Sometimes, I just can't help myself.

6. Trailblazing

Harry looked like death warmed over. Worse, actually. Gil had to get him to Yen Sid as quick as possible, but a few lousy pirates from another crew were impeding their progress; adult pirates, no less. They were currently in Harry's quarters on the Lost Revenge, trapped. They would have to fight their way out. Well… Gil would have to fight their way out; Harry was in no condition to be doing much of anything. It was all up to Gil now. Despite their desperate situation, they did have a small advantage over their current foes: the pistol Harry had snatched from his father's study some time ago was still loaded, although neither of them were sure if it was his starter pistol or not.

Gil hauled the pirate to his feet, holding him up right by the waist; Harry kept his hand on his friend's shoulder for stability. With this illness plaguing him, Harry was even more off-kilter than usual. Gil had to be the smart one now; getting out of this was going to be tricky.

"Whatever happens, don't let go until I say," Gil said to him.

"Of course, my lover," Harry snickered, a stupid grin on his face.

Gil rolled his eyes. "You're an idiot, Hook."

Harry's grin grew wider as he cocked his head to the side, ever so slightly, whispering in Gil's ear, and sounding more drunk than seriously ill, "ye know, anyone who sees this from my backside might think we're making out." He drawled out the last few words.

"Exactly," the blond replied.

The pirate smiled maniacally. "Gil…? There somethin' yer tryin' tae tell me?"

Gil smirked. "You wish."

Harry was about to say something when Gil hashed him. His ear twitched at the sound of footsteps heading towards them. The pirate's head suddenly dropped onto his shoulder.

"Ah cannae stan' up much longer," Harry said quietly, his warm, but stuttering breath falling softly on Gil's neck.

"I got you. Don't worry."

Harry wheezed with his next breath. "Don't leave me." The pirate knew very well that he was slowing Gil down. If it wasn't for him, the blond would have already been out of here.

Gil felt the other young man's hot tears splash onto his neck. "We're gettin' outa here together. I promise. I won't leave you."

Their enemy was at the door. He could hear their heavy breathing above Harry's. "They're here."

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," one of them sang in an annoyingly high-pitched voice. He really hated it when pirates – or anyone, for that matter – did that.

"Don't move till I tell you. Savvy?"

Even in his stupor, Harry still managed a grin. "Aye… Captain."

Just as the pirates on the other side kicked in the door, Gil deliberately turned his head into Harry's face, effectively making it look as of the young pirate was attacked in his neck.

"Well, well, well," the smaller of the two pirates said. "Looks like we interrupted two young lovers."

Gil smiled, almost sadistically, as he discreetly reached for the pistol tucked in Harry's belt.

"What're ye doin'?" Harry asked quietly, a slight slur in his voice that only Gil and Uma would notice.

"You'll see," he whispered back, pulling the pistol in between the two of them. "Get ready."

Gil turned to face the intruders. "You have five seconds to get outa here."

The two men chuckled. "Bein' threatened by a bairn," the taller one drawled. "What ye gonna do, little boy?"

This time, Gil did manage a sadistic smile, one that would make both Uma and Harry proud. "This."

In a single, swift motion, Harry turned away from Gil and the two men in front of them from themselves staring down the barrel of a gun. They stared at the young blond in stunned silence.

"You ain't got the guts, boy."

Gil's eyes narrowed. "You think so?" He cocked the pistol.

Both older pirate snarled and started moving towards them, swords drawn. Gil's eyes grew darker and his expression turned cold. He waited, still as a statue, giving them the opportunity to change their minds. But they continued to inch closer.

"You still have time to turn and run," Gil said, the light tone of his voice not matching the hellish look that manifested in his eyes. But the Pirates would not stop their advance. A low growl escaped Gil's throat. "Bad form."

Gil's movements made Harry's head spin. The blond let go of him, reaching behind himself and pulling out another pistol Harry hadn't noticed before. The advancing men stopped dead in their tracks. Gil wasn't intending on using the pistols, considering that he wasn't sure if either of them would actually work properly. And killing anyone in order for him and Harry to get out alive was going to be a last resort. Something he hoped he wouldn't have to, well, resort to.

He was suddenly struck with an idea. Before the two older pirates had barged their way in, Gil had noticed two very distinct features about Harry's cabin. Attached to the ceiling's central crossbeam was one of a pair of shields, he and Harry had confiscated from Hades. Thin ropes lined the wall, running up to the beam. Cut any of those ropes and the shield comes swinging downward, knocking out whoever happened to be in its way. Leave it to Harry to use his half of the pair as part of a trap.

The other distinct feature of Harry's cabin didn't actually belong in the young pirate's room. It belonged in his. The second shield leaned lazily against Harry's wardrobe. With a little skill and luck, Gil could easily use it against the two intruders. If his father had taught him anything worth remembering it was how to use nearly any object as a weapon. And a few sleight-of-hand tricks. Now was the time to see just how well those lessons sunk in.

Gil smirked, his eyes trailing towards the ropes on the wall, hoping the idiot pirates would follow his gaze. They did. Morons.

Poor, ill Harry's brain was already swimming, but watching his friend's swift and precise movements made him nauseous. The pirates never knew what hit them. It was as if Gil had been practicing for this very moment for years. The blond's motions were fast and fluid, exchanging the pistol he held in his left hand for the dagger on his belt, throwing it at one of the ropes, cutting it, and sending Harry's shield swinging into the back of the taller intruder's head; knocking him out cold. Without taking so much as a breath, Gil picked up his shield with his foot and kicked it at the second pirate, using a rather effective technique he learned by observing Jay's footwork with crates and other objects. The pirate didn't have a chance; he was out cold in a matter of seconds.

Gil stuck the pistol he still held into his belt and turned back to Harry who was beginning to slide down the wall. "I gotcha," he said, hauling the junior Hook back to his feet.

"That was impressive," Harry slurred, as Gil dragged him out of the cabin.

"Just blazin' new trails," the blond said. "Let's get you ta Yen Sid."

xJollyRogerx

This was intended to be a part of either 'Heart of Auradon' or 'Silver Tide' to explain how Harry and Gil made it to Auradon. Since I'm still unsure if I'm going to use it, I decided to stick it here. Mainly, because I like how it turned out. And it gives you better insight into my sense of humor. I probably could've turned this into a one-shot if I added a bit more. Oh, well.

(Just so you know, I personally don't write LGBT-themed stories (that sentence sounds weird the way I stated it. Meh, whatever). If you're looking for that I recommend checking out XxVallirenxX and xxXTheySayI'mEvilXxx. Yes, it's a shameless plug, sort of. Hey, I can promote whichever authors I want to. What? Don't judge me. "Nyah!" (I've had too much coffee.) Anyway….)

Hope you enjoyed it, my lovelies.

Love you guys. Until next time.