Hooked
"And then I hooked the bastard for mouthing off to me," Harry said, holding his hook up and admiring it.
"That's so cool," the witch standing next to him said, looking moments away from feeling his bicep.
"You mean that's so wicked," the witch's sister said, smirking. Harry had already forgotten both their names, but they were cute enough and he enjoyed the attention. The daughters of witches were a dime a dozen this side of the Isle, just let the granddaughters of Lady Tremaine and various other evil stepmothers (now evil step-grandmothers) were on the other side.
"I bet you could take on most of the pirates wandering these wharfs," the first witch said.
"Of course Harry could," the second witch said indignantly, her hands on her hips. She turned to smile at Harry. "Call us the next time you hook someone," she tittered. "We're always up for watching someone get maimed."
"Harry!" An impatient voice called. Harry had been the one waiting for Uma at their designated meeting place in the market, but he neither begrudged nor questioned her impatience.
"Witches," he said, giving them a nod before turning.
"Hey!" The second witch pouted. "You're leaving just like that? You were talking with us."
"Yeah, come play with us," the first witch urged. Her voice became a low purr. "We'll show you a good time."
Harry looked over his shoulder and shrugged. "No thanks. I've got better things to do."
"Is Uma that important to you?" The second witch demanded, crossing her arms. "You always leave any girls you're talking to you for her, but it's not like she's your girlfriend. She's just the leader of your crew, right?"
The words 'just' and 'Uma' (or any other term referring to her) didn't compute in Harry's mind. Those two words never belonged together in a sentence. He turned back around, his full attention on the witches to make things clear. "Uma," he told them, "is everything."
"Harry!" Uma called again, definitely irritated now. She didn't like having to repeat herself.
Without another word, Harry walked to Uma's side. He couldn't help comparing the witches he'd left with his present company. The witches had been simpering, complimenting him, leaning toward him, and obviously itching to touch him.
Uma was cool and collected. She stood straight, her shoulders back, her head held high, and her eyes flashing with arrogance and annoyance. She looked like a queen about to dish out punishments.
"Flirt on your own time," she told him. "We have other things to be doing right now and we still need to meet up with Gil."
"Yes, Captain," Harry agreed, gesturing for her to lead the way. She strode forward, her boots clacking against the ground. Harry followed.
Yes, Harry flirted. It was what a rogue did and he enjoyed the attention, but he never thought of any of those girls the moment they were out of his sight. He rarely even remembered any of their names. There was only ever one girl on his mind. That fact wasn't something he'd ever really stopped to consider before, it was simply the way things had always been.
The witch's words that Uma wasn't even Harry's girlfriend flashed through his mind again. He couldn't imagine Uma dating. He knew she'd say that simpering over some guy was a waste of her time, but the thought of some guy touching Uma sent a flood of rage through him. He'd hook any guy who got close to her.
Harry stopped walking when he realized his thoughts had little to do with a desire to protect his captain.
"What?" Uma asked over her shoulder when she realized Harry had stopped walking. "Did you remember you forgot to give one of those girls your number?" She mocked.
Harry had been serious when he'd told the witches that Uma was everything, but he'd never really analyzed what it meant that Uma was the center of his world. He was hardly one for thinking about his feelings. Uma had been the central presence in his life for as long as he could remember and it wasn't something he'd ever regretted. But what did it mean for when they got older? For when some guy decided his interest in Uma was greater than his fear of her? (Though Harry admitted that could take a long time since Uma got fiercer every year.) Why did growing up have to be so complicated?
"No," Harry said, shaking his head and resuming walking. "I just realized some punk I robbed last week short-changed me. I'll have to make sure he pays up for that." For now, Uma had no interest in the opposite sex and Harry was her most trusted confidant and right hand pirate and that was fine. For now.
A/N: Please excuse the cheesy title. It was something else, but then I couldn't resist changing it to this.
