Hiya Descendants,
Is it Wednesday already?
How does time work X.x
Don't mind me and Twisted... We're just gonna go write.
Don't forget to leave us some love after you've (hopefully) enjoyed the chapter.
Don't worry, the chapter isn't as scary as the title suggests.
-Dark-
The smell of clove, salt, and leather fills her senses. She blushes even as she nuzzles into his side with a smile. Her eyes open slowly, feeling the roughness of his salt-encrusted jacket before she squeezes him tighter.
His arms around her made her feel safe. Secure.
Harry.
It always felt like a dream to wake up in his arms.
She'd admired him for so long in the shadows. Always beside herself when T shared his escapades involving him. It had felt so amazing to actually meet him. Her chest bubbles with warmth as she swallows the urge to giggle with delight.
She felt lucky. To be a part of his life. To be so close to his family. It felt surreal.
He was so comfortable, warm. She could-
Bang.
She startles, burying her face into the crook of his neck.
Bang bang bang.
"Hey you two, time to join the rest of us in the cabin."
Oh. She sighs with relief at the sound of Uma's voice.
"Aye!" Harry grumbles as his arm tightens around her, pulling her over him as he rolled to his other side, "Aye Uma, just be ah givin' me uh few more minutes." He mumbles.
Uma sighs, "I've been down here twice. Get your asses moving."
Harry groans, "Aye Cap'in. Right ya be." He yawns as he sits up, keeping her pressed to his chest. "Sorry mate, I could'nah be ah lettin' go when I be feelin' the sleep settle last night."
"I don't mind." Her cheeks flare with heat as she nuzzles against him again. "It's-" Her voice gets lower as she speaks, "Nice waking up with you." Her admission makes her stomach twist in knots and her heart race. She'd never grow weary of it. "We should get up though sir, the Captain sounds upset." She whispers against the crook of his neck.
"Oh, well mornin' Love. Did'nah be ah knowin' I be holdin' onta ya." He squeezes her closer before he pecks her shoulder.
She purrs happily.
"But, ya ain'nah bein' wrong." He chuckles as he pulls them both to their feet, "Uma ain'nah bein' one ta keep waitin'." He slowly inches toward the door.
"Do you mind?" She asks as she drops her hand to take his. The pitch darkness of the room was comforting to her, but she doubted it was for him.
"Don'nah be ah tellin' me ya can be ah seein' in the dark like Deez." Harry chuckles as she starts leading him.
"No, I'm just used to navigating in it." She offers as she clicks the lock, "It helps that I memorized the layout of the room." She responds before she opens the door. Her eyes squint as the light overwhelms her sight.
"I just be ah knowin' the door be here ah cause Uma were just yellin'." He chuckles again before he laces their fingers together, "Come on, we can be ah holdin' hands 'til we be ah gettin' to the stairs." He winks.
She smiles up at him, "Thank you." She ducks her head with a blush. It felt nice to hold his hand, but she appreciated him looking out for T. He'd be so mad at her if she did something that ruined his image. And even more upset with Harry. She smiles.
T.
She resists the urge to giggle. She owed so much to him, as much as she owed the pirate currently guiding her. It felt so amazing to be free of the bell tower. Of their father. Even if she still had to hide. At least people knew she existed now. And accepted her. It was more than she could have ever hoped for.
She smiles as he squeezes her hand before they separate. She checks to make sure T's hood is in place before she follows behind him, hands in her pocket. Resisting the urge to stick close to him as he leads them to the cabin.
When she sees everyone is present she pauses. Her eyes flicker to Uma, Deez, and Gil before she steps behind Harry. Too many. Her face burns, hating herself.
These were people she loved.
People she trusted. Still, her hands come up to pull the strings on the hood tighter so that she was more obscured.
"Hey Faustina." Deez grins without looking up from the notebook or stacks of pictures in front of her.
Gil looks up from his workbook with a lazy smile, "Hey." He greets softly. "Nice to see you again."
Uma bites her lip as she looks her over, making her duck her head behind Harry as she grips the back of his jacket.
"What we be ah gettin' pulled into?" Harry asks with a chuckle as he pulls her around him before pressing her face to his chest. A small squeak leaves her lips as she steps closer to him.
Gil poorly tries to hide his amusement as he covers his mouth with his hand.
"Be nice Harry," Deez finally looks up as she rests a hand on Gil's arm, "She's not used to all of us being in the same room yet. And you guys can be really overwhelming." She teases as she looks pointedly at Harry.
"We're working on school work together before Yensid gets here." Uma offers. "He said we were all weakest when it came to math, except T." She sighs, "I was hoping he'd help us with it before he got here."
"T's awful at math," Faustina mumbles as she looks down as she places her hands in the hoodie's pouch and fidgets.
Deez rolls her eyes, "That little liar." She chuckles and shakes her head, "I knew he wasn't patient enough for that."
"Huh." Uma pats the empty seat next to her. "This is perfect then."
What about the situation was perfect, exactly? She bites her lip, pouting when Harry chuckles and guides her to the table.
"I be ah needin' help with the math as well Love, we kind o' be ah countin' on ya," he points rudely at Deez, "since someone be ah not willin' ta be showin' the steps she be ah takin' ta be gettin' the answers."
Deez sighs.
She feels her cheeks burn as she sits down. "How can I help?" She ducks her head, knowing T would be frustrated by how meek she sounded.
"I need help with division and multiplication," Gil admits sheepishly.
"And I need help with factors and exponents." Uma sighs.
"An' if it be ah bein' math, I be ah needin' help," He winks at Uma, "After all, who be ah needin' ta count past one when that be ah bein' what ya are?"
"And I need to figure out why you need to show the work." Deez huffs. "Apparently."
"Oh." She blinks. They were all on such different places. She bites her lip as she slowly pulls her books to her before she peeks up at Uma, "Who should I help first, Captain?"
Uma rubs her temples, "You mind giving Gil a hand? At least he wants to learn." She glares at Harry.
"Of course, Captain." She shifts in discomfort.
"Oh," Deez blinks before she stands up and collects the pictures into the notebook, "I can go work on the floor so you guys can be comfortable. I'll have more room." She walks to the other side of Gil before she lays out on the floor, managing to stay just close enough that she could tap her foot against his thigh.
"If you're sure that's where you wanna work." Uma smiles at her, "I think it might be helpful. Harry, c'mon, we can work on the bed." She stands.
"I be down for anythin' that can be done on ah bed." He chuckles before he presses his lips to her temple.
Uma joins his chuckle. "Of course you are." She shakes her head before she looks at her again. "There." She nods, "Does that help Faustina? Think you can loosen your hood?"
Her ears burn as she adjusts the hood and nods. "Thank you, Captain." She offers sheepishly, relieved Uma wasn't asking her to lower it completely.
"Good." Uma nods in approval before she gathers her and Harry's books."C'mon Pretty Boy." She nods towards the bed.
She smiles as Harry squeezes her shoulder encouragingly before he rushes past Uma to jump on the bed. Flinching at the sound of the springs. She swallows before she turns to Gil and slowly sits next to him, with her back firmly to the offending piece of furniture.
Gil's friendly smile puts her at ease as she settles. "Do you want to start at the beginning? I know it's got to be frustrating for you." She bites her lip. "They're flipping on you right?" She asks quietly as she pulls her book to her and flips to the right chapter.
Gil's face reddens as he nods his head.
"That's okay, we'll just go slow. But you're going to have to say the numbers out loud so I know you're seeing the problem right. Sorry."
"She was the one working with us once we got the books from Yensid." Deez points out.
"Oh." Gil perks up slightly before he turns to her.
She nods. "We'll figure this out, just like what we did with reading." She bites her lip. "It's the one and sevens, nines and sixes, and three and eights tripping you right?"
Gil nods sheepishly.
"That's okay." She hesitantly puts her hand on his arm and squeezes it. "We've got this." She smiles softly. She reaches out to the scraps of paper and writes out the numbers. Adding extra lines and writing out the name of the number under each of them. Before she slides it over to him.
The room falls into an oddly comforting hum of soft sounds.
The scratching of pens and pencils across paper.
Deez softly humming to herself as she continued to write to the Prince.
Uma and Harry's occasional whispered arguments and questions.
Gil's soft voice as he read the problems out loud while she gently corrected when he wasn't seeing the right number.
She smiles at Gil when he gets his fifth multiplication problem right. "You're doing amazing." She whispers. "You're getting this much quicker than I expected."
"Thanks." Gil grins as he sits up, "It's 'cause you're ah good teacher." He furrows his brow as he rubs the back of his head, "I didn't know dyslexia made math hard too."
"It's my pleasure." She hesitantly pats his arm before she bites her lip, "I know you can do anything you put your mind to, you never give up till it becomes easy for you and even then you continue to work on it. It's a very admirable trait."
"Yet another admirable thing about you." Deez chuckles, "When ya gonna start listening to us?"
"Thank you." Gil perks up, "Coming from the both of you- It means a lot." He grins before he drops a hand under the table, chuckling when Deez starts to giggle.
"You're much smarter than you give yourself credit for." She adds quietly. "Once you get over the hurdle you take off running." She squeezes his arm. "Let's do five more, and then try division, okay?"
Gil grins at her before he nods his head. "Thank you."
"Of course. Happy to help." She smiles when Gil's face goes serious and he gets back to writing as she continues to work on writing out the steps she hoped would help Uma with understanding factors and exponents.
The room falls into another comfortable hum until it's broken by a flash and a clicking and whirring sound.
She looks up in confusion before she smiles at Deez.
"Sorry." Deez grimaces as she takes a few steps back, "I forgot it flashed."
Uma chuckles, "It's sweet though. This is nice. Having everyone here helping each other. I don't blame you for wanting to capture it. Thank you."
Deez tilts her head to the side, "Oh, should I take another? I was going to write about our new school to the Prince."
"If you don't mind," Uma smiles sweetly. "I want one for us too. It's so rare."
"Well then get back to work." The room fills with laughter at Deez's order as they heed it.
She smiles, loving the warmth that filled the room at the sound.
When Deez puts down the camera again, she looks up with a hesitant smile in her direction. "Deez?" She whispers softly, knowing the other girl could still hear her.
Deez smiles as she turns to her, "Oh-I'm sorry about that. That was pretty bright. I wasn't thinking."
"No, it wasn't-" She shakes her head, "Um, it's just-" She bows her head. She hated asking people for things. But they were on the bed, and she couldn't even bring herself to look at it right now, let alone be near it. She shifts in discomfort, but at least she could whisper and not draw attention to herself with the demi-goddess's amazing hearing. "Do you mind giving this to the Captain?" She pushes the piece of paper towards her.
"Oh, yeah. I got it." Deez smiles as she takes the page.
"Thank you." She breathes in relief.
Gil looks up in confusion, "Got what?"
Deez chuckles as she runs her free hand through his hair, "A delivery."
"Huh." He looks between her and Deez for a moment, "Oh." He chuckles before he bends back over his workbook.
Deez walks out of her sight before she flinches at the sound of the springs. Ignoring the way Gil glanced in her direction as she ducks her head.
"Delivery."
"Delivery?" Uma asks curiously.
"Yep. Math help from Faustina."
She shrinks slightly in her chair and stares intently at the table.
"Ya can be ah stickin' yer tongue back in ur mouth or I be ah findin ah use for me new trophy." Harry grumbles, "Ya be at least able ta be ah gettin' the right answers."
She smiles hearing the pout in his tone. She'd have to help him later.
"I'm not holding out on a huge secret or anything Harry." Deez huffs, "I don't know how I know, I just do. You don't get this upset over me connecting dots."
"It's like a riddle, some people are just better at figuring it out than others." She offers, hoping she was loud enough to be heard.
Harry sighs, and suddenly Deez tumbles into their chairs.
"Thank you." Deez huffs as she pulls herself up.
"You had a distraction, now get back to work." Uma orders.
"Aye Cap'in, ya be ah crackin' the whip nice like." Harry grumbles
Gil chuckles before he pushes his workbook back to her. "Are these right?"
She grins as she looks over the problems. Of course he would do twice the amount of problems she asked him to. "Great job." She smiles up at him.
"I think it was just the numbers movin'," Gil admits quietly.
She glances back down at the page, "I think so too. Let's see how you do with division. If you get that, we can move on to fractions since they're so similar."
"Gil be ah gettin' somethin'?" Harry asks excitedly.
Gil turns, "Yeah, she helped me figure out how to read the numbers right."
"Congrats Sweet Boy-" He starts sweetly before his voice becomes rushed, "Be ah switchin' with me fer the love of Neptune. Uma would'nah ever be ah hittin' ya this much."
She smiles, unable to help her amusement.
"Cause he actually tries instead of bitching." She could hear the eye roll.
"I don't know," Gil teases, "She's really helping me figure this out."
"Don'nah be makin' me pull rank."
"Ugh." Uma huffs, "Faustina do you mind?"
"Whatever you want, Captain."
Deez scrambles on the floor to collect her project as Gil stands with his workbook.
"Finally," Harry whoops.
"It's okay if I come back to ask questions right?" Gil asks her softly.
She flinches as she hears the springs bounce, looking away when Gil tilts his head in confusion. "Yes, of course."
"Baby Girl, ya be ah actin' like ya be ah scared o' me or somethin'." Harry teases as he slips under Gil to claim the seat.
"Yeah," Gil walks away, "You wanting attention instead of working is a little scary."
"What he said." Deez pouts.
She giggles softly.
"Mind if I join?" Deez asks.
"Of course not Baby Girl." She hears Uma pat the bed.
She flinches at the slight noise the springs make as Uma 'omphs'. She holds her breath as she waits for Gil to join them.
"Ya be okay?" Harry whispers as he runs a finger along her jaw to get her to look up at him.
She blushes as she nods mutely.
He smiles as he runs his fingers under the hoodie through her hair. He pulls his hand back palm up, lingering at the point where her short red hair was barely clinging to his fingers.
She nuzzles against it before she reluctantly moves away, her eyes dropping to his workbook. She reaches out and pulls it towards her. She bites her lip as she sees all the red marks Yensid had put in it. Oh. She looks back up at him. He wasn't even trying after he'd finished the addition and subtraction.
"I know it be ah bein' bad," Harry sighs as he drops his chin to his chest and slumps back in his chair, "but T be ah helpin' me at first, and then he were'nah here ta be ah helpin'."
"Oh." She frowns as she hesitantly reaches out to take his hand and squeezes. "He's bad at project hopping." She leans over the book. "I know you can do this, you just need to focus." Or… She bites her lip. He needed rewards to care.
"Ah, focus… It be ah bein' such ah elusive thing." He holds his free hand into the air before he fakes it crashing into the table, complete with sound effects.
She raises his hand to her lips and gently kisses the center of his palm. "We can work on that too, sir." She blushes before she releases his hand. "Let's get started before Captain gets upset."
"Aye, Kraken be ah crackin' the whip," He turns to look over his shoulder before he snorts, "At least she be ah doin' it with me."
"Because you're an asshole." Uma scoffs.
"Oh come on, ya be ah sweet an' playin' with the Baby Girl's hair and smilin' at the Sweet Boy."
"Yeah, because they're actually trying."
"She ain'nah even workin' her math," Harry huffs, "she be ah playin' with pictures for the Prince."
"Yeah, because she's already caught up. She just needs to work on writing out her steps. Which-" Her voice grows softer. "Thank you Faustina, your notes make a lot more sense than the book."
She shrinks slightly as she puts her hands in her pocket again, feeling awkward at the praise "Glad it helped, Captain."
Harry sighs as he turns back to the table, propping his elbows on the surface dramatically before he rests his chin in his palms. "Math be ah makin' me feel dumb."
She frowns. "You're not dumb, you just think it's boring."
He tilts his chin towards her, "Aye." He sighs, "But that don'nah be ah soundin' like it be ah gettin' me outta ah damn thing."
"Then let's figure out what makes it interesting for you." She bites her lip. "Or at least figure out an incentive for you to care."
Harry watches her for a couple of seconds before a wicked grin lights up his face, "Oh, I might be ah knowin' somethin' that could be ah makin' numbers more fun."
She smiles up at him, "What are you thinking?"
"Oh, I be ah thinkin' 'bout yer lips an' how soft they be." He winks.
She blushes.
"You should be thinking about math." Uma scolds sternly. "And the way the numbers change when you do different things to them."
She bites her lip. Kissing. And math. She narrows her eyes before she sighs, unable to come up with anything. "Can I be excused for a moment, Captain?"
"Ooh, I like that. You all need to do that from now on when we're all together like this." She chuckles, "And sure, but what's up?"
"I want to go get some gold to help him understand."
"I keep finding gold stuff all over the ship," Deez admits, "are you the one hiding it?"
"Oh." She frowns. Well there went that idea.
"Ya be ah listenin' here 'lil Treasure, that be ah bein' me treasure ta be ah findin'."
"I keep leavin' it in here." Deez huffs.
"It's in the box next to my tattoo gun." Gil chuckles. "Want me to get it?"
"Oh, no that's fine. If you don't mind me touching it I can get it."
But Harry was already up and rummaging through Gil's box, "Where ya keep findin' it?"
"In places I hide. The ship is full of small places."
Uma chuckles. "I didn't know that."
"I don't think I look at things the same way you guys do, except T or Faustina apparently."
She blushes, "T likes exploring." She shrinks slightly, "But-I like knowing where to hide too."
"That be ah good ta be knowin'." Harry grumbles as he resumes his seat and starts stacking gold coins he was carrying in his shirt.
"Look, you're already starting multiplication." She smiles when he makes several equal piles.
"I can only be ah stackin' them ta ten ah 'fore they be ah tippin'." Harry furrows his brow.
"Well, yes but how many piles are there?"
"I be ah makin'-" He counts softly under his breath, "eight stacks so far."
"So, how many are there? If there are eight stacks of ten?"
"There be bein' eighty shiny gold coin, duh."
"See, not dumb." She giggles as she slowly leans over and kisses his cheek.
"I be ah likin' this-" His eyes suddenly narrow, "Wait, that be what multiplyin' be?"
She nods.
"Wha- I be ah doin' that on the daily." Harry sits up, "I be ah countin' what I be stealin' from how many shops so I can be ah doin better next time-"
"That's division." She smiles.
"Ya be ah tellin' me ya actually be ah usin' this shite for real?"
She nods. "You all use algebra too. You just don't realize it. Especially Deez since she's organizing the hold."
"Really?"
"Really." She nods.
"Weird, but hey, didn't have to write out my steps for that either."
She shifts in discomfort as she flips through Harry's book to the back of it. "Sorry," She bites her lip. "but you really do. The further you get in math the more complicated it gets. You can't just look at them and know the answer immediately- At least not at first. That's why you have to write out the steps."
"You really should start working on that." Uma prompts gently.
"And be ah bein' glad she be ah takin' that tone with ya." Harry adds as he leans against Faustina's shoulder, reading a problem out softly before he looks back at the pile and starts arranging them into new stacks. "Like that?"
She glances at the pile before she smiles and kisses his cheek again. "Perfect."
"See what I can be ah doin' when kisses be what I be gettin'?"
"Want another?" Uma asks sweetly.
"Aye?" Harry's eyes widen as he turns around in his chair, "I can be ah gettin' 'em from everyone?"
"Finish a section, and we'll see."
"Yers be more valuable anyway." Harry winks as he spins in his chair to face the piles again.
She ducks her head as her cheeks burn. "We should really finish the section." She murmurs.
"Aye, right ya be Love." Harry nods begrudgingly before he looks down at the next problem and starts forming new stacks. "Should I be ah writin' the answers down?"
"I've been doing it. Since you're focused on the important part. Sorry"
"Don'nah be ah sorry, ya be awesome. Thanks." He turns back to the gold, sticking his tongue out as he concentrates on the piles.
She smiles, as she pulls the only other workbook on the table to her. She makes sure to pay attention every time Harry offers his found answer, kissing his cheek for every right one.
But between Harry finding the solutions, she looks over Deez's work and makes notes off to the side for her. Turning a lot of the algebra questions into word problems and breaking down the steps for several of them.
"Hey now, look-it me gettin' ah whole damn section done," Harry announces before he stands and slams his hand down on the table, knocking the stacked piles of gold over.
She startles at the sudden noise her face burning when she finds herself on the floor.
"Harry!" Uma snaps and Gil reprimands.
She flinches as she hears the springs bounce, her ears burning as she feels three sets of concerned eyes on her when two shadows lean over the edge of the bed.
Oh god. What had she done? She curls into herself, hugging her knees to her as she wished the floor would open up beneath her. Why? She wanted to run, but was afraid of drawing more attention to herself.
"Oh!" Harry frowns as he kneels by her, "I be ah so sorry. I were'nah thinkin'."
"I-it's m-my fault. Sorry."
"Shh Love." Harry pulls her against his side, "Here ya be ah helpin' me so much an I be ah scarin' the sand 'neath your feet."
She ducks her head. "But I, I'm h-happy you g-got th-through the, through the se-section."
"I be appreciatin' the support." Harry sighs.
"Hey um-" She hears Deez hesitantly call out, "Uma, Gil, would you mind reading this for me and telling me what you think? I'm not sure I like how it sounds and I really want the Prince to like it."
Silence.
Uma sighs, "Yeah, of course."
"Sure," Gil responds hesitantly.
She flinches at the springs moving, but she was grateful for Deez's distraction.
"Here, let's be ah gettin' off the floor, yeah?" Harry presses his lips to her forehead.
She nods mutely.
When he stands he pulls her up in his arms before he turns and sits in his chair with her in his lap.
"S-sorry."
"Ya did'nah be ah doin' nothin' wrong." He sighs, "I be gettin' excited like an' not be ah thinkin'. I can'nah even promise I won'nah ever be ah doin' it again, cause I be ah bastard, but I don'nah be ah wantin' ta be ah liar."
She blinks back tears of frustration, hating herself for making such a scene. "Y-you should be ex-excited. Y-you accomplished something."
"I can be ah gettin' excited other ways that ain'nah bein' so damn loud hopefully." He chuckles before he pulls the workbooks closer, "Ya be ah wantin' me ta be tryin' the next section?"
She nods. "Y-you're doing so well. I th-think it would be a g-good idea."
"Aye? Who I be a be ah not followin' good advice?" His brow furrows as he looks over her notes in Deez's workbook, "Ya be ah thinkin' she really don'nah be ah knowin' how ta be ah showin' the steps?"
She bites her lips to peek out to see what he was talking about and nods before she hides her face again, her cheeks still on fire. Why? She bites her lip as her hands start to fidget in the hoodie pocket. T wouldn't have jumped.
"Be ah takin' ah deep breath." Harry whispers softly against the hood, "Ya be fine. Just be ah breathin' for me, Love." She shivers at the warmth that permeates the fabric to hit her ear as she does as instructed.
Harry runs tender soft touches up and down her arm, "I be ah havin' ya, that be ah all that be ah matterin', aye?"
She nods before she turns to hide her head in his chest.
"It just be ah bein' you and me," He continues to breath softly against her, "an' math," he chuckles, "but really it ain'nah seemin' so horrible any more."
She takes several more breaths, though it doesn't seem to do anything for her racing heart. "Sorry."
"Now, now." He presses a finger to her lips, "Sorry ain'nah bein' invited to the party."
She swallows before nodding. Her head pressing against the nook of his shoulder as she looks at the wall across from them. "I don't think I do well with parties."
"I be ah figurin' out the book types never do." He chuckles, "Luckily ya'll be ah havin' yer own kind o' parties."
She loved the way his chest rumbled under her. The way he was holding her. It felt amazing that so many people cared about her. Even if she hated herself for her reactions, the fact that they didn't… She smiles as she tilts her head up and gently kisses the curve of his jaw before she points to his workbook.
"Right ya be." He closes the other workbook, "Get ta work 'lil Treasure, an' be ah catchin'." He calls out evenly before he tosses her book over his shoulder.
She flinches as someone scrambles on the bed to catch the book.
"Can you not?" Gil sighs. "You almost hit her."
"Mate, I be ah tryin'," Harry chuckles as he straightens his workbook out in front of him, "but not be ah mite too hard when I be ah figurin' out this math stuff."
"Aim then throw," Uma scolds.
"That's a form of math too…" She whispers against his neck.
"Really?" Harry whistles, "Ya be ah hearin' that? I be ah gettin' real good at this math real fast."
"No," Uma sighs, "We didn't-"
"Glad you're realizing how smart you are too." Deez chuckles.
She nods in agreement as she presses closer to him, the scent of clove enveloping her.
"Sure, that." Uma agrees stiffly.
Oooh. She grimaces. The Captain was clearly not thrilled about being interrupted. She hides her head back into Harry's shoulder. She did not want that directed at her at all.
"Hey Uma, if I figure out a section of this can we go to the cove?" Deez asks, her voice placating.
"Oh, I like that. Anyone who finishes three entire sections gets to go to the cove. The rest have to stay behind to finish their work."
She frowns. That was mean. She bites her lip before she peeks over Harry's shoulder. "Gil? W-want to come over?" She could handle two. And Gil was quiet. She could do that.
Gil had looked dejected, but her offer made him smile gratefully before he races off the bed. She tries to brace herself, but fails and flinches at the creaking springs.
"Thank you," Gil breathes, as he slides into the chair next to Harry, "I really wanna go to the cove too."
She nods as she twists in Harry's lap to pull his book to her. "Oh." She frowns. "Here." She leans over and shows him how to find the lowest common denominator, explaining every step carefully, waiting for Gil to nod before continuing. "It's like…" She narrows her eyes. "How you determine how much ink goes into your tattoo gun. You have to measure it out." She explains gently, knowing she always had an easier time when she could apply math to her interests. "Here, this problem can be divided by fourths, try that one." She pushes the book back to him.
She was so happy Harry was keeping her on his lap, one arm secured around her as he continued doing his own work. It felt wonderful to be held and to help at the same time.
"Thank you," Gil breathes out in relief before he bends over his workbook.
She leans over his shoulder as she watches him, smiling like an idiot when Harry's arm tightens around her. "You got it," She hesitantly pats his shoulder. "I knew you would. Great job."
She frowns, as she turns to Uma rolling her teeth between her lips as she fidgets in discomfort. Did she want to go to the cove with them? She watches Deez, who was acting like a desk across Uma's lap as they both worked in their workbooks.
She pulls her book to her and flips through it before she puts it on her lap and starts on her geometry problems. Either way, it was probably for the best to stay ahead of them so she could help them when they got to it.
She was so far behind she doubted she'd be able to catch up in time anyway. Three sections was a lot.
But she still helps the boys whenever they ask her for help on a problem, taking the time to explain and show them what they were stuck on. She didn't mind missing going to the cove, but she knew they would be so disappointed and upset if they didn't get to join Uma and Deez.
"Um… Uma?"
"What's wrong Baby Girl?"
"You want me to do this and then do two sections of stuff I haven't tried yet?"
"Yeah, you don't need to be right, you just need to try."
She frowns at the sigh of defeat. "Do you need help?" She offers hesitantly. Three was going to be a lot- But if it meant them going to have fun versus being stuck on the ship working alone, she'd do it.
"No, I see what I'm supposed to be doing to write out all the steps." She sighs, "It's just hard to think it all out and write it down when I know the answer already and I keep losing track of where I am in the steps. I'd rather you focus on Harry and Gil."
"You don't want to go to the cove then?" Uma asks expectantly.
"Doing this is making my head hurt, I'm not going to be able to try two new sections where I also have to show all the stupid work."
"The boys don't know what they're doing either." Uma points out.
"Yeah they do, they just didn't know they did."
"Well maybe you do too. Just try it." Uma sighs, "As I said it doesn't need to be perfect, you just have to try."
"But it would be faster and right if I didn't have to do it like this."
Uma chuckles, "You need to write it out, Deez."
"I'm trying." Deez huffs before her voice becomes muffled, "I just wanna write."
"Well, write out the work." Uma chuckles again, "The longer you argue the less time we'll have at the cove."
She frowns. Yeah. There was no way she was going to the cove today. She shakes her head. "Captain…" She stiffens as she looks over Harry's shoulder.
"Yes," Uma looks up in surprise.
She shifts in discomfort as the whole room settles into silence, feeling three sets of eyes on her again. "Um, well, it's just...Algebra's a lot more complicated and time-consuming… Since she's already on it, can't she just…" She swallows, her throat suddenly dry. Biting her lip when she feels warmth pool on the back of her hand. "Do the one? It's like doing four sections, by itself..."
"Breathe," Harry whispers as his arm tightens around her.
Oh. She frowns as she takes a breath.
Uma's eyes narrow before she twists to look down at Deez's workbook and groans. "What the fuck is that? Why the fuck are there letters? And the layers?"
She flinches at her tone as she leans so her mouth is pressed against Harry's shoulder.
"The layers are the stupid work you have to show." Deez kicks her feet against the bed in frustration, "This part is the answer. And I got them all right, but now I have to break down why I'm right and I suck at that in every damn part of my life." She drops her head to the bed as her feet keep tapping a rhythm on the bed behind her.
She flinches at every creak, hiding in Harry's shoulder again.
"Deez, be ah knockin' it the fuck off."
The noise stops abruptly.
"Fine." Uma sighs, "Just finish that page, then you can come. That more fair?"
She fidgets as she waits for Deez to answer.
"Good." Uma chuckles. "Now stop throwing your tantrum and get to work." The sound of patting the bed thankfully wasn't accompanied by creaks this time, "You only have eight more problems."
Again Deez doesn't respond.
"Fair." She flinches as the bed creaks when one of them moves. "I know it's frustrating, but still, all I want you to do is try. We're a family, and we're working on this together. It's just a few more problems. You can do this."
"Yeah," She hears Gil turn in his seat. "You're really smart Deez. You can do this. I know you can. And if we all work really hard we could all head out before one and enjoy the rest of the day." His voice grows concerned. "Deez?"
Silence.
She hears Gil stand up before she flinches at the creak.
She tilts her head up at Harry, noticing the way he was watching the rest of the family with a frown.
"Want to go over too?" She whispers.
Harry gently shakes his head before he turns back to the table, "Nah, they be ah havin' this." He whispers before he smiles down at her, "She can be bein' ah lot like you when she be upset o'er somethin'."
She nods, as she drops her eyes back to her book, "Should I leave then?"
"No." Harry hugs her closer, "Ya can'nah be ah gettin' outta helpin' me that easy."
"But-" She frowns as she fidgets more, oblivious to the slick warmth smudging the hoodie. "Yes, sir."
Harry sighs as he tilts his head, "Sides, me an' the Sweet Boy still be ah needin' yer help if we even be ah havin' a clam's chance in ah stew pot ta be ah goin' to the cove."
She nods, "But what are you going to do if Deez can't come? The water's too cold."
"I be ah thinkin' Uma be realizin' not all math be ah bein' equal. Sides, she can be ah bringin' her eight problems with us if needs be."
She sighs but nods as she starts on her next problem before she notices the red and places her right hand back in her pocket.
Harry sighs as he stands with her in his arms, "Uma, we can be ah grabbin' something an be ah comin' right back?"
She looks up to him in concern as she starts to fidget again, what had she done wrong. She swallows. Oh no. She curls into herself. Deez had warned her.
"You're excused." Uma chuckles, "Just don't dick off. Keep him in line, Faustina."
"We be ah bein' right back." Harry nods before he walks to the door and sets her on her feet.
She looks up to him with a frown as she shuffles back and forth. Her eyes darting to the three on the bed. When she sees Deez laying face down on the bed with her arms crossed over her head, she bites her lip. Until she pulls her eyes to Uma and Gil comforting her. She'd be terrified if she were feeling that overwhelmed and had that many people hovering over her. And on a bed.
"We be ah headin' to yer room." Harry prompts before he crosses his arms over his chest.
"Yes, sir." She hangs her head, before she opens the door after a moment of waiting.
"Please, just, stop. It's not the math." She hears Deez cry, finally breaking her silence.
She turns to look at Deez in concern. She sounded so frustrated it hurt. She pauses as she turns back, indecisively.
Harry sighs before he bends slightly to whisper, "We be ah needin' to bandage yer hand, so we can be ah doin' it in there, or we be ah headin' to your room. Yer choice."
She toes nothing before she nods her head and heads out the door. She was embarrassed enough without the others knowing. She was upset she'd scrubbed her hand that bad in the first place. Again. She bites her lip as she leads the way to her room. She pulls out a lock pick set from one of the cargo pockets before she kneels in front of the door, and starts picking it. Once it clicks she opens the door and steps in, holding it open for Harry before she closes it behind him.
Without him asking she walks over to collect the things they'd need, not wanting him to get more upset at her for arguing. Once it's all on the table. She looks down, bouncing slightly on the heels of her feet.
"I be allowed ta be helpin' then?" He asks with a small smile.
"I-" She blushes, "I can do it. I just- I thought-"
"Oh, I do be ah wantin' to, I just be ah learnin' ta be ah pickin' me battles with T. I were'nah bein' sure ya ain'nah also bein' stubborn 'bout this kin' o' thing." He pushes off the wall near the door and walks over to sit in the chair before he pats his knee, "Be ah comin' here." he turns to start arranging the supplies.
Her stomach flips before she steps forward. "Yes, sir."
"Why ya be ah callin' me 'sir' like that?" Harry asks as he helps her sit.
"Like what?"
"Like ya be ah thinkin' ya be in trouble."
"I-" She frowns, as she looks down at her, well T's boots. "I didn't mean to interrupt your work-And take time away from the rest of the family- Or to-" She covers her hand. "I was just- I wasn't thinking, and now you're wasting your time."
"I be glad ta be knowin' that." Harry sighs as he takes her hand and holds it out before dosing it with the bottle of alcohol, "If ya be ah doin' this with purpose to yer hand I be ah real worried." He smiles softly before he slathers it with ointment. "But ya ain'nah bein' ah waste o' me time. So be ah puttin' thoughts like that away."
"I'm sorry- I won't say it again."
"Oh no, if ya be ah thinkin' that I be ah wantin' ta know. Just, ya be ah needin' ta know ya be wrong." He corrects her as he slowly, tenderly, starts wrapping the bandage around her hand.
"But-" He had better things to do than worry about her hand. She could have easily wrapped it herself. She felt awful. Deez was clearly going through something, and she'd pulled Harry away from it selfishly. She bites her lip as she looks down at the back of her wrist. "You don't have to worry," She smiles at him, "I know I shouldn't even be out right now."
Harry's brow furrows, but he continues to focus on her hand, "Why ya be ah sayin' that?"
"Because, I know people shouldn't know about me. T will be upset. And you all were worried about Gil- Which-" She drops her head. "I'm-"
"Whoa now." Harry's eyes harden as he turns her to face him, "We be ah messin' that up with Gil. We should ah been tellin' him sooner. We ain'nah tryin' ta lock ya away an' not let you live. We ain'nah worried 'bout what people think. But we be respectin' you and T, so we be ah tryin' our best ta be understandin' and let ya both be ah knowin' we be here for ya. But never be ah thinkin' we be ashamed o' ya or tryin' ta keep ya locked away. Ya be ah havin' enough o' that already."
She feels her vision blur as she looks away, trying to blink them away. Even if it wasn't true, it was really nice to hear. She bites her lip as she scrubs at her pants. "But-" She frowns, "It's okay. I really don't mind. I don't- T's already upset thinking that he can't take care of himself- And it seems no one wants me on the isle- Which is fine. I don't really like open places- Or being around too many people- Or loud noise. I'm okay if only the four-five of you know I exist. It's a lot more than before."
"So long as it be yer choice, that be fine. But it will always be ah bein' yer choice." Harry pulls her into his arms as he stands, "I can'nah be ah fillin' ya with the truth, you gotta be acceptin' it, but I will never stop tellin' both you an' T how important ya be to me. Ta all o' us. And I just be ah hopin' one day ya be seein' yerselfs the way we do."
"But that's-" She wipes away her tears, "You barely even know me. That's not fair- I'm not-It's not your- You have so much more important-"
"Ah…" Harry puts a finger over her lips, "I be ah willin' ta be hearin' ya out, Love, but know everything 'bout you, fair or not, important to me ya be."
But why though? She knew why she adored them. Loved them. Trusted them. She'd watched them for so long, lived to hear about them from T. It just didn't seem right. But it seemed rude to argue. You shouldn't look a gift seahorse in the mouth.
"Thank you." She breathes out. After all he'd saved her, them. She wouldn't even be alive right now if it wasn't for him. T wouldn't be alive. He'd saved them from that hell, and then Uma and him and Yensid spent god only knew how long making sure they lived through the burns and infections. That couldn't have been easy. Or enjoyable. She owed so much to them. It felt disrespectful, worse, ungrateful for her to keep disagreeing with him. She didn't understand why it mattered.
Why, she mattered. And that hurt her on a level she didn't quite recognize. "Can I stay down here please? I'm not going to be able to finish my sections, and Deez seemed really upset and I'll probably make it worse- Or be in the way." She fidgets as she bites her lip.
"No can be ah doin' Love," Harry grins as he turns for the door, "Uma be ah givin' ya ah' order. An' stayin' away ain'nah bein' our family's style anyways."
"But-" She hangs her head. She couldn't argue. "Yes, sir." She sighs.
Ugh, Math.
Seriously though, fuck that shit…
Anyways,
What did you guys think of this chapter?
Did you like seeing another one from Faustina's PoV? Did you like how she helped them? Or did you find it obnoxious?
What do you think is the matter with Deez?
Isn't Gil just the sweetest when he's insecure?
Uma's really kraken that whip. Are you guys loving it? How motherly she gets?
How cute is Harry with Faustina though?
Faustina has it so fucking bad for Harry, it's almost embarrassing for me to write, how is it to read?
Let us know!
Much love and appreciation
-Twisted