My fandom fixations seem to roll in cycles. This month we have rolled back round to Peter Pan. We are working with the 2003 film by the way. Why? Because Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook is delicious that's why…
This story is a bit AU. Rated M for language… adult stuff later on.
. . .
Chapter 1 - Awakening
Cold… It's so cold… did I leave a window open? Blue green eyes blinked bleary, still caught in the space between sleep and consciousness. Something hard was jabbing into her side uncomfortably. She shifted and pawed around her in search of her blanket. All that was found were wet fistfuls of freezing snow. Blankly she stared at the white covered ground that chilled her to the bone. Stars twinkled beyond wisps' of gloomy clouds as she looked up to where the ceiling should have been. The hell…
Awareness struck her and she sat up quickly. T-This… isn't my room…After a quick glance around the bleak snow dusted field she frowned. Shesh did you pull a bender this time or what Ryo… A violent shiver coursed through her and she pulled her knees to her chest. Where the hell am I…? It doesn't snow for miles from where I live.
Little divots in the fresh snow turned up odds and ends from her room but failed to give her any answers on how she got here. Ryo stood shakily, the thin tank and grey sweats doing nothing to ward off the biting cold. Fuck where I am, I need shelter NOW. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably in agreement.
She was in a small open area. To one side stood a frozen what looked to be forest…or is that a jungle? What the fuck kind of weird ecology is this… An icy cold wind blew from the opposite direction. It whipped her pale hair around her shoulders and she clasped her arms around her chest. The crisp salty air would have felt invigorating if she wasn't half frozen already.
Ryo perked up immediately. Further down the rocky coast line was the dark silhouette of a building of some sort. Her eyes widened. I-is that a CASTLE?! They don't have fucking castles on the Pacific west coast! At least none that I know of… The more she saw the more bewildered she became, and it was quickly becoming apparent just how lost she was.
What the fuck ever… Ryo trudged forward. With any luck the place was inhabited… And warm, preferably with beds.
. . .
Smee's rosy cheeked face peaked through the cracked cabin door. What skin wasn't wrapped in the tattered scarf was flushed red from the chill air. The Captain's cabin was kept pleasantly cozy and he could do with a few minutes to warm his old arthritic bones. It was the Captain that kept him cautious.
The wild black mane that splayed across the desk emitted steady snores. Still asleep… with a sigh of relief he quietly stepped inside. Smee took care to avoid the broken furniture and shattered glass littering the floor as he made his way inside. Keeping a cautious eye on the sleeping Captain, he huddled up to the small wood burning furnace at the cabins core.
Smee watched the steady rise and fall of the scar etched back sadly. Hook hadn't been the same after the whole 'Wendy Fiasco.' It had nearly been a year since Smee found his Captain washed ashore covered in gore and scratched to ribbons. The Croc left well gutted further down the beach. Physically Hook had recovered well, mentally... Smee cringed at the sharp snort from the desk and went still. The breathing became steady once more and Smee relaxed.
The bo'sun ever quite knew what mood Hood would wake to. It was never good, but morbidly depressed Hook was easier to deal with then blind rage Hook. Since Pan left with the girl he only seemed to flip flop between the two. After a few more violent than usual outbursts, what was left of the crew had decided to keep their distance. Hook did the same. Aside from Smee he would see no one and rarely left his cabin.
Neverland had turned to winter the instant Pan left its bounds. Some days it would shift to a more pleasant fall but generally it remained icy and destitute. It wasn't long before everyone was wishing for the flying devil to return, if only to see the sun again.
Just when they would give up hope spring would come. Pan, joined by a handful of new lost boys, would soar down to the island. No one was sure if the boy knew Hook lived or not. He never bothered to torment the crew and find out. For a few days Neverland would be as it should, then Pan would leave again. The time between visits dragged on longer each time.
It had been nearly six months since the island had seen spring and Hook grew more morose each passing day. Smee kept watch over the man. In his very soul he feared what would happen if he didn't. A cold dread would grip him when the cabin became oddly quiet, and he always feared that today would be the day Hook had enough. It wouldn't be the first time the old man had to talk the captain down from doing something... drastic.
Smee jumped and attempted to make himself hidden behind the black furnace. With a sharp intake of breath and a pained groan the unkempt mane lifted from the desk. The disheveled beard and sunken features made his Captain look corps like in the cold moon light. He looked like hell.
Hook blinked his blood shot eyes and slowly sat up straight in his chair. Every move drew a pained grimace from the man. It hadn't been a comfortable place to sleep. Smee in his usual clumsiness must have made a noise because Hooks head snapped in the bo'sun's direction. Blue eyes lined in red narrowed as the old man stood at attention and scrambled for an excuse.
"J-just keepin the fire goin Cap'n… D-didn mean to wake you Sir." Smee stammered as he began shuffling to the door.
Hooks features slackened and he looked at the pudgy man with hallow eyes. Smee relaxed a little. He's in a dreary mood today…
"Smee."
His voice was gravely and he cringed at the painfully dry rasp. Hook cleared his throat and tried again, "Smee…" The request fell from him as the old bo'sun gathered up a cup and water and hurried over to him. Hook drank greedily. Once he was no longer parched he leaned in the high-backed chair and gave Smee a tired frown.
The portly bo'sun cleared his throat awkwardly, "Eh… we be getting a bit low on rations Cap'n. The men be thinkin if the weathers decent tomorrow morn' we could go to shore… B-been a while since anyone had leave."
Smee watched his captain warily, his face held an impassive unreadable expression. After a moment Hook nodded silently. Encouraged Smee continued, "W-well Cap'n I was thinkin… we might have a hunt for those new young'ins. Figured it might cheer ya up a little." He rubbed his glasses on a grungy bit of cloth and looked at the volatile man hopefully, "Might do ya some good guttin a few of the brats."
His expression didn't change. Smee swallowed roughly, "S-Sir?"
Hook took a deep slow breath and seemed to slump further on the exhale. He glanced warily around the room as if seeing it for the first time.
"What a mess…" Hook flicked a bit of curved shattered glass on his desk and watched the light play along it as it rocked and spun. Smee shifted and cleared his throat loudly.
"I can have this swept up Sir… Would you be wantin a bath?"
Hook flexed his neck and shoulders in an attempt to loosen the stiffness there, "I suppose."
With a short nod Smee hurried out of the room. Hook watched his retreating back as he left before turning back to the bit of spinning glass.
"What a mess…"
. . .