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A Few Minutes Later …

"Wow!" Gil's eyes widen as he looks around the room in awe. "Yensid really has more books than this?" T and Hyades follow after him.

Carlos chuckles as he looks up from his reading. He loved when someone had such a positive reaction to books, and secretly, he was happy to witness Gil's first trip to the library, "He's got a lot more." He corrects with an ear to ear grin, "Like we don't even know how many."

Carlos tilts his head to the side when he sees T shrink back at the sight of Mal sketching at a table in the corner. Huh. So T was avoiding her.

"Maybe one day we can introduce you to him, so he can show you the bag he keeps his books in. It's real magic." Hyades happily adds as she wraps her arms around one of Gil's.

"I think I'd really like that," Gil admits as he smiles down at her. "He sounds cool."

Mal snorts.

Gil blinks, clearly noticing Mal for the first time. "Is it okay for me to be here?" He asks Hyades in a whisper.

"Don't be fucking dumb," Mal responds, not bothering to look up from her sketching. "It's neutral tonight. Don't let me stop this weird-ass club's vibes. I just don't want to be out there." She jerks her pencil behind her, towards the door.

Hyades grins before she pulls Gil and T over to the table Carlos had claimed.

"Good to see ya again man." Carlos slaps his hand against Gil's in greeting.

"Been a while, hasn't it?" Gil admits sheepishly. "I miss making swords with the three of you. I've been excited to let you guys know, we're done till the next shipment of wood comes in. T actually got most the crew and used up enough wood for us to be done before the next shipment." He adds with a goofy grin.

Carlos smiles as Hyades excitedly throws her arms around Gil, "Does that mean you're coming back to book club?"

"That's the hope." Gil chuckles as he holds Hyades to his side, "So long as everyone comes back."

Carlos chuckles at the slight reprimand. Gil had been very disappointed when he'd shown up to book club last week, but Hyades hadn't. It had been fun to hang out and talk, just the two of them. Different but nice. Gil was much better at designs then he would've ever given the other boy credit for, and was sure once Uma finally did get her sword… There was going to be some tension between the two gangs again.

He swallows his grimace. Compared to what Gil was able to craft now, it was almost insulting what they had given Mal. But there had been no way around her being the first. Though he was sure, Gil wouldn't mind busting out a full-blown draconic blade to match Uma's nautical one, after the fit Mal was bound to pitch. Mal might even throw her own in for scrap if that was the case, and he knew she coveted the one she had now. She'd never said it. Or hell even showed it. But now that he was thinking about it... Tonight was the first time since she'd received it that he'd seen her without it attached to her hip. He smiles, ears burning until he drops his eyes.

His smile falters when he catches T out of the corner of his eye. He was staring intently at Gil and Hyades as they spoke, discussing in hushed tones what he was reprimanding her for. He narrows his eyes in thought, trying to figure out why T would be so stuck on the two before he remembers their conversation during their odd snapping game. His smile comes back full force.

T trying to figure out the difference between liking a person and being in like was kind of like a cat with a fish. Part of him was curious about which way T leaned against Harry. When they'd been at the shore he'd been certain it was Evie that held T's attention… But after watching him with Hook earlier... Huh. He'd known there'd been something in those rumors between the two- But for T to just accept a kiss so, passively. Either he liked it, or it happened often enough that T didn't care anymore. That was probably a foundation to T's problem, Harry's odd interactions with him. He wanted to talk to T about it, but he didn't want to draw attention to him with Mal sitting in the same room either.

When Gil and Hyades eventually agree to enjoy the time they were going to get they join him at the table, sitting across from him.

T shakes his head before turning back to Carlos and nods.

Carlos chuckles, "Sup."

T gives a lazy shrug.

"So hey, now that we're all here..." Carlos starts before he catches Hyades' eye.

"Right." Hyades' eyes light up as she sits up taller, "We were wondering how you guys would feel about making something for Yensid-"

"Like a staff," Carlos interjects, unable to contain his excitement.

Gil grins, "I like it. It's only fair, right T?"

T grimaces, his eyes jumping to Mal with defeat. "Right." He sighs in acceptance.

"What?!" Mal head snaps up with a glare. "You." Acid green eyes narrowed as her chair knocks to the floor abruptly as she marches towards the table.

Shit! Carlos' eyes pop open, even for a Mal and T interaction that 'you' had been especially vehement.

Everyone at the table scoots back, their chairs scraping against the stone floor in their haste for distance from the dragon's target, except the target who stayed firmly where he was.

He grimaces at the inhuman hiss that leaves Mal as she snatches T by the ear

Carlos could feel his whole body coil, ready to spring for safety, but before he can turn he feels himself and Deez swept protectively behind the wall that was Gil in one swift movement. The larger boy not even hesitating to act as a shield between them and their leader, bravely facing the confrontation in confusion.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Mal hisses. "Fucking dipping out for fucking weeks! Do you know how far my mother has been up my ass?!"

"Pretty far I'm guessing," T responds with an uncharacteristic flinch as Mal yanks harder.

"Are you serious?" Mal snaps as she twists his ear hard enough to drop T to his knees.

"FUCK!" T cries out, but oddly doesn't move to push her off.

"Mal? Its- It's a library." Hyades timidly points out before Carlos covers her mouth. Why the hell would you want to call attention to yourself when Mal was this pissed. He gives Gil a thumbs up when the bigger boy turns a stern look on them and grabs Hyades by the wrist.

Mal's eye twitches as she pulls her hand back, "Where the fuck have you been?" She demands, her hand twitching as if daring him to piss her off more.

Carlos could only hope T wouldn't rise to the bait.

"Where do you think?" T responds with a glassy glare.

"Are you fucking telling me you've spent the last two goddamn weeks fucking around in Shan Yu's territory?"

"I didn't want to come back till I was done." T huffs like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Mal lets go of his ear before she kicks him in the chest, knocking him on his back. "UGH! Asshole!" She rolls her eyes. "You get what you needed at least?"

"Wouldn't have been grabbed by Freddie if I had." T sits up into a crossed leg position as he rubs his bruised ear.

"I thought you were dead you fucking asshole." Mal snaps, literally shaking as she shoves her fist into T's skull and grinds it roughly into his scalp.

"And this is how you're treating him?" Gil blurts out.

Carlos' eyes widen as he jumps forward to grab Gil's arm. He wasn't surprised when Deez had opened her mouth, but he hadn't been expecting that from Gil.

"No worries," T grins hand nursing his ear. "This is the closest Mal can get to affection."

"Shut up freak!" Mal blushes as she looks away from everyone, kicking him away with a foot to his shoulder.

Carlos closes his eyes at the sound of T's joyous laughter as his back hits the floor.

Carlos closes his eyes, suddenly feeling bad for his leader. She was upset with T, and with good reason if T had been slumming in Shan Yu's territory for two weeks, but now… He could see how this looked to her, like the three of them were judging her.

T drops his hand from his ear before he jumps back up to his feet as he looks to Mal still way too amused for anyone's comfort. "I was gonna warn you first, but Freddie found me and called in a favor. But it's done. Just need to talk to your mother."

"What's done?" Hyades asks quietly.

Mal turns her glare back at T, her hand twitching to smack him. "T made a deal with my fucking mother to kick you outta my gang so he could take your place." She rolls her eyes.

"But Evie-"

"Evie will be fine. It'll just be mother rescinding the favor. That was part of the deal." Mal crosses her arms. "Like the fucking tard he is." She snaps before cuffing him off the back of the head.

"Really?" Gil asks, obviously torn between his excitement at the news and his concern for T. But Carlos could see the way Gil's grip on Hyades tightened.

Mal rolls her eyes, "Yeah, your little girlfriend will be free as soon as mother says so."

"That's not freedom Mal." Hyades frowns as she puts her hand over Gil's and squeezes, "That's still choices being taken away."

T turns to her with a frown, "Uma's not gonna care if you still chill with them. I mean not in public obviously but still." He brings up his hand to rub the back of his head sheepishly.

Carlos frowns as he looks at the others in the room, "So it's a trade, but book club is okay? And Deez can still do school?"

"That's entirely up to your leader." T shrugs.

"UGH!" Mal growls. "I'm gonna be your leader now to you little shit." She spits at T before turning to Carlos, "And like fuck I care about you freaks making weapons together." She turns to Hyades, "And you want to talk about choices?!" She scowls, "Mine" She gestures to herself, "got taken away from me fucking twice. TWICE. You think I want this fucking douche bag as my problem?"

Hyades furrows her brow, her expression pained before she blinks and looks away. Carlos frowns, he was only too familiar with that look. She felt misunderstood. But he was glad she knew well enough to let it go right now

"That's what I fucking thought." Mal crosses her arms haughtily before she stares down T. "Ugh." She looks away in equal measures of disgust and disdain. "Like life wasn't hell enough." She runs her hands through her hair out of frustration, tugging it in exasperation.

"Aw, you know you love me Mal," T responds with a cocky grin.

"I will fucking kill you." Mal glares back at T, sounding so serious Gil shifts protectively towards T.

Carlos reaches out and grabs the back of Gil's vest, shaking his head when Gil looks back at him.

"T," Gil warns sternly in disappointment.

T turns to Gil and frowns, opening his mouth before closing it when he sees the three of them. "Oh! My bad man."

Mal's jaw drops as she stares between the two of them in disbelief. "Are, are you fucking serious right now?" She growls in disbelief as she cuffs the back of his head again, only to earn another raucous snort of laughter from T.

"You could try telling him to knock it off," Hyades shouts as she tries to rush forward, dodging Carlos only to be picked up by Gil.

"I have!" Mal stomps her foot. "It doesn't fucking work." She glares at T accusingly.

T waves them off unconcerned. "Sorry, can't stop myself Mal. You're like Hook, your reactions are too good to pass on." He walks over to lean against the abandoned table with a shit-eating grin, arms crossed loosely.

Gil looks at T with his mouth slightly ajar. "Those are two completely different reactions, T." He shakes his head in stern disapproval. "She looks like she wants to murder you." In a tone that screamed 'what the fuck is wrong with you'.

"And said it." Hyades glares.

"But she doesn't." T points out with a light chuckle.

Carlos groans as he hangs his head back. Mal was right. T was going to make their lives hell.

Gil facepalms.

"I fucking hate you so much." Mal lets out an insanely long sigh of air.

"So…" Hyades bites her bottom lip before she pops her lips, "Since we're all uncomfortable and awkward anyway-"

"T mentioned something about the restricted section." Carlos quickly interrupts. Wherever Hyades had been going, it didn't sound like it was anywhere any of them actually wanted to go.

"Oh yeah." T jumps to his feet before he walks through another door and over to the restricted section that was blocked by a padlocked gate.

Carlos freezes as T raps on the fence three times. The sound of the fence rattling vibrates in the air around them. Wait? What? Was T trying to summon the monstrous beast that stood sentry of the forbidden section?

He's glad when he's not the only one who jumps back when the giant hissing, pinching, hairy-legged spider crawls into view.

"Sweet." T nods, before he drops to his knees, the drool between the pincers gathering over T as it bared its fangs at T. It's six huge black eyes seem to concentrate on him malevolently, as if daring him to continue forward.

"I forgot about Adelaide." Hyades squirms in Gil's grip.

"How?" Gil questions, frowning as he stares at the eight-legged monstrosity in fear.

"Sheer willpower I think," Hyades shivers as she hides her face against Gil's chest, "Giant spiders are scary."

Mal frowns as she steps forward curiously, but freezes when she sees T's tools already in the padlock, working to pop the thing free.

"T!" The four spectators shout in unison. Each with different tones.

"I got it." T offers in an attempt to reassure them. "Just, ya know, don't judge me for it." He grumbles under his breath.

Carlos watches in horror as Adelaide moves her massive body across the web, her pincers clicking with each inch she got closer to T, his knuckles white as he holds his fists tightly, too terrified to draw the beasts attention to him.

When the padlock pops, T stands up and slips into the room before anyone can think to stop him and kicks the door shut behind him.

"T!" Mal hisses in concern.

"Dude!" Gil snaps, eyes wide in disapproval.

Hyades and Carlos simply stare in awe as T opens his arms, like a tribute.

"Hey Addy, Come here princess. Who's a good little girl? Come on girl, you can do it." He taps his leg as if beckoning the beast.

"What? Fuck? What fuck?" Carlos furrows his brow. T couldn't possibly be treating this spider as if it were a cat.

The spider rushes T. "That's a good girl."

All four hold their breaths. Carlos was certain they all shared the belief that T was about to be eaten in front of them.

But T drops to one knee and reaches out with a hand to tickle the crook of one of her legs.

"Seriously?" Mal whispers as the spider rolls over, exposing its belly.

"That's a good girl." T grins as he starts rubbing her belly. "Who's a good girl! Addy is. Isn't that right princess?" He asks it like Harry usually talked to Shrimpy.

"Huh." Hyades furrows her brow and frowns, "The spiders at the crypts never do that."

"Well, she's not a spider from the crypt, is she? No, she's a scary monstrosity, that's what she is, isn't that right princess?!"

Carlos nods slowly, "Right…" He shakes a chill off, "So books now?"

T holds up one hand causing the spider to click in aggravation at the loss of attention. "This puts her to sleep." He explains, his voice still sing-song before he goes back to playing with the spider, "She gets all tired out with attention. Don't you girl."

"You just, let us know when." Carlos shakes his head and turns away with a blush.

No wonder T asked them not to judge him.


Harry narrows his eyes as he does another circle of the dance floor. Where was everyone? Evie was here, dancing with the isle's puffed up prince. Uma was still in the corner of an empty classroom, battling Anthony for dominance. His money was always on Uma. Jay was currently groin and tongue deep in two girls, probably Mim's if their hair was any indication. Which, good for him.

But he hadn't seen hide nor hair of Gil, the pup, or Deez. Or T for that matter.

He tilts his head to the side when he sees Garth holding a dagger that looked suspiciously like one of T's. He inches closer in time to hear the punk regaling the small circle.

"Yeah, awesome right?" Garth grins to someone Harry had never met before. "It still has blood on it. Can you believe he squared up to fucking Atilla? It was fucking nuts."

Harry's stomach freezes at the thought before he walks up and yanks the dagger out of Garth's hand, "What ya be ah meanin' someone be squarin' off ta Atilla?"

Garth frowns as his circle of friends quickly dissipate with his arrival. "Finder keepers man." He reaches out to grab the blade back.

"Nah. If ya be ah wantin' it, ya be takin' it." Harry tucks the familiar dagger away in his jacket. "And ya ain'nah supposed ta be ah havin' it out durin' ah howler idiot." He reprimands absently. "When this be ah hapenin'?"

Garth huffs as he crosses his arms childishly, "Bout an hour ago."

"And where did they go?" How the hell had he missed this? He hadn't even known Atilla attended parties at all, let alone had already come and gone. Atilla just wasn't the neutral territory type of VK.

"Fucks I know, I was too busy watching Atilla."

"So, why T be ah steppin' to him?"

"Probably something to do with the firebrat." Garth shrugs. "Atilla was gettin' pretty handsy."

Harry's eyes narrow, "He were gettin' handsy with Deez?" Now that was interesting. He'd just stepped into this mess and already nothing was adding up. He couldn't picture Atilla being handsy with anyone, let alone on purpose and in public. Was this a new ploy to get her to join his gang? And if so ballsy with the Dragon somewhere making the rounds.

"Well yeah." Garth nods, "Picked her up and everything." He smirks, "Give me back that dagger and I'll tell ya everything I saw."

"How 'bout ya be ah tellin' me everything ya be ah seein'," Harry leans over the shorter boy threateningly, absently grabbing for his hook that wasn't there before his smile widens, "and I won'nah be lookin' for ya after the party ends."

Garth swallows, dropping his arms as he steps back wearily. "Or I could just tell you." He agrees pretty quickly.

"Aye lad, that be ah soundin' like ah good choice."


T sighs as he looks down at the giant spider sleeping in his lap, his hand still resting in its prickly fur of its giant head. He was happy that the others got to check out the books. He genuinely was. But he was stuck sitting with the beasty in his lap. It had taken quite a bit of coaxing and petting to get the stupid thing to sleep. Though he had to admit, the thing was pretty fucking cute when it was sleeping.

He looks up, glancing at his friends. It had taken them several hesitant moments before they'd joined him. And in the end, Gil had carried both Deez and Carlos past him and Adelaide.

He'd been surprised by the pout on Mal's lips when she didn't get the same treatment. It had been... Cute? He definitely wanted to say cute, but the word sounded so wrong in context with Mal.

But, then it had gotten even cuter and now he couldn't help the two being synonymous.

Because when Gil eventually noticed Mal trying to brave her way past several times only to back off with every twitch of the sleeping spider he could tell his friend was weighing the consequences of what few on the isle would dare to do. It had taken barely half a scream for Gil to make up his mind. He wasn't sure he'd ever forget the color of Mal's blush or the way she'd hidden into Gil's large chest looking every inch an adorable purple-haired princess.

A genuine smile pulls at his lips. The warmth he'd spent years chasing still clung to his chest like a second skin at the unlikely display. Mal was blushing from behind whatever book she'd run to hide behind, but Gil was as composed as ever with the rest of book club pouring over the restricted books.

Mal hadn't even so much as cursed at him for daring to touch her.

What had started as such a pain in the ass of a favor had quickly turned into a night full of firsts he'd rather die than forget. After the last month, he'd almost forgotten why he'd started following these particular kids in the first place. That tightness in his chest he used to chase for them. That feeling of warmth. But after watching the isle's only knight save the dragon? It just, it felt nice. Familiar.

He was surprised that Gil got away with the white knighting unscathed especially with so many of them present. He was pretty sure it was the silence of his help that got him off the hook.

Speaking of Hooks though… His mind drifts back to his interactions with Harry as his lips twitch higher. Faustina had been whining ever since that he didn't ask what the other boy had meant by liking him. They had been internally arguing about it all night. He still wasn't sure what to do with knowing he and Faustina were the same person. Well, at least the same body but… It was nice to finally return to some semblance of normalcy with her. Faustina. His eyes lighten. He'd missed her begging him for information about their friends. Being an obnoxiously bratty little sister about any scrap of information he might have on them. He'd missed this too. It made him feel normal.

He was so sick of being pissed at her for lying to him. It felt nice to just stop and pretend to be normal teenagers for at least one night again.

They both snort at normal. He shakes his head, letting it hit the shelf behind him. Okay normal, their normal was just fucking weird. His eyes dart to Mal, softening. Did she even realize how accurate she was when she called them a freak or a retard?

His lips twitch back into a smile. He was used to thinking Harry was just a… Slut, he guessed. And just kissed everyone. But after tonight… He wasn't sure. Maybe the kiss Hook gave them wasn't like the others? His smile falters.

Not that it mattered. He had enough on his plate without adding the complications of kissing. He was going to Maleficent's first thing in the morning to take care of his business with her.

Then he was going to finally confront Frollo- Even if that meant going into the main part of that stupid fucking church. He was done waiting, and after sneaking around Shan Yu's territory for the last few weeks, he finally had the confidence he needed to do it.

Sure, Faustina was still terrified of what would happen, but what wasn't the girl terrified of? He bites his lip. At least he knew she'd stay out of his way. His hand absently rubbing the giant spider afraid of what the other four would do if it woke up with them still in the room.

He's pulled from his thoughts however when Mal breaks the comfortable silence that had settled around them as she snaps a book shut so loudly it thuds.

"This bastard has spellbooks hidden in here." She glowers as she looks over a large book in her arms.

"And books about engineering," Carlos adds in seemingly equal frustration.

"I don't understand what's restricted about these," Hyades admits as she looks over an art book.

"The fact that they're in better condition than the others?" T guesses. "And the one Mal is holding looks pretty fucking old."

Gil looks around curiously, "They all do look pretty good for being on the isle. Maybe it's just Facieliers' private collection or something?"

"He would have a giant spider guard his private collection of books." Carlos shakes his head, "I'm borrowing some of these T."

"Do it." T encourages. "I have no interest in doing this again anytime soon."

"Look for anything about staff design," Hyades calls out as she closes the book she was looking over and tucks it under her arm.

"Oh, and cannonballs!" T calls out, still stroking the spider.

"Cannonballs?" Hyades frowns as she looks over her shoulder at T.

"Yeah, Uma has cannons."

Mal pokes her head around a bookshelf her face incredulous, "What the fuck T, you're weaponizing a ship now? You know you're joining our gang right!?"

"You think I'd be okay with an attack on you?" Hyades glares at Mal.

"Seriously." Gil frowns, as he looks to Mal in confusion, "Uma wouldn't do that."

"She's just upset she doesn't have that kinda firepower." T grins confidently, with a low chuckle at Mal's indignation.

"I had that kind of firepower, but you're getting her kicked out of my gang, and she's going to join the same gang that has a-" She raises her voice sharply, "-ship you are weaponizing!"

"I'll lift you guys some guns or something Mal, calm down." T sighs.

"Also, I'm not a weapon." Hyades stamps her foot before she walks over to a new section of shelves.

"Are you trying to get shot, T?" Carlos frowns at T. "Because if you give Mal a gun you're gonna get shot."

"Hey!" Mal snaps, clearly offended.

"But not in the face." T shrugs. "She might get my arm or leg, but she wouldn't like, kill me, kill me. Besides, I'd rather you guys have them then Shan Yu. I'll take the risk."

Gil shakes his head as he turns back to the bookshelf, "So staff making and cannonball making. Got it."

"Maybe a book about gunshot first aid?" Hyades teases as she walks over to search near Gil.

"Actually yeah, can I get any kind of medical books?" T asks, "I'm kinda stuck."

"I got ya T, as long as I don't have to walk over there."

"Works for me, I don't want to wake her up with you four back here. Mal might actually kill me."

"Correct, do not let that damn thing wake up." Mal glares over the spellbook she was pouring over, "Or I will fucking kill you."

Gil looks between the two of them in concern, "Awake or not T, you better not let that spider go." He glares at T in warning.


Harry sighs as he circles the school one final time. He really didn't want to interrupt Uma's fun to tell her he'd lost Gil, and never even caught sight of Deez, but if he didn't soon she was going to be even angrier. Where the hell would a couple of quiet kids go if they wanted a break from the loud music and crowds?

He'd tried the gally. The tombs. The nerdy science lab. Now he was reduced to opening every door.

When he opens a door with books behind it he steps through. Books were promising. Deez loved books. So did T and the pup. And while Gil never really talked about it, he'd noticed the boy reading everything that had words on it.

And they did call themselves the book club, after all.

He was surprised to find more doors in this room, so he continues to explore.

"Sup?" T's confused voice greets him.

"T?" Harry looks up.

"Last I checked." T chuckles mirthlessly.

"Where the hell-" He sighs as he walks through the door, only to pause at the sight of a massive spider laying on T's lap, "T… ya be ah havin' ah large pest problem."

"Yeah, I've noticed."

"I would be mighty concerned if ya had'nah noticed that." Harry shakes his head, "What the fuck ya be doin'?"

"Harry?" Gil calls out, before appearing from behind a stack of books with a giant grin. "You missed it. T totally lulled that thing to sleep. It was awesome."

"No, it wasn't," Mal responds, not looking up from her book as she crosses to another row of shelves.

"Oh. Hiya Mal?" Harry narrows his eyes before he mouths, 'what the fuck' to Gil.

"Hook." Mal shoots back.

"We all like books." Gil shrugs. "There are some really cool ones back here, but Deez, C, and me are looking for one about staffs and cannonballs."

"Oh, ya all be here." Harry lets out a sigh of relief, he wasn't going to have to ruin Uma's fun after all.

"Sup Harry." Carlos greets as he hesitantly starts to walk towards him. His eyes never leaving the spider on T's lap. "Uh, um, can you just stay there for a minute?"

"Sure pup." Harry salutes as he spins on the spot to watch Carlos. The corner of his lips quirking up. Was the pup using him as a shield? It certainly appeared so, if the brown-eyed gazes of fear were any indication. So he was afraid of spiders then. Good to know. Not that he could blame anyone for being afraid of a giant spider. Hell, he would have been if his first impression of it hadn't been it curled up on his lad's lap like a giant purring shrimpy.

"Thanks." Carlos sighs in relief.

"So…" T studies Harry curiously, "What dragged you from the party." He asks as he moves his hand to the spider's head.

"Ah, well I were try'in ta find Deez. Which I still ain'nah seein' her." Harry frowns as he looks around.

"She's in the back." Gil explains, "Want me to grab her for you?"

"Aye lad, I currently be actin' ah shield." Harry winks at the pup.

Carlos blushes at being called out but doesn't deny it.

"One minute," Gil grins before he turns and heads to the back.

"But I also be hearin' ah story about this blade here." Harry continues as he turns to T and pulls out the dagger.

"Oh cool. You found it." T holds up a hand. "Surprised it didn't get snatched." The spider twitched in disapproval, "Shush you." He rolls his eyes. "I think she's more desperate for attention than you are…" He teases playfully.

"Shut it." Harry glowers before he takes a few steps closer to T, doing his best to still block Carlos, "And someone did be ah snatching it, but I be ah snatchin' it back. So, ya be takin' on Atilla." He asks as he holds the dagger out.

"I fucking wish," T pouts, "But then Jay had to step in." He takes the dagger back and slides it into his bag carefully as to not rouse the spider. "And thanks man." He grins. "It's my favorite." He goes back to rubbing the spider.

Harry grins as he puffs his chest out a little, "So, ya did'nah be steppin' ta him when he be ah gettin' handsy with our fire princess here." His eyes widen as he takes in Hyades' new look. Everything Evie made for her looked amazing, and her new outfit didn't disappoint. She looked like a real vk, edgy and beautiful in the same breath. "Wow."

Hyades frowns as she stops a good fifteen feet away from Harry, "I'm not getting closer, but thank you."

"Almost done," Carlos assures him. "I've looked through half of them already." He apologizes.

Gil grins before he walks over to Harry and clasps his shoulder as if silently saying 'tag' after he catches on to what the problem was. "I gotcha C."

Harry grins before he turns back to Hyades, "Don'nah ya be lookin' like ah pile o treasure." He gushes as he walks over and sweeps her up into a spinning hug, "Who be ah doin' yer hair like that?" He asks when he sets her back down so he can play with her locks.

"Dizzy dyed it and cut it, and then she and Evie did all the braids and accents." Hyades explains as she spins on the spot, "You like it?"

"I be ah lovin' it. It be bringin' out yer eyes and be framin' yer face a mite better."

"That's what Evie said." Hyades grins, "I was worried you'd be upset."

"If she ah be doin' ah hack job I would'ah been. But she just be ah makin' ya look like ah beautiful, perfect little isle princess." Harry grins as she throws herself into his arms again, hugging him tightly. "I be ah missin' ya too." He whispers, uncertain how Mal was going to react to him being a second intruder to their book time.

"I think I got everything we need." Carlos announces as he takes his small stack of books and runs back towards Harry and Hyades, "Thanks man."

"No problem," Gil chuckles as he goes to sit next to T. "Can I pet her."

"Go for it." T shrugs, "She didn't bite me or anything."

Gil smiles as he drops his hand to the spider's bristly fur and begins petting it with T.

Harry frowns and looks down when he feels Hyades grab his hand, tightly. "Deez?"

Hyades shakes her head as she watches Gil pet the spider.

"You shoulda asked Deez first." T mumbles in observation.

Gil frowns as he looks between the spider and Hyades. "But it's cute."

Harry smiles as he picks Hyades up and tucks her close to his chest, "Don'nah ya be ah worryin' sweet boy, ya can be pettin' all ya be ah wantin'. I'll be ah savin' the damsel this time." He nuzzles his chin into her brilliantly blue flame hair.

"Gross." Mal states from behind one of the shelves.

"Ah, course ya can be ah walkin' past ah giant spider on yer own." Harry rolls his eyes before he walks past the spider splayed out between T and Gil.

T chuckles as the spider scoots closer to Gil. "Looks like you made a friend."

"Wha-"

"Don'nah be lookin' baby girl." Harry quickly shushes her before he ducks out of the room.

"I'm borrowing some of these books too." Mal states before she steps out from behind the bookshelf with her own pile, nearly dropping them when she sees the spider now on Gil's lap.

"So we're all good back there?" T asks curiously.

"Sounds right." Gil nods.

"Cool," T nods as he scoots out from under the shifted weight before he picks up the sleeping spider, "Sorry man, but time to put her up." The beast nearly dwarfed him with its legs alone. "Mal-"

Mal blinks, "T, don't you fucking dare!"

Gil stands up, as he looks between the two in concern.

"Dare what?" T asks as he cradles the giant spider to his chest.

"Do not walk near me with that thing," Mal warns with a wicked glare.

"I was just gonna ask you to grab me a book." T shakes his head as he walks past her, holding Adelaide like you would a small child.

Mal lets out a girly scream of terror as she runs towards Gil, "I said don't!"

"What the hell be ah happenin' now?" Harry asks as he ducks back in, one eyebrow-raising at the sight of Mal hiding her face against Gil's back.

Well, that was certainly new. He would've bet his hook on Mal never willingly touching one of them, but if he didn't know better he'd say the dragon was cowering behind their sweet boy.

"T was putting the spider to bed." Gil frowns as he picks the terrified Mal up and takes her out of the room.

Harry's jaw drops. Gil was certainly braver than he'd ever be. He'd never think to even try to pick that girl up. He liked his bits exactly where they were.

Gil places Mal back on her feet, hiding his amusement as the girl runs to the opposite side of the library.

"We never talk about this again." Mal hisses out in a high pitch.

"Talk about what?" Carlos questions with a small grin in her direction.

"Exactly." Mal nods sternly as she brushes herself off, "But since we're never speakin' of this again," She sighs as she looks to Gil with a small blush. "Thanks."

"For what?" Gil grins, quickly adopting Carlos' method. "Nothing happened."

Mal nods as she drops her eyes, but Harry was surprised to see her smile. Well, this was certainly a howler to remember, even if they never spoke of it again. In front of Mal anyways.

"Gil, get the gate?" T frowns as he walks towards them with the spider following behind him. "She woke up and I don't want her-."

Mal screams before she runs from the library, and if Harry hadn't been holding her, he was certain Deez would have done the same.

"Right." Gil quickly running to shut the gate.

"Doing that." T sighs as he hangs his head. The spider drapes one leg over his shoulder, "Bad girl. Stay." She clicks her pincers right by his face.

His chuckle was a bit forced even to his own ears as he steps back at the beast Gil and T had been snuggling with. His grip on Deez tightens as he pulls the small girl closer to him as a reminder that he was bigger and not afraid of spiders.

He runs his bottom lip across his teeth before he looks around for the pup. Carlos was backed into a wall, clearly fighting with himself to keep from running. "Oy pup, I can still be performing' shield-like services." He had not been prepared for how scary that thing looked when moving under its own power. Hell no, he was not going near that thing again. But not because he was afraid. Thankfully, by holding Deez, and shielding Carlos, he had an excuse not to let T and Gil see his predicament. Thank all the sea gods there ever were.

Harry blinks as he suddenly feels Carlos behind him, grabbing onto his coat and shaking.

"Ugh. Is this what Freddie meant when she said that Addy was thirsty?" T sighs, "Any clue how ta get her off Gil?"

"Is there a toy in there?" Gil asks in concern.

"Huh." T pets the spider's head before he gently pushes her leg off and disappears back into the room. The spider clicks as she follows after him, and he has to put his hand back in her fur to keep her from crawling up him again.

Harry can't help his shudder as the spider succeeds in its endeavor as it crawls up T's back. How was T okay with that? With nothing more than a defeated sigh as a reaction? He got off on people buying into his crazy, but fuck that. T won. He'd never be crazy enough to deal with a giant-ass spider crawling up his back, like it was just another night, any old night on the isle. He shudders again and buries his head into Deez's hair. "Ya really do be ah sight for sore eyes princess."


"I called in the favor to help keep the place from getting torn up," Freddie points out as she shakes out a trash bag, "Not for you to help clean."

"Meh." T shrugs, "It's not like I can do anything else right now, it's like three am." He offers as he helps move a table back in place. He could show up to the bargain castle right now, but he wasn't in the mood to throw shit at the Mistress of Evil until she woke up.

Cecilia looks from Freddie to T, "Ya ain't tired?"

"I don't sleep." T shrugs.

"Everyone sleeps." Cecilia glares.

"Shadows don't." T sticks out his tongue at her.

"Herbie's kind of a freak like that." Freddie teases.

T looks to Freddie with a smile for chiming in. "But if you two are tired I can finish up here." He offers. Both sisters looked like they were about to drop where they stood. But they still managed to keep up their cheery demeanors.

"Weird." Sheila shakes her head before she pulls out her deck of cards, "Care to know your fortune Shadow?"

T pauses as he puts down a chair he'd been carrying. "Fuck it, why not." He walks over to her curiously.

Freddie can't help her mischievous grin, "You sure bout that Herbie? Cecilia gives really good readings. I hear shit, she knows shit."

T glances between the two sisters curiously. "Um… Less now than I was."

Freddie snorts, "If you can take down Junior, I'm sure you can handle a reading." She pulls him to her younger sister. "It'll be fun. Like I said, she knows shit."

Cecilia smiles as she shuffles her deck before she sets it on the table, "Your hand." She asks solemnly as she holds her own out palm up.

T sighs as he looks between the two sisters before he does as instructed.

Cecilia inspects his palm carefully before she nods. Without a word, she grabs her deck and fans them out, "Pick one." She instructs as she closes her eyes.

T hesitantly reaches out, his hand hovering over the deck for a moment before he finally pulls one from the middle.

"Don't tell her," Freddie whispers.

Cecilia pulls two more cards from the deck before she sets the rest aside. "Your card." She holds out her hand.

T quickly hands it back to her as if it burned him.

"You have a mission." Cecilia explains in a monotone voice as she holds T's card to her forehead, revealing a dark, cloaked figure on it, "A mission of justice and vengeance. But a mission that will end, as will the relationship that started you on this path."

T stills as he looks to the girl in confusion. He should've said no. But the two of them had looked so excited at the prospect he'd given in to his better judgment. He shoulda just kept cleaning.

Cecilia sets the card down and pulls up another, this one of an old man standing hunched over a staff with a lantern in his other hand, but this card was upside down. "You have relied so long on your hermit ways, always remaining outside the circle of those you choose to associate with. But for your mission to be successful, you should instead embrace a life full of warmth." She sets the card down.

T's eyes narrow as he shifts in discomfort. That's what Uma and Mal had cautioned him to do. How was this game supposed to be fun? It was just putting him on edge. He chews his lip nervously. Was he going to be walking into a burning building if he went alone? Did it matter? He still couldn't even begin to fathom bringing one of his friends.

Cecilia reaches out for the final card before she brings it to her head, revealing a woman holding a scale with a blindfold covering her eyes. "Great changes and moral dilemmas are in your future. To get the justice you seek, you will be tested, as will everyone who seeks it alongside you."

Great. Another fucking test. Just what he needed. He was never agreeing to another reading again. He stares at her blankly. Those cards had struck way too close to home. And hadn't his whole life already been chock full of moral dilemmas? But then she said other people's justice with him… He doubted that had anything to do with their father. So what the fuck other problems were going to come after?

Freddie skips over to her sister just before her knees give out from under her, "That was great CC, but you know better than to do that standing up. Take your deck and go sit for a minute."

"Fuck, are you okay?" T asks in concern before his eyes fly to Freddie's.

Cecilia opens her eyes and grabs T's hand, "The first card is an obstacle, the second is a lesson, and the third is your reward." Her eyes roll into the back of her head as she sags into Freddie's arms.

T's eyes widen as he helps take her weight off of Freddie. "Is that normal?" He asks in concern as he picks up the younger girl bridal style.

"It must have been a strong reading," Freddie frowns, "Or she's tired. Readings draw on a lot of energy."

That certainly didn't look like she passed out from exhaustion. "Then why the fuck would she read them?" He walks over to a table and gently places the girl down. His hands drop to the hem of his hoodie before he pulls it off and folds it, tucking it under the girl's head.

"She didn't choose to be talented in the cards, just like I didn't choose to hear the voices. We just deal with what we have."

T glance at her. "Well, that really fucking sucks."

Freddie frowns, "I don't think it always sucks. Dad tells us the barrier makes it harder, now that sucks."

"Does it though?" T frowns as he looks down at the girl passed out with a frown. "Can you imagine spirits talking to you in full force, or her reading outside of here?"

"My dad says it's easier. The difficulty comes from the barrier interfering with who we are, like it does your fire princess girlfriend. You think she'd be having all these problems if she wasn't under that damn thing." Freddie asks as she points up for emphasis.

"Huh." T frowns as he crosses his arms over his chest in thought. "I guess it's different experiencing it than watching it. I hate the voice in my head. I can't imagine multiple."

"What voice do you hear?" Freddie asks curiously, "Ain't no one else ever acted like they understood."

T blinks. Did he just say that out loud? He turns away from her. "Don't know." He quickly lies. "Just some chick." He shrugs.

"It is frustratin' when ya can't even figure out who they are or what they want."

"It'd be more frustrating to find out and not be able to fix what they're goin' on about."

Freddie slowly nods, "Yeah, that would suck. They'd never move on and they'd forever be stuck."

T swallows. "At least they have the opportunity to move on." He'd never thought about it before, but he was technically her voice, both literally and figuratively. Would he move on once he took care of Frollo? He rubs his neck at the thought. His thoughts suddenly overwhelming as even Faustina cried out at the thought of it. That was interesting. Neither one of them had seemed to like the other once the shit hit the proverbial fan. Part of him felt the warmth he'd come to associate with his friends, the other part mourned the fact that after he took care of the old man he might not exist.

"You okay T?" Freddie asks with uncharacteristic concern.

"Just thinking." He shakes his head glad she had pulled him from the thoughts.

"Well, that's terrifying." Freddie teases.

"Isn't it though," T mutters darkly. "Come on, let's finish getting this bitch cleaned so you two can get home and actually get some real sleep."

"You too." Freddie narrows her eyes, "I stepped in for you with my sister, but my dude, you need to sleep too. You look like shit."

T shrugs. "Usually." He starts cleaning again, not even bothering to argue. He'd been getting two or three hours here and there but… Sleep was more elusive now than ever and he couldn't risk actually sleeping in Shan Yu's territory. It had been kinda useful, kinda awful. He'd found out so much in that time. Like a sewer system, he was already mapping seemed to lead to several larger areas. He'd already started memorizing the twists and turns of it out of boredom. It was how he finally figured out Shan Yu's insane reason for starting an army.

On the other hand, it meant he wasn't as alert as he should've been and Faustina seemed to get louder. It was kind of shitty that he'd started seeing shit out of his peripherals for a while too. Like someone was running past him and he was just barely missing it. And hearing shit when there was nothing around him. He shudders at the thought. Some actual sleep certainly wouldn't kill him.


Hi again!

So, we know that was yet another monster of a chapter, but we really wanted to do this Howler right.

Were you disappointed we ended up in the library with our little introverts? Were you surprised Mal and Harry ended up joining them? And what do you think of Adelaide? We know there was a huge spider in the books, so we wanted to hold to that particular bit of cannon, but we honestly couldn't remember much about it, so here we are.

We couldn't resist making Mal afraid of spiders. She might be full isle, but the girl is also a full-blown princess. Just no.

Dark personally hates spiders. Fears them, irrationally so even. And Twisted? One time she slammed a door in Dark's face and left her behind as tribute to a giant Brown Recluse that was crawling across her bedroom wall… Not that she knew what kind of spider it was at the time. Later we found her at the other end of our long-ass dirt road driveway, torn between walking home and walking back.

Yay spiders… What did you think of T wrangling the beast into submission? Do you agree with Carlos? No wonder T asked them not to judge him?

What about all the news these two gangs ended up getting? It's out now that T is planning to get Deez kicked out of Mal's gang and join up. How do you think the book club handled the news that it was going to happen the next day? Also, how cute was it that Carlos noticed the little things Gil and Deez were doing, like him reprimanding her for not being there when he'd shown up to their last book club meeting, or when he held her arm tighter in response to finding out she was going to be free to join them?

What about Harry's oh so threatening approach to Garth spilling the story about Atilla and T? Can't really blame him for getting worried right? Were you surprised he ended up hanging out with the introverts for the rest of the party?

And what did you guys think of T hanging out with Freddie and Ceilia? Not gonna lie, I loved Ceilia's character just from seeing the trailers, so how do you think we did with her? What about her reading for T? Do you get the feeling that something bad is about to happen?

Two more chapters guys!

Lots of love!

Dark and Twisted