Hey Descendants,

I'm sorry for missing Friday. I promise I'll get better at this as I'm adjusting to my job. For now, enjoy our new chapter. Hope you're looking forward to some Sea Three, T and Hyades!


That Saturday...

"OY"

The leather cover he was using as a blanket slides to the floor of the crow's nest as he bolts up, daggers drawn as he blinks blearily around. What the fuck was going on now? He stifles a yawn before he leans over the nest, looking down on what he could only describe as Chaos.

For whatever reason, Gil and Harry were roughhousing on the deck below; shouting curses and insults as they fought over something in Harry's hand. At first he'd thought they were being serious, but then-

"Ya be wantin' ta be ah hero mate, ya gotta be earnin' it."

"Harry, give her back the pen."

T rolls his eyes. Idiots. Both of them.

"Ya can be doin' bet'er than that lad," Harry shouts mirthfully as he pins Gil's hand behind the boy's back

"Harry…" Hyades calls out sternly, looking as if she'd like to join. She would inch towards them a few feet before stepping away indecisively.

Three of them. T amends, though under normal circumstances he supposed he would empathize. He'd always been interested in roughhousing when he caught it as a kid. And now that he was older it looked even more appealing. Still- His brow furrows in irritation, he'd been woken up over a stupid fucking pen.

T grins when Gil flips the script and pins Harry to the floor of the ship in a painful-looking manner.

He sighs, struggling to hold back a yawn as he cracks his neck. When the fuck was the last time he'd gotten more than a few hours of sleep? He stretches his arms above his head, working out the kinks he'd gotten from sleeping in a circular box.

A couple of weeks for sure. Faustina and he had been tag-teaming shit lately. And that was wearing on its own. Recently he'd started filling his free time to the max. Tuesdays he'd spy on Harry and Jay, whose meeting had become a regular thing. Wednesday it was swords and daggers with Jay. Thursday he spent with Carlos working on the fireproof fabric. Fridays he and Hyades spent most of the day with Gil now, teaching him to read.

Between his meetings he was still collecting shit for the two gangs he favored. Mildly surprised Mal hadn't said a word about his additions to her hideout yet- He found himself curious if she had the same mentality as Uma. He and Hyades still played hide and seek when they could, though that was getting harder and harder to work in. Mostly he let her use it as an excuse to get some alone time nowadays. Still meant he had to find her eventually though.

He was also looking into strange illnesses. Jay's behavior the last time they'd sparred had him concerned. Which put him on the list of people he constantly worried about, like C, E, G and D. Fuck, he was starting to collect the whole alphabet wasn't he?

The beating he'd taken last week for Faustina was still slowing him down a little. Her father had been furious over the burn on her neck. He groans, he hadn't even fully healed from the beating for the burn on her leg.

T sighs as he presses his fingers into his eyes. Just thinking about his list of newfound responsibilities was exhausting. When had it gotten like this? And why was he only noticing it now?

"FUCKING BILGE RAT!" Harry screams, interrupting T's thoughts as Gil gets him in a full nelson.

Oh. There we go...T snickers. Served the prick right for starting shit again. He was pretty sure the actual start of this match was Harry just looking for attention. He leans his head against his hand as he continues to watch, chuckling rather spitefully every time Gil got the upper hand.

Loud ass bastard baby had probably woken up half the isle with his hollering- Well if it hadn't been dusk… He had no idea how Uma tolerated this shit on one of her few days off this month. He'd be fucking livid. He shakes his head. Idiots.

T shakes his head as he swings his leg over the side of the crow's nest. If he was up, he might as well get back to work.

"Hey T." Hyades greets, her eyes glued to the pile that was Gil and Harry.

"Sup?" T narrows his eyes, how the fuck had she known it was him? He shrugs, fucking Hyades. He swore he was being more careful around her. What the fuck? "Want your pen?"

"Kind of… I need it to help Uma…" She pouts, but the smile quickly returns, "They look like they're having fun though…"

"You could always walk away and get a new pen." T offers innocently, knowing how much that would piss Hook off.

"I know," Hyades chuckles, "but I kinda want to see who wins."

"Gil," T concludes. "Gil every time." He says loud enough for Harry to hear.

"Oy, he ain'nah always be bestin' me." Harry glares at T before he has to focus on Gil again, or risk being caught in a headlock.

T smirks gleefully, glad his goading had been successful.

"That looks like fun," Hyades whispers to T.

"What's stopping you from joining in?" T asks in confusion his pitch matching hers. "Was weird just watching you sea-saw back and forth."

Hyades sighs, holding up one finger to T before she calls out, "Can I play too?"

"I be tellin' ya Deez, ya ain'nah being dressed for this kin'ah seahorsin' around."

Hyades drops her hand back to her side, "I don't see what's wrong with my clothes." She pouts as she looks down at her toga.

T frowns as he eyes Hyades. Her toga was a lot shorter than he remembered it being and was starting to get tighter around her chest and hips. Damn it. She hated agreeing with Harry, but in this case, he was right. "Then let her borrow some of Uma's and take her to the shore, duh." He rolls his eyes.

Hyades eyes widen, and for the first time she looks away from the fight, "I can't borrow Uma's clothes."

"Why can't you borrow my clothes?" Uma's voice echoes up to them before she climbs the last of the stairs from the hold. "And what the hell is happening up here?"

HA! Knew it. Uma did hate it too-Well sometimes...And today was his lucky day. He takes the Captain's entrance as an excuse to sneak away to get behind Harry.

Gil and Harry untangle themselves before they jump away from one another. Both pointing at the other "HE STARTED IT!" They accuse as each of them started blurting out their side of the story.

Harry's story ends with a yelp. He falls to the deck, landing on his back before Uma even got the chance to tell them to shut up. T stands over Harry with a smug grin as he pins the taller boys arms behind his head at a painful angle, after having swept out his legs from under him. "I don't know why you even bother asking any more…" T responds dryly as he tosses the freed pen to Hyades, swearing if he didn't know better Harry let him get back his hold on him.

"Well now… This be new comin' from ya." Harry smirks as he tilts his head back to look up at T.

"Oh shut up." T rolls his eyes as he shoves his knee into Harry's back. "Loud ass."

Uma chuckles as Harry's face slams into the deck, "Sup T, I see you're already manhandling my first mate."

"He started it." T accuses dryly as he points at Harry.

Gil chuckles as he slowly starts inching towards Hyades.

Uma shakes her head at T and Harry before she crosses her arms and looks over at Hyades, "You still haven't answered my question."

Hyades sighs, "I can't borrow your clothes because I don't want to ruin them."

"Ruin how?"

"She be ah wantin' ta be seahorsin' round with us," Harry informs her dutifully after he pulls himself up from under T's foot.

Uma furrows her brow as she looks from Harry to Hyades, "You- Miss I'd rather write than do anything else- you want to wrestle with the boys?"

Hyades blushes and looks away.

"Can you blame her?" T shrugs, "You know how fun that shit is."

"Sure I do, just never thought she'd want to join in." Uma chuckles, "I'll see if I can find some of my older clothes. At least pants or something. Then you can go all out."

"Really?"

Uma shrugs, "I don't see why not. T's right, it's a lot of fun, and it'll probably be good for you."

"But what about helping you with inventory?"

"I've got T now," Uma grins as her gaze levels on T, "I'm sure he won't mind helping."

"Woulda been my choice anyways." T agrees easily. That hadn't felt like a question.

"See, go get something out of my chest and have fun. Gil, Harry, take the day and go somewhere that's not here, I have work to do."

T snorts.

"We'll take her to the shore Uma," Gil nods as he wraps an arm around Hyades' shoulders, "like T suggested."

"Sounds good." Uma grins at the idea. "When we're done we'll come meet you."

"Hope you guys finish soon." Gil beams at Uma.

T's hand meets Harry's face the minute he feels him creeping up behind him. "Nope." He pushes the other boy away by his face. "You heard your captain, I'm on inventory duty." He was doing more work than her crew. He smiles in amusement.

"Fine." Harry huffs, pulling himself up straight once T releases his face, "Ya can just be bein' that way." He turns on his heels and walks over to Hyades and Gil, "Let's be ah' gettin' outta here mates. Go have our fun elsewheres."

T can't help the triumphant smirk at the boy's pout. That's what he got for being an obnoxious fuck.

"Come on," Uma crooks her finger at T, "I have a couple of questions for you."


Uma saunters down the stairs a few steps ahead of T. Surprisingly this had worked out pretty well. She'd been afraid she was staring at weeks with no answers. But that was something she'd learned to accept with T. He was either there when you needed him, or you didn't see him for weeks. Extremes. Never in between.

"I know ya said you were keeping things down here…" Uma prompts as she reaches the door to the hull below,

"Uh huh…" T agrees after a moment of silence.

Uma rolls her eyes as she swings the door open and steps inside, "I want you to explain what it all is."

"Oh." T sighs in relief. "Sure." He follows behind her, already rummaging through his bag.

She hears a click, and suddenly a beam of light fills the room, illuminating it far better than the few lanterns she'd left lit.

T walks over to the furthest wall. "I've been storing dried foods and clean water over here. Shit like dried fruit and meat." He shrugs.

"Meat?" Uma lifts an eyebrow. Meat was hard to come by on the isle. Unspoiled meat even more so. It was the biggest reason the chip shop did so well. Seafood was easier for her and her mother to gather and offered a source of meat to those who couldn't afford the Commissary.

"Rat." T monotones, "It's not anything like what you make," He shrugs, "but it's edible and lasts. It was fun to figure out too." He moves the flashlight to the back wall. "There's not enough of it yet, but it takes a minute to collect everything, and then to dry it."

"Good to know." Uma nods in approval. Rat was cooked on the isle, it made sense T had figured out a way to turn it into jerky. The kid was resourceful… Her half-full cargo hold proved that.

T nods before he narrows his eyes as the boxes as he walks past them, "Um I think this is the wood, and balls I found."

Uma frowns, "Wood and balls? What could I possibly need that for?"

"Do you want a bored Harry and Gil when you get her up and sailing?"

"Oh… Because Gil carves. Sure that makes sense," Uma crosses her arms over her chest, "but the balls?"

"Just noticed he likes to use his hands a lot," T explains simply.

Uma bursts out laughing, unable to control herself, "Yeah he does."

T lifts his brow in confusion, "Right," He coughs, "Couldn't figure out what your hobby was…"

"I'm a collector." Uma shrugs.

"Ah." He moves the flashlight off the box he'd been about to explain and moves over to the next one. "Good to know." He nods, "Then you might like this." He pulls down the box. "They're not the best- but I've been making copies for you and Mal." He offers as he opens it, pulling out a folded piece of canvas. "I had to make them in sections, but figured it would be nice to have…" He pulls out a much larger, shinier rolled sheet. "Found this one on the barge- For as much good it will do us- But it's what gave me the idea.

"I love maps and charts." Uma eagerly looks the canvas and plastic covered maps over, "Even if you are sharing them with that spoiled brat."

"I wouldn't say spoiled so much as cunty." T dryly shrugs, before he points the flashlight to the maps so she could see them better.

"I make a point of not being in her company." Uma shrugs, "But I knew her when we were kids, she'll always be a spoiled rotten, whiny brat to me."

"I could see that." T tilts his head back and forth in thought. "Didn't talk to any of you when we were younger so much as watched."

Uma tilts her head to the side to watch T. It was always strange to hear him talk about being a stalker so casually. "You've been watching us that long huh? Just never wanted to be part of the crowd or something?"

"Pretty much." T nods, before moving to the next box,

So what had changed his mind? She wasn't complaining, she'd forever be in his debt for the well thing, but what was different now? "But now you're okay with it?"

"It's a work in progress…" He responds carefully. "But yeah, I guess you could say I got lonely in the shadows." He admits.

"Sounds like it." Uma shrugs. She grew up feeling lonely. Lived for Hyades' visits, enjoyed Harry and Gil coming around. She looks away with a sad smile on her lips.

In a way, she understood T. Understood his stalking. Hadn't she done something similar enough? As much as Harry and Gil claimed she saved them, she knew it was the other way around. She followed them, took them for her own. Sure their lives had been bad, and she used it as the reason she acted. But in the end, she had found people she liked, put her foot down, and said mine.

"These bags are full of blankets, sheets, and shit." He kicks at the small pyramid of bags before he swivels to the next set of boxes. "Pens, pencils, paper, and books I've stumbled over I thought Deez might enjoy…" He swings the light to the last box, eyes burrowed before he shakes his head and turns back to Uma, "So yeah that's about it… If you can think of anything else you'd need in case something happens- I don't mind helpin' look for it."

"You think Deez is going to join us when we set sail?" Uma narrows her eyes at the boxes.

T shrugs. "I think that I wasn't sure…But better safe than sorry. She's a bit hard to predict sometimes...But I figured keepin' shit for her to distract herself when the ship did eventually become seaworthy would be for the best..."

Uma runs her tongue over her teeth. Yeah, she'd been fishing on that. Hyades seemed to talk to T a lot more than she came around the ship. She didn't want to admit how much her hopes had soared, thinking T knew something she didn't. "Good plan." She nods before she turns and walks a little ahead.

"Sometimes." T nods, "The rest of the shit is mine- Mal's place didn't have space for it. It's just herbs, liquor, medical shit, and empty storage containers I've managed to come across to keep the shit organized or whatever so it would roll around…" He scans the light over the rest of the supplies he'd gathered like a packrat.

Uma nods, slowly turning on the spot as she looks the boxes and bags over again, "So, is there something else going on, or is this really for when I manage to get my lady on the water?" That didn't make sense if T was also gathering shit for Mal… Where was she going to go?

T's silent for a moment, before he shrugs. "I mean, haven't you noticed that shit just kinda gets worse the longer we're here?"

"You sound like Deez now." Uma rolls her eyes.

T shrugs, "We're on the same page 'bout it. She's the only one I can talk to about OV rumor mill since the rest of you are stuck to your territories, and she agrees with me. There's an odd unrest that wasn't there before among the sidekicks and other adults..."

Uma narrows her eyes, "Like what?"

T shrugs, "They're just acting different. I haven't been able to completely figure it out- But good shit never happens when things start to shift… I just don't like the timing..."

"Timing?" Uma leans in slightly, her heart in her throat as she waits patiently for T to continue, "What timing?"

T blinks, "Yeah, um with Atilla- He's never been interested in me before- But I kinda fucked up- Misjudged a jump, ya know, and then ignored him and, ya know-He didn't like that… But he's not usually out of his father's restaurant either..."

Uma rolls her eyes, unhappy with the similarity between herself and that thug. "So he tried to recruit you?"

T snorts "No. Far from that- He tried to kill me." He shrugs.

"Poseidon's left nut, why the fuck didn't you tell me that?" Uma growls as she stands opposingly in front of T with her hands on her hip, doing her best to ignore the height difference between them.

T blinks before he tilts his head down to study Uma in confusion, "Why would I? It's not your problem..." He narrows his eyes in thought.

Uma blinks back. "Because…" She looks away. Because she wanted to know if shit like that was happening to T. Because she wanted to help watch his back. Because she owed him. Because she liked having him around. Her eyes narrow. When had she started treating him like a member of her crew? No, not even her crew. Closer. Like Harry and Gil, like Deez… When had she started thinking like that?

"I'm pretty sure he doesn't know that much about me- In fact pretty sure it's the first time he's acknowledged my existence." He quickly explains, "I just interrupted his business and I'm no one so he swung." He shrugs.

"You…" Uma furrows her brow, "You interrupted his business?"

"Yeah." T nod, as he turns away and goes back to where he'd left the maps, and starts rolling the big one back up.

Uma continues to stare, "So what was he up to? Must have been big if you ended up interrupting." She hated when T got like this. She was pretty good at reading lies, and so far she completely believed everything T was saying, but he was clearly omitting something big.

"Big? No. Just typical gang shit- Just weird he left his domain himself."

"Where was he?"

"In the neutral zone south of his by the ruins, just on the edge of town."

Uma narrows her eyes. What would he have been doing in the neutral areas if he was in the middle of gang-related business? Was he planning a territory move? "When?"

T finishes folding the map as he places them back into the box, "The day Deez and me got into a fight." He shifts as he looks away.

"Deez was involved?" Uma's eyes widen.

"Yeah," T nods, "We'd been sparring with the Core and then shit went sideways when I stoked Hyades a bit too much- And shit went sideways. And she ran off, I talked to the core for a bit to give her time to cool the fuck down and bounced to go find her and when I did I interrupted them before Hyades could do anything she'd kick herself about over later. He's totally not worth her time, not that you could tell her that if she actually did fry the prick extra crispy." He rolls his eyes, "Hence the reasons I got the robes- One more safety precaution for when she's on the ship-"

Uma swallows painfully, "He was talking to Deez again?" Her mouth was suddenly dry.

T shrugs, "He usually sends minions every couple of months- This time I just interfered because the big man himself showed up and she was already ya know, emotional and shit from our earlier fight and I knew it would start a war if the kid did end up fried- So I jumped in-"

"He's coming out and actually talking to Deez…" Uma takes a few steps back until her legs bang into a box. She sits quickly, hands on her knees as her mind whirls.

T closes his eyes before he facepalms with a hissed curse before he turns back to Uma. With another curse, he hesitantly makes his way over to her and crouches until they make eye contact. "Dude." He sighs, letting his arms rest on his knees lazily. "Deez ain't gonna join his crew before burning that fuck for pushing her…"

"I know she wouldn't join-" Uma rolls her eyes, "I was never worried about that." She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

"She's older than she was then." T sighs as he drops his eyes.

"Doesn't change that people can make her do shit. She's not invulnerable. She has weaknesses."

"Yeah, and collectively you guys are seven of them." T responds with a shrug, "Doesn't stop you from chilling with her. Or her you guys. Do you realize how easy it would be to manipulate her if they figured out she actually cared about any of you? How easy it would for an OV to snatch one of you? It would be a fucking mess…"

Uma furrows her brow, "You've put a lot of thought into this."

"As I said, I've spent a lot of time alone." T looks away.

"Fuck…" Uma presses her fingers in front of her so hard they crack, "Fuck…" Everything in her was screaming for her to march down to the beach right now and tell Deez she was part of the crew. But she knew better. Knew what that kind of ultimatum would do.

"Yeah…" T nods, "Same." He looks around with a frown before he stands up and walks over to one of the boxes he skipped over. He comes back later with a decorative plate with a globe drawn it. "Here, wanna break it?" He offers.

Uma slams her fists against the box she's sitting on, "I want to break Atilla's fucking face."

T lifts his brow. "Same."

Uma shakes her head. "I can't make her stay here." She slams her fists against the box again. Maybe she should tell Deez she knew about Atilla's attempts to recruit her, tell her to let her know if it happened again.

"No, you can't… But you can keep doing what you're doing where you give her a comfortable, safe place, where she's not being pressured to do anything." T shrugs, "It's why this is my favorite place to crash."

"I thought you were." Uma snorts, "You pop up so randomly sometimes." She sighs, "But I have to do something… Even if it's just telling her to talk to me, to trust me…"

"I think offering shit to Hyades usually yields better results…" T suggests, "You can't just tell someone to trust you either- Believe me when I say it ain't that easy." He adds tone darker than normal.

Uma sighs, "Yeah, I know." She watches T before she holds her hand out for the plate.

T hands it over, "I… Thought breaking things was your hobby…" He admits as he steps back. "So I found shit for your room, to replace shit…"

"I wasn't going to break it, I want it." She points to the globe design, "In my cabin."

"Oh… Might want to check out the two boxes I skipped then…" He shrugs, "I've had a lot more time to search the barge since you taught me to swim- Which thanks again."

Uma nods, a small smile slowly forming on her lips before it's interrupted with a sad sigh, "Can you do me a favor?"

"Probably." T drops his eyes back to her.

"Look, I get you have loyalties to people, and you don't like talking about shit when it involves others… But… Would you come tell me about shit messing with Deez? I ain't gonna fly off the handle like Mal… I just need to know. I can't do much about it other than send Gil and Harry to keep her company, and even that I can't do all the time… But I'd feel better knowing."

T's eyes narrow in thought as he scratches the back of his head anxiously, "If there's something you can do about it… I guess… It wouldn't you know, be the worst thing to do… As long as Mal never found out- I don't like the idea of spying on D though-"

"I'm not asking you to be a spy, and I ain't gonna tell that bitch shit." Uma tenses her jaw for a moment, "What I'm asking if for your help to keep her safe. I can't do what you do-"

"What do you think I've spent the last month doing? You already have it."

"But I want to know about it," Uma taps her chest with a single finger, "so I can do my part."

T's eyes narrow, "Fair. Mal isn't trapped like you are. If she wanted on Hyades she would have done it by now- But," He chews his lip, shifting in discomfort, "I," He sighs, "Yeah, if there's something within your control- I guess I can do that." He finally concedes.

"Thank you." Uma stands up and holds out a hand.

T looks at her hand for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh and accepting it.

Uma grips his hand tightly, "I know I can't trust you to tell me everything that happens, but I trust that you will never lie to me." She glares. It wasn't a question. Wasn't an order. It was nothing short of a demand.

"I'll do my best not to let you down." He promises. "She shouldn't have to deal with that shit alone."

"I'm glad we understand each other." Uma nods once, her face stern as she lets T's hand go.

"Um…" T steps back, "That's about it. I plan on collecting more shit, but I can start letting you know what I'm bringing in..."

"You got a list of everything down here already?" Uma asks, "I have my own list I'm looking into, so I want to make sure we're not doubling up."

T nods, "A rough one." He turns to his messenger bag, and starts rummaging, "If you let me see yours I can help you look for shit on my free time." He offers as he pulls out a water-stained notebook and hands it to her. "The crossed-out shit is what you're looking for."

Uma nods, "My list is on my desk, let's go compare notes."

T nods, "Sounds good."

"I'll meet you up there." Uma says as she hands the notebook back to T, "I'm just going to get the lanterns."

"Kay." He takes the book back, trading her for the flashlight. "Later." He nods in dismissal before he heads off disappearing behind into the darkness.

Uma nods, waiting for T to leave the room before she sits back down on a box. She was going to have to be careful, wait for the right moment to have a heart to heart with Deez. Should she get the boys involved? Probably… They weren't supposed to have big secrets from each other. Deez needed to see the life they had here, more than just the parts she touched when she came to visit.

She wipes at her eyes. It hurt more than she wanted to admit. Feeling like she couldn't do anything. Being helpless. Like back then, back when her mother tortured her. Killed her.

She stands and stomps to each lamp, blowing them out harshly. She wanted Deez where she could protect her, damn it. Whether D realized it or not, she knew in her heart of hearts her cousin belonged with them.


Okay guys, Twisted has been busy lately, so you get a Dark chapter review questions :)

What did you think of the boy's rough-housing? And Deez wanting to join them?

How about the fact that T is so not a "morning" person? Were we able to convey that properly with him taking his just woken up aggressions out on Harry?

What do you guys think about our showing Hyades as she's hitting that puberty transition? Are we doing a good job with it?

What did you think of Uma and T's conversation? And T's habit of storing useful stuff on Uma's ship?

In general, do you have anything you'd like to see us change in our writing? Any questions? Any suggestions?

You certainly don't have to answer all or even any of these questions, but we'd still like to hear from you. Are you enjoying the story? Let us know in the reviews! Lots of love Descendants fans!