It had all started when Carlos De Vil was just six years old; he used to trail after his mother whenever she went to the docks to sift through the lastest arrivals of trash from Auardon.
By the docks was usually the ex-pirates, dirty goblins and a small group of trouble-makers, led by Uma, daughter of Urserla, and the tiny De Vil was terrified of them.
Uma's group was made up of the Jolly Roger's old crew's children; children made of patches and salt water.
Carlos was much smaller than the other kids he went to classes with, he was tiny but clever; with his shock white hair and freckled face he stood out from the rest of his classmates and it caught the attention of one of Uma's crew.
"hey De Vil!" Uma called from up on her makeshift box throne, "I think you've got fleas." and her crew dissolved in laughter.
Cruella simply flicked the ash off her cigarette at them, "nasty sea-brats." she hissed.
Peeking out from behind his mother's fur coat Carlos looked up the queen of the docks, flanked by her firstmate and bodyguard, before ducking to hide again.
Finally the boat came in and Cruella barged her way on first, leaving her son waiting on the other side; she didn't like the idea of Carlos pocketing anything he wanted.
"well, well. Look a stray dog." Harry Hook, Uma's firstmate, approched Carlos with an arragont air.
"I'm not stray." Carlos said firmly, not looking at Harry.
Harry was a very handsome seven year old, with his wavy brown hair and charming smile he could sway an argument with his charm, or if all else fails his father's old hook.
"shouldn't all dogs be on leashes?" Harry was trying to get a rise out of Carlos.
However Carlos was a very patient child, he knew not to get angry quickly or his mother would be cross, so he simply sighed and sat quietly on the floor.
Harry scowled, his light eyes becoming intense, holding his hook close the the smaller boy, "maybe i should take you to the pound." he hissed.
"do you get fed there?" Carlos said off-hand, eyes never leaving his mother on the boat.
If he had been looking at Harry he would have seen the other boy flinch slightly; although he was not the oldest child who was gifted with their father's red coat and Jolly Roger, Harry knew his father cared for him as much as any villians cared for their kids.
Harry glanced at Cruella who had simply left her six year old son on a dock filled with theives and murders, just to dig through some garbage.
"come on." Harry said firmly, gripping the smaller boy by his arm and dragging him up.
Carlos panicked and ripped himself away, being smaller he could wriggled out of most situations, "no, mother will be angry."
"and I'll get angry if you don't come." Harry said through his teeth, trying to remain calm.
Young Carlos thought it over of who he was more afraid of; on the one hand Harry was bigger than him, he had his hook and a whole crew behind him but on the other hand Cruella didn't have to touch him to hurt.
"well, I'm not scared of you." Carlos stated, forcing his voice to be steady, and sat back on the floor.
"not scared?" Harry breathed.
Just as Harry went to grab Carlos once more Uma shouted for him since she'd got bored with Gil trying to entertain her.
Out of the corner of his eye Carlos watched Harry walk away, his heard beating a mile and minuet and finally he could breath properly but he quickly seized up again at the sight of Cruella.
"carry this." Was all she said as she handed her tiny son a huge bag of stuff she'd managed to haggle for.
At school the next day Carlos made sure to make himself as small as possible, as usual, he knew the other kids didn't like him very much becasue he was smart and had skipped a year.
Carlos stayed sat at his desk when everyone else went to the cafeteria for lunch, since he had no money or food from home he decided to study.
That was the plan until Harry stabbed his hook into the desk, "not going out for a walk?" Harry grinned cockily.
"no." Carlos answered, knowing better than to ignore an asked question.
Harry stared down at the young De Vil and simply couldn't find it in his dark heart to bully the boy anymore; sighing deeply he dropped half his 'fish surprise' sandwich onto the table.
"you should eat, it's good for your brain." Harry called as he swished out of the room.
With a slight hesitation Carlos placed his book down and bit into the very strong sandwich but he was glad of the meal.
Carlos had expected Harry's kindness to have just been a one time thing but every school day the young pirate would seek him out and share his lunch with Carlos, even if he never stayed in the same room to eat.
"why do you keep feeding me?" Carlos finally asked after two weeks of Harry sharing his lunches.
Stopping just by the door Harry turned back around, "you want me to stop?" he challenged.
Carlos poked at the clam chowder in the cup, there was definately more meat in his cup than in Harry's, "no, you're like a friend."
Harry scowled, he hadn't meant to keep giving the young De Vil food but he simply couldn't stop himself anymore, "we can't be friends." he stated firmly.
Feeling his heart drop a little with disappointment Carlos knew he shouldn't have got his hopes up but he'd never been shown any kind of kindness.
"I could be a member of your crew?" Carlos asked slowly.
A weird feeling wrapped itself around Harry's stomach, he wasn't sure what it was so he quickly shook it off, "it ain't my crew, it's Uma's."
"can I just be your's then?" Carlos said innocently.
Harry surveyed the young De Vil, a tiny genius who had been dealt a bad hand in life, even worse than most of them, and the strange feeling gripped him once more.
"yeah, let's do that." Harry smiled, unhooking one of his silver necklaces.
Hanging from the chain was an anchor and it was warm on Carlos's skin as the young pirate fastened it around his neck, "this means you're mine, don't lose it." Harry told him firmly.
For the first time in a long time Carlos felt happy, he tucked the anchor safely under his shirt and smiled up at Harry.
The young pirate patted Carlos awkwardly on the shoulder before leaving, the weird feeling slowly creeping up into his heart.
