Hook awoke the next morning not having moved an inch from where he first lay. He'd wager he looked a right fool sleeping as stiff as he did, but he much preferred the aching muscles over waking to an awkward position with Wendy. He sat up slowly, regarding his hook as he lifted his arm. Having not become accustomed to it quite yet, he found that when he woke if he did not play attention where his altered appendage lay he could easily tear his sheets. Which is why there were so many rags and bandages in is wardrobe.
Two months prior, Pan had severed the hand in what had seemed to be the average quarrel between the Lost Boys and the pirates, and feed it to the crocodile. However, Hook did not fear the beast this time around. As massive as the beast was, it was unable to board the ship which is where Hook stayed put. Exploring the island was a prospect he didn't care for, and the only part of the island he set foot was the pirate town. There he could fulfill all his needs, and lessen the risk of being caught unaware by the beast.
Hook stood up, stretching and yawning. He looked to where Wendy lay sleeping and smiled, pleased he had not disturbed her rest. Then, he walked out of his cabin to greet the day; most of the crew were still in their cots, but a few were up and tending to the ships needs. However, Hook had no interest with speaking with them. Instead he stood near the railing and looked out at the island as the sun rose higher in the sky. To the west he could spot the mermaids' cove, their fins splashing in the water. To the east, he saw the thicket where the Lost Boys and the indian tribes were hidden away. He twisted his hook idly in it's crude wooden socket as he looked out at the calm island.
"Cap'n," came a quiet, yet stern voice from behind Hook. Hook turned to see Smee walking up behind him.
"What is it Smee?" Hook asked, a slight annoyance in his tone. He was apt to speak to Smee in this manner, despite his fondness of the older man. Smee had been his guide whilst growing up; Hook would even go as far as calling him a father figure. It was strange growing up with your former foes, and learning that they once had lives and people they cared about.
Smee cleared his throat. "I think you know what it is I wish to speak to you about." Smee rocked back on his heels, looking very much like a disapproving father.
Hook exhaled, knowing very well where this is conversation was headed. "What is it you wish to say?"
Smee looked at his captain, choosing his words carefully before speaking. "Why are you keeping her here? Have you told her of what is to happen?"
Hook kept his gaze to the horizon. "She chose to stay," he replied curtly. Smee raised a eyebrow, waiting for a reply to his second question. Hook exhaled. "I have explained it to her, vaguely."
"And yet she stays," Smee said thoughtfully, disapproving but intrigued all the same.
Admittedly Hook was concerned over Wendy's decision to travel with him; she hadn't even second guessed her decision despite having a family to return to. He was torn between feeling pleased and feeling guilty. After all, what did he have to offer her? A brief nostalgic adventure before throwing her into despair over his inevitable death?
"Peter's final strike draws near," Smee said ominously. "It would be best if we returned her to her family."
Hook glanced at the older man, noticing the grim look all his features held. To Hook, he looked older, though he knew that could not be. Perhaps the constant death was wearing at him. Looking back to the horizon, Hook said nothing. He was conflicted, and he could not agree wholeheartedly to Smee's proposal. Smee took the hint after a few moments, and left his captain.
The ship's crew slowly began to wake, the boards squeaking as the men walked about below deck. Hook inhaled the sea air and let himself relax. When he was aging upon the Jolly Roger, he was surprised as his love for the sea. Sailing and plundering gave him a sense of freedom and power that quenched the thirst he had not known he had. He reveled in it.
Hook finally turned away from the railing and walked back towards the cabin, meeting Wendy as she opened the door. She jumped, startled. He suspected she wasn't fully awake just yet.
"Morning," he greeted, a small smile graced his features.
"Good morning," she replied, her words sounding groggy.
"Did you sleep well?" He questioned politely, crossing his arms as he appraised her appearance. Her hair was ruffled even more so than yesterday, having not been brushed and Hook found it humorous. Wendy seemed not to notice.
"As well as I could hope to," she replied, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "I was wondering," she began, looking at him timidly. "Could we explore the island today? I imagine it will be a different experience compared to when I was a child."
Hook felt unsure, but a greater part of him felt excited. It would be very nostalgic, and perhaps he would enjoy himself. "If you want," came his answer, earning a smile from Wendy.
"Let us waste no time then!" She started for the ramp that lead to the docks, clearly determined.
Hook grinned and followed, not before spotting Smee's amused, albeit stern, look. Hook felt a surge of impishness rush though him, feeling much like the young boy he once was; All it took was for Smee to disapprove of his actions regarding Wendy. He smirked, and waved his hook at his second in command before focusing on the woman who walked before him.
"Where do you plan to start?" He asked, falling into step with her.
"Anywhere!" She exclaimed with vigor. "Perhaps starting there." She pointed to the shore that lay beyond the pirate town. Hook knew it would inevitably lead to the mermaids, which were probably what Wendy wished to see.
"Aren't we rather… energetic this morning," he observed. They walked past the quiet houses, their steps seemingly loud due to the quiet atmosphere that surrounded the town at this time of day. Hook knew many of them were sleeping off the effects of one too many drinks, and inwardly laughed.
"I feel rejuvenated! It's odd, I did not feel so tired before, but I must have been for I have not felt this well rested in years," she explained as they reached the edge of town and began their walk atop the sands of Neverland.
"It is a wonder you could feel that way after sleeping on that poor excuse of a bed. I imagine your bed back home is more luxurious," said he. Wendy wrinkled her nose, apparently discontented at the mention of her home. Hook would not let it pass.
"What caused that reaction?" His brow was raised in intrigue, while her's was lowered in frustration.
"I… I do not wish to speak of London," she replied simply, but Hook heard the strain. It worried him.
"Why not?"
She sighed. "I am conflicted about it," said she.
Hook looked around them, analyzing her words. The sand beneath his boots made it hard to kept his footing, irking him.
"Perhaps you shouldn't have run away so quickly," he offered. He too felt conflicted. He felt selfish in taking and keeping Wendy, but in two different ways; One was guilt driven, while the other was pleasure driven. Both innocent intentions, or at least he had thought so. Now, he was aware that in taking her it would leave a ripple effect that would touch upon her family.
"I did what I truly wished to do," she said, breaking him out of his worrying thoughts. "But this does not stop my worrying over my family. The world does not stop if you leave one behind."
Her words touched him deeply. How true they were; As he aged, so did she. As London changed, so did Neverland. He suddenly felt as though he knew nothing of Wendy Darling. Who was she now? Did she understand who he was now?
"Why did you leave?"
Wendy kept her gaze ahead of her, though it seemed she wasn't seeing the shore before her. "I wasn't living the life I wished. I didn't want to be a housewife who stays at home every day, and waits for her husband to return. I wanted freedom from those boundaries," she explained, looking to him briefly to see his reaction.
Hook kept his expression minimal, but to Wendy's eyes, he looked relieved.
"I had been worried that perhaps, somehow, I can coerced you to run away. That you had a," he suddenly chuckled nervously. "A husband. I didn't want to be a man who stole women away from their homes. I may be a pirate, but I have my morals. At least, when it comes to you." He ended his reply with a more relaxed, even playful, tone after feeling as though a weight had been lifted.
Wendy openly laughed, feeling at ease now that she had spoken her thoughts to him. "My father tried to marry me to a few bankers, but I couldn't lie and say I loved them, when I didn't. It seemed wrong, not only for me, but for them. They deserve a woman who wants that life."
The two approached a small cove, where Wendy took the lead and made to sit down near the brush that surrounded the small cove. She didn't spy any mermaids, but this did not sway her decision to sit down. The cove was nearly a cave with the tree branches that were braided above the shore. It also allowed the sounds of the forest to reverberate and echo pleasantly within the half circle. The ambient noise was relaxing.
Hook followed suit and sat next to Wendy, removing his overcoat and tossing it to the side. The sun was rising, and the warm weather that covered this side of the island was akin to the hot summers in the Caribbean. He rested his right arm on his leg, turning the hook away from her, for the reason that she was seated to his right. However, she seemed to pay no attention to his appendage, as she had done the last few days.
"What of you? Why do you allow yourself to be pushed around by a child?" Wendy asked. She was sincerely curious, but she allowed her tone to imply she was teasing him.
Hook grinned, looking at her. "What else would I do? I am Captain Hook, after all," replied he, earning a snort from Wendy. He looked at her in amusement; he had never heard her make that noise.
"You are Captain Hook, which means you have a ship that can traverse the seas, including those of Neverland! Yet you stay here and rot, because you expect to be killed by a boy." She raised an eyebrow, obviously unimpressed with his endeavors.
"It's a cycle, Wendy. It continues whether Pan is aware of it or not," he explained, though Wendy would still not believe it.
"You are able to make your own decisions, you know. I highly doubt having a girl who once was Peter's friend aboard the Jolly Roger was happened before," said she.
Hook thought for a moment. It was true, there had not been a woman aboard the Jolly Roger when he was Peter. He knew he had the will to do as he pleased, as he had done so for ten years, but that would not stop Pan from killing him. Hook explained his thoughts to her.
"Even if that were true, why put yourself in danger and misery? Why not allow this boy to remain as Peter?" She asked.
It was an excellent question, to be sure. Hook had not thought of that possibility, simply because it never crossed his mind.
"I don't know," he replied, looking a bit sheepish.
Wendy smiled at him, then looked out at the water, seeming satisfied with that answer. He followed her gaze and allowed the conversation to settle into pleasant silence. The waves broke on the shore in a rhythmic fashion, while the faint giggles from the mermaids could be heard. They were not near the cove, and Hook doubted they would swim over.
Wendy suddenly looked to him, an amused smile on her face. "Did you really think I was married?"
He allowed himself to laugh as his face flushed. "I had just imagined that was the path you had set yourself on."
"I need a path filled with more surprises and adventure. In fact, I need no path at all," she said with excitement. She was inspired by the words she chose.
"I would imagine that journey would be a difficult one," Hook observed, idly rubbing his arm.
"Which is exactly what makes it worthwhile," she retorted. In a softer tone, she spoke again, "I am glad you're here with me."
He studied her face, her eyes were passionate which caught him off guard. He was promptly aware that they were alone; On the ship, they were surrounded by his crew, and the only time they were alone it was usually when both were fast asleep.
Instead of replying with something heartfelt, he replied with, "Why?"
To her credit she didn't look put off by his reply, her expression unchanging. "Because I enjoy your company."
Hook almost asked "Why?" again, but held back. He knew why, and he was afraid of the answer. Afraid, yet he longed for her to tell him anyway. "Do you?" He asked.
Instead of answering his redundant question she straightened her spine and said, "And I think you enjoy mine." Her eyes were challenging him, and he did not look away.
"Perhaps I do," he answered, earning a little scowl from Wendy.
"Perhaps, I should explain what I meant," she said, as she placed her hand on his forearm, leaned in, and kissed him.
He saw it coming, and if he were a better man he may have stopped her but he wanted her to initiate the kiss. His left hand came up to cradle her cheek, as he turned to get closer to her. Wendy displayed her approval by grasping his forearm tightly, and bringing her other hand to his chest, moving her lips over his softly.
Kissing Wendy was beautiful; Wendy was deliberately soft, savoring the moment. When the kiss broke, they didn't move. Her hands stayed on him, her eyes searching his for acceptance and for his love. She didn't have to search far.
"I believe I understand your meaning," he smirked, his eyes still trained on her lips. She gave a breathy laugh in response.
"Good. I wouldn't want to explain a kiss to you," Wendy grinned. She pulled away from his embrace to sit back on the shore.
Hook raised his brow in amusement. "You're rather... spirited since joining the crew," he observed, leaning back on the sand leisurely.
"Oh, I've always been spirited. You just weren't prepared for it when we were young," she replied, her tone teasing. He laughed; it wasn't untrue.
"I doubt I could ever truly be prepared for it," he said, earning a smug grin to appear on Wendy's face. He knew his statement would please her. "Did you lure me out here just to see if I would kiss you?" He questioned.
Wendy stood up now, holding out a hand to help Hook stand. He took it graciously, letting go only to dust off his pants as she did the same. After retrieving his coat from the shore and handing it to him, she finally replied, "Perhaps."
"We attack at dusk!" Peter explained, excitedly. His vibrant hair standing out beside the green brush that made his and the Lost Boys' home.
The boys cheered in response, raising their cups into the air. The boys and Angela sat at a long wooden dinning table, rectangular in shape. Angela raised her glass, but was not at all excited at the prospect of fighting pirates, not that she would be required to. Peter planned to keep her nestled safely away, as he fought Hook. It would not be the fight to the death, rather a fight to annoy. He had realized the man's concern with Red-Handed Jill, so he would tease Hook relentlessly. Peter's ability to turn a grown man's face beat red in frustration never ceased to make him laugh.
What Peter failed to realize was that Angela was acting very much like the girl that was once called Wendy. Angela was enamored by the boy who took her to see the stars, and an island were one could never grow old. And much like before, Tinkerbell caused a ruckus whenever the girl attempted to show Peter what she meant when she offered to give him a kiss. These events happened less often once she regaled the boys with the store of Red-Handed Jill; After all, according to that story a woman's kiss only lead to death.
Angela smiled as the boys began to sing a sailors song, eager to set forth and disrupt the pirates' day. She enjoyed the boys and being their mother, but she could not help the voice that whispered in her mind, reminding her of her mother and father. Love was attempting to steer her back home, and the young girl's excitement for a magical world was wavering.
There is only so much excitement a child can experience in one day before they inevitably fall asleep.
Hook was lost in thought, sitting at his desk in his cabin. Wendy had disappeared below deck once they arrived back on the Jolly Roger to keep her end of the bargain she struck with the crew regarding their torn clothing. Thus, Hook was left to his own devices. The solitude was welcome, but the thoughts running through his mind were not. The kiss he shared with Wendy had trudged up another memory from his days as Peter; The memory of when Hook nearly gutted him as his Lost Boys and Wendy watched.
His stomach clenched, remembering all too well the feeling of fear and compliance. In that moment he had decided to play indifferent to the whole affair, but when faced with the all too real prospect of dying, he became terrified. It was the first time in his life he regretted never growing old. All of the experiences he missed (and attempted to never think of), all of the mistakes he had made and never set right...
Then, Wendy stopped Hook's hand. Gave him his first kiss.
It was odd to reflect on these memories now, given the current circumstances. He felt remorse for the current Peter. He didn't want to be that man who nearly kills a boy; He didn't want to inflict those feelings of fear and regret.
But then, what did he want?
Half of his life he had been spent refusing to grow up, while the other half fought against youth. What would his life be without spending it fighting against one thing or another? Wendy had said he should be sailing the seas, seeing all there is in the world. That did sound like a fair alternative, but was it really so simple?
What kept him here? What kept him from changing his path?
Resigning himself from his thoughts, he stood up to exit his painfully quiet cabin. As he opened the doors, he was met with the loud shouts of children. Hook wanted to sigh in frustration, but instead he unsheathed his sword and walked across the deck.
The crew was already engaged in battle with the Lost Boys. The taunts from both sides could be heard, as well as the laughter of the victors of the duels. Hook eagerly searched the skies for the boy he knew was leading the attack but could see no one; the setting sun made it difficult to see shadows within the clouds.
"Are they always this persistent?" Wendy's voice came from behind him. Hook turned to meet her unimpressed demeanor; arms were crossed, and her hip stuck out as she shifted her weight to one side.
"You'd be surprised," he replied, looking equally unimpressed. Then he looked past her as some of the boys crawled over the railings and ran towards them. "Move!" He ordered her.
Wendy darted out of the way, making contact with another lost boy. The boy stomped on her foot and she shouted in pain, before pushing the boy away. The boy laughed, running off towards the center of the fray. Hook parried all of the attacked the boys were throwing at him, determined not to injure them. The boys didn't seem to keen to injure him as well, which was a fact that Hook had not realized until this moment. If anything these boys were like wild cubs, wishing to pick on the older animals just to annoy.
Meanwhile, Jukes had armed the canon, ready to scare the Lost Boys into retreating. As he aimed the canon into the skies, so not to hit anything, when a loud crow was heard from above. Pan flew through the air, swerving around the masts of the Jolly Roger.
Hook looked quickly from the canon to the flying boy, following his movements. He heard Wendy telling one of the boys to get down, but didn't pay her any mind. Instead he yelled at Jukes to fire the bloody canon, reveling in the loud bang that resonated upon being fired. However the crunching noise that followed, caused Hook to grown. Jukes had aimed for Pan, but as he fired the canon the boy flew out of harm leaving the ship's mast to take the blow.
Hook stood calmly as the mast fell, searching again for the boy who crowed, but as the mast fell to the deck he heard his familiar crow of victory. This sound signaled the boys to yell in triumph as they retreated, jumping overboard into the water and eagerly swimming towards the shore where they could hide away in the thick brush. Hook didn't bother watching them leave. They'd be back soon enough.
"Could someone," A small voice, cut off by a sharp gasp, began. Hook sheathed his sword, looking for the source of the voice. "Please get this off.
Hook walked carefully over some broken pieces of the mast to find Wendy buried beneath a portion of the broken mast. An overwhelming sensation of fear jolted through him as he rushed next to her upper half, knelling next to her.
"Wendy," he breathed.
Starkey and Smee rushed over, grabbing hold of the mast as a few more crew members helped relieve the large chunk of wood from resting on Wendy's abdomen. She exhaled sharply, feeling the blood rush to her injured areas. Her ribs, her lungs, her arms… Everything hurt. She decided against having large things fall on top of her ever again, if she could help it.
Hook brought his hand to her ribs, lightly assessing the damage caused. At least 2 broken ribs. "Damn it, Jukes!" He said bitterly, taking his hand off her. Jukes made no response, knowing very well not to defend himself. In all honestly, he felt guilty.
"How bad is it?" Hook asked Wendy, as she sat up. She closed her eyes in an attempt to make the pain dissipate. If she did not look at the bruising already forming, perhaps she would not feel it...
"I can say with utmost certainty that I've never felt this terrible," she spat out. Starkey made to laugh, but coughed to disguise it. Now was not the time to tease her, but he enjoyed her dark humor.
Hook squinted in discomfort as she watched the pain flicker across her face. "Come on," he said, offering his hand to her to help her stand. She took it, but also took his took in her left hand to use as leverage to stand. He wanted to react negatively, but kept both arms steady as she leaned heavily on him. He helped her walk to hiscabin, taking slow cautious steps as Wendy hobbled next to him. Her breaths were short, and displayed the amount of pain she was enduring. Hook was sorrowfully impressed at her composure.
Here, she had fainted upon realizing he was her Peter, but when crushed by the mast of a pirate ship after dodging canon fire, she stood strong. Figuratively speaking.
Smee watched his captain carefully. He could not decide whether Hook was angry or worried. Perhaps both. Smee was worried himself.
Could this be another marker for Hook to become bloodthirsty?
It would make a good story, wouldn't it?