Hey fuckers!

Sorry about yesterday, and everyday really-

Me and Dark have been through the ringer. I don't know if any of you live in the US, (or anywhere maybe) or if this is FL only thing but our ADHD medicine-

Yes we both have ADHD, shocker, I'm sure…

Is fucking out everywhere around us and I am fucking feeling it on like every level.

Like used to think of myself as a Badger, but slug is looking more accurate right now…

And Dark has separation anxiety like a mofo and has to leave her baby (puppy) Vex and her (all but daughter) niece while she heads over to Mexico for a week-

Which, ya know, sounds like a fun vacation-

When you are a normal person.

For Dark though? (And honestly myself)

Traveling is *blegh*

Much love and shit

-Twisted


He frowns as he watches emotions flick over Yensid's features.

Nothing about the last-

Well, nothing had ever been easy but-

This week?

This week felt like it could fill a lifetime.

And that was before T scared the shit out of him.

In all the years he'd known the other boy he couldn't ever recall seeing him that panicked.

Had never seen him so scared.

But tonight-

When T's eyes landed on his Treasure?

A shiver runs down his spine.

He'd thought Deez died in his arms or something.

Another chill runs down his spine.

He wasn't an idiot.

He'd known things couldn't have gone well on the Isle for-

Well, anyone.

But, to see the extent of it?

T was a lot of things, but he wasn't a performer.

And yeah, he'd known Deez wasn't looking good-

But-

He grimaces.

He could see where seeing Deez might send off some concerns after everything-

He closes his eyes.

Nope.

He pushes the knowledge away.

He had enough to worry about.

The last thing any of them needed was him getting sick over something that couldn't be fixed.

Yensid frowns before he gently tucks Deez's small hand back under the blanket, smoothing the wrinkles out before he turns to face Uma. "After examining her, and from everything you've told me about the others who lost consciousness during the spell, and what you witnessed of Deez's reaction to the spell, my main theory is she is suffering from exhaustion."

"Exhaustion?" Uma repeats skeptically.

Yensid nods, "exhaustion on every level. Physical, mental, emotional, magical." The old man frowns as he looks down at Deez, "why it would hit her so hard, however, brings me to several more theories. None of which I have enough to base anything on."

"But," he frowns, "she'll be alright, right?"

Yensid pats his shoulder, "at the moment I feel safe in saying she is not in any peril. And though my knowledge of Olympians is more than most, it is not very vast. I am hesitant to say what long-term effects this might bear on her; however, I am also of the opinion that given some time and rest, we will be able to surmise what has transpired to bring us to an understanding."

Uma rubs the blanket resting over Deez's arm, "so, for now, it's okay to not involve Senior?"

Yensid nods, "as of this moment, I don't see what good involving him will do besides aggravating the situation."

No kidding.

"Good." He sighs.

"But, if I may impose, would you be willing to allow me to stay in your quarters until we see improvements? I would feel better being closer, just in case."

"I think we all would." Uma nods.

Wasn't that the truth.

It wasn't exactly reassuring to know that even Yensid wasn't sure what was going on.

Even he was questioning how Deez, a demigod, was still out while everyone else the spell had taken a toll on had awoken.

"Would you prefer the bed-"

"Captain, I would not wish to deprive your family the ability to sleep comfortably. I shall be perfectly content with one of your hammocks."

Uma frowns, "It wouldn't bother us either way."

"But it would bother me greatly, my dear, though I do appreciate your generosity."

"But-"

"Umes," he turns to find T and Harry at the door, "just let 'im sleep in a hammock."

Yensid chuckles as he stands, "I assure you, I will sleep well. I have enjoyed many a nap in a comfy hammock."

Before Uma can argue, Yensid sets his bag down at the closest hammock and deftly swings into it.

He blinks.

For being old and tired, Yensid was nimble.

He shakes his head as his eyes drop back to Deez in concern.

At the dark bruises under her eyes.

He could've guessed sleep was needed without the sorcerer- but it was a relief to know that might be all that she needed.

"Get some rest, Sweet Boy," he looks up to find Uma standing beside the bed, "you hold on to her first, and wake us up if anything changes."

He frowns as he eyes her, Harry, and T, "are you sure?"

Selfishly he was content with the order but-

His eyes linger on T-

"Aye," Uma smiles before she leans in close and continues in a soft whisper against his ear, "I need ya ta watch over her for me while Harry an' I tend to T."

"If you're sure."

"I know where ta find ya if we need help," her hand presses a little firmer, "to bed."

He nods, not envying either of them for the task sure to lay ahead.


When he and Gil first spotted T and Yensid on the beach, he'd known.

Yensid was older than fucking dirt, and the man looked like he'd seen something that aged him. Weighed his light frame down until he was nearly stooping forward, like all the other old-timers still around.

And T?

He'd seen T in rough shape plenty of times.

More than he cared to count, actually.

But this?

This was, this was like what happened before the Howler.

Before Jay left.

T was here, but not really.

And as much as he knew T didn't care about the way he looked-

Fuck, if T saw something that freaked Yensid out-

Had Faustina too?

T turns to Deez with a frown before he turns back to Uma. "That our new standard?"

Uma glares, "that's the stage where ya find yer ass forced into bed with Gil holdin' ya down."

"Heard."

"Ya currently be lookin' more the type that be gettin' fixed up an' then jumpin' inta yer hammock," he adds with a stern nod.

T turns to look up at him with a frown, "I can take care of myself." He rolls his eyes, "go an' help with D."

"Ya be hearin' that, Uma? Go on an' sleep in the bed. T an' I can be ah makin' the hammock work."

Uma frowns as she crosses her arms, clearly displeased with her options.

T's jaw tenses, "ya both should join her. She looks like shit."

He takes a slow, deep breath before he forcefully directs T into a chair, "you," his fingers wrap around shredded, filthy fabric that once had been the hem of the hoodie sleeve, "also be lookin' like shit. An' until we can be gettin' yer sister's set up an' brewin' again, we have ta be fuckin' careful." He swallows hard, "aye?"

"Tch," T scoffs, "c'mon I always look like shit," he gestures to Deez with his head, "she don't."

"We can be talkin' more 'bout it later," he fixes a glare at T, for all the good it was going to do with the damn hoodie opening scant inches from the table's surface.

He'd wondered at Uma's silence on the subject, usually she was demanding he pull it down the second he entered the cabin.

"Stay." He orders before he grabs the severely depleted kit from Uma's desk and a clean rag.

Uma slips into the chair next to T, pinning him with a glare that was every bit as helpful as his had been.

"Didn't you say bed?" T questions brazenly.

"Yes." She sighs as she hooks their ankles together. "But don't think I'm goin' 'til your ass is in that hammock."

"Here," he slides a bowl of cold soapy water from the tub in front of T, "soak yer hands afore they pus up."

T slides his hands into his pockets. "They're fine."

Uma lifts her brow in concern at the blatant lie.

"Mate, ya ain'nah gonna be any kin' o' useful if ya have sick squirtin' from yer damn fingers." He bites his tongue to hold back the more scathing comments.

T was a little idiot, but he was their little idiot.

And he'd be damned if he was going to see someone else lose a fucking finger to an infection.

There were cleaner ways to lose fingers.

"That's an image." T responds dryly.

"One that be hauntin' me night terrors, now soak 'em."

"I'm good." T dismisses him.

"Ya ain'nah good, put yer fuckin-"

"T." Uma sighs before she slides closer, "Please? Just, let's just get ya cleaned up? Please?"

That was desperation.

He could count on one hand the amount of times Uma said please and meant it.

Usually, it was all snark.

T studies Uma for a long, long moment before he turns back to the bowl and drops his hands into it with an eye twitch.

His skin crawls at the sight of T's bright red fingers under the flickering candles he was lighting.

It looked as if rats chewed his fingers to the nubs.

His nails were just-

And the-

All of it.

His fingers were throbbing just from the sight of the damage.

And he wanted to ask.

Needed to.

But there was this low warning going off in his head.

Not now.

Don't do it.

He knew a run situation when he saw it.

They all had a little runner in them, but right now?

Everything about T had him on edge.

He was just waiting for it.

T's fucking catchphrase. The words that set his teeth on edge.

Made him want to cuff T to him.

'I've got shit ta do'.

One wrong word-

A too hesitant reply-

And he was sure he'd be chasing after T's back.

He swallows the burning lump in his throat.

He could tell Uma was fighting the same battle he was.

The way she hovered over T spoke volumes.

Uma was always easy for him to read, but tonight?

Tonight he was sure a perfect stranger could tell what she was thinking.

It was in the way her eyes narrowed as she looked T over.

The way they widened at every rip, tear, and stain on his hoodie.

Where had they been?

Where had they been when they faced the witch?

Underground.

His eye twitches.

T sighs as he drops his head, "what?"

"Just looking ya over, Problem Child, keep yer hands in the-"

He grimaces at the cloudy water in the bowl.

At the ribbons of red leaching from T's fingers.

How had he gotten so hurt?

Underground.

With the Isle trying to shake apart all over again.

"Well, stop- you're both overreacting."

"Oh, cause you never do that." Uma rolls her eyes before she takes the bowl away to dump.

He takes a deep breath, "do we really be ah overreactin'?"

T turns to him with a frown, silent for a moment. "I mean…" He props his head against his hand lazily, "maybe not the right words- Gettin' worked up over somethin' stupid?"

He glares, "oh? An' what 'bout this be stupid?"

"Worryin' 'bout it."

"Thinking about what is happening and what could happen next happens to be my damn job," Uma states as she brings a fresh bowl of water and plops it down in front of T with a slosh, "and this ain't worryin', this is tending."

T sighs as he sits up and drops his hands back in the water before he mumbles something under his breath.

Uma snorts, "only cause you don't like when we do it to you."

T turns to Uma only to pause and close his mouth before his attention shifts back to the bowl.

That was rare.

T must have thought of something that proved Uma's point-

Or, he studies T closer, annoyed with the stupid hood.

Or maybe Faustina had.

His heart flounders like a beached shark.

Faustina.

He still needed to know if she was okay.

If she'd seen what happened at Hell Hall and with Evil Queen.

Fuck. So much happened.

And here he was, dancing around all the questions he sorely needed answers to.

Like why T and Yensid never wrote to them.

Why they were both so injured, but neither mentioned being hurt by the witch.

His eyes linger on T's red, swollen fingers.

What had he done to his fingers?

His chest aches when he remembers the last time he'd seen someone's fingers that fucked up.

He glances from Gil to T with a frown.

Had they been trapped underground?

Were T's fingers ripped to shreds because they'd had to dig their way out of whatever hell they'd found?

Is that why they hadn't communicated?

For days?

What if they hadn't woken up?

Fuck.

How would they have found them?

None of them knew where T and Yensid had gone-

Had they-

He grips the edge of the table to keep his legs under him as he stares at the red tinted water.

No.

No no.

That couldn't be what happened.

Yensid would have said something.

T would have called for help, if not for himself then for Yensid.

Something else-

They got knocked out, just like the rest of his family.

Except T wasn't-

There was no way T had any kind of magic, right?

Sea gods help them all if he did.

Fucker would force it to be invisibility or something.

Something stupid.

"Harry?"

Uma's distant voice startles him.

When had she walked off?

And why was his chest-

He startles when something slams into his back and his lungs automatically pull in air.

He shivers at the sensation of cold running down his back.

When had he stopped breathing?

He blinks before he looks around, finding himself seated on the table with T and Uma in front of him.

One a shadow within a judgmental shadow.

The other, his concerned captain.

"Hiya." He breathes out before he presses his palms to the table's surface at his sides.

"Now you look like shit," T observes with a frown, "you should lie down."

He shakes his head before he lightly kicks his legs out and pops off the table, "It all just be-" he shakes his head again before he pats the table next to the bowl, "come on, back to it. I think we still be havin' some of the fix all Faustina makes."

T shrugs, "It ain't that bad."

"And we'd like to keep it that way," Uma frowns as she gently reaches for T's cheek, "right?"

T stiffens as his jaw tenses, "right."

"Aye, can'nah be havin' anymore o' us gettin' sick right now," he agrees as he busies himself with the sad remainders of their first aid kit.

Most of Senior's shit got used up on the injuries when the wielders went down.

It was amazing how fast bandages went when there were more than thirty people on the ship.

And he'd been so busy pushing drills and swimming practice while Uma was out that he never got around to raiding the hold with Beam.

Some of those crates had to be more medical supplies, right?

He looks up when he feels eyes on him, but only finds T staring into the pink tinted water with rusty flakes floating in the currents of the fidgeting fingers.

Like one of those water filled orbs with toys in them that Auradonians seemed to love buying just to throw away.

He sighs, "Ya know, after we all be catchin' sleep, we have ah whole list o' things that be needin' done-"

"Like?"

"I were thinkin' of collectin' herbs for Faustina." His eyes flick up to Uma, begging for her to not fight him on it.

Just this one time.

Her slow frown, but eventual nod was good enough for him.

"We be needin' sand for Deez ta make the glass bits, but last time I be checkin' she be sure she can be gettin' most o' 'em done."

"Harry got a couple of the bigs swimming so they can help the others learn. We've been sending out groups." Uma adds as she pulls the list to her, "We also need to reorganize the hold now that we have all the new supplies."

T pushes himself to his feet.

"Whoa there-" he quickly jumps to his feet as well, "ya ain'nah bein' done yet. Sit an' soak," he orders as he points to the bowl, only to shiver at the yuck floating in the dingy water, "actually, sit, let me be changin' this again."

Uma guides T back to his seat, "can you please just-" she bites her lip, "It's for us. We need this T. You're a badass and of fuckin' course we know you've had worse. But we need this. We thought-"

He shutters as he dumps the water out the window.

-you were dead.

That we lost you.

We had no idea where to even look for you.

A-fucking-gain.

He sighs, leaving the unsaid words just that-

Unsaid.

For now.

T looks between the two of them before he plops back into the chair with a resigned sigh.

He fills the bowl before he sets it on the table, grateful when T sinks his fingers into the water without argument.

He grabs his grooming tools before he slips back into his seat and takes a thorough visual inventory of T.

Now that he was starting to dry, slightly, he could see rips and holes across every inch of fabric. Even the hood was barely hanging on by a thread.

Which was the only reason he was able to see more rust on the back of T's neck.

He sighs as his eyes dart to Uma; had she noticed it yet?

"Yensid wrote minimal injuries, though I saw the bandage on his head-" Uma glares as she braces her fists against the back of her chair, "thank you for patching him up."

T shrugs, "comparatively, they were minimal."

His stomach twists and rolls.

Oh, he was starting to hate the way some of those fancy big words worked.

Fucking comparatively his sea god's damned ass.

"How did Yensid get the knock to the head?" Uma asks in a nearly airless whisper.

T turns to her with a frown, "does it really matter? It's done." He shrugs, "we're back. It's fine."

Uma takes a deep breath before she looks away.

This seemed like a dangerous line.

T wasn't wound up like a coil, didn't seem to be staring at the door like it was a lifeline, but he could feel the warning.

He wasn't ready to talk about it.

He glances up at Uma, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before he shakes his head.

They could talk to Yensid later, it was better not to push.

"I guess the important part is that you were both able to help each other, and you both made it back."

"I mean…" T shrugs, "'s'my take on it."

"Fair 'nough," he sighs before he holds out his hand. "Let me be ah workin' on 'em."

"I-" T winces before a scowl crosses his lips and he reluctantly listens.

Faustina.

That look was one T seemed to reserve for times when Faustina was 'being difficult'.

"Let Uma take ah look at what bled on yer head while I make sure yer nails can't do anymore accidental damage ta yer skin." He pleads as he gently inspects the pockmarks, rips, and torn nails.

"I-" He grimaces before he sighs as his forehead thunks the table.

"Now who's overreacting." Uma runs her fingers lightly over his arm as she stands.

T mocks her childishly.

"There ya be," he chuckles lightly.

T stops short of turning to him before his head thunks the table again, "bite me."

What worry he'd been holding in his lungs over T ditching them slowly fades.

"I would be ah takin' ya up on that, ya be lookin' right tenderized."

Now that he was holding T's hand, he could see the smattering of bruises covering his arm, each color peeking out from under ripped layers on his arms and shoulders.

Uma gasps when she pulls his hood back, revealing more mottled blue and black skin on his neck.

His vision shimmers for a moment.

Trapped.

But he quickly shakes it off.

T stiffens before he swiftly pulls his hood back up and sits straighter, "think we're good."

"T!" Uma snaps before she grabs the hood again, "you're filthy and have open wounds. You want Harry freaking out on you?"

T huffs as he drops his head back to the table, "no."

He nods firmly, "good, cause I could be ah havin' the-"

"-biggest bitch fit ever? Yeah, I know."

He snorts as Uma begins to wash T's neck, "so long as ya be knowin'."

T turns to glare at him, "dense not blind."

He fights the urge to wince.

What he'd thought was dirt and shadows obscuring T's face under the hood before were actually more bruises.

Bruises that blended into T's freckles.

Ran up into his red hair.

Dipped down his throat to vanish under the layers of cloth.

What.

The.

Hell.

Happened.

To.

Them?

Uma sucks in her breath before she takes hold of T's chin and forces him to look at her.

"It looks worse than it is," immediately pours from T's lips.

Uma bites her lip before she slowly nods, "face and head injuries always do." She takes a deep breath before she dips a fresh scrap of fabric into the water and gently cleans T's face.

T's nose crinkles when she pulls the rag away, "ew."

"Aye, good thing we be gettin' ta this now," he teases, "what were ya doin'? Crawlin' around the damn sew-"

He blinks.

Sea.

Gods.

Fucking.

Dammit.

That's what they-

The sewers that ran under town.

Not that knowing would have narrowed it down enough.

They all ran around in those filthy places, but no one even tried to claim they knew them well.

T grimaces, "can I go to my room-" He pauses, "please?"

Uma grimaces, "bathing is a good idea."

"Mind me ah comin' with?" He quickly asks, already standing up to gather all the supplies he'd need to finish patching him up.

T snorts, "eager much?"

He takes a deep breath as he turns, bandages and a bottle of collected random alcohols gathered to his chest, "ta keep ya healthy? Aye. Always."

T's lip twitches, "you do you." He shrugs.

"You sleep as soon as yer cleaned up and bandaged." Uma orders as her eyes drift back to the bed.

T stills for a brief moment, "yeah, yeah." He mumbles as he waves her off.

"Be ah comin' on then," he stuffs the supplies in his grooming bag, "be leadin' the way."


At this point he'd made a habit of being the one who followed T.

Always behind so he could not only watch for attacks, but make sure T didn't bolt as well.

But in the short walk through the ship he'd begun counting how many times T looked over his shoulder.

He'd never felt the need to do so before, not in all the trips across the Isle or dangerous situations they'd found themselves in.

But now?

It was as if T would look back every few steps.

It was strange to see T suddenly so unsure.

Not that he could be sure that was the right word for it.

He'd seen T broody when he didn't want to be bothered.

Seen the other boy cranky when he felt imposed on.

He'd even seen T impish as he played cat and mouse.

But this?

He almost looked worried.

Or maybe scared?

He nearly trips as his foot misses the last step of the stairs.

Was T worried he was going to leave?

Or stop following him?

He frowns before he finds himself reaching out.

Was this because of the ritual?

His fingers twitch before he drops his hand to his side.

What did T need right now?

To be accepted for the loner he was?

Or to be reminded that he was part of a family?

His heart sinks when the usual challenge isn't issued, but instead he finds himself blinking stupidly as T picks the lock himself.

It was usually a proving game.

A dare.

'You want to bug me so bad, let's see how long it takes you.'

Again, his hand twitches, aching to squeeze T's shoulder.

To comfort.

I'm right here, I'm not leaving.

But-

Like most things with T, this felt like a wait it out moment.

It was like a knife twisting in his side.

To see T hurting like this.

Unsure.

To know he would probably never be able to fathom what T was thinking in this moment.

To know the best thing he could do, for now, was to let his hand drop away once more.

He takes a deep breath at the click before T pushes the door open and steps aside.

After you.

A silent invitation.

He nods before he takes it, closing his eyes as he steps through the doorway; waiting for the sounds that meant T was running.

It was no secret that T sucked at playing a long game, but it would be this one time he managed, throwing him off with all the weird signals before bolting.

Instead of the swooshing of fabric and foot falls, the door clicks closed before a metallic swoosh signals that T had slid the lock into place.

"So," T crosses his arms as he leans against the wall and studies him, "you okay?"

He blinks before he presses a hand to his own chest, "wait, me okay? Do you be bein' okay?"

T rolls his eyes before he pushes off the wall and roughly prods his chest with a single finger, "last time I saw ya I thought…" he drops his hand before he scowls and steps away, "you looked like shit."

Oh.

He looks down at his hand as he flexes his fingers, "ain'nah gonna lie, I be gainin' ah understandin' oh magic I wish I could be ah forgettin'," he shakes his hand before shoving them in his pockets, "but, aye, it be amazin' what rest can be ah doin' for ya."

T snorts derisively before he narrows his eyes in scrutiny, "like legit- Or like…" He frowns, "typical?"

He frowns before he takes a deep breath and nods, "that be fair." He bites his lip, "I ain'nah feelin' no more o' the hurt. Guess it be ah takin' time ta be forgettin', but-" he shrugs, "I be alive. That be ah answerin' yer question?"

T's silent for a moment before he sighs, "I can live with it I guess." He shifts before he drops his eyes, "sorry I didn't get there sooner."

He tilts his head in confusion, "get where?"

"Anywhere that night, really." He breathes out heavily as he goes to lean against the wall. "But specifically, how long it took me to get to you…"

"T-"

He closes his eyes, as if it could somehow block the memory of Evie's enraged mother bearing down on him with her sadistic grin as his entire body shook with agonizing spasms.

How long had he been there?

He had no way of knowing for sure, but it couldn't have been long.

It only felt like an eternity.

Even in the throes of pain he never doubted T would come for him.

He shakes his head, "ya be reachin' me soon as ya could be. I be ah knowin' that. I were never doubtin' it." He sighs as he opens his eyes, "in all honesty, it were bein' my fault she be gettin' the drop on me. I be knowin' better than ta be puttin' all me thoughts an' attention on one thing."

T closes his mouth as he looks away silently. "Magic is fucking stupid." He huffs after a long pause.

"Aye, certainly any magic known by them that be landin' themselves here in the first place."

"Fuck magic in general," T counters, "ain't shit worth this."

He frowns as he slowly inches closer before he leans on the wall beside T.

Worth what?

He couldn't count how many times his damn mouth nearly betrayed him.

Nearly asked a question he already knew the answer to.

Worth whatever it was that he and Yensid saw.

He could argue.

Point out that Uma's magic was amazing.

Yensid's abilities.

Remind T of whatever it was Gil and Deez were doing together.

But he couldn't.

Because at the end of the day, T was right.

Uma, Yensid, Deez, and Gil were already amazing before the barrier broke. They didn't need whatever magic they had.

But the witches?

They were only powerful now because they had magic.

"Yer right." He sighs as he carefully drapes an arm around T's shoulder, "whatever it be, it ain'nah worth it."

T breathes out, "it's no fun when there's nothin' to argue."

"No fun, eh?" He pulls T to his side, "is that why ya be ah bristtelin' an' puffin' all the time? Cause ya be lookin' ta argue?"

T looks away, "I mean, usually? A little, yeah…"

He snorts, but just as quickly the smile fades, "I be assurin' ya I be okay. It be bein' yer turn."

T's nose crinkles as he steps away from him, his shoulders strained as he stiffly plucks at the filth encrusted hoodie.

He frowns as the T's hood covered face looks between the steaming tub in the corner of the room and the door several times.

"Would it be ah helpin' if I be turnin' me back on ya while ya jump in?" He asks, already turning to press his forehead against the wall, "ya know parts ain'nah botherin' me none."

"Bite me." T huffs.

He chuckles quietly at the quick procession of thuds behind him.

Sometimes, in weirdly the best ways, nothing ever changed.

T might have sounded like Shrimpy hissing and swiping at a hand, but clearly he was taking him up on the offer.

Even when he hears the splash he doesn't turn.

"Kay."

He slowly turns to find T in the middle of the tub with the waterline just below his ears.

"Least ya be havin' ah nice warm bath ta be soakin' in." He offers as he stares down at the pile of cloth, leather, and metal at the base of the tub.

"Would'ah washed in fuckin' ice water if it meant gettin' this shit off," T grumbles as he looks around with a frown.

"Like I ain'nah bein' prepared." He shakes his head as he pulls out a cloth and a chunk of soap.

"Knew I kept ya round for somethin'."

"Aye, ya be only puttin' up with me for me groomin' habits."

T snorts as he holds out his hand, "ya mean I tolerate you despite them."

He tugs his hand with the soap back from T's reach, "oh, is that what ya be ah doin'?"

"Hook," T huffs with a glare, "give."

"Let me be ah washin' yer hair first," he pulls a small bottle from another pocket.

"How 'bout no," T glowers as he closes his hand expectantly, "c'mon jus' give it to me."

He frowns, "ya know how I be ah feelin' 'bout me family tryin' ta wash themselves," he pouts, but reluctantly passes the bathing items over.

There were times to argue and times to give ground; after everything he could only imagine T had been through, this felt like a give ground situation.

T rolls his eyes as he starts violently lathering the cloth before he starts scrubbing his arms, "you're too slow."

"It be called effective like." He states as he crosses his arms over his chest, "ain'nah nothin' wrong with thorough."

"It's called efficiency." T quips back.

"Can'nah be callin' quick efficient if it ain'nah bein' done right." He rolls his eyes, "that be bein' called sloppy."

T snorts, "clean is clean. There ain't a right or wrong."

A chill runs down his back, "oh, but there do be ah right an' wrong."

"Sure, if you're prissy."

"I be ah given' it over, ain'nah I?" He glares, "why ya be addin' name callin' ta this?"

"I mean, you're the one claimin' it. I didn't say you were prissy."

"Like I can'nah be readin' T speak at this point."

"Jus' sayin' I didn't say it."

"Aye, ya don'nah be sayin' lots o' things ya be meanin'."

T's brow furrows as he stares off into the distance, his chin slowly sinking back into the water.

He wasn't even getting his hair wet yet, and with all the matted yuck he could see in it, it was going to need a good soak before the shampoo would be any help.

His fingers twitch at his sides as the silence stretches on.

Wait it out.

He takes a deep breath.

Usually he knew, or at least had an inkling of, the direction T's thoughts were heading during these games of silence, but right now?

Had he said something that pissed T off?

Was T stuck in some kind of fucked up memory?

He frowns when he notices a tapping. A frantic, frenzied tapping.

Who the hell was down here with them, and why the fuck would they be knocking or-

He freezes, the sound dying, as he realizes it was his foot.

Oh for the love of the sea gods!

"T!" he snaps, unable to stop himself, "what the fuck ya thinkin'?"

Red sweeps over T's face as he looks to him before he drops his eyes, "that I'm lucky." he responds softly.

"Oh."

He wasn't entirely sure what he'd just poked at.

Lucky.

Weren't they all?

Survived the waves and the earthquakes.

Survived the black eels that bit into the barrier.

He blinks.

Was T thinking about everyone who wasn't lucky?

T looks away again, "not everyone gets a chance to like," he pauses as he pulls his knees to his chest tighter and wraps his arms around them, "be understood that well. Loved like that."

He kneels beside the tub, folding his arms along the rim to rest his chin on, "I'm sorry."

He felt so torn.

It was wonderful to hear T acknowledge that he was loved, and while not always agreed with, he was understood.

On the other hook, it broke his heart to see him hurting over whatever atrocity he'd been witness to.

T shrugs before he turns back to him and holds up the wash rag, "jus' sayin' I'm lucky."

"We all be feelin' that right now." He says as he grabs the chunk of soap and the offered rag.

He knew better than to look for teeth.

This was a gift, whether that was the way T saw it or not.

He lathers up the rag, but try as he might he couldn't come up with the right thing to say.

Was there such a thing?

The right thing to say to someone after they'd seen or been through something they can't even describe?

"I uh-" his hand slows as he watches the suds slide from T's shoulder to spread out on the surface of the water, "I never did be ah gettin' ta say thank you."

T turns to him in confusion, "the fuck for?"

"Ya know, it be hard ta know where ta be ah startin'," he admits as he sweeps the cloth over T's neck, "things be ah happenin' so fast like, an' then we be ah gettin' the girls back here," his eyes narrow, "ya be ah dartin' me an' lettin' me sister run off. And then, sea gods, I can'nah even imagine how terrifyin' that whole thing was, for all o' ya. Everyone droppin' like that, no one knowin' what the fuck be happenin'."

He'd read in the notebook.

Talked with James and Beam.

And yet he still couldn't wrap his head around how thick the air must have been with fear.

Uma going down?

Gil watching Deez go down before falling himself?

Not knowing the why or the how.

Not knowing if they were dead-

He shivers before he looks up, "an' you, you an' the Ol' Man? Fuck only knows what happened underground. How easy we could ah been losin' the two o' ya. But ya be comin' back. An' now ya be lettin' me tend ta you."

"You've always been the hardest to show gratitude to," T frowns, "which is frustrating since you're one of the ones I'm most grateful for."

"I be likin' this." He grins, "but ya know, I were always thinkin' ya lettin' me tag along with ya out on the Isle an' like were bein' yer way of showin' ya cared."

"Huh," T frowns, "I didn't realize-" He pauses before his brow crinkles, "s'long as you know I care, I guess." He shrugs.

"Aye," he grabs a broken cup from another pocket and dips it into the water before he continues, "I know how hard it be for ya ta be trustin' others ta work with ya. So, when ya be lettin' me? An' even be wantin' me with ya-" He trails off as he dumps the cup over T's hair.

"I used to think it was a punishment."

He frowns, "cause I be ah burden?"

T turns to him in confusion, "no," his frown deepens, "cause I was."

He blinks as he watches the darkened water run down T's face, leaving behind trails of mud. "I were always thinkin' ya hated havin' me along 'cause I were slowin' ya down. How did I be ah makin' you feel like ya be ah burden?"

T tilts his head, "the fact you had to come to protect me in the first place."

"Why wouldn't we want to be lookin' out for ya?"

T frowns as he looks away again, "I said used to."

He slowly nods, "were that bein' why ya were always tryin' ta make me stay behind? Cause ya were thinkin' me joinin' ya be ah punishment?"

"I knew I'd just fucked up- Knew I'd almost just gotten us killed." T sighs, "and before that-" he pauses, "I just didn't get it. Why no one cared before, and then suddenly it was a thing…"

He snorts, "ah. Ya never be ah catchin' that we were always bein' worried 'bout ya, but there were nothin' we could be ah doin' 'til ya be acceptin' joinin' the family."

T shakes his head, "never claimed to be the brightest," he frowns, "and I never really thought about any o' you likin' me for more than bein' useful."

He dumps another cup of water over T's head.

If you aren't useful, you might as well go get dead.

How often had he heard that said?

How often has he said it himself?

After meeting Uma and joining her he'd never really believed it, but it didn't stop him from spitting it out in every single contest of wills he found himself in.

And that was how T got to know him.

All of them.

It made his chest tight, knowing he had no one to blame but himself for this.

He stares at T, awed all over again at the sheer ballsiness.

No wonder he was always throwing himself at problems; bashing his head against walls until something managed to work.

How scared had he been, feeling like he and the others didn't trust him.

Didn't think he was capable of looking after himself.

So much was starting to make sense.

The fear he'd seen in T's eyes.

The anger.

The attitude T had taken with them.

Suddenly all the 'I can do it myself' statements weren't out of stubbornness.

No, they'd been said in desperation.

"T." He cups the back of his wet head before he shifts and presses their foreheads together, "Mate, I be so sorry we be leavin' ya ta feel that way. Ta feel as if ya be havin' ta prove ya be worthy or something. An' lettin' ya feel like we ain'nah trustin' ya. I be so sorry."

T shrugs, "I-"

"No. T. Be ah listenin' ta me," he takes a deep breath, "how useful ya be ain'nah bein' where we be findin' yer value. But I can'nah even be figurin' out where ta start ta tell ya how much ya be ah helpin' us. All o' us. But that ain'nah bein' why ya be one o' me best mates or why ya be wanted here in this family."

"I get that," T sighs, "question it, but get it. That you guys like, get me. An' love me an' shit… I'm sorry it took-" He pauses, "I'm sorry I'm only really appreciatin' it now, but I mean… Dense."

"Aye, ya did be ah givin' us warnin'," he chuckles as he pours the bottle into his hand and begins to massage the lather into T's hair, "point is ya be ah gettin' there."

T closes his mouth as he curls around his legs tighter and hides his face.

He tilts his head to the side before he dumps more water over T's hair to rinse the suds away, "T?"

He frowns at the slight shake of his head.

No?

"Mate? What did I be ah sayin'?"

T coils into a tighter ball, "I mean. It's just, fuck. I was so close to bein' a never. But instead I was just too late, ya know?"

"Do ya be ah meanin' when ya be goin' out with Yensid?"

T looks up at him with watery eyes, "I've already let her down enough, ya know? All she's ever asked from me was to keep everyone safe. That you stay safe." He breathes out heavily. "Sharin' stories- Tellin' her about all the people she wished she could meet- To help give others opportunities to like, be understood too. It was like the only way to get her to smile, ya know?"

It hurt like a hook in his heart that T believed that was something he had to do. Keep everyone safe, or else he not only felt like a failure but also felt like he was letting down what he could argue was his only reason for living.

It was as if T threw a filter in front of his eyes so he could better see the reasons behind his actions.

It was all so clear now.

Painfully clear.

Everything T did-

All the times T was hard on himself-

Every time he pushed someone away-

It was all for a singular goal.

To protect.

To protect Faustina.

To protect his family.

Mal's gang.

Beam's Urchins.

Everyone.

"T-" he breathes out, "ya be something special, ya be knowin' that?"

T glances at him again, "yeah, needs. I know."

"Shut it, that ain'nah being what I were meanin'," he shakes his head and reaches to scoop the wets strands of hair out of T's face, "when ya be explainin' it like that, I can be ah seein' lots more than I used ta. Ya always be carryin' 'round this weight, but ya ain'nah ever complainin'. It be ah awesome thing, knowin' we all be ah part o' it."

T's brow furrows together, "ain't nothin' to complain about."

"Sure there be," he frowns, weighing his next statement carefully before he continues, "ya be lookin' after more than any be havin' ah right ta ask o' ya, even me lovely Pirate Princess. I just be ah thinkin' ya were walkin' it alone too long."

T frowns as he turns away and hugs his legs to him closer and whispers something softly.

He leans closer, "I only be ah catchin' ya don't."

T's cheeks burn a dark red, "I don't-" he pauses for a moment before he shrugs, "doesn't matter. It's safer this way."

"It be ah matterin' ah whole hell o' ah lot ta me," he ducks his head just enough to catch T's gaze, "an' I really don'nah be thinkin' anything can be called safer now."

T pulls his eyes away and starts washing his legs.

"I shoved her away at Cruella's. I've never done that before. Didn't know I could…" he admits, like a confession a few moments later, "I- I didn't realize- But I should'ah. Ain't like I'm the best at tellin' stories. An' she always seemed ta understand, an like, follow, ya know?"

His eyes narrow as he struggles to piece together and understand what T was trying to tell him.

"Ya think Fasutina were always ah bein' there, ya both just ain'nah knowin' it?"

T sighs, "not like she is now… but- like yeah…" His voice grows smaller. "I didn't-" He purses his lips to the side. "Never felt so," his eyes narrow, "hollow. Or like…yeah…"

His heart twists painfully in his chest, "when ya be ah shovin' her ya could'nah be ah findin' her?"

He grimaces, "I didn't do it on purpose."

"I ain'nah sayin ya did, I just be tryin' ta wrap me head 'round this." He sighs, wishing for what had to be the ultimate pirate's hoard of treasure time that there were better answers and not just more questions, "I know ain'nah none o' us really good at helpin' ya out with this, with understandin' how ya both be workin' together, but I do be tryin' me best. I be wantin' ta know more, so I be apperciatin' when ya be talkin' ta me like this."

T pauses scrubbing for a moment as he stares at the wall, his eyes slowly becoming more glazed as the silence stretches.

Eventually though, T hides his head against his knees. "I- All I've ever wanted was for her to be happy. Happy and safe. To protect her… But-" His voice tightens, "it ain't like she's alone any more. She has the four of you." He curls into himself tighter. "An' I know all of you would take care of her and,-" He inhales deeply, "and, that's all that really matters."

"We can be ah takin' care o' both o' ya, like ya be takin' care o' us," he props his arms along the rim of the tub and rests his chin on them, "I know I be ah selfish pirate, but I really be ah likin' ya bein' me mate, an' her bein' mine."

T slowly turns to study him for a moment before his lips twitches. "I kinda hate you sometimes."

He grins, "meanin' ya kinda love me others?"

T cocks his head to the side, utterly unimpressed. "Keep up, will you." He shakes his head, "if I didn't- Do you really think I'd trust you with my most closest kept secret?"

"Aye," he stands and looks around for a drying cloth, "I just be ah likin' ta hear ya say it."

T rolls his eyes, "correction, kinda hate you a lot."

He snickers, "fair. Now, let's be ah gettin' ya outta there afore all yer hard work be gettin' ruined when it be ah soakin' back inta ya." He offers the ratty towel.

T nods as he stands and takes the cloth, quickly wrapping it around him before he pulls a blade from his discarded pants. His eyes sweep across the floor before he walks to the corner of the room and kneels to pry up a piece of the floorboard.

He tilts his head to the side, watching as T pulls dark bundles from the hole under the floor.

When he realizes what the bundles are he can't hold the laugh in.

"O' course ya be hidin' yer hoodies under ah board."

How many times had Uma threatened to go through the hold and burn every single one of them?

T turns to look at him over his shoulder, "I see how you guys glare at them."

He holds his hands up in surrender, "yer secret be safe with me."

"Holdin' ya to that," T huffs as he scrambles into one before throwing on a pair of pants. He throws his hood over his face as he stands with a long relieved sigh as he settles into its shadows.

"I still be ah needin' ta clean an' trim up yer nails."

T pauses as he looks between him and his hands several times with a frown.

"Don'nah be arguin'," he hands T a bowl and pours alcohol in it, "be sittin' an' soakin'."

"I wasn't gonna," T huffs as he walks across the room and slides down the wall, with a surprising amount of grace, before he glares at the bowl in his lap. "But I really don't wanna…"

"Aye, an' I really don'nah be wantin' ya ta lose a finger."

T groans before he bites his lip, muffling the hiss as she shoves his fingers in the bowl and his body stiffens.

"Sorry Mate," he grimaces, knowing from experience how sharp the bite was in open wounds, "best ta be sure though."

He'd take any amount of pain so long as it kept him and his from getting sick.

"Mmph," T gruffs with a tight nod.

He quickly pulls bandages, a broken nail cleaning kit, and a brush from the kit he'd brought down here.

After he arranges them he carefully takes T's hands from the bowl. He's surprised when the flinch he'd been expecting never comes, but instead T felt more like a plank of wood.

A trembling plank of wood.

He scoots closer until he can sit with folded legs in front of T, letting his hands rest on the cloth in his lap.

He bites back another grimace when he sees the shreds of nails somehow still attached to the ends of each finger.

Underground.

A knot twists in his chest as he struggles to take a breath.

What happened that caused this carnage. This absolute maiming of T's hands?

This was going to suck.

With no way to convince T to take it easy for a few days, he knew what he was about to do would be the best thing for T-

"You don't have ta do it," T offers with a mixture of hesitation and hope.

But damn, this was going to hurt.

He lets out a sigh before he looks up, "no whaleshittin' right now, aye, I have ta. Ya ain'nah bein' the type ta wait 'til ya be healed up, an' these?" His gaze drops to T's angry red raw skin, "an' these will be agony with the sharp edges less I can be cleanin' 'em up for ya."

T's muscles coil under his hands like steel.

"Don'nah be knowin' how much it be ah helpin', but I be bringin' me girl's tin o' goop."

He knew they were waiting on Faustina to be able to make more, but when Uma passed it to him, he took it without hesitation.

This was not a breathe and bear it kind of fix.

T closes his eyes as he takes a slow, shaky breath.

He didn't want to do this.

T didn't want this done.

And yet, he was still here, eyes closed in front of him, waiting for him to do what they both knew needed to be done.

He shuffles around his tools until he finds the thinnest blade.

With any hope, he'd be able to round off any major edges before having to move on to the more painful filing.

He scoops out a small amount of the green ointment to dab on each finger, praying to any god willing to listen that it would somehow dull the pain he was about to inflict.

T tenses as he rubs the goop in, carefully swirling it into every single exposed area he was about to work on.

"There," he smiles grimly as he sets the tin aside, "how it be ah feelin'?"

"It's workin'," T frowns, his lips twitching as if he were-

He looks up in concern before he notices how pale T was.

How he seemed to absently be hunching over, as if protecting his churning stomach.

Was T-

He bites his tongue before he can yelp.

No. T wasn't sick.

He was scared.

He swallows hard.

Which was saying something, since T was rarely ever scared.

He wanted to say everything would be okay.

And it wasn't a lie. Or at least he hoped it wasn't.

There was nothing he could say. Nothing that would help. Fixing this so that his nails didn't catch oddly everytime he used his hands was going to hurt.

But it had to be done.

Had to be done, and T had to sleep.

"Hook," T grits out between his teeth, "will you jus-"

He looks up, expecting a swift cuff to his head, but instead he finds T's eyes rolling to the back of his head.

"Shit!" He lunges forward to keep from bashing his head on the wall.

Shit.

Shit!

He shifts, putting his back to the wall as he cradles T in his lap.

Had he missed something?

Was T sick?

Injured?

In the middle of his panic, his frenzied hand searching for injury comes to rest over T's chest.

The thump of his heart, beating so frantically during his first pass, was now steadily slowing to a more natural rate under his palm.

The pained grimace was no longer contorting T's face.

Sleep?

He takes a slow breath.

Had T simply tired himself?

Or fainted?

He startles at his own trilling laugh.

Fainted.

Like he'd ever tell T that was a possibility.

At least now that T was out, and had his fingers soaked in the numbing goop, he wouldn't have to worry so much about inflicting pain.

His eye twitches as he looks over one of T's hands.

Thank. Every. Single. God. Ever. To. Exist.

He would have done it, but they both would have been in hell.

All he had to do now was tread carefully, work fast, and then curl up with T to make sure he didn't sneak off and miss out on some much needed sleep.


So, we changed this chapter a lot from the first one, but we really hope you enjoyed it!

Though we'd also appreciate if you told us what you didn't like, honestly.

Or just give us any feed back in general.

I'm sorry I'm not more on top of responding but it truly means a shit ton to us.

Speaking of feed back though-

What did you think of this chapter?

I know it's out of order but I wanted to take a minute to briefly explain T's response with Harry having to clean his nails. It's fucking nauseating to think about. But, after digging out Yensid?

Yeah.

Talk about a shredded mess. And then having to clean it? Needing to clean up someone else?

Nightmare much?

No fucking thank you.

So, for any of you out there who thought T was impervious to torture-

Not the case.

Nail and eye torture, man. It's fucking disturbing.

Agree? Or think there are worse forms? Please share, we're always down for new ideas ;)

Jesus fucking Christ this was a long chapter-

*claps hands* Right!

What did you think of T and Harry's interactions?

T and Uma?

Most importantly though-

WTF is up with Deez? Why the fuck hasn't she woken up yet?

Can you blame T for reacting like that to Deez's appearance? (It's okay if you can…)

So, yeah…

Lot's of shit in this chapter-

Looking forward to hearing from you guys! (Please? Our motivation is waning and it would really help fuel us to hear some positive shit right now… Neither of us are in a good place…)

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted

(Sorry, still not in the groove of writing these yet… Give me a bit, hopefully it will pick up.)