Chapter 28: Eye to Eye, Face to Face
FELIX'S POV
It was midday when Felix realized he hadn't seen even a flash of Elle's white hair since Michael released her at dawn. He didn't worry much, she couldn't leave Neverland without Pan's permission. Not that Pan would ever give her that, Felix smirked to himself under his hood. And not that she would try to escape anyway.
Although, there were other dangers she could get herself into…there were animals on the island, carnivorous animals. And she could get grabbed and drowned by mermaids. The fairies could get a foolish idea of trying to attack and use her. Or she could fall off a cliff, again.
Felix shook the thoughts away. He didn't need to worry about her, especially not more than he did the boys. She had magic, he had trained her personally, she could take care of herself. When he'd run into her in the forest during her exile, she had looked fine. A bit more underfed than before, but otherwise alright. And had put up one hell of a fight when he had grabbed her and dragged her into their territory. Besides, for all his cold shouldering, Pan wouldn't let her get hurt.
"Felix, have you seen Elle?" Came Harry's little, hopeful voice. Felix just shrugged, and Harry sighed dejectedly. Ah, poor kid. All the boys thought of her as a sister, but Harry, being the youngest, adored the ground she walked on.
"Tell you what, kid," he started, catching Harry's attention. "Round up a couple more boys and we'll go play." The kid beamed and ran around the campsite to the only two others there. The other Lost Boys were out hunting or playing already, and Pan was…off somewhere. He came back with them, Joshua and Devin, in tow.
Once the three had gathered in a loose sort of semicircle in front of Felix, he instructed them. "Our game is like hide-and-seek, first one to find Elle wins," he smirked. The boys immediately took off in the same general direction, sprinting, before gradually fanning out in the forest. Felix followed behind them at a fast walk, but his strides were long enough to almost catch up to Joshua. That kid was slow, Felix made a mental note to work on that.
Unfortunately, Felix didn't have the magic or connection to the island like Pan did, so he couldn't just sense where they'd gone. Still, after so long, Felix did have a kind of sixth sense for the boys. They'd gone in the directions of the pirate's beach and the Echo Caves, so Felix aimed for Dead Man's Peak. He remembered the day he'd shown it to Elle, how happy they'd both been when she'd bound herself to Neverland forever. A tiny smile tugging at his lips, Felix began climbing, not sure he really believed she'd be there. It was a place with good memories, and he'd seen the tiny, almost imperceptible cracks in her smiles lately. They were because of Pan, she needed good memories.
Felix almost chuckled when he pulled himself over the top to see his little sister sitting there, her back to him and her bare feet dangling over the edge. She turned her head when she heard him, hair spilling over her shoulder. They were all used to her shorter hair by now, but he thought she still missed it at times. She watched him stand and step over to her, lips tipped up but her eyes looked sad. They sat, shoulders barely touching, for a full three minutes in silence.
"I think I'm going to leave," she said suddenly. Felix gripped the rock under him, actually losing his balance for a split second.
"W-what?" he choked in shock, shaking his head and pulling his hood down. Maybe he hadn't heard her right. She sighed, still facing forward and bowing her head so that her hair fell into her face.
"Pan doesn't want me here, and it's difficult to live on an island when its ruler doesn't want you," she explained, her voice surprisingly level.
"That's not true," Felix spluttered, still trying to catch up. He almost laughed at himself, not even Pan caught him off-guard very often anymore. She just looked at him sideways, eyes slightly narrowed. He changed tactics. "Where would you go? What would you do?"
"I was locked in a tower for 12 years, Felix, I spent almost every day reading," she insisted. "I've got education enough. And," he still couldn't see her face but he heard the hint of a smile in her voice, "I know how to use my magic now. I could live quietly and take care of myself."
Felix just shook his head furiously, beads in his hair hitting his face but he didn't care. "You can't get off anyway," he half-growled.
"I can summon the Shadow," her tone got harsher, matching his. "I did it before, I can do it again."
"Elle, no," Felix fully yelled this time. What the hell? Felix was angry, but, more than that, he was scared. As tough as he knew she was on the island, he just couldn't see her in the Enchanted Forest, living alone and depending on no one except herself. Her home was here, with the Lost Boys and Felix and Pan, they all took care of each other. She really wanted to leave them, her brothers? Leave him?
She sighed, still not facing him, but leaned her head against his shoulder. Felix jumped at the opportunity and wrapped his arms tightly around her shoulders, probably crushing her. "Felix, I'll miss you and the boys so much," she whispered. "But you're happy here, and it's just not for me anymore. I'll always miss you, and I'll always love you."
Pan had really driven her to this…then Felix had an idea. "Wait until sunset," he deadpanned. Elle looked up at him then, and her eyes were glassy but her face was dry. A corner of his mouth quirked up at his tough little sister.
"Why?" she murmured.
"Just to let us say goodbyes and enjoy one last day here," Felix said easily. She nodded, and he stood. Wordlessly, he half-dragged her down to the forest and back to camp. From there, they split up, Felix making an excuse to go check on fairy territory and he sent her to join the boys' games.
Felix had work to do.
It took almost an entire hour since leaving Elle to find Pan, so by the time he did, Felix was about ready to smack his leader. Now, Felix was the most loyal Lost Boy, always had been, always would be, but this was urgent. It was Felix's job to carry out his orders and rules, and to help Pan.
"Pan," he spoke up, getting the brunette's attention. The ruler was lounging on his back in a tree, one arm crossed behind his head and the other lazily thrown over his eyes. At Felix's voice, he moved that arm to cross behind his head and arched an eyebrow. Felix took a deep breath and got to the point. "Elle wants to leave."
Anyone else would've thought Pan didn't care, but Felix saw his jaw tighten and his stomach twitch as his ruler's breathing changed. Then, the boy smirked and chuckled drily. "Good for her," he turned his head slowly to look Felix in the face. "No one gets off this island without my permission."
"She summoned the Shadow before, she's very powerful," Felix said, voice steady and low. Considering, not quite threatening.
"I'll just have to keep her locked up during the day too, then," Pan sighed and shrugged, a mocking expression on his face. Felix's hand clenched on his staff, and he forced himself to unclench it. He was no stranger to pride, but this was getting ridiculous.
"You know as well as I do, if she really wanted to get out of that cage she would have a long time ago," Felix almost chuckled. Pan hadn't even put up spells around her cage, he must know someone as powerful as her could get out of a bundle of sticks and twine without even thinking about it.
Pan scowled but didn't say anything, just looked at Felix expectantly. Oh. "You don't really want to hear it," he sighed, mouth twisting. Pan shrugged and looked back up at the forest canopy.
"Not really, but I suppose you'll say it anyway," the eternal boy grumbled.
"It's time to forgive her," Felix murmured, but he knew Pan heard. He'd probably heard his and Elle's conversation on Dead Man's Peak. His ruler didn't respond. "She's been loyal, behaved, ever since she arrived in Neverland, and more so since you let her back in."
Pan scoffed then, and Felix frowned in confusion. "Why are so adamant about her?" Pan chuckled darkly and hummed to himself. "Do you love her, Felix? You wuv your wittle pwincess?" he hissed. Felix fought the very, very, very strong urge to roll his eyes. If it were anyone else but Pan, Felix would've cuffed him by now. He didn't know how to respond, though. A blatant denial would fall on deaf ears, Pan needed justification. Heavy justification.
"I had a little sister once, before everything," Felix admitted quietly. Before he'd come here, before he'd even started his own band in the Enchanted Forest. Pan was silent after that. Good. Felix had never said this aloud, never even thought of her anymore. She'd died, that's why he'd left his parents finally. They'd left him, in a sense, quite a while before that, but her death had spurred the final action.
Pan got the message, Felix was sure. Elle was his second chance at a sister, not just a new sibling like she was to the boys. Pan stayed silent, not even moving. "I made her promise to wait until sunset." And with that, he turned and walked back to camp, leaving his leader to decide his actions. If he made any.
Felix stood just behind the tree line, watching the sun hurtle towards the ocean with a blank expression. Elle stood on the beach, a little backpack on her shoulder and her bare feet just steps from the water. Maybe she knew he was there, Felix couldn't tell, she didn't make any sign if she did. The boys didn't know what was happening, they were back at camp eating and messing around. Felix just couldn't tell them, he'd tried to tell Daniel but he'd just choked on air and made an excuse.
He couldn't speak to her, he hadn't said goodbye to anyone in centuries at least—he didn't even know how long he'd been on the island anymore—and he'd forgotten how. So, Felix just lurked in the shadows of the trees and watched her say her own goodbyes to the island. Elle really had some talent with her magic and water, she was making columns of it shoot up twice his height at least. But then she made it incredible. At the top, the water curled in on itself and formed different shapes, which flew through the air around the beach, letting off the ocean spray before diving back into the ocean and becoming a part of it once again. She made shapes of twisting mermaids, leaping deer, soaring birds, and the silhouettes of hooded figures running and dancing.
Then Felix's attention shifted, as did hers abruptly. Pan had appeared just a few steps behind her. The water splashed unceremoniously and she turned, almost tripping over herself. Felix raised an eyebrow to himself, when was the last time she'd been snuck up on or clumsy?
They just stood there, and Felix wasn't sure if he just couldn't hear or if they weren't speaking. Elle's voice drifting to his ears answered that it was the latter. "Hook tried to make me summon you. I didn't know how anyway," her voice was level, emotionless, and Felix rested his forehead against the tree, stifling a groan.
Her voice continued, so he did internally give her credit for persisting. "He wasn't really…there. When he talked, when he…anything. He didn't seem to be talking to me, there was just something in his eyes that was just…his mind was somewhere else." Silence as she finished, and Felix saw her bow her head slightly.
"Did you betray me?" came Pan's voice, equally emotionless.
"I didn't. I would never do anything to hurt or endanger the Lost Boys—" some anger seeped into Elle's voice, and Felix didn't blame her. Even he was getting sick of it, and didn't think Pan was listening anymore.
"Did you betray me?" Pan repeated, cutting her off. His tone was different this time.
"No," her voice was back to its blank tone. Felix looked up again sharply at the short answer. Both stood completely still, but her head was up and they looked like they were making eye contact. Then, Felix was thrown off balance for the second time that day.
Pan took two long strides toward her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. He kept his head up, looking straight out into the horizon. Elle, however, was completely rigid for a beat, as surprised as Felix was. Then, Felix let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding when her thin arms came up and hugged Pan's waist and she put her head down onto his chest. Felix grinned and looked away from them to the horizon. The sun was completely set, leaving Neverland with a light purple and blue sky, a few stars peeking out tentatively. He turned and walked back to camp, making sure to be his quietest.
The boys were oblivious as Felix walked into camp, grin still in place, and took a seat next to Daniel. They kept eating and goofing, Daniel shot Felix a few glances but he just kept his hood up and smirked. He was happy. Michael tossed an apple core at Daniel but missed, landing it in Felix's lap. The boy's face was priceless: mouth open, eyes as wide as the Echo Caves, and ears bright red. Felix just chuckled and threw it back, nailing the surprised kid in the forehead. He fell backwards with an 'oof' and loud laughter from the rest of the boys.
Then, Pan emerged from the trees with Elle close behind him. Pan smirked at them and sat on a log across from Felix, Joshua and Harry scooting to give him room, and raised his pipe to his lips. The Lost Boys scrambled to their feet and grabbed drums, sticks, anything to add to the music as he began to play.
Felix stood and joined in once they had formed a ring, swiping Elle's hand as he passed her and pulling her up. She laughed and grinned as he spun her, before she slipped out of his grip and wove among the boys. Looking back, he saw Pan playing with his brown eyes, bright in the firelight, glued to her, and Felix's grin widened.
When she slipped off, Felix didn't notice. The music kept going and he and the Lost Boys kept hollering and dancing, he was celebrating her staying and Pan letting her in, the others just partying.
Eventually, he got tired and Pan called that it was time for bed. Leaving the groaning boys to go into their own tents and cots, Felix walked into his tents and his eyes widened.
Elle sat cross-legged on his floor, sharpening a hunting knife as long as her forearm. He wasn't sure if he was more surprised at her presence or the big knife she was handling. Sure, she'd been on the island long enough to call it home, and surpassed all the boys except Pan and Felix in training, but she still looked so delicate. She looked up at him, a bit unsure.
"Pan said I can stay with you," she said quietly, eyes wide. "If that's alright?" Felix just grinned again.
"I'm glad you're back," he lay down on his cot, scooting to the far side as she climbed eagerly next to him. Lying on their backs, shoulder to shoulder, Felix smiled softly at her, a genuine smile. It felt a bit weird on his face, but her soft, happy expression made it worth it.
