Trigger Warning: There is mention of abuse in this chapter. I'm pretty sure this is the only chapter where there will be actual abuse, it may be mentioned in later chapters.
The next day, Captain Hook traveled through the city, unaware of a cloaked figure following close behind. Walking up to a group of sailors, he feigned the part of a lost fisherman on his first journey.
"I seem to have forgotten my way back to the docks. If you could point me in the right direction, I'd be forever in your debt." The cloaked figure had to admit, he seemed very convincing, even with the pirate attire and hook for a hand.
"Straight ahead, good sir." A young man answered, pointing down the cobbled street. "Do well not to get lost again. Wouldn't want that to happen on the sea, would ya?" The group laughed and Hook chuckled appropriately with them. Nodding his thanks, he walked away, but not before the figure saw a sack of gold being slipped into his pocket. More curious than ever, the figure followed him down aways before he took a sudden right, away from Red Beard's ship.
Standing at the corner, the figure noticed him slip the gold to another pirate, who then handed him the tricorn hat from his head. It was beautifully black, with gold thread weaving through in a random design. The figure couldn't help but laugh at Hook's plan, and had to hide before he turned around and saw her. Of course, she figured he would turn back to her ship and try to pass that hat as Red Beard's. Instead, he once again walked towards the dock, the hat hanging casually by his side, meant not to raise suspicions. The figure, now confused, had to stay hidden in a doorway that led to the docks so that they wouldn't be seen, but knew her cover would have to be blown soon. She watched as Hook approached Red Beard's ship and walked on board without hesitation. In her mind, she couldn't help but wonder if he would go through with it anyway.
Red Beard came into her line of vision and her breath caught in her throat. He looked the same, just as handsome and trustworthy as he had the first time they met. Steeling her heart, she watched as Hook talked to the pirate she wanted dead more than anything, and saw in dismay that Hook turned around quickly and walked away.
Still hidden, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion when she saw Hook walk away with a different hat. Then, it clicked, and she started laughing softly, nodding her head understanding. Moving as quickly as possible, she ran towards her ship, ready to make sure her brother was gone and not going to ask questions Hook wouldn't be able to answer.
Hook approached the horribly maintained ship with Red Beard's hat. He still didn't understand why Andrew chose that name as a pirate, since the only red thing about him was his hat and not his nonexistent beard. Since he was early, Hook wasn't expecting anyone to be there, but Lea was, sitting nonchalantly on a barrel, a red cloak laying haphazardly next to her.
"You're early, pirate." She sneered in a way that mimicked her brother, but it was quickly replaced with a knowing smile. "Did he put up a fight?" Hook was taken aback by the question, clearly not expecting it.
"Aye, he did, but I have his hat here, so I'd like the gold and ruby now." Lea's eyes sparkled with concealed laughter at the lying pirate and stood up slowly.
"You're a bad liar, pirate. If he really put up a fight, there'd be blood all over your nice vest and jacket. Instead, they look just like did last night, over worn and semi-clean." Hook glanced around anxiously, ready to escape immediately. "You're lucky I like you," Lea continued, walking closer, "or I'd have already killed you. Instead, I'll take the hat, you get your reward and the fact that Red Beard is still very much alive," Hook took notice of the resentment growing in her eyes at the mention of Red Beard, and was suspicious that she had to pause to keep her bearings, "stays between us."
She grabbed the deep red hat and led him back to the room with the chest. She spotted his hesitation to go inside the room and sent him a reassuring smile that bordered on sarcastic. Sighing, Lea went in ahead and threw open the chest, reaching in and bringing out a handful to give Hook. He accepted it cautiously and noticed that a ruby was not among the loot in his hand.
"What about the ruby your brother was so ecstatic about?" The question seemed innocent enough, but Lea just stared at him for a few seconds, murderous intent clear in her pupils.
"Of course, how could I forget?" Releasing a shaky breath, she closed her eyes as if bracing herself for impact of a cannon. She snatched the ruby necklace from around her neck and shoved it at him, wincing when he actually took it. "Leave now, pirate, and never come back." Lea warned Hook and started to push him towards the door.
When he was gone, she turned her back to the door and let the silent sobs overtake her, her entire body shaking with the emotions she'd kept bottled up for over three years. When heavy boots were heard above deck, Lea grabbed Red Beard's hat and ran up to show it to her brother, hoping he would let her keep it.
"Brother! Captain Hook kept his promise!" She exclaimed, showing the hat as proof. She couldn't stop the smile from appearing on her face at the very nice hat and didn't notice the angry look on Ronald's face.
"You stupid bitch!" He yelled, smacking her with the backside of his hand, sending her sprawling to the floor, the hat gliding softly to a stop next to her. "He didn't kill Red Beard! If you didn't see him do it, he didn't do it!" he spat at her viciously and it took all of her willpower to keep from crying again.
"But I did see him, brother!" Lea pleaded, keeping her eyes trained on the deck. "He went to the ship and there was a struggle. The Captain threw Andr-Red Beard-overboard! I swear, brother, that is the truth." Shaking with fear, Lea waited for the expected blow. Surprisingly, Ronald grunted and picked up the hat.
"This is the backstabber's hat, ain't it?" he mused to himself and she carefully didn't move in case it upset him. "Alright, that's all of our problems, gone. We can finally move on with our lives. Clean up the deck, whore." Ronald spat again and started to walk away.
"Brother," Lea started hesitantly, looking up at him through her red hair, "May I keep the hat?"
Ronald took the statement the wrong way, and Lea blamed herself immediately. She didn't want it for sentimental value, but because it was a pretty hat. As he advanced towards her again, Lea shook her head adamantly and started backing away, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. "I didn't mean it, brother. I'm sorry." But it was too late for apologies. Ronald threw the hat into the sea and kicked her within the same second. The dread in her chest intensified as Lea waited for it all to be over.
Captain Hook prepared to set sail, a heavy feeling in his chest as he glanced at the rundown ship at the end of the dock. Something was off about Lea and Ronald, something that made leaving harder than necessary.
"Captain!" Smee called from the deck, looking into the water below.
"What is it now, Smee?" Hook asked, ready to throttle his first mate if he mentioned anything about a girl or a porthole.
"There's a hat floating towards us." Smee answered, oblivious to his Captain's well concealed exasperation. "It's red, looks a lot like Captain Red Beard's. What's it doing over here?" Hook immediately walked over to the rail and peered down. There it was, the hat he worked so hard to get for Lea and her pompous brother, thrown away like garbage.
Judging by the look on Lea's face when she took it, it probably wasn't her choice to chuck it into the ocean. "Pick it up, Smee," Hook ordered in a surprisingly soft voice. Smee brought it up and Hook carried it to his quarters. In the corner, there was a chest similar to the one Lea had.
Opening it, Hook dropped the hat inside along with the ruby necklace, vowing never to sell either, although both would go for a large price. Sighing, Hook turned away and headed above, ready to leave now more than ever.
The next morning, when Ronald went to search for his crew of 6 men, Lea decided to walk around the city one more time. Who knew when they would port in place that wasn't sketchy again? Captain Hook had left the night before, obviously not wanting to stay in such close proximity to her or Ronald anymore than he had already.
In her red cloak that covered her face, including the bruise forming under her eye, Lea walked through the nicely cobbled streets, not straying far from the shadows. She swiped a few gold pieces from a rich man buying bread and bought herself a loaf to share with her brother when he returned to the ship later.
Before she realized, Lea was standing at the docks, staring at Red Beard's ship, which was lifting it's anchor and setting sail. Without meaning to, she stepped out of the shadows and looked up at the magnificent ship that had captured her attention so diligently those many years ago.
Taking a bite of bread, she noticed that Red Beard was standing at the helm, staring at her. He had that adorable look on his face he always got when he was confused or couldn't quite remember something.
Realizing her mistake, the red cloak, Lea ran back to the shade of the door way, but not before she saw him move away from the wheel and towards the side of his ship.
"Lea?" She could hardly hear the word over the magical sound of waves, but it was there. His voice, it made shivers go up her spine and her breath to leave her in a whoosh. Slowly, she slid to the ground until his ship was most definitely gone, for that was the only time she could find the strength to stand.
She shouldn't feel this sadness in her chest, this emptiness that resonated through her. She shouldn't feel anything but anger for this man that killed her parents.