Hey Descendants!
Sorry this chapter is getting out so late. But guess what we're doing today.
Babysitting a baby Max! Momma needed some R&R so we told her to go sleep Z.z
He's been a great little man to have around. We're not getting as much writing done as we normally do, but I guess that's kind of a duh.
Anyway, last update T and Deez officially joined the family like only they could. Blood was spilled, hands attempted to be marked, and drink was had...
Are you ready for some Alcohol and Locks?
Lots of love!
-Dark-
"I said heard." T lifts a brow as he looks up at Harry after he opens the door, already eyeing the bottles of different liquors lining his table. Jesus fucking Christ, he'd really pulled a number if Harry was seriously this concerned.
"An' I be ah wantin' ta know what ya be up to." Harry crosses his arms over his chest, "Ya be ah keepin' yer shit ah mystery long enough."
T frowns as Harry's eyes sweep over him, his mouth opening before he realized he really didn't have any more to hide. So instead he shrugs. "Faustina just wanted to fuck around with blendin' herbs an' alcohol and shit."
Harry sighs as he presses a hand to his chest, "Neptune's beard T, ya could be just ah sayin' that earlier."
"I did," T frowns as he crosses his arms over his chest defiantly.
"Oh no, ya ain'nah sayin' that." Harry glares as he leans against the door frame, "Ya be sayin' ya be fuckin' around with alcohol."
"Same difference." T shrugs. What in the fuck did Harry think he meant? He wasn't going to set alcohol on fire on a wooden ship. One he helped them repair no less. He sighs. What the fuck? He'd just joined the family for fucks sake, he wasn't about to do anything to jeopardize that so soon- He hoped. But nope. Couldn't even get through the first night. Great. This was going to be a completely different kind of hell.
"Like fuck it be," He crosses his arms over his chest again, "If ya be ah sayin' ya were gonna see what herbs and booze be ah doin' ya would'nah be dealin' with me right now." He sweeps his hand in the air between them, "It be called communication, and Uma be ah big believer in it."
"Huh." T blinks, "I'll work on it, heard, and feel free to go back to bed."
"Ya be ah doin' this shit ah purpose ta be ah fuckin' with me." He accuses with a shake of his head.
T lifts a brow, "Am not," He frowns at the accusation before it twists into a smile, "It's just a bonus byproduct."
"Oh aye, be ah pickin' on Number One here." Harry sighs as he lets his head fall back against the wall, "But seriously T, we know ya be mostly knowin' what yer ah doin' with the herbs, I don'nah be likin' the way ya be ah testin' shit an' hurtin' yerself, 'less that were ah lie before?" He looks down at him expectantly.
T moves his hand to his arm as he narrows his eyes at the floor. Internally, he wasn't sure what they'd done, fucking with that shit. He couldn't count the number of times that he'd passed out, broken out in blisters and rashes, or coughed up blood.
Not to mention feeling like he was nearly dying a handful of times at Evie's. Dealing with the pain and sickness that came every time Frollo made them drink- whatever that drink had been.
He grimaces. Then Faustina started taking it on her own, and refused to tell him what it was for.
"What I be ah sayin' 'bout this?" Harry's eyes darken as he pulls T's hand off his injured arm.
"Don't or something," T sighs.
"Aye," Harry nods sternly, "Don'nah be hurtin' yerself."
"Heard." T nods, "It was half a lie, I test the herbs, " Technically not a lie, "she fucks with them. But a lot of the time I just used it to cover the fact we were leaving." He mumbles as he kicks at nothing. "It was never anything I couldn't handle though."
Harry's eyes soften before he rests a hand on T's shoulder, "I do be knowin' ya can be ah handlin' it. But it be nice ta hear ya ain'nah bein' as scattered as ya be playin' at." He smiles as he cups T's cheek, "Ya know we be ah trustin' what ya be makin' an' givin' us, so, thank you for ah clearin' that up for me."
"Yeah, no problem." He casts his eyes down as he shifts his weight. "Sorry, an' thank you."
"Aye lad, I know this ain'nah bein' easy for ya. Learnin' ta be lettin' us be in the know. Ya be ah playin' yer damn mystery card so well for so long-" He grins, winking as he tilts T's head back and catches his gaze, "But ya be ah hookin' us, no need ta be mysterious now."
"Force of habit," T shrugs as he bites his lip. "I'll do my best to work on it." His hand twitches before he shoves both into his pockets.
Harry nods, "I be 'preciatin' that." He smiles before he tilts his head to the side, his eyes fixed to a spot on T's face before he blinks and shakes his head, "How mad ya be if I be ah kissin' ya right now?"
T's eyes furrow as he looks up baffled. "Why?" It was bad enough he'd touched them so much today. He still felt disgusting. So why the fuck would Harry still want to kiss him? He moves his hand to his arm as he continued to stare at him. It didn't make sense.
"Ah, cause I be ah wantin' ta kiss ya right now, and be lookin' ta see how much ire I be ah gettin' for it," Harry admits with a frown as he drops his hand from T's shoulder to knock his hand from his arm.
His eyes light up mischievously, "But if ya ain'nah gonna be ah answerin', I can be ah takin' me chances." He grins, moving his hand from his cheek to cup the back of his head.
T's eyes widen in surprise as Harry's lips caress his. His stomach twists oddly. So at odds with the disgust that suddenly reared up at the touch.
Why? T swallows. Didn't he get it? Didn't he understand?
It didn't make any sense. None of them fucking made the fuck were any of them okay with touching or being touched by them?
And why the fuck was he leaning into it? His hand absently moves to his stomach as if that would explain the new sensation.
Without breaking the kiss, Harry takes a step forward before pivoting with T to press his back to the wall by the door
T blinks. Fuck. Did he just moan? God, please let that have been Harry.
Harry smiles against his lips, his breath short and giddy as his fingers absently comb through T's short-cropped hair, making it fall like a messy red curtain in front of his eyes. His other hand searches for T's before he laces their fingers together.
When the fuck had Harry gotten so close?
His stomach does a peculiar flip. Had it been him to close the distance? He wasn't sure anymore.
He tries to grip his arm, only to find it pinned. Of its own accord, his other hand grips Harry's shoulder.
What the fuck was happening?
Damn it. There was that stupid moan again.
Harry grunts before he presses in closer, lifting their joined hands to the wall above his head.
Why was this still happening?
Harry runs the tip of his tongue along where T's lips were pressed together as if seeking permission for something.
Shit. T swallows as he grips Harry's arm tighter. Their chests were pressed tightly together as he gasps at the new sensations overwhelming him.
Warmth blooms in his belly. His hand above his head squeezes Harry's. Another moan fills his ears as his heart beats thunderously against his burning chest.
Harry's tongue was in his mouth? The acidic taste of rum lingers on his lips. What the fuck was happening? Why was he frozen? Why was he letting Harry touch him?
Why was Harry willing to touch him?
He breathes in deeply. The smell of rum, sweat, and strangely enough the warm familiar scent of clove envelops him. He feels heat flood his cheeks.
There was no way that was Harry's moan that time. But if that was the case, what the fuck was happening?
Was he enjoying this? He'd never felt this swamped by such conflicting thoughts and feelings before.
This hadn't happened the last time Harry kissed him, had it? He'd have remembered the uncomfortable heat at least. Right?
"Ya be needin' ta breathe lad," Harry whispers over his lips before he slowly pulls back. Though it would seem he needed to follow his own advice as he draws in a deep, rumbling breath.
T blinks. Breathe? His brows furrow as he suddenly becomes aware of the way his lungs were burning. He lets out a short, shaky breath before he breathes in that delicious scent again.
He blanks. He did not just think that. God damn it.
He licks his dry lips as he stares up at Harry, his chest heaving like he'd just run the docks.
What the fuck was that? He takes another deep breath. At least he wasn't the only one blushing. Or out of breath.
"That- That were-" Harry grins widely, "I be enjoyin' that. You?"
T nods dumbly, afraid of what would come out of his mouth if he spoke while trying to gather his thoughts.
"Aye?" He chuckles, "That be good then." He takes several more breaths before he takes another hesitant step back. "Ya were... bein' busy?" He rubs the back of his head.
"Yeah…" How the fuck did that just happen? Better question, why did he let it?
Harry frowns as he looks over his shoulder to the glassware on the table, "Aye," He sighs as he steps back again, nearly tripping over the blanket-covered pile.
T's hand shoots out to steady him without thought.
"Sorry," Harry chuckles lightly as he stares at the pile before he looks back up, "Oh, I did be ah meanin' ta ask, since ya be ah doin' better, ya be ah feelin' up ta lock practice?"
T's eyes drop to the pile.
That's right. He'd offered to work with him. A soft smile tugs at his lips before it slips back to a frown.
How was he going to handle that?
He chews his lip as his hand comes up to his arm. Would he freak the fuck out? Could it be more embarrassing than right now?
He sighs, already knowing the answer. Even if he did, it was more of a reason to get it done, right?
He wanted to teach the others. Needed even. Harry made a good point. He never wanted any of them in the same position he'd been in.
"Whenever you're down." He squeezes his arm.
"T." Harry whispers before he takes the offending hand and brings it to his lips, "What. I. Be. Sayin'?" He continues in the same tone, his breath whispering over his knuckles pleasantly.
Pleasantly? Ugh. What the fuck?
T feels his ears burn as he looks down, "Don't." He mumbles as he looks away. When the fuck did that habit even start? He frowns. Great. Another fucking thing to think about.
"Then you don'nah be keepin' it up." Harry chuckles, "It be ah easy fix." He winks before he pecks the back of T's hands, "An we be ah startin' tomorrow?"
T nods, "Sounds like a plan, and noted." He shifts his weight. Easy fix? He chews his lip. Wouldn't that be fucking nice?
"Aye then. I be ah leavin' ya to yer work then. But be ah tryin' ta be ah gettin' some sleep?" Harry looks around the room, his eyes lingering on the pile of blankets and pillows that formed a nest where the bed had once been.
Tch. If Harry actually thought he was going to sleep after that shit show he was sorely mistaken. So he just nods non-committedly.
What the fuck had he been doing again? T raises a brow with a shrug. He'd figure it out once Harry left.
"Night then." Harry nods, his fingers lingering on T's wrist for a moment before he slips from the room, shutting the door behind him.
T turns as he lets out a deep breath and slides down the door, covering his burning face.
Did that seriously just happen?
His head hits the door with a thud. Great. His hand digs into his arm as he stares at the ceiling.
How the fuck was he going to get through tomorrow after that?
He frowns. And what the fuck was wrong with him. He was going to be pissed if he was getting sick again. Though admittedly if it was a sickness, it was the weirdest one he'd ever felt coming on.
So if it wasn't that, then what the fuck was it?
He drops his head with a sigh. Damn it. Like life wasn't complicated enough? He groans.
Fucking pirates.
He releases his arm to look down at his bandaged hand, his brow furrowed as he curls and uncurls his fist.
Well, he couldn't think that any more could he?
Fucking Hooks, then.
They were all pains in the ass.
His eyes narrow as he glares at the table with Faustina's belongings.
Oh- You cunt.
That had to be what the fuck that was. She'd been right at the surface before Harry had knocked. So that had to be it.
Right?
Harry rubs the sleep from his eyes. Last night had been a rough sleep.
Uma had to be enjoying the torment. All he wanted last night was a little attention when he got back to the room. He felt guilty for possibly pushing T too fast during that kiss.
That amazing kiss.
He slows, taking the stairs one at a time as he presses his fingers to his grinning lips. That had been a kiss of a different fire. And he loved the feeling.
He sighs, pausing at the bottom of the stairs to lean against the wall. Was it really so much to ask for? Wanting attention from his Captain to help ease the edge? He pouts.
Apparently.
He sighs and pushes off the wall. He'd promised to start working on the locks with T first thing. And Uma waking him up as she crawled out of bed without so much as a kiss left him very much awake.
Now he just had to focus on lock picking instead of how smooth T's lips were.
How beautiful his skin was when he blushed.
The heat.
The strange mix of bitter herbs and rum that clung to him.
He shakes his head before he lets it fall forward, knocking against T's door with a thud.
Today was going to be difficult. At least he had a ready excuse to duck out around three. He had a contact to go meet up with.
Hopefully this time he'd find the damned bastards.
He listens to the tinkling of glass being moved before it goes quiet. Eventually, T opens the door. "Sup?" He nods.
"Mornin'." Harry winks, quickly straightening up and grinning as if his thoughts hadn't been traveling down a dark path, "Ya be ready?"
"Yeah." He steps back to let Harry in the room.
"I be ah thinkin', " Harry nods thoughtfully as he slips into the room, "First I be ah needin' ta make sure you an I can be ah pickin' 'em before we be slappin' 'em on. Just ta be safe like."
"I can." T looks away sheepishly.
"Aye, so I need ta be ah makin' sure then." Harry nods before he sits on the floor next to the pile and pulls a small cloth-wrapped bundle from his jacket pocket. He flicks the blanket back from the chains and pulls a lock into his lap.
T walks over to the chair and perches on the back of it.
"Anythin' excitin' be ah happenin' last night?" He asks as he rolls the cloth out and grabs a makeshift pick.
T tilts his head to the side as he studies him with a frown.
"So the herbs and alcohol did'nah be ah playin' nice like then?"
"Huh." T bites his lip. "I dunno." T shrugs, "She didn't leave out anything for me to test, so I doubt it."
Harry blinks before he bites his lip and starts testing out the lock. "Can I be ah askin' ya- Ya don'nah be ah havin' ta talk if ya don'nah be ah wantin', but I were ah wonderin' how yer arrangement with Faustina be ah workin'."
T crosses his arms as he looks at the ceiling for several moments. "I scout, she maps. I gather and test, she brews. She picks people and I follow. It's kinda a back and forth thing, I guess..." He drops his head as he frowns, "That's what you meant right?" He rubs the back of his neck.
"Aye. So, it be ah soundin' like ya be ah workin' like ah team, or ah family." Harry smiles as he reaches for a different tool and plays with the hard to move tumbler.
T tilts his head to the side slightly, "I thought she was my little sister."
"Sounds like ya be ah treatin' her like ah little sister." Harry grins when he manages to pop the lock.
"Tch." T frowns, "Except she's older."
Harry tilts his head, "Older? Ain'nah ya bein' the same age?"
"Not unless she was born broken." T response toneless as he pulls one of his daggers out and starts cleaning under his nails.
"Ya be thinkin' she be ah broken?" Harry frowns as he pulls the other lock into his lap and starts working on it.
"I think we both are." He mumbles with a frown.
Harry sighs as he looks up. The sight of T looking so lost made his chest ache something fierce. "I- I think we all be ah little broken in our own way here, otherwise we would'nah be able ta be ah livin' long as we have with shitty villains for parents."
"Fair."
"But, it do be ah soundin' hard ta be one part o' a whole." Harry frowns, "And confusin' ta boot."
"I've always known something was wrong with us. So has she. I didn't even know you were supposed to see your own reflection in the mirror till I started hangin' out with E." T sighs with a shrug, "And that part isn't all that hard. We've always made up for each other's shortcomings."
"Ya would be ah learnin' that with the pretty blue Princess." Harry can't help the small smile. It turns thoughtful as he continues to work the lock. No wonder T never felt like he needed a gang or family. "Sounds like ya already be ah havin' what we were offerin' ya. Still, glad ya finally be ah joinin' us."
"Not the same at all." He responds absently, "You guys are way more fun. She never wanted to leave that stupid bell tower." He frowns, "Though guess I know why now-" He sighs, "Or at least kinda."
"I were always afraid ta be testin' the peddlers and me da." Harry shrugs, "If that were the why o' it, I can be ah understandin'."
T pauses as he looks up at Harry curiously before he grimaces and turns his attention back to his nails. He doesn't continue cleaning them though. Instead, his knuckles turn white around the hilt of the blade. He's silent for several moments. "You..." He shakes his head before he trails off.
"Aye. Me." Harry shrugs again, "I never be ah tellin' ya afore, but yeah, I- I were bein' one of the kids in the circles back afore Uma be ah pullin' me out. I don'nah be rememberin' more than flashes now an then, and night scares sometimes, but I know it were something I did."
Again T falls silent for a long moment. "I guess that's why you were one of the last." He mumbles, more to himself than him. He frowns, "Do you remember who…" He trails off again.
"Faces." Harry shrugs, "Sometimes ah scent I be ah passin' in the street. I can'nah ever be real sure though." His eyes darken, "I did be rememberin' them two I be ah drawin' blood from." The tool in his hand scrapes inside the lock before he adjusts his grip on it.
T bites his lip as he drops his head, shuddering as he presses his fingers into his arm. "I'm glad it's only flashes." His voice barely above a whisper.
"Aye, I be lucky." Harry grins as the lock pops open before he looks up to T and frowns, "Ya know, if ya, if ya ever need ta just, not be alone, ya can be ah comin ta me. I can be ah doin' schoolwork or somethin' if ya be needin' ah presence, but not ah mouth." He offers quietly, "Or, ya know, if ya be ah gettin' ah night scare. I won'nah be askin' nothin' if ya don'nah be ah wantin' ta talk."
T turns to look at the table full of glass tubes filled with murky liquids. Silent for a moment before he turns back to him. "I'll keep that in mind." He frowns, "Thank you…" He adds, surprising him that he didn't add some quip about him actually being able to keep his mouth shut.
"O' course." Harry nods before he pushes the hated chains away, "It be ah open offer for both o' ya."
T's frown tilts into a fraction of a smile, "I'll leave her a note."
"I be 'perciatin' it."
A blush crawls up T's neck, "So do we." He ducks his head before he goes back to cleaning his nails.
Harry grins, happy he seemed to be doing something right. "So, I can be ah poppin' 'em." He kicks the chains as he stands, "Who should be ah tryin' first?" He asks, wantin' to give T some kind of choice.
T bites his lip, "Flip a rusty? Winner gets to pick?"
"Aye-" Harry nods as he pats his pockets down, "That be ah soundin' fair." He pulls a rusty from his inner pocket and balances it on his thumb, "Call it in the air?" He warns before he flicks it.
T nods, "Tails."
Harry catches it in one hand and slaps it down over the back of his other hand, revealing the faded outline of a castle.
T bites his lip before he hops off the chair. "I'll go." He sighs.
Harry frowns, "Ya be sure? I don'nah be mindin' takin' the loser lot."
T shrugs, "Nah. It's cool. I got this round."
"Ya good on bathroom and all?" He asks before he frees two sets of cuffs from the pile.
T nods before he hesitantly walks over, hand back to gripping his arm.
Harry holds one set out, "Ya wanna be settin' yer feet ah 'fore I set yer arms?" At least this way he would be able to feel control over part of this. It was what he'd want.
T frowns as he studies the chains before he drops his head. "You should probably do it because like fuck am I ever doin' this to myself, so it would be better to see where you put them."
He nods, chiding himself for not thinking about the best way to deal with a possible future where they would need these skills, "Ya do be ah makin' sense." He sighs, "We wanna be workin' in stages, or makin' it difficult from the start?" He didn't want T to feel like he was springing anything on him, practice for survival or not.
"S'not like they're gonna do it in steps," He grips his arm tighter, "and I wanna work on my speed and reach anyways."
Harry nods again before he points to the ground in front of him, "Got it." He sighs as he measures the chains out.
T bites his lip before he reluctantly trudges over and kneels with his back to Harry. With a shaky breath, he hesitantly releases his arm and crosses them behind his back.
He takes a deep breath before he clicks the leg shackles in place. He bends to thread the arm chain around the chain connecting to the legs before he clicks on in place around T's wrist, "Just be ah rememberin' we can be stoppin' if ya be needin' ah break."
T's swallow is audible as he nods, "Heard." He responds, visibly shaking through his layers.
"Aye then." Harry clicks the final wrist cuff in place. He steps back until he reaches a wall to sit against. "Go for it."
T sighs, keeping his head bowed for a moment before he sits back up, his jaw set defiantly. He moves slowly at first, carefully bending backward as he reaches into his boot and pulls out a lock pick set.
"I be ah rememberin' that." Harry muses, wonderin' how he would have gotten his out of his jacket trussed out like that. He takes his tool bundle and slips it into his boot.
"I try to never go on the isle without at least five on me." T admits as he holds the set between his boots and flips it open, feeling around blindly for the right tools.
He rises to his knees again, tools in hand as he feels the metal around his wrist. He fumbles for a moment before he gets the instruments into the hole with one hand with a twitch of his eye. After that he starts working the lock, biting his lip in concentration.
Harry furrows his brow as he watches T work so- deliberately. So slowly. It was at odds with his declaration he wanted to work on his speed. So then why-
His eyes narrow as he watches T carefully. It takes a while for him to identify what was off. T wasn't making any noise. The chains were noisy tinklers, clinking, clacking, and scraping with every movement. Except he'd been careful to move slow enough to keep the noise muffled. "Smart." He comments with a nod of approval.
T turns to Harry as he pauses his movements. "Sup?"
"It be ah takin' me ah while ta be catchin' it, but yer movin' careful like ta be mufflin' the noise." Harry crosses his arms over his chest."
"Ah." T breathes out, "I'm not making the same mistake twice. That's why I wanted to work on my speed."
"Maybe I should be ah takin' notes on ya so we can be teachin' the others proper." Harry bites his lip as he looks at the door, but quickly dismisses the idea of leaving. Between the two of them, they could remember what needed to be stressed to the others when it came time to make them practice.
"Better them learn from my mistakes than make their own." T frowns.
"Better ta be ah learnin' here in safety than be tryin' this out there on their own." Harry corrects gently.
T drops his head as he goes back to focusing on the tumbler. It takes some time, but he eventually pops off the first lock, cursing when it hits the ground.
"Well, good news be ya be havin' more movement ta be gettin' the others faster." Harry points out.
"If that didn't draw someone's attention," T grumbles as he quickly starts on the next lock.
"So how would ya be ah coverin' it up if it did be ah drawin' attention?"
"Learn a better way to prevent it from happening?"
"Be ah stayin' with me here T." Harry frowns as he stands up, "Ya got one off, but ya made noise and yer certain it be ah gettin' yer jailer's attention. How ya be hidin' yer new advantage?" He asks as he slowly circles T.
"Depends what angle they're coming from I guess." T frowns, "But this would probably be what I would do." He takes a deep breath and backbends to pick up the dropped lock before he deftly slams it over his freed wrist and slides the lock picks beneath it. He presses the freed hand to his back to keep it from falling again.
Harry nods as he continues to circle, "It looks like yer still locked up-" He tilts his head before he stops, "Except from here I can be ah seein' the seams ain'nah meetin' up."
"Fuck." T drops the manacle before he repeats his earlier actions, this time he twists the opening to the back of his wrist and holds it tighter to his back.
"Looks good." Harry nods, completing another circle before he winds up in front of T, "Can't tell you popped it at all."
T lets out a whoosh of air as he nods. This time he bends back slower to gently place the other manacle on the ground before he pulls himself back up and starts working on the other lock around his wrist. It doesn't take nearly as long, and he manages to catch the manacle with his free hand before quietly placing it next to the other.
He keeps his arms firmly behind his back, head bowed as he starts working on the first lock around his ankle. He bends and twists at an uncomfortable-looking angle to keep from making any noise.
T grins after several grueling minutes, a sheen of sweat coating his neck as he catches the lock with his right hand.
Harry frowns as he looks between T's bandaged hand to the free one. One eye twitches at the realization that T was a lefty, and they'd cut that palm.
He sighs. Not that it seemed to be slowing T down in the slightest, but it had to be smarting.
How the fuck T was managing to hold himself at such uncomfortable angles for so long was beyond him. And watching him repeat the process on his other leg was making him sore just watching. He frowns as T starts picking the lock single-handedly with his off-hand. It was painful to see him struggle, this one taking longer than the last. But eventually, he catches the manacle once it pops off.
"Good job." Harry claps with a small smile on his lips. He'd honestly thought this would take longer, but T practically flew through removing the locks.
T rubs his wrist as he stands up rolling his shoulders. "But it took fuckin' forever." He frowns as he looked at the chains by his feet.
"Actually ya be doin' it faster than I were thinkin' ya'd be." Harry frowns, "How long do ya be ah thinkin' it should be ah takin' ya?"
T frowns as he tilts his head slightly. "I wanna eventually drop it to five." He explains as he stretches his arms, cracks and pops following as his back realigned.
Harry nods, "That be what practice were made for." He sighs, knowing it was going to take a lot longer to free himself.
T nods with a small grin. "Right." His smile drops as he looks Harry over. "Ready?"
"Aye." He nods, grinning to hide his apprehension as he walks over to lay face down on the floor with his hands behind his back.
T chews his lip before he sighs and walks over to pick up the chains. "So… How do you want to do this?"
Harry takes a deep breath. How did he want to do this? He lets his forehead thud against the floor, it wasn't like he could say he didn't. "Be doin' it same like." He whispers before he closes his eyes.
T studies him before he lets out a whoosh of air. "You d-" He pauses, his voice hesitant when he continues, "If you're sure..."
Harry nods as he presses his face to the floor, telling himself to just breathe and let it happen. If T could do it, so could he.
He just had to ignore the pit in his stomach.
"Right." T breathes out before he slowly clasps them around each wrist before doing the same to his ankles. He steps back, only to sit a couple of feet away if the creaking floorboards were any indication.
"Good?" He asks, keeping his eyes shut tight.
"Yeah." T responds before Harry feels a hand running hesitantly through his hair."You?"
"Aye," Harry nods as he tries to relax into the touch, ignoring the way his heart pounded violently against his ribs. He rocks himself to his side, bringing his knees to his chest though he couldn't keep the chains from scratching and rattling with every movement.
T made it look easy. He shakes his head, trying to move slower.
But he couldn't match T's ability to stay quiet. Especially with his traitorous, thundering heart beating loud enough for Ursula to hear all the way from the chip shop. He gasps for air before he strains against the chains in frustration.
"Hook?" T sits up straighter, his hands in his hoodie pocket fiddling with something.
"Aye?" He asks breathlessly.
"You-" T pauses, "You... Really need to stretch more."
"Aye." Harry nods absently. He takes another breath as he pulls his knees to his chest again, ignoring the sounds of the chains as he pulls his tools from his boot. "I guess-" He shakes his head, "I ain'nah bein'-" He swallows, wondering when his mouth had gone dry, "the stealthiest yet." He chuckles, the sound oddly high pitched as he pulls a tool from the bound cloth.
"It's just practice." T points out softly. "We can work on the rest later."
"Aye." Harry closes his eyes, shaking his head to sweep his sweat-soaked hair out of his face, "We just be ah practicin'. It ain'nah bein' ah big deal." He chuckles again. He stretches his shoulders, pulling his hands together before he rolls to pin them at an angle that let him work with his good hand at the lock on the opposite wrist.
He closes his eyes again, biting his lip as he explores with one of the tools.
After what seemed like forever his head thuds against the floor, "Is this even bein' the same damn lock, or did I just be ah gettin' stupid." He lets out a growl, the sound thin and breathy.
"Hook," T sighs softly, his face suddenly next to his, "You're barely breathing, and then breathing too hard. Has nothin' ta do with stupid. It has to do with you keepin' calm."
Harry opens his eyes to narrow slits, glaring at T before he strains against the chains again with another growl. What the fuck was happening? Why was he so dizzy? Why was his vision clouding?
"Um…" T bites his lip, "Do you mind if I touch you?"
He had to get out of the chains. His heart thuds loudly, the only sound he can make out as he looks around the room frantically.
T's eyes widen before he rolls to his knees, "You want out?"
He could get out. There was something in his hand. He rolls, stabbing at the lock until he feels a sharp pinch in his hand.
T's eyes widen before he places a hand on Harry's arm. "Breathe, Hook."
Harry flinches away from the hold on his arm, "No-" He shakes his head wildly, finding his vision blocked by his hair. He had to get out, he was doing something and all he had to do was get free.
T immediately pulls his hand away as if Harry burned him. His frown deepens. "Hook…" He trails off, his voice full of concern and apprehension.
Locks! He just- He just had to get the lock. He twists his wrist, freeing the tool from his hand before he starts scratching it against the metal around his wrist again.
He just had to free one hand. That was all.
Practice? It was just practice.
"I'm going to touch you, okay." T doesn't ask as he reaches down, ignoring the flinch this time. His hand firmly grasps his hand and guides it gently, showing him how to find the keyhole without hurting himself or breaking the pick.
"Practice?" Harry wheezes as his wide eyes look up at T.
"Yeah," T pauses as he meets Harry's eyes, hating the way the ice blue popped against his far too pale skin, "I won't let anything happen to you Hook."
"T…" Harry's voice trails off as he closes his eyes and inches closer to him.
The sound makes T's chest ache. Fuck. Was he seriously supposed to keep letting him do this? Harry did not sound like he was doing good. Like, at all. If he was being honest it was scaring him. He'd never heard Harry anything but sure of himself. But the way he sounded when he said his name was so small- So lost. It had his teeth on edge. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't leave to go ask someone.
T doesn't think as he meets Harry and runs a hand through his hair, mimicking the way Harry had done it to him the night before. "You're safe. This is just practice, promise."
"T," Harry repeats, his voice small and scared as he leans his head against T's leg, shivering violently as he continued his attempt to find the lock opening.
He never would have guessed he would hate this. Hate it so much it made his stomach turn.
Was it from seeing Harry like this?
Or feeling confused about what to do about it?
He studies Harry for a moment. "Fuck," He frowns. What would Uma do? What would Gil do? What would Deez do? He scowls, "Fuck this." He leans over and starts picking Harry's locks himself, making quick work of the ones on his wrists.
Harry gasps for air as T tosses the wrist chains away from him as if they burned. He doesn't even bother with the ankle locks before he pulls Harry up and kisses him.
That's what those three would do, right? He wasn't exactly sure but...
Physical touch always seemed to calm all four of them down. He wasn't even sure when that had started with Deez, maybe she'd always been like that? Or maybe it had been because of the Sea Three's influence. He couldn't be sure, but in this moment it didn't matter.
No. What mattered was calming Harry the fuck down.
Harry's arms immediately latch around him and he pants around the kiss. He trembles as he sags against T, his skin cold from sweat and exertion as T wipes the hair from his eyes.
"T?" His lips brush softly over T's.
"I've got you Hook." T runs a hand over his hair again, his eyes sweeping over him in concern. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen Harry's eyes so stark in his face, so- scared. It was making him feel sick.
"I-" He tightens his grip on T, "Fuck. I- I know. Ya be- Ya be ah havin' me." He lets his head drop to T's shoulder. "But- I be ah fuckin' codfish like me da."
T's eyes sweep over him, "Don't be dumb." T kisses the crown of his head. "I'm afraid of beds." He adds as he holds Harry to his chest like Jay had done for him months ago."If anyone's a codfish, it's me." He nudges his head against Harry's shoulder.
"No." Harry takes a deep, shuddering breath as he gives his head a single shake, "I- I don'nah know what happened. I were fine, an' then I- I could'nah be ah thinkin'."
"I know." T frowns, "I'm not sure" He admits as he runs a hand through his hair again, "But I think you may have freaked yourself out." He whispers as he wipes the sweat off Harry's forehead with his sleeve before he leans forward, touching his forehead to Harry's with a sigh.
This so hadn't been what he'd been expecting when Harry'd offered to do this for him.
"Aye." Harry's chest heaves with a single sob.
T's eyes widen in sheer panic as he pulls Harry between his knees. He wraps his arms around his waist and hugs the other boy to him without thought.
What the fuck? How had this gone wrong so quickly? He should have argued more. Should've told Harry he didn't have to jump right into it. He'd known something was wrong the minute the first shackle had clasped around Harry's wrist but… He swallows the lump in his throat. Fuck. Harry was crying. He felt like a fucking monster.
"I could'nah be stayin' quite like you. Ya be-" He takes another shuddering breath, "Ya be ah makin'- makin' it look easy."
T frowns as he places his chin on the crook of Harry's shoulder. "So, we'll work on it." He nuzzles his cheek against Harry's. "Now we know to just start with one. No big." He adds, "It's not like this is a contest."
"Ya be-" Harry shakes his head, "So damn brave."
He didn't feel brave right now. He felt like a lost child, unsure of what to do. So like in most situations where he found his back against the wall, he tells himself fuck it. He turns and places a kiss on Harry's neck. "So are you. "
"We be ah talkin' 'bout the same shit here?" Harry tries to laugh, but fails.
"Uma wouldn't have made a codfish her number one." T nudges his chin against Harry's head.
"Ya don'nah be seein' it that way?"
"Seein' what?"
"Uma be pullin' the lost an' broken to her." Harry explains with a hard smile, "Me, Gil, Deez-
"Well, that explains that," T mumbles darkly. "But you're not broken, you're just…" He trails off. "Scared?" That didn't even begin to describe what this felt like, but it had to be close. He rubs his hands up and down Harry's freezing arms in an attempt to warm them.
Harry takes another deep breath, "That were'nah scared. Scared be holdin' Deez tight while ah big damn spider be ah usin' ya like ah web." He breathes out slowly before he reaches out and grabs T's hand, pulling it back to his chest as if it were his new anchor, "That were- I don'nah even be knowin' what the fuck that were."
T pulls Harry closer to his chest, squeezing him tightly. "Me neither." T frowns, closing his eyes as he realized what he needed to do, "But I-I think we should work on this… That is if you still want to?"
"I do." Harry nods slowly before he kisses the back of T's hand, "I have ta. I can'nah be losin' me shit like that if somethin' be happenin'. I be number one, people be dependin' on me."
"I know." T rests his head on his shoulder again. "I think we need a word for next time… I wasn't sure if you needed or even wanted help or not."
Harry sighs, "I don'nah be thinkin' it be ah helpin' none. I just-" He shivers.
"Blanked?" T offers softly when Harry trails off. His eyes scan his room before he leans over to grab the closest blanket and throws it over them. He didn't like this. Not at all.
"Aye." He admits as he hangs his head.
"I blank a lot." T nuzzles him again. "I'm pretty sure everyone does."
"I be ah needin' ta fix this-" He shakes his head before he shifts, sitting up so he can turn around to face T, "Will ya-" he drops his eyes, "be ah helpin' me? I'll be tellin' the others, but I-" He squeezes his eyes shut, "I don'nah be wantin' them ta be ah seein' it that bad."
"I've got your back Hook," T assures him as he leans forward so their foreheads meet.
Harry sags against T's support and sighs, "Thank you."
"Pretty sure that's what family is for."
"Look-it ya." Harry's eyes crinkle as he clasps his shaking hands to T's face, "Ya be ah catchin' on."
"Shh." T teases as he stretches for the box of bandages Uma'd left in the room the other day, "I'm still a fuckin' idiot when it comes to this shit, don't raise the bar on me yet." He grins as he just manages to hook the edge of the box with the tips of his fingers and pulls it closer.
Harry slowly shakes his head as he pulls T into another tight hug, "I be ah havin' yer back too." He chuckles.
"I know." T states with quiet confidence as he hugs him back and nuzzles his cheek again, "Let me have yer hand."
Harry furrows his brow before he looks down at his hands, "Ah." His chin drops to his chest as he brings his already bandaged hand to his stomach. The other, the one freely bleeding, he holds out for T.
T bites his lip as he cleans Harry's hand, frowning when he realizes for the first time Harry wasn't the only one shaking.
What the fuck was that about? Harry was the one who'd just been through what looked like his own personal hell. So, why the fuck was he shaking too? His eye twitches annoyed with himself.
He takes a deep breath. He'd bandaged a lot of people in his life but none of those felt like this. It had felt more like camaraderie before This? He wasn't sure what this felt like, he just knew he wasn't a fan of seeing Harry like this.
He takes out the ointment and slathers it over Harry's palm before he picks up bandages and begins, with more tenderness than he thought was possible, wrapping his hand.
"Thanks," Harry whispers without looking up.
"Nothin' you wouldn't do for me." T bites his lip as he continues wrapping his hand so it looked more like Harry was protecting his knuckles rather than looking like both of his hands were injured. He didn't like the thought of someone trying to take advantage of it.
"I know." He looks up, his dark hair hanging in his eyes as he manages a small smile, "It don'nah be meanin' I can'nah be 'preciatin' it."
T reaches over and ruffles Harry's hair. "Don't make a thing outta it Hook."
Harry sighs deeply, the sound making T's heart ache. "If that be what ya be ah wantin'."
A small smile tugs at T's lips as he leans forward so that their heads were touching. "Just don't make a habit outta it. We only have so many lock pick sets." He attempts to tease.
"Aye," Harry snorts, "An' we be ah needin' ta be teachin' our Sweet Boy and Fire Princess ta be usin' them."
T blinks, "We're gonna need some stronger picks."
Happy First Day of the Posting Week!
There's nothing I love more than watching characters face plant in a communication attempt- What do you think?
One of my favorite parts of this chapter was T questioning and praying that the noises and closeness was Harry. What are your thoughts?
T's all over the fucking place trying to figure out his life at the moment. I thought it was fucking funny- Did it tickle any of you?
The ending of the first scene had me snorting. Justification city. So who do you think it was, T or Faustina?
Did T's response to Harry's question about how he and Faustina worked clear anything up?
We were surprised by how vulnerable Harry and T were in these scenes. It was an interesting twist on what we thought was going to happen, but at the end of the day we ended up liking it. What about you?
Was there anything you wished there was more of in this scene?
Were you surprised that T initiated so much touch? Desperation definitely does interesting things. Was it sweet? Or did it make you question what the fuck was happening?
Alright so… That was fucking rough to read and I helped write it. Poor fucking Harry. He has some serious PTSD. And T? Completely underprepared for that reaction from our favorite #1. What do you think?
Sorry not sorry, still…
With lots of love and appreciation
-Twisted
Covid Chat
Heya people! Kinda running out of shit to say here besides please be careful, stay safe, and remember you're not alone. This quarantine is saving so many lives, so as much as it might suck it's so necessary.