Belonging

"It's okay. You're cool. You're strong. And lots of girls smile and giggle whenever you walk by. You can do this." Gil gave a firm nod, pleased with his pep talk. Today was the day he was going to join Uma and Harry. At least, that was his plan.

Admittedly, no one else had ever called him cool before, but he was strong. His father had started him and his brothers on tough workout regimes as soon as they could walk. At nine-years old he could beat most thirteen-year-olds in a battle of strength. And girls did find him cute…Of course, Uma wasn't one of the girls who smiled and giggled when she saw him, but Uma never giggled. He thought she'd look pretty cute if she did, but she was too cool (aka scary) to do something like that.

Blowing out a breath, he casually walked up to where Uma and Harry leaned against a window talking, obviously not caring that they were late for class. "Hey guys," he said giving them a nod and a head toss.

They both looked over. "Hey," Harry said, giving Gil a nod similar to the one Gil had given him. Yes! Gil performed a mental fist pump in excitement.

"What are you guys doing?"

Uma shrugged. "Planning on causing mayhem in the market today. Governor Ratcliffe," Uma said the title sarcastically, the man occasionally liked to pretend he had authority over the island and its citizens, "has some stupid fair event planned today, claiming it'll increase business on this side of the Isle."

"Cool," Gil said, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Can I join?"

Uma and Harry exchanged a look, then a shrug. "Sure," Uma agreed. Double yes!

~.~

That night, Gil was so excited he couldn't even think about sleeping. Instead, the earlier events of the evening played through his head again and again. He was pretty sure he'd impressed Uma when he'd knocked over an entire cart by himself, and he and Harry had teamed up to steal Ratcliffe's hat and spray paint a skull and cross bones onto his fat belly.

Then Uma had told Gil to raid the fruit stand and grab everything that was halfway decent. He was pretty sure her ordering him around was a good sign, since she often told Harry what to do.

The night had been perfect.

~.~

Harry and Uma ditched the next two days of school, so Gil couldn't talk to them again until Friday. He would have ditched with them, of course…Except for the fact that he had no idea where they'd gone instead.

"Yo," he said as he sat at their lunch table. They both gave him a nod. That was a good sign, right? "You guys doing anything after school today?"

Uma made a disgusted noise and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Mom's got me covering the evening shift all weekend, so that's where I'll be."

"What about you?" Gil asked, turning to Harry.

"Same place," he answered with a shrug. "I won't be working though," he clarified, then grinned. "Just making a general nuisance of myself."

~.~

So, that evening, Gil made his way to Ursula's Fish and Chips. He was pretty sure it was the first time he'd stepped foot into the place. Since the restaurant resided on the wharf it was, unsurprisingly, full of pirates and other similar degenerates. Uma, barely taller than the counter, was walking around carrying plates that looked far too heavy while wearing a stained white apron. Harry was seated at the counter.

Harry raised one eyebrow when Gil joined him at the counter. "Don't think I've seen you here before," he commented.

Gil shrugged. "Better to spend a Friday night here then at home." Harry nodded in understanding and said no more on the subject. Instead, they talked about the lesson Yzma had given them on blackmail at school that day.

A little while later, they heard yelling. Harry and Gil turned to see an older man with a thick beard yelling at Uma. Gil had seen his father drunk enough times to know that this pirate was very drunk. And causing problems for Uma.

Without a second thought, Gil leapt to his feet and was in front of Uma in a moment. He hefted the heavy wooden table up on two legs and tilted it enough so it toppled onto the pirate. The man fell down with a yell, his waving arms the only thing visible with the table on top of him.

Gil turned to see that Uma had a kitchen knife in her hand and Harry was standing to the side of her, his hook poised to attack. They'd both been ready to take the pirate down too. "Oh." He scratched the back of his head nervously. "Sorry if I got in the way."

Uma looked between him and the table, then smirked. "No. That old man looks better this way."

~.~

This went on for another two weeks before Uma turned to Harry as they were walking to school. "Have you noticed that Gil is suddenly everywhere we are?"

"I'd have to be missing eyes and ears to not notice." He paused. "You want me to chase him away?"

Uma thought for a moment. "Nah. He's been useful. He's really strong and he does what I say." Which was the most important requirement for hanging around her.

Harry nodded. "Yeah. And I kind of like having him around. He's different from most of the kids on the Isle."

When they reached school, Gil was waiting outside for them, a welcoming grin on his face. He fell into step beside the duo, as though he'd always belonged there.