6.
Wendy woke up with her different parts of her body throbbing. She sat up carefully, nursing her headache. She felt as if she'd been sleeping for years, and had just arisen.
"Ah, my beauty, you've woken up," Hook said smiling sarcastically at her.
"It seems so," she said wearily.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, sitting down on the bed.
"Like the only thing I've ever known is how to sleep."
"I'm sure you know more than that," he said, and then taking her bandaged hand said, "You'll need to change these after your bath. I put them on, and I've too much to do to try again. You've brought the crew to their highest point of moral, I have to go and squeeze some of it out of them. After your bath I shall be back to question you about your motives last night."
Wendy was horrified to find the bandage that high up on her leg, glad she had been sleeping when he did this. But she had changed them herself and was rather proud of the outcome.
When Hook came back silently, he saw Wendy in the mirror patting the stomach of her dress looking at herself with a mixture of relief and disappointment.
"What are you doing?" he asked confused.
"Oh," she said turning to him, "Nothing."
She seemed slightly embarrassed but not enough to let him know she had been doing something he didn't want her to. Just something she didn't want him to know.
"Tell me," he said, sitting on the couch and motioned for her to sit next to him.
"It's nothing," she said sitting down.
He put his large hand on her stomach, "You aren't with child are you? You have given me a very different impression."
She gasped, horrified, "No! Of course not!"
He took his hand away, smiling, "Good. I don't want another man touching you."
She glared at him, "I don't want you touching me."
His smile became more pronounced, "We'll see Miss Darling."
"If you must know, I was just remembering when I had to… wear a corset."
Hook looked at her appalled, "That cage? Damndest thing to get off a whore," he stopped short, "So I've heard."
Wendy tried hiding a smile, moving her hair in front of her face but Hook caught on too quickly, "Oh no Miss Darling, I've been waiting for the sight of seeing you share a true smile," he moved her hair and tilted her chin, but she was pursing her lips to hide it, "I missed it. Well I won't let that happen again. The only smiles I've seen on you…" he thought a moment, "I don't believe I've seen you smile. Not even when you punched me, or when you killed the mermaid."
Her face became blank, "I didn't want to kill it."
"Well it's done now. Half my crew has fallen in love with you; I expect a mutiny on me any day now. Tell me Miss Darling, how did you escape?"
She shrugged, "I found a knife."
"That much is clear by the way you stabbed the thing. What possessed you to do such a thing?"
"Well I most certainly did not want to die!" she cried, "I gave it a chance to leave and it decided to take me with it!"
"I saw that. You killed it before I could."
"Beat you to it I suppose," she said.
He paused.
"Why did you leave?"
"I wasn't about to be locked up while you went off and risked your life!" she said as if it was obvious.
"So you were worried about my well being?" he said giving her a sly smile.
"No!" she said her face turning pink, and he loved it.
"I put you in there for your own protection Miss Darling," he said, "Next time listen to me. Now I cannot teach you to use a sword until after you are healed."
"I'm not a child," Wendy said indignantly, "You cannot buy me off like that."
"I am merely stating the truth Miss Darling," he said easily, "For now, come with me on deck. My crew would love to see you."
She hesitated before standing up and taking his arm out to see the crew.
Standing out in the sun always made Wendy's soul fly like the fairies on shore. The crew was dancing around and playing various instruments, many were laughing. She had never seen a crew act so lively and care free, let alone pirates.
"Celebrating," Hook said nodding, "The mermaid leader is dead. My crew is very… rambunctious when they want to be."
"Wendy me lady!" a crew member called out and bowed before her, "Come and celebrate your victory!"
"My victory?" she asked before being pulled into a dance she had never even seen before. There was so much bouncing and twirling she thought her head might fall off. But after she became used to it she found it was fun, her stomach giving lurches of free falling ice, her head spinning with delight.
Hook watched on, his hands folded behind his back. He never participated in such events, but always watched them. Now however, he was watching Wendy being twirled around like a doll, her face twisting between confusion and understanding. The pirate that had taken her away was bold, but Hook doubted any real danger. The real danger was inside of him.
When the music stopped for a brief second, Wendy was let go and Hook was taken back by her bright face. She was laughing. He had wanted to make her laugh. She was smiling widely and allowed herself to be spun around again when the music started back up. Her laughter was like the wind, free flowing and smooth, with a harsher side hidden beneath. He wanted that laughter to be used for him.
She ran around the deck as if she were a child, dipping and twirling with other crew members, even Charlie got a chance to dance. She stopped for a moment and almost ran over to the man playing the fiddle. She spoke a few words to him and he laughed joyously and gave her the fiddle. Instantly she began to play a fast and upbeat tune with perfect notes. She grinned over at the crew, enjoying they whistles of encouragement.
Hook himself had always thought her to use more classy type of instruments, but enjoyed the songs none the less.
Her eyes even smiled, he noted. Her whole expression could be contained in those eyes, he thought, those light brown eyes. Must she continue to taunt him while she increased her beauty with these careless acts?
When she became tired she excused herself, still smiling, and stood next to Hook, her breathing slightly labored, and he tried not to look at her heaving chest.
"This is grand!" she said, using the word her father had always told her was vulgar, "I've never been to such an exciting party!"
"Hmm," Hook said nodding.
She looked at him curiously, "You won't join?"
"This is me joining," he said looking at her through the corner of his eye, "I'm actually having a blast."
She seemed to be in easy spirit and laughed.
He made her laugh.
"Hook," she said using his pirate name carefully, "You need to relax."
"I'm captain," he said," I have to keep on watch while the rest play. If Pan comes I'll have to alert them."
"Do you really think Peter will come?" she asked trying not to sound hopeful.
"Who knows. The boy likes to ruin everything I have."
Her eyebrows furrowed, but before she could reply she was being urged to come and dance.
"Don't keep them waiting Miss Darling," Hook said, "They do love a bit of good fun."
By the time night came, candles lighted the darkness on the ship, and the dancing and songs, food and jokes, still continued. Wendy had not come back to the captain when she became tired, and his blunders were horribly clear to him. But she would understand eventually.
"Mr Smee, I have an idea and I would like you to set up."
Wendy laughed as a pirate told her of his siblings back where he came from, though he couldn't remember where, just of his two brothers and how they always seemed to be "catching the trouble" as he called it.
"I have two brothers too," she said, "Michael and John. John doesn't seem to catch trouble so much as Michael does, but I have to saWendy laughed as a pirate told her of his siblings back where he came from, though he couldn't remember where, just of his two brothers and how they always seemed to be "catching the trouble" as he called it.
"I have two brothers too," she said, "Michael and John. John doesn't seem to catch trouble so much as Michael does, but I have to say, I catch the most."
Suddenly the music began to play a slow tune and the crew members backed away into a circle. Wendy turned around to see Hook slowly walking towards her, his gaze grabbing hers and commanding she watch him.
"May I have this dance Miss Darling?" he asked politely.
She nodded, lost in his eyes, taking his outstretched hand. They began to dance, dancing like she was taught, the correct way to dance. She was surprised how easy it came to her, but she loved it. She felt the way his arm tightened around her waist, his hook carefully out of the way. His hand seemed to caress hers, and he would squeeze hers gently and give a hint of a smile.
"Are you enjoying yourself Miss Darling?" he asked nicely.
"Yes actually," she said smiling, he adored her smile, "I am."
"Life as a pirate," he winked, and it caused her to go pink and hide a sheepish smile. He would do that more often.
"They all seem like nice men. Much different from when I was a child."
"They're different when they see a child, you see Miss Darling, I know we must seem inhuman to want to kill a child," he said sadly, "But Pan… he's not a child. He has the body of a child, but he's lived long enough to become aware," he pressed a little closer to Wendy and whispered, "He isn't as innocent as he seems. But then neither are you Wendy."
She should have pulled back, but the whole crew was watching, and Hook knew she couldn't do anything.
"He's just a child."
"He may seem like just a child, but I assure you, he's done many evil things in his life."
Wendy was about to respond when he stopped her, "No my dear, let us enjoy the last of this night."
When the song ended, Wendy felt more breathless than she had felt all day. Hook led her off the dance floor. He bowed and walked off to his cabin, leaving her alone among a group of pirates.
"Lovely dance," somebody said.
"Any of you have a violin?" she asked suddenly.
"Ay," someone said and retrieved it from the other musicians.
"Thank you," she smiled at him, "Music is something I actually liked learning in school."
She sat down and prepared a song from memory.
The music flowed out perfectly, Hook thought. He hadn't even opened his cabin door when a sad song drifted from the musician to him. He walked back wondering who could play such a song, and was shocked and pleased to see that the unearthly music was coming from his dear Wendy.
She played so carefully and so beautifully, Hook thought it might kill him. She seemed so small compared to such a big song; the world seemed small compared to such a big song. He wanted to take her then and there, to just hold her and keep her away from any of the horrors in the world. The song was pure, and in her own twisted way, so was Wendy. She was his Wendy and he wanted to keep her.
When the song ended there was a loud respectful applause. Wendy gave the violin back and thanked them for putting up with her. She turned to look at Hook, her eyes holding his gently. She smiled and walked over, "Tired Captain?"
"I should think you would be," he answered, taking her arm in his and walking back to the cabin, "What was that song?"
"Danny Boy," she said, "Did you like it?"
He nodded and let her in the door, "It was superb."
"Really?" she said touched, "I thought it was a little off in some places."
"It was perfect," he said watching her carefully.
"Oh. Well thank you," she smiled at him, and he placed his fingers at the corner of her mouth and she gasped.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said sadly, thinking of the kiss that was hidden there.
"Always nothing?" he asked amused, as always.
"Yes Captain," she said softly, "Always nothing."
The song played again, though not as artfully as the previous player and Wendy felt something that she wasn't quiet sure she liked. Hook bent closer to her, his body nearly touching hers, his breath against her.
"Nothing?"
She didn't know what possessed her. But the kiss in the corner of her mouth suddenly felt heavy, as if it was the reason why she was being weighed down. She mad the final move, just tipping her head, and she kissed Captain Hook.
If he was surprised he didn't show it. He instantly put his arms around her and kissed her back, thoroughly, deeply, like she'd never been kissed before. She became week in the knees and knew she would have fallen had he not been holding her up. His lips parted hers and his tongue entered her mouth, and she knew her kiss had been given away. He solidified her, she was pressed so closely to him she could feel him breathing, though she didn't understand how he could. Never before in her life had she felt so… full.
She pulled back and gasped, the air filling her lungs, "I'm very sorry-" she started but he put his hand behind her head and kissed her again, pressing her closer to him.
He picked her up off her feet and into his arms, seeming to consume her. She was his, his, his. It was a mantra in his head. Wendy, Wendy, Wendy…
He placed her on the bed, and very gently was able to get her to lie down. He felt her hands trace up his shirt, and it annoyed him. He grabbed both her hands in his one, and placed them under his shirt. He felt her gasp, and he felt as if she could never give him enough gasps. He wanted them all.
"Captain," she said pulling away, "We can't… I can't…"
"No?" he growled.
"No," she said hotly, trying to untangle herself.
He pulled her back and glared into her eyes. She glared right back.
"What makes you think you can leave?"
"I killed the mermaid for trying to take me away," she said, her voice cracking, "I can do the same to you."
"And I've killed men for looking at me the wrong way. I wont hesitate to kill you."
"You've killed me," she said as if clarifying, "have you ever killed a woman?"
He gripped her harder making her flinch in pain, "I can always make you the first."
"I dare you," she hissed.
He watched as she tried to get up again, but he just shoved her back in the bed, "Don't ever dare me."
He kissed her roughly, hurriedly, forcefully. Her head swarm and her arm was to weak to push him off. Then suddenly he had lifted himself off of her and was walking to the door, "Get your nightgown on and go to sleep," he commanded.
When he came back hours later, whisky heavily on his, he was horrified to so her sleeping on the couch. He would allow no such thing. He staggered over to her and as softly as he could laid her down on his bed. He was tired too, he thought, and he missed his bed. He lifted the covers and laid down next to her, not bothering with the consequences in the morning.