Chapter 20:

Tala felt an immense relief once the Jolly Roger finally left the shores of the Isle. Suddenly, that paranoia, the feeling that someone was going to attack her at any moment, left her all at once. She let out a sigh of relief.

Hook's crew may not really like or respect her all too much, but they're much too afraid of Hook to try to harm her. Knowing that made it feel much safer aboard his ship than on the island that served as his second home.

Finally, they were headed for the horizon, gliding over the crystal blue waters once more. Tala leaned over the rail to look down and watch the sea floor move farther and farher away, until she could only see the deep blue abyss.

"I have to ask, lass," a friendly voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Tala turned away from her reflection in the water to see Sebastian approaching. He leaned against the railing beside her. "Why did you ask Hook to bring me along?"

"Because you're my friend."

"Maybe so, but I am no friend to yer Captain."

"You're scared of him," Tala grinned at him in amusement. "How are you afraid when I'm not? You're twice my size."

"Aye," he nodded his head, the wind blowing his shaggy blonde hair out of his face for the moment. "But I've known him longer. I've heard more stories about him. And it's not that I'm afraid, lass, not this time. He's made it clear he has no intentions to make me walk the plank anytime soon."

"Then why do you seem disappointed to be here?" Tala's smile faded into a small frown. She could see some distress in his handsome features. He seemed uncomfortable. "I thought you'd be happy to come along."

"Don't get me wrong now, Tala. I'm glad to have more time with ye, but it's not the kind of time I'd hope fer."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I would much rather be alone wi-"

"Sebastian!" Hook shouted his name, stepping up beside them as if he had stomped the whole way over. "Shouldn't you be preparing the first meal of the day. That is your job, as the ship's head cook."

"I was just about to head below deck, Captain."

"Then head there," Hook motioned towards the stairs. "I expect a meal to be ready for everyone within the hour."

Sebastian glanced at Tala, let out a sigh, then walked off to do as he was told. That was the unfortunate part of being on the Jolly Roger. Hook was his captain and had every right to give him whatever orders he pleased. As a part of the crew, Sebastian had to obey.

"You could be kinder," Tala muttered to Hook with a playful roll of her eyes.

"I can't show favoritism on the ship."

"Except when it comes to me, I suppose?" Tala raised a brow. "I have no job, no orders, no tasks."

"And you won't. You're a guest aboard this ship, not a part of the crew," Hook shrugged his shoulders. "Do you have a problem with that? Would you like a task?"

"What sort of task would you have in mind?"

Hook grinned mischievously, taking a few slow, calculated steps towards her. Once he was close enough, he leaned down to be eye level with her, to have his face hovering only two inches from hers. Her cheeks flushed instantly, which made him feel even more devilish.

"I can think of a few things I'd love for you to do for me."

Tala regretted asking because she couldn't think of a witty retort this time. His face was so close to hers, so very nearly touching hers, that her mind became hazy. In a flustered panic, she jerked away from him and turned her gaze back out to the sea as it continued to put distance between her and those bad memories.

"Just... be nicer to Sebastian. I know you don't like him, but I want him to be at home here, too."

"Alright," Hook gave in with an exasperated sigh. "You've bent me to your will yet again, little wolf." He clutched at his chest dramatically. "I am but a slave to your wishes."

He was being playful, and Tala had to admit that she quite liked this side of him. She let out a small chuckle, covering her mouth with her hand as if that would hide it from him. Unfortunately, he took notice, and he reveled in the fact that he finally earned a smile from her.

It wasn't that long ago that she showed up bloody and bruised, crying in his arms. She seemed to have recovered mentally before she recovered physically, which he quite admired. When Hook was hurt by something, it weighed on him forever. He couldn't let things go.

But Tala was different. She didn't hold onto pain or grudges. She clinged to her motivations and morals. Being a warrior and being free were the only things that really mattered to her. As long as she was able to be both, she could handle anything else that wounded her.

Hook watched in annoyance as Sebastian and Tala sat together for their meal. The tavern boy was going on and on about some childhood memory of his, which made Tala smile and laugh occasionally.

He tried to keep in mind what Sebastian said before. He told Hook that Tala wanted to be seen as more than just an object of his desires. Sebastian all but insinuated that Tala had some kind of feelings for Hook, and he tried to hold onto that thought as Tala sat beaming up at the tavern boy.

It was most surprising, to Hook and Sebastian alike, when Tala reached across the table to take Sebastian's tankard in her hands. She brought it close to her face, sniffed it, then scrunched her nose. Sebastian laughed.

Hook sat up in his chair as if he planned to stop her, but ultimately decided not to interrupt. Trying to control Tala would drive her away. He watched with anticipation and concern as Tala suddenly decided to take a few sips from Sebastian's rum. Hook wasn't sure if she had ever even had it before. She hated when he drank it, so why was she so interested in it now?

She continued to sip from it, laughing with Sebastian, sharing it with Sebastian, her cheeks flush as it began to warm her from head to toe. She started to sway more and more as each minute passed.

Finally, anxiety and jealousy got the better of him. Hook abandoned his own meal to approach their table. He plopped down beside Tala, who didn't seem in the least bit bothered. Sebastian, on the other hand, looked as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"I tried to warn her against it."

"I won't be told what to do," Tala hummed. "Hook knows that as well as anyone. It isn't his fault."

"She's a wee bit buzzed," Sebastian grinned at her, "but not altogether drunk. I'm sure she feels lovely, don't ye, lass."

"I feel lovely," she confirmed with a nod of her head.

"You being intoxicated on a ship full of lonely men seems like a recipe for disaster." Hook stood upright immediately, then grabbed her by her bicep gently. "I should take you to your cabin."

"You mean your cabin," she corrected him. "I sleep on the floor. You sleep in the bed."

Sebastian shot Hook a confused look, a judgemental look. Hook made a mental note to explain the situation later when it didn't seem so much like a frantic attempt to appear less like a villain. Tala chose to sleep on a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor. She wasn't forced to.

"Come along," he tugged at her arm a little. "Off to bed."

"Ye better not be plannin' to take advantage of her in such a state," Sebastian frowned. "I won't let ye hurt her."

"Has the rum made you brave all of a sudden?" Hook shot back in annoyance, still trying to get Tala to leave her seat so he could take her to safety. She stayed planted.

"I'm not afraid of ye, Captain."

"You're a bigger fool than I expected."

"I told you to be nice." Tala struck Hook in the ribs with a little fist, causing him to wince from the impact. He blinked down at her in surprise.

"Right. Niceties aren't my specialty. Now get up, Tala."

"Fine," she conceded, jerking her arm away from him. She rose to her feet, wobbled just slightly, then steadied herself. "I'm sorry he's so prickly, Sebastian. It's my fault, I'm sure."

"Lovely of you to take responsibility for the stress you cause me, little wolf."

"Sleep well, Sebastian," Tala smiled at him once more. "Thank you for sharing a meal with me. And your rum. I don't hate it as much as I anticipated."

"Take care, Tala," Sebastian nodded back, still concerned that she was being dragged away by Hook. The only solace that he found was that Tala was still perfectly capable of fighting Hook off if he tried anything. And Hook cared a lot for her. She would be safe, he told himself.

Still, he really hated to watch the Captain lead Tala away with his hand pressed against the small of her back.