Hey Descendants!
Gonna make this a quick one today. Twisted and I are working on a Baby Shower for tomorrow. (Both of us have preggo sisters, but her sister looks like she's about to pop.)
Last chapter Harry found T. But T isn't doing well at all.
What will the Sea family do?
Enjoy :)
-Dark-
Uma smiles as she watches Deez and Gil pour over the sketch pad between them. Her Sweet Boy was showing her Baby Girl several different tattoo designs he'd come up with over the last couple of weeks. It was a great distraction from the concerns plaguing her. They'd gotten back to the ship several hours after sunset, and she'd be lying if she said that she wasn't worried. The only thing keeping her from marching the three of them out was the hope that like Gil, Harry was only running so late because he'd found their lost Shadow.
They could use a double win.
"Do you think it will work?" Deez asks as she admires Gil's art before she looks at her own arm.
Uma grins as she notes the way Deez clasped her hand around the copy of her shell that Gil carved for her what felt like a lifetime ago. Their first real claim on her. She hadn't mentioned it to Deez, fearing it might make her self conscious, but every time she caught her hand around the meticulously made shell it made her heart feel like it could burst with happiness.
Gil frowns as he sits back with a thoughtful expression. "I hope so." He finally sighs as he brushes his fingers over her cousin's pristine white arm, "But I guess we really won't know till we do it."
Uma nods as she walks over to put an arm around both of them, "So, who's gonna be getting their tattoo last?"
Gil opens his mouth before he shuts it, his brows furrowing deep in thought. "You." He finally decides.
Uma presses her lips to his temple, "I can't wait to see it." She looks over to Deez, "And have you picked which one you like best?"
Deez smiles, "I like the one with the quill. Since I can control my fire better, I don't have to use the chisel anymore."
Gil beams at her before he takes the notebook back and flips through it. "I thought you'd say that. Here," He pushes it back to her. "I came up with several quill designs."
Deez makes a noise of delight as she slips into the chair beside him and takes the book, "You're amazing with detail." She smiles as she runs a finger beside a beautiful, slightly frayed feather quill.
Gil blushes as he looks away. "Thank you."
Uma chuckles. It was adorable watching her Baby Girl and Sweet Boy interact. "He's spent weeks bent over that book, and if I'm counting right, two others making sure we had options." She ruffles Gil's hair affectionately.
Deez blinks before she turns a grin on Gil, "I want to see them."
Gil bites his lip, "They're not as good as these ones."
"But you get to read my rough drafts and that's really like the same thing."
Gil frowns before he hangs his head in resignation. "One minute." His chair scrapes back as he stands to go gather them.
Uma grins as she watches Gil before she sits against the edge of the table, "How ya feeling?"
Deez reaches out and plays with one of Uma's braids absently, "I'm okay Uma. Still kind of tired," She shrugs, "but much better than I was."
Uma nods in approval, "We'll head ta bed once Harry gets back, he could probably use the warmth. It's starting to get colder than Mal's glares out there."
Deez's smile slowly drops and she looks away, though she doesn't stop fidgeting with the single braid she was tugging on gently.
"Oh." Uma frowns, "My bad Baby Girl." She leans down and places a kiss to her head guiltily. "But think about it this way, how could the king possibly know to pull those four specifically?"
"I hope so, because then you three would be next." Deez brightens back up.
Uma pulls back, her eyes narrowing dangerously, "And what about you and T?"
"T doesn't know it, but I have written about him." Deez explains absently, "And it was hard, but I sent a letter about myself a few weeks ago."
Uma bites her lip. As much as she'd dreamed of a life outside the barrier she knew she'd never leave Deez behind. Not again. Not ever. Not now that she'd finally joined them. Even if it meant defying a summons from a king. "Good job. Now write about a hundred more about yourself and fuckin' send those bitches."
"I remember when you thought the letters were stupid," Deez chuckles, "But I was already planning to send another letter about myself. Yensid made a point about it too. And I'll tell the King me and T have joined you."
Uma opens her mouth to argue before she shuts it. She had thought the letters were stupid, up until Deez stopped writing them anyways. "I haven't thought that in a long time Baby Girl. But good, you should write about yourself- Which reminds me- What were you thinkin', leaving yourself out? Did you want to get stuck here alone? Why were you trying to punish yourself like that?" She can't help the gentle cuff to the back of Deez's head.
Deez frowns before she stands and wraps her arms tightly around Uma, shivering slightly, "I don't know. I don't think I thought about it like that, I just never thought Auradon would want me." She shakes her head against Uma's chest.
"Dumb." Uma flicks Deez's forehead. "Very dumb." She hugs her cousin tightly. "You're one of the most compassionate people on this trash heap. You don't belong here."
"I know it was dumb." Deez sniffs, "I don't want to be left. If you guys go, I want to go too."
"Well sounds like we all need to write some letters," Gil states, still busily looking for his old sketchbooks.
Deez sighs as her grip around Uma tightens, "Yensid suggested that too. He said I should get people who love me to write about me the way I write about them."
"We can do that." Uma kisses the top of her head. "It's only fair after all you've written for us. We love you too, ya know. And you don't belong here. You never have. Like Gil. You're both too good for this place."
"So are you, and Harry, and T, and a lot of people." Deez whispers.
"Mhmm." Uma rubs her back, trying to chase off the chill her cousin was feeling. "Agree to disagree."
"What's there to disagree about? None of us deserve to be here." Deez smiles as she pulls back, "So, we'll all start writing to the king. If it worked once, it can work again. Right?"
"Right." Uma smiles at her. "Good." She kisses her temple in approval before she pulls back to cup Deez' jaw as she thumbs away stray tears. "Glad you can see it from my point of view."
"You've always been very convincing."
"That's Uma." Gil grins as he comes back with several sketchbooks.
Uma lifts her brow as she stares at the number of books in Gil's arms "So… More than two?"
Gil smiles sheepishly. "I have a lot of free time."
Deez quickly slides back into her seat and pulls one to her. "Wow. I've seen you do like quick sketch sword designs, but these look amazing."
Gil rubs the back of his neck as he smiles. "Thank you, but the newer stuff is better."
"That's how it always is." Deez shrugs, "But I like seeing these." She points at one of the swords as she leans closer to Gil, "Like this, I remember you talking about wanting to try a curved guard, and you're right, it looks pretty wicked."
"I can't wait to finish. It's been forever since we got to work on Uma's sword. I'd like for us to start again after we find T."
Deez reaches out, resting her small white hand over Gil's much larger tanned hand, "Me too."
Uma's smile widens, her eyes soft as they sweep over the both of them. She'd missed so much in all the time she'd spent slaving over the chip shop. They'd grown so close over the last few months. It was going to be interesting to watch this develop. She wasn't even sure they were aware of it yet. It was cute.
"I left all my paper and pens over at the hangout, eventually we'll have to swing by so I can grab them." She chuckles as she looks down at her overly large hoodie that was hanging past her knees, "My clothes too."
"Yeah," Gil turns to Uma, "Think tomorrow that'd be okay after we look for T?"
Uma shakes her head of her thoughts. "Sounds like a good idea."
"UMA!"
The three jump before Uma tears out of the room at the urgency in Harry's voice.
"I be ah findin' him, but he be ah needin' patchin' up."
"How bad?" Uma curses as she tries to get a peek at the ball of T curled in Harry's arms. "James," She calls out, noting how winded Harry was.
"Bad Uma. He be a fevered and knockin' at death's door ah seemin'ly." Harry wheezes, "Ya be ah needin' ta help with ah bath ta be ah washin' this shit off."
She frowns as her stomach twists. What shit did they have to wash outta T? She asks as she starts running to get the bath started. "Gil, Deez, James, grab water buckets and refill the tub." What the hell was wrong with T?
The three take off running, scooping up buckets as they pass them.
"We can't be letting Gil be ah seein this right now." Harry hisses as he follows Uma into the room.
Uma nods in agreement, "Talk to me Harry, what's going on?"
Harry sighs, "The shit I be walkin' in on be hellish. And T- Uma this be bad. I think she be layin' in salt."
Uma grimaces as she rushes over to T.
Her stomach rolls, protesting it's contents when her eyes land on his feet; burnt, cracked, and peeling from burns.
She bites her lip as she notes the damage to Harry's jacket. The way several spots had darkened.
T's face was covered in sweat, his eyes sunken and dark. She wasn't sure she'd ever seen anyone look so rough. She swallows the bile rising to the back of her throat.
"T be cut up real bad, and be burnt ta hell an' back." Harry grimaces, "Soon as they be ah getting enough water for ya ta be ah workin' with, We be ah needin' ta be gettin' the old man and, and I be ah needin' ta make sure-" He holds T closer to his chest.
"Make sure of what Harry?" Uma asks, hardly able to tear her eyes away from the sheer amount of damage done to T's body.
"I just- I be ah needin' ta make sure." Harry snaps as the door swings open, "I need ta be ah gettin' back ta Stromboli's."
She could feel the blood rush from her face as her heart skipped a beat. That's where T had been? She places a hand on her stomach. Harry had been forced back inside that hell? Her eyes harden as her fists clenched tight by her sides. She'd fucking kill those fucks herself if they had anything to do with this. She wasn't a child anymore. She could defend her family now.
"Get the fucking water into the tub." Harry snaps, though Deez and Gil were already dumping buckets, and James had taken off with the empty ones again.
"Good enough." Uma nods, "Now Deez and Gil, go get the old man." She orders after Deez heats the water until it's steaming.
"I be ah needin' Gil ta be coming with me right now." Harry interrupts with a frown, "And James."
Uma nods, "Ya heard him, Gil," She turns to Deez, "You go get the old man."
"What's wrong with T, so I can tell-"
"Fever and…" Uma turns to Harry.
"Fever an' infections. Burns. Cuts. And fuck only be ah knowin' what else. Go Deez." He reaches out and squeezes her shoulder, "But be careful."
Deez nods before she turns and bolts out of the room.
Uma shoos Gil from the room as well, "I've got T Harry, go take care of things."
Harry sighs as he removes his jacket and slowly lowers T into the water.
Tears slide down Uma's cheeks as the water immediately swirls red.
Deez was staring at the gangplank as if realizing for the first time what she was doing, and what she was going to have to get past. "I can do this." She glares, though her hand stays white-knuckled on the railing.
Gil frowns as he walks over and scoops her up. "I gotcha Deez."
"Harry needs you, I have to help too." Deez cries as her arms immediately wrap around his neck and she hides her face.
"I'm just getting you past the docks. Then, you're going to stay at Yensid's until I come and get you, alright?"
Deez nods.
"Good idea Gil." Harry squeezes his shoulder, "I be ah forgettin'." He admits with a sigh as he turns and calls for James.
"Aye?" James darts up the stairs, arms full of medical supplies. "What can I be doin'?"
"Ya be ah comin' with me and Gil." Harry explains, "And we be leavin' now, drop that outside our door and knock."
"Heard." James quickly does as instructed.
"Ya be lettin' the ol' man know what's wrong, and then ya be ah waitin' on Gil, aye lass?"
Deez nods against Gil's chest and tightens her arms around his neck.
"Good," Harry nods in approval, already backing up, "Let's be ah goin' then."
Deez lets out a heavy sigh as she slams to a stop in the door. Her chest heaving as she starts banging her fist against it so hard if it had been any other door it probably would've splintered.
The echoes of the thuds reverberate around the quiet neighborhood. In her panic she'd forgotten it was almost four in the morning. "Please Yensid! We need help!"
It only takes about ten more rapid knocks before the door opens and he looks down in concern as she stumbles forward, he opens the door wider to allow her entrance.
"T!" She shakes her head, "He's bad! He's sick. Fever and infections and cuts and burns and fuck only knows what else. Sorry, that's what Harry said." She repeats, having recited the list over and over the whole way here so she wouldn't forget anything.
Yensid's eyes widen before he immediately turns around, leaving his door open in his haste.
Deez walks in and quickly gets into a corner, listening to him rummaging around as he gathers supplies, "I was ordered to stay here until Gil gets me," She admits with a frown as she shifts from foot to foot. "Is that okay?"
Yensid nods, "Make yourself at home." He offers before he races out the door, shutting it behind him.
She lets out a sigh of relief before she slides to the ground.
Despite her rude awakening of him and her clipped information, Yensid had only too quickly rushed off to help T. She appreciated it, she'd already wasted enough time.
Now that her part of the emergency was over, she tucks her knees to her chest, hugging her legs tightly, and starts crying. She'd never seen T look so… Small. So fragile.
So burnt.
She squeezes her eyes shut. But she couldn't get the images of T's cracked, blistered and oozing feet out of her head. And Harry's jacket was covered in blood.
What the hell was wrong? What had happened?
Was T even alive?
Her tears fall quicker as her breathing becomes erratic. Her mind drifts to a time after the well when she questioned if T was really human.
"I didn't need another example to figure it out. I was actually content with my ignorance this time." She screams into the air, though she wasn't sure who she was trying to talk to.
The sea gods like her family? Jesus fucking Christ, like T? Her father?
She sobs as her head drops to her knees and she grabs her necklace. She had no idea who she was screaming at.
One thumb ends up in her mouth as she shakes her head. She couldn't believe her fear kept her from being useful. All she had to do was go get Yensid. All she had to do was run down the gangplank. Run across the docks.
Tears run down her legs as the scent of copper tickles her nose and coats her tongue.
What a stupid way to let her family down.
What a stupid way to risk T.
Harry tenses his jaw as he, James and Gil walk up to Stromboli's Pizza Parlour. He felt sick looking at it again now that the haze of blissful ignorance was gone.
"Kay lads," He sighs before he jabs his thumb over his shoulder, "We be ah heading down ta the basement in this fuckin' hell hole. There be shit down there. It be bad. It be where I be ah findin' T, and-" He takes a deep breath as he looks down, "We be ah lookin' for anything that be ah belongin' ta T. And checkin' ta see if I be ah killin' the bastard that be doin' this."
Gil squeezes his upper shoulder, "We can do that."
"Got it." James nods, not questioning the order or why the man was important.
Harry looks up at the two, wiping at his face, "Look, I- I be grateful for yer help. I can'nah be doin' this alone. I- If I start actin' weird-"
"No worries mate, we'll smack ya outta it." James offers.
Gil's eyes are soft as they sweep over him, "We got your back."
"Aye, why ya be ah thinkin' I be asking fer the two o' ya?" Harry nods before he turns and yanks the door open, "Be keepin' an eye out, the bastard be ah havin' two goons before."
Gil takes the lead as he barrels down the stairs. His blade in hand and eyes hard as he forces himself down the tight corridor just wanting to get out of it.
Harry reaches out and rests a hand on Gil's back, "I did'nah be thinkin' 'bout it. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it." He shrugs. "I can do this for you and T." He skids to a halt as he finds himself in what looked like a giant underground cage. His eyes are drawn to the back wall in horror as various weapons of torture, physical and sexual, were hung on display. He flinches as he looks away. No wonder Harry had been avoiding coming down here.
James grunts as he slams into Gil's solid back and staggers a few steps, "Mate, be warnin-" His eyes widen as he looks around.
Harry takes a deep breath, "It be ah hellish place." He swallows hard. "I be ah checkin' on the bastard, but I can'nah be goin' near the wall." he shakes his head.
"We'll try to find anything we can." He nods at James.
"Aye." James breaks away and begins to search along the walls
He pauses, his eyes falling on a table covered in blood-soaked salt. His nostrils flare as he takes a deep breath. What the fuck had happened to T exactly? His eyes jump to a wooden device filled with water. He steps closer as he plays with the dials curiously. The apparatus too close to where T had been kept for his peace of mind. But when water just pours from a faucet he gets confused.
"Mate, don'nah be ah touchin' that. It be for torturin'." Harry walks past him, bending down on the other side of a fire brazier burning low.
Gil quickly shuts it off and steps back. How though? He shakes his head and continues searching to see if any of T's belongings survived.
"Fuck!" Harry snaps before he kicks a pile on the ground.
Gil frowns as he turns to Harry in concern.
"Abusive fuckin' bastard that be ah lovin' his own damn voice." Harry accents every other word with a sharp kick, "How fuckin' dare you fuckin' die!"
He flinches and takes a deep breath before he walks over to Harry and grabs him from behind in a bear hug. Their backs to the wall. "It's done, Harry." He hugs his brother tighter. "You saved T." And T had definitely been saved. It was weird to think about.
"I was so angry! I be ah seein' red when I be walkin' in on him fuckin-" Harry's legs give out from under him.
Gil hugs Harry closer to his chest when he ragdolls in his arms, grimacing at the thick emotion in his voice.
"But T be ah needin' ta be the one ta do it." Harry wraps his arms around Gil's.
"Dudes…" James grimaces as he slowly starts walking back towards them, "This, this looks-" He shakes his head, "Mate, I dunno how you coulda walked into this mess and not killed the prick." His eyes sweep over Harry, "And from what I saw, and from the looks of this fucking hellish torture chamber, T ain't in any condition to be complainin'."
Harry slowly nods as he stares at James, "Aye. This place, this place is-"
"Getting burned down? Aye aye number one." James salutes as he stands, holds a small sack up, "I found a few things that might be T's. What do ya say we get the fuck out and burn it down behind us?"
"I second that." Gil nods, "This place needs to burn before it hurts more people."
With tears streaming down his face, Harry nods. "Aye, no more kids should be ah findin' themselves in here."
James jaw tenses, hands clenched by his side before he kicks over one of the braziers sending the fiery coal flying across the floor away from them. "Aye."
Harry pats Gil's arm before he steadies himself, "Lad, can ya be ah grabbing the damn body?"
He nods his head, even as his stomach turned at the thought of touching the man. "Yeah." But if it's what Harry wanted- needed he'd do anything to keep him from losing it further. He walks over and bends down, reluctantly picking up the corpse of the man who'd tortured one of his best friends for Uma only knew how long.
"This place can be ah goin' ta hell where it be ah belongin'." Harry nods as he walks over to a table and pulls out matches. "There be ah crate ah coal in the back."
James nods before he takes off.
Harry wipes at his face before he reluctantly looks at the wall, "Gil?" He calls out, his voice thin as the box of matches in his hands starts to shake.
Gil doesn't think twice as he drops the body, racing to Harry's side. "What's wrong Harry?"
"I think I forgot about this place."
He knew he didn't know everything about Harry's past. This had obviously brought a lot of that back… He swallows hard. "I think I can understand why." He puts his hands on Harry's shoulders and spins him around to look at him. "This place looks…" Terrifying? Horrifying? Disturbingly chilling. "I hope T doesn't remember it either. And I'm sorry that it's familiar to you." He squeezes Harry's shoulders. "But it's been years Harry. You're safe with us. T will be safe with us."
Harry blinks, "Aye." He nods, "Aye Sweet Boy." He shakes his head as he passes him the box of matches, "I can'nah stay down here. I be ah takin' the body. You an' James be settin' this place ah blaze and then send James ta the church while ya be fetchin' our treasure again. Aye? Meet back at the ship when we're done?"
"Sounds like a plan," Gil reaches up and cups Harry's face before he leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips. That had been a lot of blood. He couldn't imagine what Harry was going through right now. He knew more than most how genuine Harry's feelings for T were. And to be the one to find T like this… If T was as bad as this place looked…He didn't want to think about it. He just knew Harry was going to need an outlet either way.
Harry looks down at the body on the ground. His original plan had been to take Frollo back to the church, but wouldn't it be even worse for the bastard to be discovered dead in the red lantern district?
This sick fucker had done horrible things, awful and disturbing things. Why the hell was he going to take the prick back to his church to be discovered? More rumors would be spread about his body being found here. And that was exactly what he wanted.
He drags him a few more steps away from the building that would be going up in flames at any moment.
He takes a deep breath as he looks up into the dark, the barrier shimmering far above his face. He shivers as a filthy grey snowflake dances past.
"Damn it mate, ya be makin' me feel cold," James complains as he rubs his arms. "Are we stringing this dirty fuck up or what?"
Harry takes a deep breath before he looks down at Frollo, "Nah, just leave him in the streets."
"Ya sure?"
"Aye, no need ta be ah makin' him a martyr." He grimaces, angry at the reason he knew what that word meant.
James tilts his head to the side, but nods. "Heard. So what are we grabbing from the church."
"Uma be ah wanting us ta take all o' T's belongings from a room there."
"Aye, be soundin' simple enough." James claps him on the shoulder, "Come on, Gil's got the rest of this, let's collect shit and get ya back to the ship. Ya need ta get yer shoulder looked at mate."
Harry sighs, "Aye." He tenderly touches it, "Uma be ah takin' me ta task when she be ah seein' it."
"She be a mighty protective Kraken."
So much happened in this chapter… So we're sorry if the time fluidity is confusing but so much is happening at once with each of them, we decided to shake it up for you guys too.
That being said…
Did Uma's reaction to T do her justice?
Poor Deez. She really can't help her fears. Even in a crisis, it's hard to turn them on and off. How do you think we did?
Did you like how Yensid just rushed to help?
Did Harry kicking Frollo's body make you flinch?
Did Gil's understanding of Harry's emotional state come across well?
We're dying to know, so please leave your comments below!
Much love and appreciation
-Twisted