AN: This chapter is awfully random, I do not know what I was on, but its just a bit of fun so I hope u enjoy. Just for you Yuki Asao lol, I hope this is a bit faster lol.
Hook looked at his captive; her hair flying behind her as she stood at the bow of the ship, looking out to sea as she listened to Smee prattle on.
It had been three long nights since Louisa'a win over the captain, and they had both kept their distance, both unwilling to broach 'the subject', Hook had even been forced to sleep on his couch for fear of losing control.
They had however both been constantly watching each other, gauging each others reactions; both acting as the hunter and the hunted in one.
Louisa was allowed on deck, no worthwhile excuse having coming to Hook's aid, as long as she was in the presence of either himself or Smee.
Louisa's eyes met Hook's as she caught him staring. Hook turned away and moved off, kicking himself as being careless enough to be caught so, and then being effected so; it was crazy he was acting like a boy with a crush.
"Smee," Louisa said, turning back to the surprisingly likeable old pirate. "How do they get down from there?" Louisa asked indicating the crow's nest. Louisa had been infinitely curious as to the workings of the ship, and had gleamed a lot from the old man. She was a keen and intelligent student, matched by the by Smee's vast knowledge, even if he did have to be coaxed to answer some questions.
"Well, its simple enough, it's a rope trick; once up, there is a rope that you tie around yourself when you wish to come down. And you just step off the platform, and it uses counterbalancing weights to bring you to the ground."
Louisa had decided at some point that she needed to reach the crows nest. She had all the information, she just needed an opportunity…
"Smee do you know where the captain is?" Louisa asked.
Smee looked up from his work and around; searching the ship.
"No missy, his presence seems to have alluded us both, what is it that your wanting him for?"
"I just wanted to talk to him is all." Louisa shrugged.
"Was it important." Smee asked putting down the knot he had been working on untangling.
"Yes, it kind of was." Louisa answered; a look of concentration crossing over her beautiful features. "I guess I could go find him."
"Well I cannot let you go off on, wandering about the ship, and this needs to be done." He said looking down at the knot.
"Well, would it be permitted if you went and summoned his majesty, and I stay here and finish of unraveling the rope?" she said trying not to show any emotions as she pleaded silently.
"Well…" Smee hesitated, looked around the ship again, before he continued. "I guess there isn't really any harm, your in plain sight anyway. Yes, you wait here and continue on the rope and I will go and get the captain for you."
"Thank you." Louisa said sitting where Smee had been a moment ago. She picked up the rope, and began turning it over as she searched for a solution. She looked up without raising her head at the retreating back of the boatswain. She waited another minute as he reached the stairs and took a final look back before Louisa rose quickly using her time, and walked hurriedly, hiding herself from prying eyes, as she went.
Louisa reached the mast that held the crows nest high above. The butterflies in her stomach quieting as she began climbing; put at ease as she had not been bothered on her journey.
Her rise to the crows nest had nothing to do with a plan, she had in fact forgotten about escape for the moment a fact she was a little guilty about. It was just she felt too much like a prisoner, this to her was a symbol of freedom, the freedom that she still held, the freedom over herself. While containment still mattered, it was her mind that was most important, as long as her mind was free there was still hope, confinement of the body was after all only temporary, one way or another.
Such a belief had often saved her from going mad, with her father, when he had locked her away, and abused her. At school she escaped through any form of physical activity, especially gymnastics, she had even been in a small acrobatics company that she had been chosen for. She was always the best at what she did because she put her all into it. It was a form of normalcy and if anything she was passionate about life, and this helped or cope, with the dregs she had been handed.
Louisa was about midway up the rigging when she heard an several shouts one standing out above the rest was alarmed, and angry. She looked down, her hair blocking her vision as it was whipped around her face. She released one hand from the ropes and pulled it out of her face to see the captain surrounded by his crew. Louisa was unfazed; she turned around and continued her way up the rigging, completely resolute.
Almost to the top Louisa stole a quick glance down when she heard a sudden 'pickup' in the hollering and hooting. Below her was a pirate making his way up the roped, at a fast pace, the signs of a man who had spent his life climbing ropes. On a wider scale, Louisa could no longer identify the captain. There was a slight part of her that wanted him there watching, angry or worried but there nonetheless, it was an odd sensation that she had come to care what this man, her captor thought about her actions, and because of this she felt guilty at doing this to him.
Louisa made it to the crow's nest, as she stood up her shoulders back, she looked out what words would do an injustice in describing. A childlike grin stole across face at the beauty of it all. Neverland was a green jewel amid a beautiful green - blue sea that spread for miles.
Louisa began to laugh, tears welling in her eyes, at the joy of it, she had never expected it to be like this, it was all rather a shock to the system. She stood there for several minutes utterly spellbound before she heard the heavy breathing of the pirate that had been sent up to retrieve her.
Louisa looked down into the fierce, determined azul eyes of none other than Captain James Hook. Louisa simply waited, her gaze returning to the island and its sights, before when the time came she bent down to help the captain step up into the crow's nest. In the present state of utter peace that she was in, she was unaffected by the heated glare, glowering down on her. She smiled trying to share her feelings with the handsome captain.
"It's so beautiful." Louisa stated, breaking the captain's angry silence.
"What the devil are you up here, girl." Hook yelled bringing Louisa back to reality.
"Well, I guess I am enjoying the sights, I mean you said I could go anywhere on the ship." Sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"With a chaperone." Hook retorted.
"Well not like I was going to fly off." Louisa paused as she remembered exactly what story she was in. "Oh… I guess I forgot about that." She said a little sheepish.
"A likely story." Hook hissed, confusedly hurt that she wanted to escape, and then angry that he though she had wanted to have anything to do with him, for the simple sake of it.
"I swear this has nothing to with escape." Louisa countered, quickly assessing the situation. She placed a comforting hand on Hook's shoulder. "Nice look by the way." She said as she noticed Hook was dressed in his britches, without his boots, or other adornments. He wore his weapon sash tied around his waist, holding only his knife, and a plain white shirt, that opened to show the top of his chest.
Louisa could feel her knees go weak at his very presence. On impulse Louisa tipped her head back, and pulled him down into a surprisingly deep kiss, resting one hand on his chest, feelings his beat quicken with his breathing.
"I swear, while this is about freedom, it isn't about escaping from you, I still don't know about you." Louisa whispered as she broke away from the captain, continuing to hold him with her sincere gaze.
Shock stole across Hooks face, his anger forgotten for the moment, in light of the confusing feeling running through his body, one he could scarcely remember feeling.
Louisa turned around and looked back out at the view, wanting to leave Hook his space to sort out the emotions playing out in his eyes.
After several minutes of silence Hook placed his hand on Louisa's back, turning her back to face him.
"Ready to go down yet?" Hook asked.
"Yes I guess there is always tomorrow, aye captain." Louisa answered a slight smile coming to her lips.
"Right," Hook matched her smile with his own sardonic one. "I guess there is. So my dear, would you care for me to carry you down?" He said offering his hand as if asking for a dance.
"Why captain, How gentlemanly." She said taking the captains offered hand.
Hook pulled Louisa into him tightly, looping a rope around their wastes, holding them in their intimate embrace.
"Hold on tight then girly." Hook shouted as he stepped off the platform backwards, without any real warning. Louisa yelped and threw her arms around the captains neck. Halfway down Louisa overcame her shock, and began hooting at the exhilaration, not releasing her grip however as it seemed to be quiet comfortable.
When they hit the ground Louisa was still content to have the captains strong body against her own. Hook however indicated to two pirates who preceded to drag her off the captain, with fake grimaces, encouraged by their captains hidden signal of a 'game' to be had.
Louisa was shocked and pissed off to be dragged off the captain in such a manner, after such a show of affection on her part, embarrassed at herself that she had not remembered the crew standing around; too wrapped up in her schoolgirl feelings.
"Now, now my dear no need to be like that." He said in answer to her glare. "You did after all disobey my direct orders. It would be unfair to my crew if I let you go unpunished, don't you think." He said onto the laughter of crew. "Now men." He said turning around, winking at the pirates. "What would you suggest is a fitting punishment would be, for a young lady, who has no respect for the rules, and oh so loves to climb?" This was followed by an uproar of suggestions, each one more horrendous than the next. None however seemed to have an affect of Louisa, as she kept her glare steady, all the while at the captain.
"Now, now men, behave, there is after all a lady present. What we need is a punishment befitting a lady; well what can only be considered a lady given the present circumstances, surrounded by such fine upstanding gentlemen as ourselves." He said redirecting the game.
More outlandish suggestions followed, until Smee loudest of all called for her to be made to dance, if she was such a lady.
The captain turned suddenly to face Louisa, one of the biggest smirks plastered on his face, he held up his hand for silence.
"Yes, I think that might just be fitting, don't you my dear?"
It sounded crazy, to easy, unlike the Hook she had heard of in the story books, she realized he was playing a game, but she let her anger at the indecency rule her reason. "If that Is what the captain wishes." She answered with as much sarcasm and venom as she could muster.
"Oh it is." Hook called still grinning, "But why don't we make it interesting, shall we? As climbing seems to be your passion, you can dance from up there." He said Pointing straight up with his Hook, to the first cross beam. Louisa almost laughed, almost; instead she let her glare come back in full force. The crew all Hollered and began there catcalls before Hook silenced them again, awaiting her answer.
"Fine, have it your way." Louisa hissed, pulling herself free, and moving out of the circle. She moved to the rigging only to be stopped. She looked up to the captain.
"You have fun now you hear." He called to the men, while giving her a private look that said that he was winning, it was payback for her win in the cabin. "Dance nicely for the boys." He whispered quietly so only she would hear.
Louisa answered with another glare that was a private message all in itself. She turned and began her ascent to her stage.
From down below a beat was picked up just as Louisa planted her feet firmly on te rounded wood.
"If it's a dance they want it's a dance they shall get." Louisa whispered to herself with a little smile, she picked up a rope that was used as a safety line and tied the end in a loop before she slipped herself into it. Louisa centered herself, taking three deep breaths before she began with a performance of three flips backwards in quick succession.
The crew gasped as she continued her flips, with a dancer twist.
Louisa was pleased with the surprised gasps from the crowd below. She however had not finished. She stopped to check the security of the rope before she began spinning the length of it around her waist.
Hook bristled as Louisa looked at him directly; he had been spellbound by her graceful and fluid motions. Now however he felt something was wrong, he didn't feel in control any longer. The entire crew gasped in horror as Louisa fell gracefully from her perch. Hook yelled out but was silenced as he and the rest watched as she, her body horizontal, spun down the length of the rope. Louisa suddenly stopped herself, and began a second step in the dance on the rope, as she climbed her way up before twisting down and all the while keeping a fluid continuance in time to the music.
Louisa finally rolled herself up several yards, before she plummeted her way down to the end of the rope. Louisa then, her rope around her middle looser than before, able for her to slip out, began to swing herself around in a wide arc, in a flying motion.
At the exact right time, at the apex of the music, Louisa released herself, flinging her body up into a sail where she then proceeded to slide down, gracefully fast, although slightly controlled.
At the bottom of the sail, Louisa grabbed a rope before she was flung off and began a climb down head over feet all the way. Near the bottom she stopped herself upside down and began to twist herself and the rope around at a frantic pace, as the music picked up in tempo. When she was spinning at the fastest point, Louisa managed to release her legs from the rope and she flipped herself right way up, still spinning although slowing herself as she parted her legs and touched the ground, running slowly.
Louisa then released the rope and bowed to the shocked crew, surrounding her, congratulating the dance.
The captain parted the circle to reach her, and a silence almost as deafening followed. Hook looked Louisa in the eye and bowed his head, admitting another private defeat. Louisa curtsied in acceptance, to the crew it looked like a simple good work, no face was lost. Hook looked around at his men.
"Smee I believe that rum is in order." Hook yelled, to the men who then erupted in celebration. Smee saluted with a fist to his chest ordering eager men around the ship in preparation for the festivities.
Hook offered his arm to Louisa, who grandiosely accepted, clearly happy at the men's reactions, and filled with excitement and adrenalin.
"You do have some rather interesting talents, my dear, and I must say that was an amazing show, you play along well."
"Thank you captain, funnily enough I didn't even relies the game, and I was truly angry until of course I was up there." She was interrupted by Smee who handed Hook and Louisa a bottle of amber gold each.
They were both uncorked already, and Hook lifted his in a toast "For your performance, my dear, scared the hell out of me I must say." He took a rather large swig, followed closely by Louisa; a look of amusement on her face.
AN: so what did ya rekon, I don not know where I thought of that little 'dance' by her but there ya go. Please read and review.