"Pleasure to see you, Pan."
A man stood in the shadows. I couldn't see his face. Pan's expression hardened. "Why are you here? I thought our business was over." Business? What was going on here? He stepped into the light.
"Well, don't tell me you aren't happy to see me," the man said. He was tall and pale, and wore all black. If the Grim Reaper was 20-something, maybe he'd look like this.
"I'm afraid I can't say that, Captain." Captain? Alright, so what was this guy, a pirate? It certainly wouldn't have been the strangest thing I'd seen. "The fish in your bay are dying, which is good for neither of us." Pan raised an eyebrow. "What do you want me to do about that? Hand feed the fish, make sure they all live long and healthy lives?" The captain rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to ensure the livelihood of your island, in case you weren't sure."
I reached for Pan's hand. Instead of taking it, he pushed me behind him and took a step forwards. "I so do appreciate your concern, Killian, but I don't need your assistance. We'll do fine on our own. You and your crew, however, may be in for a spot of trouble." If looks could kill, this guy would have stabbed Pan a thousand times over already."You're going to regret this, Pan." He stared me down. "You'd best watch yourself too." Killian shook his head, and pushed past Pan and I to get out the door. "You can show yourself out!" Pan called after him. I took a deep breath, and wrapped my arms around myself. But I felt him move my arms away, and instead pull me in close to him. I was shaking and hyperventilating. Pan held me while I cried, and we stayed that way for a while, but not long enough.
"Love, don't bother with him," he told me. I scoffed quietly. "How do I not bother with that?" Pan looked down at me and cupped my chin in his hand. He leaned down and kissed me, a new kind of kiss. It wasn't the rushed, agitated kissing I was used to. This kiss was soft. I broke away and stared at him, confused. "Bother with me instead."
I spent the rest of that day laying in his bed, listening to my own breathe. Whatever was going on outside didn't sound very interesting, so I slept, and I cried, and I drank coconut water. That was it.