Hey Descendants,
First Chapter of the day! Don't forget to check out Twisted's end of chapter questions.
The Next Day...
Harry grumbles as he tosses another piece of beach trash back into the rolling waves. He'd said he was ready for this conversation, though truth be told he wasn't feeling it. The past week had him staying up late thinking about T.
The way T reacted to him, to being pinned against the wall. Most got hot and bothered, and his antics usually lead to interesting nights. But T… T had been scared. Terrified. He knew the look well. He'd seen it in his own face as it was reflected back at him from other's eyes.
His father's… Random sidekicks… Nameless and faceless Johns and Janes…
Harry sits, far more forcefully than he meant to, in the sand on the edge of the outward drifting tide. The thoughts were overwhelming, hurting his head and making his stomach ache. He wraps his arms around himself against a cold there was no protection from. Not out here anyway; not alone.
Was T involved in the same kind of life Uma and Gil saved him from?
Sure, everyone here had a past, something they'd rather forget and not talk about. Him included. So why did his chest hurt so damn bad every time he thought about the fear etched so deeply in T's eyes? He bangs a fist against his chest, but even the physical pain wasn't enough to dull the ache between his ribs.
The hard truth was that wasn't even the worst of it. He'd kept going, that was the worst part. Even giving an inch here and there hadn't helped the way he'd hoped it would. The only comfort he had was knowing that, had he let up any earlier, he wouldn't have gotten anything and T would have run off. And even that small comfort was near non-existent after his conversation with Jay.
What was with the non-conformers and running away? He sets his hook aside to dig his hands into the wet, compact sand to either side of him. Why run away?
He rolls his eyes, because they fucking got away with it, that's why. Deez and T were nearly on the same level when it came to secrets about themselves. The Princess was just more subtle about it. The only real advantage T had was the fact that everyone had known Hyades since they could remember. T's past was just a blank sail with no sigil.
He lets out a sigh as he falls back, uncaring of his jacket as the tiny waves reaching him lapped at it, or of the sand clinging to the rough, faded red leather, hand me down from his father. Like everything else he owned. His eyes catch the glint of silver from his father's hook, and he grabs it before the slight pull of the tide can catch it.
What was he going to do about T? He rests one gritty hand on his forehead. His instincts were were screaming at him to go to Uma, she always knew what to do. Even when he didn't agree, at least she always knew what steps to take. It was the biggest reason he was happy being her first mate, why he was happy without being the leader.
He was uncomfortable with keeping things from Uma, but this- Just like needing to keep the news of the other gangs moving in on Hyades- This he had to keep to himself, at least until he could make more sense of it. Uma still had her doubts about T from time to time, and he didn't want to stack barrels against the boy for no reason. Just his own impressions, observations, comparisons, and theories. And really, what use were those without solid evidence to back it up?
He shakes his head to rid himself of his thoughts. He had to get himself ready for this battle of wills… And Deez was near on par with his Kraken. He kicks out his legs, vocalizing his pure frustration with a throaty growl.
"Harry?" Hyades calls out, her voice as hesitant as her steps towards the laid out pirate.
Harry doesn't even blush at being caught so unrestrained, he just lets out a rumbling laugh as he jumps to his feet. "Deez." He greets with his signature grin.
"Bad time?" She shrugs before continuing on a little too quickly, "I can come back later?"
"Not'ta all." Harry saunters up to her. "Glad ya could be ah makin' time ta be comin' out here. I be ah needin' ta be speakin' with ya."
"Oh?" Hyades tilts her head slightly to the side as she takes a step back, "What are you wanting to talk about then?"
"It be best ta be sittin' while we be ah talkin'." Harry admits as he slides his arm through hers and maneuvers her closer to the shore line.
"Why so close to the water?" Hyade asks as she stamps her feet into the ground, refusing to take another step.
"'Where's the trust?" Harry pouts, "I won'nah be throwin' ya in or nothin'."
"Uma threw T in the water when he couldn't swim." Hyades quietly points out as she turns her head away.
Harry scowls at the memory of his hook hitting the water. "Aye." He agrees, "But I ain'nah being the captain. An ya be havin' me word I won'nah be throwin' ya in. Jus' soothes me ta be havin' the waves ah lickin' at me feet."
Hyades lets out a sigh, "I like being near the water too, I just…" She lifts her chin in a stubborn gesture, only to blink up at him, "Not to far?"
Harry nods in understanding, and drops her arm. He walks over and plops on the shore just close enough to the waves to have it lap at his knees. He pats the sand next to him. "Well, ya be ah comin' or not then?" He asks without bothering to look at her.
Hyades watches the waves until she slowly steps forward until she's standing next to him. She takes one last step forward, letting the grey-ish water swell up around her bare feet. With a sigh she sits close to Harry, her shoulder rubbing against his arm she snakes her hand into his, but she keeps her feet in reach of the tiny waves reaching out onto the shore.
Harry lets out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding when he feels the warmth of her hand close over his. "Been awhile since it just be the two of us." He sighs in relief as he listens to the wave gently crash around him.
"Aye." Hyades' voice teases.
Harry grins at her. "We be makin' a pirate of ye yet." He teases back.
"You and Gil have high hopes for me…" Hyades sighs.
"Uma be havin' high hopes too." Harry quickly corrects her thinking. "Haven't seen her bein' so happy as she were after Gil be gettin' ya on the ship."
"I know." She nods simply as her free arm wraps around her stomach, "It made me happy to see all of you again."
"Ya be knowin' ya can be comin' aboard with less worries." Harry offers with a shit eating grin. "We be hopin' that be enough ta encourage ya stoppin' by more than jus' everytime ye be needin' ta weather a storm- Not that we be a'complainin'- Jus' sucks not ta be seein' ya as much."
Hyades stays silent, though her hand tightens around his own, making him smile when he squeezes it back in reassurance.
"I don't mean to be a pain."
"Yeh don'nah be knowin' the meanin' of bein' ah pain if ya think ye be one." Harry snorts, as he waves her concerns off with his free hand. "Ya have been ah meetin' T right?" He asks with a raised brow.
"Yeah, I've met T." She slowly smiles up at him, "Apparently I'm a different kind of pain in the ass."
Harry narrows his eyes thoughtfully, before he shrugs, "Jus sounds like ye be hangin' out with the wrong people lass."
"Not this again Harry…" Hyades sighs and rolls her eyes, slightly pulling back on her hand, "I like the Rotten Core."
Harry lifts a brow. "It be them four be makin' ye be feelin' like ye be a pain?" Not that he was surprised. Mal didn't handle emotions well, and neither did the males of her crew. He wasn't sure about the other isle princess…
"No, well not entirely. I feel like a pain in Uma's ass too-"
"Ye be stupid if ye be feelin' that way." Harry shakes his head. "An' I know ye be anythin' but that- So what be makin' yeh feel like ya can'nah be comin' to us?"
"Gil has to bring me." Hyades shrugs, "I can't go on my own. Gil literally fucking carries me-"
"An I never he ah hearin' him complain bout carryin' a pretty thing like yeh. In fact he be tellin' me an' Uma bout it repeatedly."
"I'm not blind Harry, I saw the bruises I gave him." She looks away, "Makes me as bad as his family."
Harry's head whips to stare at her in horror, "If ya be thinkin' that, ya be dead wrong. I be bruisin' me boy before, an we be a completely different type-ah family. He did'nah even complain- He be happy as a damn clam gettin' yeh ta the ship like that- Woulda taken a blade ta get ya there if he be havin' too."
"He doesn't deserve that." Hyades growls, her brows angle in anger before she sighs and turns away again, "I don't-" Her voice fades into the sounds of the waves.
"No one be deservin' anythin' they be gettin' on this isle. Ya gotta learn ta be takin' what ye can lass. Uma be offerin' ya ta be part of the crew for years now. Yer always have a spot with us. An' think of all the stories ya could be writin' if ye be one of us. Pirates always be the best at stories, ya don'nah be needin' no don'ts..."
Hyades pulls her knees up slightly and leans her forehead against them, "I want to belong with you guys, but I can't. I don't want you or Gil or Uma to get hurt." Her voice hitches as her fingers squeeze Harry's hand, "And I don't want to give up seeing Evie and Carlos, or Jay. I'd even miss Mal."
"It ain'nah bein' ah want, it be acknowledgement we be lookin' for." Harry frowns as he watches her hide from him, squeezing her hand in return. "Jus' be knowin' ye always be havin' a spot on our crew. Ya be family Deez. Whether it be by blood or not, yer family. An I don'nah want me family ta be feelin' like they can'nah be comin' ta me jus' cause they be ah feelin' like they don't be ah belongin'."
"Lesson learned." Hyades turns her face towards Harry, her icy blue ombre hair masking part of her expression as she stares up at him, "I… When I was talkin' to Gil… When I said that I didn't belong… I was…" She sighs as her brow furrows.
"Ye be what princess?" Harry prompts after she trails off.
"I'd only just said it the once-"
"Ye might be jus'ta sayin' it once- But how much ye be thinkin' it?" Harry interrupts her.
"I don't know." Hyades shrugs.
"That what I be thinkin' ye be sayin'." Harry sighs.
"But it's true. I don't think I've ever thought it, not like, complete thought." She shakes her head, "I don't even know where it came from."
"An I did'nah never be ah thinkin' I be belongin' anywhere til I be join'in Uma." Harry shakes his head. "Ya be ah spendin' too much time in yer head. That be where this be ah comin' from." He adds with a haughty huff. "But that be ah changin' now that we be knowin' that be runnin' round yer head while ye be runnin' off on us in the like…"
"I still like my alone time." Hyades points out suspiciously.
"So does our Gil." Harry shrugs, "We be givin' ya what ye need, we jus' wan'nah be makin' sure yer safe from yer own head while ye be doin' it."
"Do you think there's something wrong with me?" Hyades asks blankly before she turns away.
Harry snorts, "Nothin' that ain'nah being wrong with the rest o' us." He assures her, before reaching out and clasping her chin tenderly to make her look at him, ignoring her pout. "Why ya be askin that?"
Hyades eyes drop, as she shifts uncomfortably. "Everyone is always tellin' me to get out of my head." She pouts.
Harry stares at her blankly for a moment before he drops his claim on her chin, falling back with a round of belly shaking laughter. "It ain'nah be nothin' like that princess. Ain'nah one of us should be stuck in our heads. Why ya think we be formin' gangs so early? So we ain'nah stuck with our thoughts… It don'nah be meaning there be anything wrong with what be between yer ears- So much as the rest-ah us bein' worried bout it."
"I don't think my head is the worse place to be." Hyades frowns, "I can definitely think of worse places." But her lips curl into a smile as she continues to watch Harry.
"I can'nah be namin' one." Harry admits, slowly sobering up at he looks up at her staring down at him. He props himself up on one elbow, still shaking his head, "Aye, not'ah one."
"That sounds sad." Hyades pouts as she wraps her arms around her legs. She goes back to staring out over the waves.
"Nah princess," Harry's brow furrows as he sits up and scoots closer to her, "What be sad is not'ah havin' someone ta be sharin' yer thoughts with." He catches her hair in her face with one finger and tucks it behind her ear, "We can be bein' them ya be ah sharin' with. I ain'nah sayin' ta leave yer ways of hangin' with the rottens. Just enforcin' the offer."
"Consider me informed." Hyades smiles before she leans slightly towards him, resting gently against his side, "And I do plan on going back to the ship as often as I can. I'm hanging out on the beach more often now, so when you or Gil can-" She shrugs before continuing in frustration, "I can't even go to you guys… I need one of you to get me. Hence, being a pain." She drops one hand to let her finger trace patterns in the sand.
Harry rolls his eyes as he drops his arm around her shoulders, resting his hand on her bare shoulder as he pulls her tighter to his side. "We ain'nah havin' no issue gettin' our fire princess and helpin' her ta be gettin' home." He winks down at her.
"If you're sure." Hyades shrugs, "I don't think I'll fight as much next time."
"I aim ta be testin' that later." Harry chuckles.
"Are we heading back to the ship?" She asks, her voice thick with fear.
Harry rubs his hand up and down her arm soothingly, "Aye, but not yet. Don'nah be worryin' yer hot head yet."
Hyades snorts, "You mean you aren't done talking?"
"Aye…" Harry nods, rubbing his cheek against her silky hair, "Ya ain'nah gettin' rid of me yet."
"I'm good with sitting here a little long before we test my resolve and fear." Hyades admits softly. She reaches up to the hand Harry had resting on her shoulder and weaves her fingers in with his.
Harry sighs contentedly as he nuzzles his head against hers, watching the way the early afternoon light bounced on the waves. Sure, he hadn't had his full conversation with her, hadn't gotten her to talk about the horrors she was keeping bottled up to herself. But for now, just knowing she wanted to return to the ship and was willing to accept help was just, enough.
So was this chapter, Just Enough, to sate you guys until our next post? (Haha, Twisted has jokes)
What did you think of Harry's brief tangle with his own history? And his worry for T?
Did this chapter give you the feels? Did it make you squee!
Are you guys happy that Hyades is finally letting Harry in? That the Sea3 at least are holding her accountable?
What about the core four? Are you wishing they stepped in more? Or do you guys understand where they're coming from?
Did Deez' answer Harry's questions to your satisfaction? Was Harry stern enough?
Let us know your thoughts down below!
With much love and appreciation,
Dark and Twisted.
