Hey Descendents!
Twisted and I are getting ready to sit down and write, so I thought I'd pre game with an update :)
And now for the last vk involved with the well incident...
Two months after the well incident
He really didn't know how he'd gotten into this mess. He vaguely remembered the need for fresh air, having grown restless while he healed from both Hyades fire and her father's wrathful punishment. He'd been going crazy in his room. Restless. He wanted to check on the people he'd grown to care about, but at a distance this time.
Except he was still finding it difficult to roof hop, without making everything feel worse. He could admit the need to be out in the open once more had been reckless, but that had just part of the appeal. His eyes bounce from the men currently surrounding him. Five? He frowns as he thinks about it, before a smile tugs at his lips.
Or maybe, if he was honest with himself, he just liked testing his fate.
He glances around at the five men standing in front of him with a frown. Sure, he hadn't really gotten on with the twins since his first introduction to them, but this? This was some serious overkill for the few spats they'd gotten into over the years. An unbidden smirk tugs on his lips. He felt an odd, twisted sense of pride that they were this frustrated with him.
The fight doesn't last long, but he manages to take out two before he finds himself subdued and kneeling in front the apparent leader. "Now what, princess?" T asks Gaston's goons scathingly after spitting a mouthful of blood in their direction.
"Ya thunk ya could get away with yer stupid lil pranks ya dumb shit." The big burly guy chuckles as he bends to stick his face in T's.
"Ya thunk ya can learn proper english?" T taunts back.
"Oh yeah. Big bad boy wants ta speak all proper like while he and his goons attack the Gastons. Well, I ain't seeing nobody comin ta save ya." Spittle hit's T's face as the man speaks.
"Classy." T deadpans as spittle runs down his cheek. "Is that what they said?" He chuckles. "Those two, always ones to impress." He adds carelessly. "So what, they ran to their pops and he sent the dogs for my blood?" He asks, sounding incredibly unimpressed.
"Nah, no need for 'em ta go ta the boss over such a tiny matter." He laughs again before he pulls a large, well sharpened blade out of its hollister on his leg.
"Ah… Well, if that's the case..." T shrugs, unimpressed. He tilts his neck up and to the side, Presenting it to the man. "Then get over with it. Death has to be better than listening to you murder the english language."
The man cocks his head in seeming bewilderment.
"Oh come on." T scoffs. "Don't tell me you got cold feet now, not after all that big talk?" He taunts. "I don't have all night."
The man with the knife sneers and presses the blade to T's exposed throat. "You wanna keep talking big, little boy?"
"Clearly- But not to you." T retorts as he presses his neck further into the blade. The warmth trails down his neck, putting a grim grin on his lips. "See, not that hard." He explains evenly. "Now nut up, or shut up."
"Shit, this kid's crazy." The man holding T's arms behind his back says before he releases his grip and backs away. "Fuck this, I ain't doing in a kid… We don't even know who he belongs to."
T sighs, as he sweeps out the leg of the other man that had been holding him before he jumps to his feet. "Seriously?" He sighs in disappointment. "What the hell was that?" He lifts his brow as he steps up to the big bear of a man. "Wanna try for real this time? Or are we still just playing?" He asks with a wide grin.
The two smaller men immediately take off running, but the one with the knife just grins. "You thunk yer ah tough 'un boy? We weren't tryin to hurt you. Now I ain't hold back."
"Sure pops." T retorts. "You keep telling yourself you're still up for this." He grins. "Oh I know! I'll even give you first swing. That should even it a bit don't you think? Givin' you a handicap."
The old brute doesn't wait for a second invitation. He lunges at T with a feral roar, swinging his blade at the boy's throat. He misses, barely managing to knick T's shoulder instead.
T touches his hand to his shoulder, lifting a brow when there's no blood."Okay. Or two swings." He frowns. "Are you sure you're up for this…" He steps forward and pats the man's back, in a very patronizing manner. "It's starting to get sad...Want me to turn around? Would that help?"
He shoves T away roughly before he turns with the knife held high above his head. He pauses before he can bring it down, looking at something over his target's shoulder.
T stares up at him in confusion. "Did you have a stroke?" He asks with a raised brow.
"Ohh-kay now." Another voice calls out confidently from behind T. "Ruuun along ol' man, I be havin' me some business with this one, and ya don't wanna be gettin' in ma way do ya?"
"Fuckin' full moon tonight, I'll tell you what. All the crazies out." The man gruffs as he steps back, lowering the knife. "Have 'im." He grunts as he walks away.
"Hook." T greets, before turning around. Well, this was different. He wasn't sure he was actually up for speaking to the others yet. He still wasn't sure what Hyades had seen… Or rather felt while they'd been stuck on the bottom of the well.
"In the flesh lad." Harry saunters up with a huge smile on his face. He'd been trying to find this crazy kid for months now, ever since he'd tackled Hyades and knocked them both down the well. He hadn't expected to just stumble upon him.
Uma was going to be pleased about this, she'd been a right foul mood.
T was just as crazy as ever by the look of things. Taking on five side kicks like that had been entertaining to watch, but what really drew his interest was the way the boy had pressed into the blade. Harry's eyes travel down to the gash on T's neck, and the ribbon of blood flowing freely from it. "Lad, gotta say I admire yer art. That were some show ya be puttin' on." He compliments as he brings the hook in his hand up to press softly against his lips.
T lifts his brow. "Never much thought of myself as a performer." He shrugs as he studies the other boy carefully. "You need something?"
Harry chuckles before he points the hook to T. "Well in fact I do. You're one tough lad ta find." He slowly lets his eyes travel over T's form. "Though aftah the stunt with the well, I'm surprised to be seein' ya at all."
T studies him for a moment not certain in the slightest how to read the pirate. "If you say so." He shrugs. "And you've found me…"
"So I have." Harry tilts his head to the side before he clasps T by the shoulder with his free hand. "Why don't ya let me steal ya a drink?"
T blinks as he studies the other boy in confusion. "You wanted to find me to drink?" He asks confused already falling into step with the taller boy.
Harry shrugs. "Yes, and drinking implies talking-"
"Oh." T stops Harry. "I don't really do that."
"That's what the drink be for laddy." Harry teases as he turns, keeping T's shoulder firmly grasped to lead him.
"Uh-" T pauses, his attention dropping to the hand on his shoulder with a frown. "I think you talk enough, Harry..."
Harry presses his hook to his chest. "It be a family trait lad." He shakes his head as he continues to lead T through the shadowed streets. "Now, stop playin' hard ta get, an let me get ya a drink in ya." He persists, noting the other boys lack of resistance with a satisfied smirk.
T tilts his head to the side in confusion, subconsciously keeping the other boys stride. This is why he never fucked around with Hook. Out of all the people he stalked, Harry was the hardest to understand. He still wasn't the best with terms and slang. He really wasn't sure why he'd be sought out for a conversation. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather talk to Hyades or Gil?" He asks instead.
"Now why in the hell would I be wantin' ta talk ta them?" Harry scoffs.
T rolls his eyes. Because he usually talked to Gil. He and Gil usually did lots of things together when no one was looking. However now didn't seem like a good time to point that out. The self proclaimed prince of pirates seemed particularly moodier than usual. "Because pretty much anyone else on this island would hold a better conversation…Gil's your usual go to. Hyades is your best bet if you're looking for a good story."
"You seem to know Gil and Hyades pretty well." Harry chuckles as he leads her down yet another alleyway.
T shrugs, before he notices the direction Harry was taking him, and can't stop the groan. This was the last fucking thing he needed. Crowds were gods awful, and the usual patrons were rowdy even for the isle. "Where are we going exactly?"
"Ain'ah better place ta be gettin' ah drink then the docks, besides," Harry looks T over again with a sly grin. "You seem like a shadow kind of person. Docks be havin' 'em in spades."
T frowns as he desperately tries to come up with a polite way to disengage. He wasn't as familiar with Harry as he was Uma and Gil. Hook was unpredictable on a good day, and was prone to losing his shit on a whim. He felt woefully unprepared for this, and certainly didn't have the skills to back out without insulting the other boy. From what T could tell, Hook seemed particularly pleased with himself at the moment and he didn't want to be responsible for pushing him into one of his darker moods.
"Here we go." Harry says cheerfully as he pushes T ahead of him through the saloon doors.
T tensed and immediately steps back into Harry's chest. "No."
"Don'nah be ah worrin' none lad," Harry whispers softly into his ear, his deep brogue warm with the low pitch of his voice. "I can be protectin' ya from the scary talkin' people."
T's eyes widen in fright as he jumps, a blush sweeping up his face as he stumbles away from him. "No." He points one finger at Harry as he glares. That was new and vastly unpleasant.
Harry winks before he takes T by the shoulder again, leading him to the darkest corner with an empty table.
"When you said shadows and docks, I thought you meant shadows and docks." T tries to keep the whine from his voice.
"Yeah." Harry grins as he kicks a chair out for T to sit in. "We're on the docks, and this is definitely the darkest shadow." His grin widens as he opens his arms in a flourished gesture, "Promise fulfilled."
"Fucking pirates." T grumbles as he opts to lean against the wall instead, willfully ignoring how close he chose to stay to the pirate. Where the fuck were Uma and Gil? His eyes scan the crowd wearily, but he kept finding himself distracted by the chaos around him. It was too loud to do much more than think about how loud it was.
"Harry, where the hell have you been?" Uma growls as she walks up to their table.
T can't help the smile that crosses his lips at the sea witches growl. Sanctuary. He slowly begins shifting away from the captain and first mate of the wharf rats, grateful for the distraction she was providing.
"Sorry love, went and found some entertainment on my way here an' I couldn't help myself." Harry smirks at his captain as he plops in the chair across from the one he'd kicked out for T, keeping the other boy in his sight.
"You little slut." Uma grins, as she punches his shoulder.
"All day, every day Cap'n." Harry grins as he leans back in his seat, his fingers laced together behind his head. "But lookit who I be findin'." He beams, clearly proud of himself. "Ya ah course be rememberin' that blur be takin' Deez down right?" He laughs as he reaches up and snags T by the sleeve before he can creep too far away.
Uma looks the boy over skeptically. "Ya sure it's actually him?'
"Oh yeah." Harry nods mischievously. "I be recognizin' him anywhere. Took down two of ol' Gaston's goons, and then intimidated the hell outta the three that had him pinned down. Ya shoulda seen it Uma, it were ah thing'ah beauty."
T lifts his brow in worry. How? Was he really that bad at sneaking? The concept that Harry would be able to recognize him on sight was totally unlikely. But, he sighs, very Harry. The kid was awfully observant when it suited him.
Uma eyes sweep over the boy again. "T." She frowns. "You certainly have a way of making an impression."
"Not really my goal." T admits with a frown.
Uma shrugs before she leans in a little closer, her voice the barest whisper. "I suppose I owe ya a dinner for helping Deez out though. She's such a big damn softy, and…" She sighs. "She probably would have been upset if she hurt someone, or ya know," she rolls her eyes, "Whatever."
T studies the girl for a moment, almost hearing the hammer nail his coffin shut. Uma very rarely showed this side, and even then he'd never thought he'd be on the receiving end of it. Usually it was only with Hyades or her boys. "Uh…No problem?" He shrugs, "Thanks." He hesitantly adds as he lowers into the chair next to Harry instead. His back tense.
Harry snorts at the other boy's response. "An' I'll be wantin' a round of drinks as well." He tells Uma with a wink.
Uma looks between the two boys. "Ya sluttin' it up with this kid?"
The noise that leaves T's throat was short, rough, and yet somehow still high pitched as his chair screeches across the floor away from Harry.
Harry just winks at Uma. "You're still number one Uma."
Uma snorts. "Mhmm." She rolls her eyes. "Try ta play nice with your new toy, Harry."
Harry chuckles as Uma walks away. "So, still troubled by all the talking?" He asks as he pins T with a mischievous grin.
T frowns as he studies the pirate, uncertain if he'd even be able to speak. He should be insulted that he was being openly mocked, but this was so out of his realm of comfort he couldn't fathom bringing more attention to himself- So instead he opts for shaking his head.
Harry chuckles again and leans forward, but before he can speak they're interrupted by Gil's arrival with two chipped pint glasses of a dark liquid.
"Uh, hey Harry. Uma told me ta tell you that she's got these." Gil says as he sets the glasses on the table, sloshing the liquid over his hands in his excitement. "Dagger!" He grins and lightly punches the cloaked boy in the arm. "Good ta see you alive."
"Gil." T grins in greeting, visibly relaxing.
"So, why Gil-me-lad be ah callin' ya Dagger?"
T is silent for a moment before he shrugs, "I don't think it ever came up, just assumed its cause I carry daggers." He continues before he turns to Gil for confirmation.
Gil nods, with a sheepish grin as he looks down. "He never corrected me." He shrugs, "So i just kept callin' him it."
"And how long ya be ah called Dagger then?" Harry continues, giving Gil a side eyed warning look.
"Only Gil calls me dagger." T shrugs, "So I dunno, as long as we've known each other I guess?"
Harry rolls his eyes, "An how long that be?"
T narrows his eyes as he crosses his arms over his chest in thought.
"We met when I brought Shrimpy home." Gil supplies.
"Ah." T nods as he looks up to Gil in surprise. "That feels right."
"Oh?" Harry looks between the two before he bursts out laughing, "That be ah stretch an'ah half ago. How come ya not be ah tellin' Uma n' me?"
Gil blushes, as he looks down. "I uh-um forgot when I brought shrimpy home safely."
"Aye… But ya might be ah wantin' ta fill Uma in now huh?" Harry prompts, "She ain'nah one ta be keepin' secrets from.
"No she isn't." Gil's eyes widen, "Good idea."
Harry turns back to T with a mischievous light in his eyes, but stops and looks back at Gil, "Now might be bein' that time."
Gil blushes "Right." He nods. "I'll be telling Uma then." He frowns down at T. "Catch ya later man."
"Later." T sighs as he watches Gil walk away.
Harry shakes his head. "No brains in that one, not that the Gastons had much ta begin with anyways."
T can't help the snort, but he lightly swats Harry's shoulder in reprimand. When he realizes what he's done he immediately withdraws and drops his hands to his lap. "He's happy."
"I forgot who I was sitting with." Harry grins before he leans over and claps T on the shoulder. "Yer a hero type."
T rolls his eyes. Not this crap again. "Not a hero." He sighs.
Harry studies the other boy for a moment. "So how'd ya meet come to meet our Gil not-a-hero?"
T rolls his eyes at the mocking tone. "When he found the cat."
"Uh uh uh, laddie," Harry wags a finger slowly at T. "That be the when of it. I be ah askin' how."
T is silent as he studies the other boy for a moment. "Well, he found a cat. I found him… And I patched up the cat." He shrugs.
Harry tilts his head to the side with a huge grin on his face. "And him, now that I really think back to it. That'd be the night he came to the ship all beat ta hell an' back with that mangy cur under his shirt." He chuckles as he looks around. "Shrimpy should be 'round here somewhere beggin' scraps."
T glances around the restaurant until his eyes land on the white cat that was prowling around the feet of some very sloppy pirates and snorts. "Didn't turn out ta be much of a ratter, did she?"
"Why ya be thinkin' she be so fat? She catches all the rats." Harry laughs.
"Of course." T nods, not pointing out the rats he'd spotted running along the rafters.
The two fall into a strangely comfortable silence as they survey the room, waiting for their dinner from the kitchen.
When Uma returns even Harry's eyes widen slightly at the trays she's carrying. "Just, keep this between us, kay?" She asks as she sets the trays piled high with fried clams and fries.
T nods, once again unsure to say. "I'm good at that."
"Apparently." Uma rolls her eyes before she turns, her teal, silver and black braids fanning out like a cloak before she walks off.
"I see Gil told her." Harry chuckles.
"Is that what that was?" T questions as he pulls his attention back to Harry.
Harry nods before he looks down at his and T's trays. "Uma don't like to feel like she's in anyone's debt." He explains as he picks up a clam with his fingers and pops it in his mouth. "She must be ah feelin' like she be very much in yer's."
That made sense at least. Very island mentality for something he didn't feel warranted a payment… But it was sweet, and it made him smile. He briefly wondered if he should speak with her, but thought better of it. He had learned over his last couple of interactions most of his peers weren't much better than him when it came to that sort of stuff. And it usually left him looking like an idiot and awkward silences... "And now we're even?"
"I suppose so," Harry shrugs, "It ain't like you called it a debt to begin with." He pops another clam in his mouth and shrugs, "I think this just be Uma an' her code."
T sighs in relief as small smile tugs his lips. That was better than the alternative for sure. Uma was just being nice. Well, as nice as you could be on the island. He frowns as he glances at the tray, looking for silverware. He glances around the room and notices everyone eating with their fingers. He shrugs before he follows suit, picking one up and popping it in his mouth. His mouth waters at the taste as a happy moan escapes without him realizing it. "This is the best thing I've ever put in my mouth." He smiles after he's finished chewing.
Harry chuckles. "The dock has the best food on the isle."
"Yeah, no shit." T mumbles as he pops another strip in his mouth.
"Glad I dragged ya here now?"
T gives a short nod. Why deny it. Was it fucking awkward and different? Sure. But the food- It was way more satisfying than what he usually ate.
"Ya know, if yer lookin' ta eat more clams, you could always just hang out here with us." Harry offers before he picks up his pint and holds it out towards T.
T studies Harry in confusion.
"Whaddya say?" Harry grins wider as he continues to hold his pint out.
T glances around the restaurant as he picks up his pint. Fuck it. It was stupid, but he'd always found this particular tradition interesting when he'd watched others celebrate in the distance. He can't help the stupid smile that crosses his lips at the simple action, as he gently knocks his pint against Harry's. It was small, but it was still new and different and it made him smile. Maybe he hadn't completely fucked his chance of retaining friendships with everyone…
"Well alrighty then." Harry grins before he knocks back the pint.
T brings the mug towards him, sniffing it hesitantly before taking the smallest of sips. He had definitely seen people choke on this, and the night had been awkward enough as it was. He wasn't sure he'd be able to take much more of Harry mocking him tonight. He was unpleasantly surprised to find that the ale tasted like piss. Warm. Thick. Piss. He lowered the pint back to the table and started trying the other food, delicately picking apart anything that was bigger than a bite and popping it in his mouth.
Harry watches T with interest as the boy continues to pick apart his food, daintily almost, before popping it in his mouth. He smirks, twisting his lips into a cocky grin.
When T catches him staring he frowns and pauses. What had he done now? He turns his attention to the other patrons, noting the way they all seemed to shovel their food in their mouth, swallowing before they even get the chance to taste it. His frown deepens, as he looks down at his plate in concentration for a moment, determined to eat like the others, but his hand hovers and he lets out a sigh, his hands dropping to the table to beat out a erratic rhythm.
"Dona be lettin' me stop ya from enjoyin' good chips lad." Harry chuckles.
T sighs as he relents and just resigns to eating the way he'd been trained. "Is it that bad?" T asks after a couple of bites.
Harry shakes his head. "Nah, just different." Real different. Like the lad himself. If he hadn't seen T pressing his neck to the blade of a knife, he never would have thought the person in front of him, eating his food carefully, would be so uninhibited. He grins. Unpredictable, he liked that in those he hung out with, and T certainly fit that description.
Hi again,
We hope you enjoyed T officially meeting Harry. Let us know what you think. We'll be back soon with another update. Remember to follow, favorite, and review!
