Alteration to an agreement
The look was so long and so deep, that Wendy blushed. And when his gaze travelled down her body, she could have sworn she felt the heat from them, kissing her through her clothes.
That thought shocked even her, and she was chiding herself silently, when his eyes returned to hers. The look in them was unreadable, and she wanted to believe that he would say something kind. A compliment.
But that was silly, wasn't it? The hangman did not compliment you on your hat.
Yet it looked as though he might. . .She held her breath as he opened his mouth to speak.
" You're right. You did not grow up to be beautiful." He said with a little contempt.
Then he shrugged, turning before he could see the anger begin building behind her eyes.
" But we can't have everything in this world, now can we?" he said, waving his good hand.
He spun abruptly and began walking around her, clucking his tongue.
" Tsk. But still. You could at least be. . .I don't know. . .plumper?" he turned to the pirates. " Don't you think so men?'' he shouted.
They began an uproar, complete with whistling and jeering. Before she could interrupt to remind him she was a lady. . .the Captain calmly took out a pistol and fired a random shot into the men.
Wendy gave a startled yelp, as the gun fired near her head. The echo of the gun wasn't finished resounding before there was a hollow thump, one poor dead fool hitting the wood.
" Just remember, it isn't your job to think. " he said to them all as way of an explanation.
" Yes. . .yes. You are much to thin! " he turned back to her, wrinkling his nose a little in distaste.
"What difference should that make! " Wendy asked, in exasperation.
The captain grinned.
" Oh,. . .yes. Still as disillusioned as ever. Well, let me see. how can one say it?. . .I was expecting you to make a bigger splash." he said.
" A bigger splash?" she asked, confused.
" Yes, it would almost be a waste to make you walk the plank now. . .I doubt you'd make more than a plip in the old sea. " he claimed, with a slight bit of bemusement.
" You could shoot me." she offered.
" That would be too fast, now wouldn't it? Besides, my pistol is empty."
" Hang me?" she asked, hopefully. It would be easier, she was sure, than drowning.
He frowned.
" Or I could poison you. Have no doubts my dear, I know of a thousand ways to rip the very life from a person." he ran the back of his hook over her arm, and murmured. " Indeed, my mouth practically waters at the thought."
Wendy shivered slightly, as the cold steel made contact with her wrist. She found herself watching, entranced, as the blade made hypnotic little caresses down to her fingers, then back.
He jerked it back so fast, it made a ringing sound. She gasped and looked down, certain she would see a horrible gash. There was nothing. He had deftly turned it at the last moment.
" Well?" she asked, her voice a trembled slightly.
" Well what?" he raised a brow.
" Are you not going to kill me?"
He looked shocked.
" Why, as soon as you arrived? What kind of host murders his guests as soon as they arrive? We haven't even had tea yet!"
" I think I would rather just have it over." she said, with a slight laugh.
" Well, aren't you a rude guest? But, it is to be expected. . .what with the company you have kept. Smee, take her bag inside. Now, if you please. . .step inside and let me offer you some refreshments."
He turned around and glared at the pirates.
" You men find some means of employment, or I'll line you up and shoot a cannonball straight through you." he shouted.
" After you, Miss Wendy..." he said, gesturing towards the door.
After a second of hesitation. . .she entered the cabin.
After her eyes had adjusted to the low light, she could look around, and see that the cabin had not changed much in the last ten years. The harpsichord still stood, gleaming dully, and for a moment Wendy longed to hear it played. But, thinking of that only reminded her of her mother. . .
" Rum?" offered the Captain.
Wendy shrugged, remembering the last time she had been offered rum aboard this vessel. . .back when she had changed alliances to become Red Handed Jill. Her cheeks burned a little, at the memory of her youthful gullibility. Surely she was grown out of that. . .wasn't she? Or did the Captain have another trick to play on her?
She eyed him suspiciously as she took a sip of the rum.
Instantly she regretted it. The drink was not as glamorous as she had imagined, and she gagged.
" At least Aunt Millicent wasn't here to witness that!"
"Aunt Millicent?" he frowned.
Wendy laughed sheepishly.
" Excuse me, I did not realise I had spoken aloud. Aunt Millicent was. . .well, my aunt." she realized immediately how obtuse that sounded.
" I assumed as much. I take it, she would not approve of you imbibing rum?"
" Or any spirits."
" How dreary aunts can be."
" Yes..."
As Wendy attempted to look upon any thing in the room other than the Captain, he stood and went to the window.
" I suppose that pistol shot was heard all across Neverland." he mused.
Wendy said nothing, choosing instead to fiddle with her skirt.
" So. . .I would assume. . .(even though it is a dangerous habit, assuming.), that Pan and the lost boys might already think you are dead."
She fidgeted, not certain of what was happening.
" Nervous?" he asked, hearing the rustle of her skirts.
" I suppose so. Perhaps confused. " she muttered.
" But not scared, are you? No...not Red-handed Jill!" He turned around in time to catch her blush. " Oh, you didn't think I would forget that! You see, I was actually rather foolish." he mused.
He rubbed his chin amoment.
" Yes. I see it clearly now. I should have kept you on board the Jolly Roger. I could have tormented Pan well enough, and we could have had a. . .story teller." he said.
" I'm not as young as I once was, Captain Hook! I don't believe anymore that adults would need a storyteller."
" Maybe not adults in your world." he scoffed. " Besides we aren't adults. We are pirates."
Wendy sighed. " Are you going to kill me , or aren't you? "
" So impatient." he was behind her now. . .leaning over her shoulder. She felt the brush of his hair against her neck.
His voice went rather low and smooth again, and against her will, she shivered. Unfortunately, it was not entirely from revulsion.
"Yessss..." he murmured. " I will definitely kill you. Over and over again. Have no doubts about that." his hook was touching her back, ever so lightly.
" I - I don't understand..." she said, pulling to the side.
" Oh, I think you will. You see, I have wasted too much time already, and too many chances, too. " the hook traced a sweet line towards her shoulders.
She could feel the coolness of the steel through the fabric of her dress.
" Then you are going to k-"
" Blast it girl, If you don't stop repeating that absurd question I will kill you!" he shouted.
She closed her mouth suddenly, so hard that her teeth clicked together.
" You see, I think I want to make an alteration to our agreement."
Wendy leapt to her feet.
" You wouldn't dare go back on your word! You promised me that you you wouldn't hurt anyone if I -"
He pushed her back down.
" Don't interrupt me. I have no intention of hurting anyone. In fact, I was even thinking of sparing your bland little life. For awhile, anyhow."
" Why?" she asked, hotly.
" You are still quite a brat, aren't you, Wendy? I am offering to spare your life and instead of showing gratitude, you're questioning my motives. Well, why, is my business. But, if you would like to remain alive, I am offering you the chance."
" What about Peter, and my brothers? Every one you promised would be saved?"
"I won't trouble them. The only condition is...that you must stay here."
" In Neverland?''
" On the ship." he said.
"On the ship!" Wendy cried.
" Yes. But you'll have to earn your keep. You can work can't you?" he looked her over again.
" Captain Hook!" again Wendy was on her feet. " I am a lady!"
He smirked a little.
" Perhaps, in another world. But you'll find it means very little here!" and before she could cry out, or even step away, he had seized her about the shoulders, and clamped his mouth down on hers in the most grownup and sincere kiss Wendy had ever received.
Then he released her.
" You will soon see, my dear, that is more than one definition of death."