A march to the beach later….

Evie frowns as she files her nails so they were perfect. It was her job to watch their 'hostage' and she was nervous that Mal would notice that she'd cleaned Harry's wounds up a bit. She couldn't see why Harry would make such a show, by himself, unless something big was happening. And like normal, she couldn't smell a whiff of liquor on him.

She knew Mal would be pissed at her, but it had been years since the rats kidnapped one of them. She narrows her eyes as she blows the dust off her nails. It seemed rude to keep him tied up when he'd only been doing them a favor. She blinks. When had she started thinking so favorably of the pirates? Her lips pout, before it softens into a smile. Probably when T had come into her life. Or was it because Harry had gone through so much suffering to do the right thing by Carlos while keeping all their reps intact? She sighs, maybe that was it.

Or a combination of both. That made sense. T never had anything but nice things to say about the group, and then she'd gone and witnessed it first hand. She chews her bottom lip anxiously as her stomach tightens with something more than hunger.

She felt torn.

She was rotten to the core. She knew that like she knew makeup.

And as much as Mal could be cruel- She had her soft moments too. She couldn't hurt her best friend. On the other hand… They had cared enough about Carlos to give him a distraction, to try and keep him from hurting himself as he did far too often. She swallows. What would T do in this situation? The right thing, probably. She takes a deep breath.

When she notices Mal disappearing into Deez' forge she doesn't move, but her eyes soften considerably as she focuses on her nails. "Thank you. For giving him something to clean." She whispers gently, knowing he heard her when he slightly turns his head. She blinks rapidly when she feels her eyes start to burn. The last thing she needed was her mascara to run. "It's been a while since… Just thank you for letting him have that."

Harry nods and shrugs his shoulders, though he doesn't look at her, "Least we could do."

Her lips twitch as she puts her nail file back into her purse and pulls out her compact. "You could have left him in that state… Mal probably would've, and it's what you guys could've done… But you didn't… And that deserves at the very least, a thank you." She begins applying her foundation.

"We be'ah thankin' people with a kiss." He extends his cheek towards her.

"Ah." Evie smiles at the request. It was such a little thing, him asking for her favor. And princesses certainly bestowed favor on men that were deserving. And in this moment, she found him very deserving. Not many on the isle would be willing to risk Mal's ire to help, well anyone, really. She looks back at the hideout, only to find Jay's back before she quickly leans over and kisses his bruise free cheek, sweetly.

"Aye, that be ah makin' it worth it." Harry chuckles as he winks at her.

"And well earned." She smiles as she sits in the same exact position, as if she hadn't moved. A puff already in her hand smoothing out her makeup. "Are they gonna be here soon? Mal has very limited patience when it comes to Carlos' safety…And your tied up." Her eyes narrow when she sees worry lines in the mirror. She drops the puff with a gasp, bringing her hand up to smooth away the line before it could lead to wrinkles.

Harry nods emphatically before he juts his chin in the direction in the docks, "Be lookin' there."

Evie breathes in relief when she sees three figures heading their way. "Oh thank evil." She smiles.

"MAL!" Jay shouts a moment later.

Evie watches as Mal skids to a halt behind him. "That better be fucking Carlos." She snarls.

"There are three of them." Evie offers as she checks her face one more time before she puts her compact away.

Jay shrugs. "I don't think they'd risk losing her first for our pup." He offers solidly.

Harry shakes his head, "We ain'nah bein' interested in hurtin' the pup. He be ah doin' jus' fine on his own."

Evie stands up as she wipes sand off her skirt. "Ugch." She makes a face. "This better not ruin my outfit." She pouts as she tries to look herself over.

Jay rolls his eyes, "You look fine E." He assures her before he pulls Harry up by the arm

"Not perfect?" Her eyes widen as her hand already dips back into her purse for her compact.

"Ya be ah lookin' perfect as always ta me princess." Harry bows.

"I was just…" Jay rolls his eyes at Harry before he turns to Evie, "Your clothes don't look ruined." He quickly backtracks.

Evie sighs in relief, hand to her chest. "Thank evil for that."

Jay jerks Harry away as he opens his mouth again.

"Shut up." Jay rolls his eyes.

"Your so obnoxious." Mal grumbles with a shake of her head. "I'd have beaten that outta you by now."

Evie shakes her head before her eyes move back to the three figures getting closer. Slowly. Almost painfully slow. She wouldn't normally be this worried but- Carlos had one of his fits... "Mal…?"

"What E?"

"Maybe we should walk out to meet them." Evie states, not willing to make it a question. She would happily die on this hill if it meant seeing Carlos sooner.

Mal narrows her eyes for a moment before looking back out at the approaching figures. "Move." She pushes Harry's shoulder roughly making him stumble. "Now."

Evie doesn't show her disapproval as she falls into step with the three of them. She got Mal's suspicions she really did. She chews her cheek. She supposed she should just be grateful it wasn't directed towards her this time. But it just felt wrong when he had done nothing short of protect Carlos, from the sounds of it anyways. She was usually great at detecting lies, and Harry had been pretty genuine with her. She didn't know how else he could know about Carlos' fits either.

"Hey Mal. Still hiding in your mother's shadow I see." Uma glares when they finally get close enough to hurl insults.

"Standing right here bitch, no shadows in sight. Unlike yours, my mother finds me competent." Mal kicks out Harry's legs out from under him, but catches his shoulder before he can face plant.

Evie's lips twitch into a semblance of a smile at the improvement. Apparently seeing Carlos' state and his bandages- Confirmed enough of Harry's story. She wouldn't have stopped the pirate from eating sand, otherwise.

"I see you found my messenger… And had no problems shooting him." Uma shakes her head as she crosses her arms over her chest, "Meanwhile, we treated our prisoner well. The way a good leader with decorum should." She nods for Gil to walk forward with Carlos.

Evie gasps, her heart aching, when Carlos walks forward enough for her to get a better look at him. He had red scratches all over his face and neck, and bandages on both arms. Though she couldn't hear, she just knew he was mumbling something about spots and not being clean enough.

She takes several steps forward. Clearly this had been a bad one. She couldn't remember the last time he looked so bad. She wanted to cry, though whether it was at how well the other gang had taken care of him, or his state she wasn't sure. She just knew better than to actually let the tears fall.

"So we doin' this trade or what?" Mal snaps as her eyes drift back to Uma.

"Aye, send someone over to be helpin' yer pup and then release my man."

"Go, E." Mal frowns.

Evie didn't need to be told twice. Somehow she manages to gracefully race over the sand in her heels. All she wanted was Carlos back. She didn't even care she was running towards their enemies, weaponless and without backup.

Jay walks forward to stand on the other side of Harry, waiting for a signal from Mal.

"Hey Carlos." Evie coos softly as she takes Carlos from Gil. She was surprised to see him treating Carlos so carefully, though she reprimands herself instantly. D talked about this boy without meaning to all the time, and if D liked him…

"Thank you." She whispers before she wraps her arms around Carlos.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Gil asks as he holds his hands up.

Evie sighs at the worry in the large boys voice. "Yeah," She whispers softly, her eyes flicking up to meet his sad brown ones before she turns. "He'll be back to his nerdy little self soon, promise." She just wanted to get him back to safety, and calm him down. However she couldn't leave the boy worrying when he seemed so genuinely concerned.

"Good."

Evie nods, before she carefully starts leading Carlos back to their gang. She was surprised that Uma hadn't said one nasty thing to her. However under the circumstances… She definitely appreciated it. It spoke highly of the sea witch she'd always viewed as their enemy.

"Evie?" Carlos blinks before he turns to look at her.

"I have you Carlos. It's going to be okay now."

"I'm fine."

"Mhmm."

"I think I cleaned a pirate ship."

"I bet you did. But maybe we keep that to ourselves."

"Yeah… That sounds smart." Carlos nods and points at her, "You're so smart."

"Sometimes." Evie pulls the boy closer to her.

"And my man?" Uma demands sternly.

Jay looks to Mal.

"Cut him loose." Mal rolls her eyes.

Jay nods before he leans down and slits the ropes on Harry's hands, "Tuesday." He whispers, waiting for Harry to stand before he shoves Harry forward.

"I would be ah sayin' it twere ah good time, but ya be ah teasin' lot." He winks before he rushes out of Mal's reach.

Mal growls as she pulls her fist back in defeat when she misses. "Go home Harry." She growls instead.

Harry winks at Evie as he walks past her, "Thanks." He mouths breathlessly before he puffs out his chest, "I believe ya be havin' me sword princess."

"Oh." She looks down at Carlos, before looking back up at him.

"If ya don'nah be ah mindin', rather than releasin' yer hold on the pup I can just be ah retrievin' it meself." Harry offers with a knowing frown.

She nods silent as she holds out her arm to make it easier. "Thank you." She whispers, eyes on the ground as Harry gently slides the sword off her shoulders. She could see what D and T saw in the other gang. They didn't have to take care of Carlos the way they obviously had. It made something in her want to jump up and down and squeal in delight, but she knew better than to show it. And didn't even understand the sudden desire.

"There." Uma nods once Harry is standing with Gil, "Ya got the pup back no worse for wear."

Mal opens her mouth to argue, but one glance over her shoulder at Carlos, makes her shuts her mouth.

"Rotten doing business with you." Uma waves.

"Uma…" Gil steps forward and points in the distance, "What's that?"

Mal tilts her head to the side as she turns to see what the big oaf was pointing at. She narrows her eyes at the dark shape running towards her.

Jay frowns, eyes squinting as he studied the figure in the distance. "It's either a really stupid urchin or a goblin...Too short to be anything else"

Mal frowns, unsure if she should be expecting rotten or awful news. Anything from her mother was guaranteed to be nothing exciting. She bites back a groan. Wonderful. No way Uma and her rats were leaving now.

She glares as the squat goblin rushes up to her, "I have a message from Maleficent, Ruler of the isle and all that is nasty and cruel." He holds out a folded square of paper, "That is all." He glares as Mal takes the note before he turns and runs off.

Leave it to her fucking Mother. Mal rolls her eyes and unfolds the paper. Her jaw tightens as she reads the message.

Mal!

How hard is it to figure out a way to pressure a stupid child into joining you? Not to worry, I've done it for you. Hyades is joining you on my order, and she has to obey or I'll toss the stupid princess out into the wilderness. I'm talking reinstating her banishment. That is how evil is done nugget. You still have so much to learn. I expect you to thank me by being more like me in the future. Or else.

Maleficent

Jay furrows his brow as he looks from Uma and Gil untying Harry to Evie comforting Carlos now that his hands were free, before he looks back to Mal, "What is it?"

Mal looks up, tucking the letter deep into a pocket before she smiles sweetly at Uma. Her mother wanted vicious and cruel? Fine. "Apparently Hyades finally made a decision about which gang to join." She walks over to stand smugly beside Jay, "We got us a weapon now." She laughs as she smacks her hand against his chest, "Apparently she was so sick of you three that she couldn't wait to get away. I'm impressed she had the gall to run to my mother, to beg for me to take her." She chuckles before she narrows her eyes at Uma, "Don't worry, I'll put her out of her misery. I'm sure I can make her useful. She's really skilled isn't she."

A low nasty laugh leaves Uma, "You're lying."

Mal returns the laugh, "I don't need to." She shakes her head slowly and pops her lips, "You'll see for yourselves soon enough."

"Liar!" Gil shouts as he takes a step forward. "Hyades wouldn't do that to us."

Mal frowns, "Looks like you all are as pathetic as I thought."

"Say's the girl who hides behind mommy." Uma snarls in response, her fists clenching and unclenching by her sides. "We'll fucking see who Deez picked ourselves, thank you." She turns, "Harry, Gil were done here." She orders.

"That's right, run rats run." Mal laughs.

"Hook!" Uma's arm shoots out to stop Harry from turning. "I said we're done." She snaps.

The groups separate as they walk back to their territories with their rightful members.


What up!

Another chapter posted, and so many more on their way!

We're excited to know what you think of this latest installment!

So what did ya'll think? Was this chapter fluffy enough for you? Would you have been as daring as Evie as to bestow such a favor with Mal over your shoulder? Did your heart constrict when Carlos and E were reunited? Did we meet expectations on the trade? How bout Mal? How bitchy of her, right? Can you blame her at this point? Lord only knows she feels betrayed and on edge about this whole affair.

Let us know!

With much love and appreciation,

Dark and Twisted