The next day…

Why did Gil have to show up carrying D? Like he didn't already look incredibly huge and muscular. But now, in comparison to the tiny white and blue doll in his arms-

Carlos shakes his head. That wasn't helping. He lets out a sigh as his eyes bounce from the giant walking towards him to the huge pile of metal he was expected to help sort and load into the giant cups so D could melt it down.

He jumps as a hand touches his shoulder.

"Breath." T instructs softly as he squeezes Carlos's shoulder in a rare display of empathy before dropping his hand.

"Yeah, duh." Carlos shrugs in an attempt to seem casual. He nods and crosses his arms over his chest before he casually leans against the driftwood he was standing near. When it shifts at his touch he quickly realizes how unstable it was and stands up straight again. Of course Hyades would have a hide out that wasn't structurally sound.

T snorts as he looks back towards Gil and Deez.

"Dude, you swear Mal isn't going to kill me right?"

"Worst comes to worst just tell her I made you," T shrugs, completely unconcerned.

Carlos rolls his eyes, "Why would I want to make it worse?"

"Because she'll forget you in her rage at my audacity."

"And then we'd be back to T watch, and I know how much you loved that." Not that he'd liked it anymore. It had been so hard figuring out what to keep secret and what to share. He didn't like being part of a mission set to uncover secrets. He was totally fine with the relationship he had with T now.

"Eh. Made me better at roof hopping- And I found a few sewer entrances I didn't know about before."

"Good for you. If this gets back to Mal you might have to teach me your tricks so I can survive too."

"She won't care once she gets a new blade out of it." T grins.

"So long as we get the new blade before she finds out."

"Yeah… I was thinking it'd be best she gets hers first."

"I hope everyone else agrees. Now that we're a democracy of two gangs and two independents."

"Meh." T shrugs, "They don't have to agree if we just do it. Gil actually sees reason. He'll get givin' one to Mal first…"

"Really? I mean, his family isn't very known for their reasoning skills."

"Well, that's why Gil found a new family, isn't it." T points out in disapproval.

Carlos blushes as he turns away. "I guess that's fair." He hadn't really thought about why the other gang worked the way it did. He'd just always heard the rumours and Mal's rants about them. Even Deez was careful not to talk about them around the hangout.

T nods in approval. "There we go." He sighs, "Look...I know this is hard for you, since it's usually the two of you that have to square off… But on my skeletons, I swear I won't let shit happen to you, and will do my damndest to make sure this never gets to Mal. We just got to work together for a bit."

"I know, sorry, it's just…" Carlos sighs, "I'll keep an open mind," He looks back up, needing something else to think about. When his eyes fall on Gil and Deez again he lets out a whine, "Does he really have to carry her like that?" He pouts, "I get it, he's strong."

T chuckles lowly, "No, but it makes him feel better." He responds vaguely, "And I don't hear her complaining like when I carry her bratty ass to the ship."

"You carry her to the ship?"

T shrugs, "Work in progress. But yeah, don't have a choice at the moment."

Carlos furrows his brow, work in progress? Oh yeah, "Okay, sure, if he's carrying her from the ship because she's afraid of the water still-" His eyes widen as he snaps his head to the side to stare at T, "Wait, you carry her?"

T shrugs, "I mean it's not my favorite thing to do, but I manage it okay."

"But you can?" Carlos shakes his head. "You can carry her?"

"Yeah, chick only weighs like eighty pounds." T nods, "You could probably carry her if you had too."

"I never thought about trying, she's so strong I thought she was like, made of stone or something. Or at least as dense as stone… I mean I know she's also human so she couldn't actually be stone. But…" He blinks. "Huh... "

"I know right?" T agrees, "She's like a fucking pidgeon." He shrugs. "Hard to catch, but light as fuck when you do."

Carlos chuckles, "I do imagine she's hard to catch, and only if the pigeon can fight-"

"And catch on fire."

"That too." Carlos chuckles again.

By the time Gil reaches them he was already feeling a lot more at ease about everything. He looks at T, wondering if that had been his plan all along.

"Sup?" Gil greets as he hesitantly lowers Hyades to the ground.

"Sup." T nods in greeting. "This is gonna be fun." He adds at the tension.

"Okay, that's enough stiffness," Hyades rolls her eyes as she walks out to stand in the middle of the group, "Carlos, Gil. Gil, Carlos. Gil likes to play music and Carlos like science."

T snorts, "That's one way to get the ball rolling."

Gil rubs his neck nervously, "Hey Carlos." He takes a few steps forward and reaches out his free hand. "Don't tell no one- But I'm actually looking forward to workin' with you."

Carlos automatically reaches his hand out, unarmed by how genuine Gil sounded, "Cool, me too." He really was, the process of mixing molten metals together to create stronger materials fascinated him.

Gil beams down at him as he sighs in relief. "Good." He nods before he turns back to Hyades. "Like that?" He asks for confirmation.

T snorts, "Way better than any 'first' impression I've made."

Hyades smiles and nods as she wraps one arm around Gil, "I think we're all going to get along great."

"As long as Mal doesn't find out." Carlos quickly adds.

"And no one here is going to tell her." Hyades nods in understanding, "We figured out the perfect days to do this so it's not suspicious-"

"But speakin' of the pup's concern." T turns to Gil. "Uma'd understand why Mal would get a blade first, right."

Gil's silent for a moment, his brows furrowing together. "Now's a pretty good time. I just gave Deez my gift- And she was happier than I've seen her months to see Deez wearin' it."

T nods his head, before he shoots Gil a grin. "Told ya they'd both love it."

Carlos tilts his head to the side at the vagueness of the statement. Gift? What kind of gift did he give D that would also make Uma happy? And he was absolutely sure he'd never seen D hanging off anyone before. She usually kept her distance from everyone, but with Gil she seemed so... comfortable.

"Necklace." T offers bluntly, before he walks over to the piles. He plops to his knees to start sorting them.

Gil nods, "Yeah, I made Deez a seashell like Uma's so she knew she was part of the family even if she never joins us officially." He explains with his signature dopey grin. "So she don't feel alone when she's by herself."

"Huh." Carlos smiles. He liked that. It was kind of how he saw T and Hyades. He doubted either would ever join Mal, but he liked that they came around. At the reminder of her feeling alone he ducks his head. How could Gil so bluntly speak of something that Mal had forbidden him to ever mention again?

"I used the flame retardant on it." T adds from where he was sorting the silverware by metal types. "That's why I asked you if it would work on wood."

"Oh! Like the stuff you and Carlos made for the fabric?" Hyades asks as she pulls the seashell necklace out from under her toga to examine it again.

"Is that what made it shiny?" Gil asks in amazement. His eyes brightening at the thought Hyades wouldn't lose it if she lost her temper.

T nods, not looking up from his self appointed project.

"Oh, speaking of fabric," Carlos smiles at Hyades, "E's almost done with your first outfit, she's going to want to see you tomorrow so you can try it on." He shrugs, "I told her I'd let you know if I saw you."

"Cool!" Hyades grins before her face darkens, "I don't have to get measured again do I?"

Gil turns his smile to Hyades, lifting up his hand to ruffle her hair. "Looks like your other family spoils you too."

"I do get spoiled, don't I." She chuckles.

"Usually." T chimes in dryly.

Carlos laughs. This was a lot easier than he'd thought it was going to be. He felt bad for judging Gil before he'd even spent time with the guy. He seemed cool. Laid back, which was nice. He also didn't even flinch when he called Mal's gang D's other family.

"Seriously though-" T interrupts, "Can we get started on this? We shouldn't do it passed sundown and fuck only knows if what we gathered will work."

"Right!" Hyades dances away from Gil's side as she rushes over to help.

"Yeah, having a bright ass fire down here after sundown would gather attention…" Carlos nods, his face serious once more.

"Which none of us want, right?" T continues, "So get over here and start helping me sort while Deez gets the cups heated and Gil tries out the hammer to get used to it." He rolls his eyes.

"Right." Carlos grins as he joins T, playfully bumping D out of the way to move her towards her own piece of the project.

"Where's the hammer?" Gil asks.

"Here, I'll show you." Hyades volunteers. "It's one of the first things they stole, so it's hidden away in the back."


So what was your first impression of this chapter? Of Carlos and Gil's, the two sweetest of our cinnamon rolls, first real meeting? We know we don't write a lot about the gang rivalries, but to be sure they definitely still happen.

What did you think of Carlos' thoughts on the whole thing?

What about T's attempts to comfort him?

Are you surprised they all got a long so well right off the bat?

Do you think T is foolish for starting this little group?

Do you think it was wise for the others to agree to it?

Do you think Mal will find out?

Also, how sweet was it that Deez had clearly talked Gil through his introduction?

Are you excited for these secret-not-so-secret meeting between the two gangs?

Let us know!

With much love and appreciation,

Dark and Twisted.