackbeard wasn't truly gone.
"Look here Captain Hook," Peter said cheekily. "I call the shots around here." Peter's smirk grew and Hook couldn't help but smile back. "Plus those bloody pirates should be scared to go anywhere near the faerie mountains." Peter finished proudly. Hook opened his mouth to protest but the beautiful Tiger Lily spoke.
"While I do agree and understand your fear Hook, I do not think it wise to go into the faerie kingdom." She stated bluntly. Hook opened his mouth to protest but Tiger Lily's stern glare silenced him. "The faerie realm is sacred and we already destroyed much of their land. I believe they would not be fond of other species in their land right now." Tiger Lily's blue-green eyes were soft and alight with mirth. Hook couldn't help smiling. He didn't know what it was about the princess, but she was like sea. Anything she felt spread to him in waves.
"That's for sure." Peter's snort brought Hook out of his thoughts. Hook heard something sounding like a bell as a flash of green-yellow light flew towards Peter. "They particularly don't like a certain old man ." Peter elbowed Hook.
"Hey there!" Hook said with mock anger. "I take offense to that." They all continued to joke around and watch Peter play with his friends, or as they dubbed themselves the Lost Boys. But Hook didn't stop worrying about Blackbeard. He had to know for sure.
Hook dropped everyone off at the outskirts of the Tribal lands. Hook watched as all the new kids ran around enjoying the magical sights of Neverland in the safe territory of the Tribal lands. The lands were more outspread since Blackbeard's fall. Hook knew he wouldn't be the most welcomed guest since everyone, even the miners and followers of Blackbeard, believed that he was the captain of the pirates. It didn't help that Peter encourage it. Honestly, Hook himself didn't know if he wanted to be a pirate or not. He enjoyed sailing and traveling but besides that he didn't see what else made him pirate material. He could only imagine the laugh Peter and him would have if he dressed as ridiculous as Blackbeard.
"What are you smiling about?" Tiger Lily's voice made Hook jump and he tripped backwards landing on his butt. Tiger Lily's soft chuckle almost made his embarrassment worth it. Almost.
"Glad someone appreciates my grace." Hook said with a small smile as he rubbed his back. Tiger Lily's calloused but dainty hand appeared in front of him. He gladly took it and pulled himself up. She pulled too, making their bodies bump into each other when he got up. "This is very forward of you princess." Hook tried to sound suave but his voice came out with a breathy tone. She chuckled and gave a little smirk.
"Weren't you the one who wanted to get me alone?" Tiger Lily's voice had a playful edge to it and Hook noticed that her eyes weren't burning like they always were, they were sparkling. Hook laughed lightly both at his corny thoughts and Tiger Lily's question.
"That I did princess." Hook heard his voice become huskier as he leaned closer to Tiger Lily. Her natural smell of trees and dirt enticed him. But somehow she smelt like fire. It was a deep burning smell that was hot, passionate, and untameable. That smell intoxicated him. He barely noticed her hand touching him till her warm hand and intoxicating smell left him feeling the cool air of the night. Tiger Lily had stepped away from him and when she cleared her throat Hook was back in reality. Her head was turned away from him. Hook stood in shock for a few seconds but then he stood up straight and crossed his arms. His hands itching to tip a hat that wasn't there. He knew he would be rejected. He knew it was silly to hope, but yet he did it anyway. It's that dang kid's fault. He thought to himself.
"Why are you out here?" Tiger Lily's voice was hard and clipped but Hook could see the light blush she held.
"No captain leaves his ship unprotected." Hook tried to keep his voice normal but he couldn't help the roughness of his tone. Tiger Lily looked back at him, a spark of guilt flashed in her eyes but it disappeared just as quickly as it had appear. Her eyes became narrow and scrutinized him. Hook simply lifted an eyebrow in response.
"It is unwise to go looking for darkness on your own." She said bluntly. It almost threw Hook off-guard but part of him knew that she would know what he was really going to do.
"I'm much obliged for the advice Princess. But it's not needed." Hook walked past Tiger Lily and down the stairs. He knew she was right but if no one was going to help him then he had to help himself. He almost forgot how it felt to depend on himself. It was safer. He knew what his limitations were, what he would do, what to avoid so it wouldn't hurt him. It caused less chances for hope. He heard Tiger Lily's light footsteps following him.
"You cannot go into the faerie kingdom alone." Hook stopped in his tracks. He wanted to keep walking but he couldn't help but stop. Maybe because he actually did respect her advice. Or maybe it was because he loved the sound of her voice. "While it is a wise idea, it is not safe for you." Tiger Lily continued to walk toward him, stopping a few feet away from him. Hook grimaced that now she was deliberately staying away from him.
"I won't be alone. I'll take Smee." Hook turned his head towards her and winked. He quickly saw anger take form in her face before he began walking away. He was stopped suddenly when Tiger Lily pulled his arm back harshly.
"Was it not Smee who betrayed us?" Hook tried not to let his anger simmer when she said us. "How can you trust him? The faeries certainly will not. You are already assumed to be a pirate, do not let your company corrupt your character even more. It is-"
"Not wise." Hook turned around and faced Tiger Lily, anger burning through him. He knew everyone thought he was a pirate but for some reason it angered that no one saw differently. He was just a dumb cowardly pirate in their eyes. "I get it Princess. I'm just a pirate! Well I'm sorry about that. I just thought that with Smee being apart of Blackbeard's crew and all, he just might have some useful information. Like how I know a different way in, he might know how Blackbeard could still live." Hook breathed heavily and finally realized that he was as close to Tiger Lily as before. He saw the shock in her eyes and it immediately calmed him down. "And I haven't trusted anybody in a long time."
"You trust me right?" Peter's voice rang through and Hook saw him coming down to the ship. He stepped away from Tiger Lily thankful for the distraction.
"Our first deal was made on lies kid." Hook pointed out teasingly. Peter just rolled his eyes and landed on the ship, his arms behind his back.
"Forgive and forget right?" Peter said offhandedly. "Plus if you didn't forgive me, I guess I couldn't give you this." Peter pulled out Hook's hat from behind his back. It was torn and ragged but Hook was ecstatic to see it. He went to grab it, but Peter flew back, a mischievous smirk on his face. "You can't have it until you admit, that you trust me." Peter said haughtily as he flew a few feet away from Hook. Hook couldn't help but smile and shake his head at Peter. Peter had him wrapped around his finger.
"I trust ya kid. Now give me back my hat." Hook held out his hand as Peter huffed in annoyance. Then, with his hat inches away from his fingers, Hook saw the gleam in Peter's eyes. "Peter..." Hook said with warning, but he was too late. Peter threw it beyond Hook's head and towards the edge of the boat. Hook ran towards it catching it before it and himself went over the edge. He heard two laughs behind him. One a suppressed giggle and another a full childish belly laugh. "Har-har." Hook turned back around, facing Tiger Lily and Peter. "Now that you both had your laugh, I think it's time for me to go."
"What? Where are you going?" Peter asked in thinly concealed disappointment. Tiger Lily looked away and Hook tried not to be bothered. Key word tried.
"I got things to do kid. I got to go see the miners make sure they're all alright and someone's got to make sure those pirates behave themselves." Hook said confidently. It wasn't all the truth but it was enough.
"Oh okay." Peter said dejectedly. It pulled at Hook's heart hard. He didn't want to be the one to disappoint the kid.
"Don't worry." Hook ruffled Peter's hair taking his hat in the process.
"Hey!" Peter made to grab Hook's hands and hat but Hook avoided him. Peter crossed his arms and huffed in mock frustration. But Hook saw the smile in his eyes.
"I'll come back soon kiddo." Hook throw Peter his hat back. Peter's eyes sparkled with happiness and Hook felt content.
"Good." Peter nodded. Hook heard one of the boys yelling Peter's name. "I'm coming!" Peter turned to fly towards the boys a little green-yellow light flying towards him. Before he left from Hook's view Peter turned and yelled something to him. "Don't go into the faerie kingdom. Tink told me that none of the faeries want pirates there. Something about dirtying the magic." Peter grinned back at Hook. Hook could hear Tiger Lily chuckle.
"Well I'm not the one who looks like a mud boy." Hook yelled back. Peter's laugh filled the air. Adding to the light airy feel of the night. Peter's laughed echoed around Hook till a calm silence filled the air.
"Did you mean it?" Tiger Lily asked quietly. Hook looked at her and saw that there was a change in her. She looked somewhat vulnerable. It took him by surprise.
"What?"
"Did you mean what you said to Peter? Will you be back soon?" Her eyes bore into Hook's confidently. She wanted the truth. Hook was going to repeat the same answer he told Peter but nothing came out. She sighed at that. "So everything you told him was a lie." Her voice cut through Hook like a knife. She was angry and disappointed at him. And he couldn't do anything to prove her wrong but he needed her to know what he felt. Even though he really didn't know himself.
"Tiger Lily." Hook's tongue felt heavy after saying her name and his voice took on a more sincere tone. He cleared his throat, hoping to keep his feelings down long enough. "I need you to teach Peter how to take care of himself. I know you probably thought about it but I need you to do it." Hook took a deep breath. He couldn't believe he was telling a beautiful woman he just meant something he hadn't told anyone but it didn't change how easy it was to trust her. "I've always been on Neverland. When we went to the other world nothing looked or felt familiar. It didn't feel like home. I don't remember even having one. But I do remember three things from when I was a kid. A woman with hair as bright as faerie's light," Hook took off his hat and put a hand through his hair. "A scar on the top of my head, and Blackbeard as an old bitter man." Hook spat. Tiger Lily stared at Hook in confusion. "I know, it's all confusing but just focus on the Blackbeard part. I remember him as an old man with dark spots and wrinkles. Yet as an adult all I saw was a middle-age man." Hook let out a shaky breath. "He wanted the Pixum for a reason. To cheat death. A man devoted to that wouldn't let a mere fall kill him. He wouldn't let a boy kill him. Not unless the boy was dead first." Hook's breathing became labored and a pain came to his head. He felt a memory come to his mind but it was foggy and distant, they all were. But what filled him with fear was the fact that if he was right about Blackbeard, he would lose the home he just found. He would lose Peter and her. Tiger Lily touched Hook's arm, calming him down.
"He was also a man full of greed and power. Power drives madness into the hearts of good men." Hook's breathing went back to normal and Hook automatically grabbed Tiger Lily's hand gently, holding it to his arm. "But I do understand what you are telling me." Hook stared at Tiger Lily. "You need to know that Blackbeard is dead. You need to know that Peter is safe. That your home is safe." Hook looked away, embarrassed. He never let anyone know he felt, yet she could tell how he felt without him saying it. One of her hands touched his face and all the breath in him escaped as she turned him to her. "Go." It took Hook a while to realize that the touch lasted only a few seconds. "Make sure he's dead. Make sure we truly are safe. But come back." She ordered. "Keep your promises. Show everyone that you are more than a pirate." For once Hook was glad when she stepped away from him. He didn't know what he would do if she had stayed in front of him. The passion in her eyes lit something in him. It took a while and she was already near the edge of the ship when he pulled himself together.
"Yes ma'ma." Hook said mockingly to her back. But he could tell that she was smiling since her walk was lighter and her reply was filled with happiness.
"See you soon Hook." She called as she jumped from the ship. Hook let out an impressed whistle. He stood there enjoying the peace, knowing that the task he was about to take on would probably rob him of it. Yet hopefully, when he came back he would finally be able to rest in peace. Hopefully.