"…And then we'll sneak through the back door, stay in his home 'til nightfall."
Hercules' voice droned on in the back of my mind, the plan slowly replaying in my mind. We had outlined the mission, exactly what we wanted to accomplish and exactly how we would accomplish it. We tried to talk Eliza out of coming with us, since she doesn't have the fighting and spying experience we do.
That fanned out precisely how we thought it would.
"What do you mean I 'don't have the experience' you do?!" She shouted, shooting to her feet as we sat at the kitchen table. "I was raised by a goddamn General, the hell I don't!"
"Eliza, dear, we didn't mean to upset you." Hercules winced, rubbing his ears. "It's just… we don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to get hurt."
He reached up, taking her hands in his.
"Eliza, I want to grow old with you, and do all the things a couple gets to do together, like, you know… have kids. But we can't do that if you're killed because you don't have the training that we have."
She had been quiet for a moment, her wide eyes searching Hercules' pleading brown orbs. Then she shook her head, her hands retreating to her sides. She turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Hercules confused and worried.
"Did… did I say something wrong, guys?" He quietly questioned, keeping his eyes on the door frame she had gone through. "Oh, god, it's because I said the thing about kids, wasn't it? I scared her…"
"No, no, man," Alex soothed, placing a hand on our friend's shoulder. "She's just worried about you going off and doing something this dangerous without her, she'll come around."
Somewhere in the house a door slammed.
"Oh, god, she's mad at me!" Hercules groaned, dropping his head into his hands. Alexander and I shared a look, one that agreed that we needed a Schuyler sister's help with Eliza.
"Okay, Peggy wasn't at her house," Alexander told us, a few hours after the situation in the kitchen. "But her dad gave me a name for one of her friends, someone she might be with. I sent an urgent message to her, asking that Peggy be sent here when she was able. Hopefully she'll be here soon, though, I don't like hearing my books be thrown about."
Alex was referring to the thudding coming from upstairs, where Eliza had locked herself in Alex's office. Occasionally, she'd yell something, but we were too fearful to go up and listen.
Soft rapping at the door alerted us to a visitor.
I strode ahead of Alexander, flinging the door open. Peggy Schuyler stood in all her glowing glory, smiling as she flattened a bit of her yellow dress's skirt.
"Pegs!" I exclaimed, happy to see my friend after so long apart. Corresponding through letters for years, and seeing each other in person on occasion, had made us close friends. We had connected over our friendship with Alex, she had actually been the first one I had told of my affections for the Caribbean.
"Johnny!" She flew forward into my open arms. "I haven't seen you in so long!"
"Ugh, too long, Pegs." I grinned, releasing her from my hold as she pulled away.
"Now, I'd love to catch up with you," She began, her smile disappearing. "but I hear my sister is upset and has locked herself away? What's happened?"
"It's a long story, Peggy." I grimaced, letting her into the house. I closed the front door and led her to the kitchen, where Alex was leaning on the doorway.
"Hi, Peggy." He smiled at her, and she returned it with a quick hug.
"Hi, Alex." She smiled, and then deeply frowned. "What the hell did you do, you moron?!"
She whacked him on the side of his head, her eyebrows furrowing down as she glared up at him.
"God, Peggy, nothing, I swear!" He raised his hands in surrender, sliding past her and hiding behind me. "Please, don't hit me again! You're very small, but oddly strong!"
"Why is Eliza upset, Alexander? Did you say something?" She continued her tirade. "Because I know Hercules wouldn't make her this upset, he's sensitive, unlike some people."
Alex cowered, staying behind me.
"Pegs, it was Hercules." I commented, reaching a hand behind me to hold Alex's shaking hand. "He didn't mean to make her upset, we actually have no clue why she's upset, he didn't say anything insane or degrading, I think…"
"You think?" She repeated, raising an eyebrow at me. "What did he say, exactly?"
"Well, uh, he just said that he didn't want her going to Ireland with us, because she doesn't have the same experience we do." I quickly said in one breath, hoping she would understand our intention.
"Yeah, that makes sense." She sighed. "But, you know that she has a problem with people thinking she can't do shit, right?"
"Uh, no." I replied. "She's the only one of us who actually gets shit done, why would she think that? We just don't want her in a war situation, we want her safe. Here, in New York City, with a safe home and a safe neighborhood and not people trying to kill her."
She nodded. "Okay, I'll go and talk to her, try and relay some of your words."
With that, she was gone.
She headed upstairs, while we entered the kitchen, glancing around to find Hercules sitting on the floor in the corner.
"I'm glad that Peggy knows I wouldn't make Eliza upset on purpose." He murmured, facing the adjacent wall.
"Hercules, man, it's gonna be fine, she just needs to understand that we only want her to be safe." I told him, taking a seat at the table. Alexander took the chair next to me, and began to pen a note.
"What're you writing?" I asked, leaning over to read it. The top read 'My dearest Eliza'.
"Why are you writing a note to her? She's right upstairs, you know, she'll be down soon enough." I reminded him, lightly bumping my shoulder against his.
"John, we need to leave soon." He announced, turning to face me. "I managed to book passage on a merchant's ship that's heading to Ireland. Tonight, John."
I blanked for a moment, trying to think about how much time we had. It was already two in the afternoon, we had a few hours before we'd have to be at the docks.
"Oh, okay, then… We just leave? Would she be mad at us if we did that?" I thought aloud, wondering if she'd come down before we had to leave.
"I don't think I could just… leave her, you guys." Hercules mumbled. "I need to tell her that I love her before I go and do this. I can't just leave without telling her that as many times as I can…"
"Write her, Hercules. Just leave a note, I'm sorry for my bluntness, but…" Alexander trailed off, looking towards the kitchen doorway. His eyes widened, and Hercules stood when he followed Alex's eye sight.
"I'd definitely be mad if you left me without saying goodbye, boys." Eliza whispered, her arms wrapped around herself. Peggy stood off to the left, behind her teary-eyed sister.
"But our father would be madder if he learns that she went off to Ireland with a handful of revolutionaries." Peggy continued, stepping forward and gently pulling one of her sister's hands. They walked into the room, stopping next to the table.
"I'm sorry for my outburst earlier." Eliza stated, dropping her chin. "I just… I don't want to lose you before we get to do all those couple things, Hercules."
Her tears gracefully slid down her cheeks, and Hercules steadily inched closer to her. He raised an open hand and carefully wiped her tears with the back of his fingers.
"I love you, Elizabeth Schuyler." He murmured, while Alex and I watched with sad anticipation. This was their goodbye, through actions they had agreed; Hercules wouldn't let Eliza come with, which was the right decision. "More than the moon loves the stars."
"And I love you, Hercules Mulligan." A watery laugh escaped from her throat, as her tears flowed freely. "More than the sun loves the sky."
They pressed their lips together in a slow, tender kiss. Hercules broke it off with a giggle, sending Eliza into a small fit herself.
"I'll miss you every day, my love." Eliza uttered, tracing Hercules' jawline with her fingertips. He nodded against her forehead, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I'll also worry about you every day, too, my dear, it's inevitable."
"I, too, will miss you, darling." Hercules laughed, his warm breath mingling against Eliza's lips. "I will worry about you until the day I hold you in my arms again."
"God, they're sappy." Alexander muttered next to me, looking like he wanted to throw up while simultaneously jumping up and down at their happiness. I elbowed his side, eliciting an offended look from him and a smug 'Hmph' from me.
Surprisingly, it fanned out damn well, with Eliza agreeing to stay in New York City with Peggy. After a few hours and multiple tearful goodbyes, Hercules and Alex had packed all they needed for the trip. We were hoping to stay in Ireland for a month, maybe less if all goes well. Hopefully, it will.
I had thrown a few shirts, socks, underclothes, and pants into a medium-sized pack from one of my days at a basecamp. Just enough to last me, and I can always buy more clothes at the nearby shops in Coleraine if I don't have enough. Half the reason my packing was so light was simple; I hated packing with a fiery fervor.
We had departed the house around seven in the evening, leaving an hour to travel to the docks. We took our time strolling past buildings we wouldn't pass again for a while, watching lamps flicker out as we passed.
We arrived at the docks with no time to spare, immediately mounting the medium-sized ship by way of plank. The entire ship reeked of something acrid, a few scraggly rats milling about the deck adding to the putrid smells.
By rats I mean scraggly-looking folks who were disdainfully lingering in the shadows, as well as the usual small rodents. They had sneered when we glanced at their faces, and grunted when we went off in search of the entrance to below deck.
The men and I tucked ourselves into a dim corner under the surface of the deck, sitting atop our luggage as to guard it. We were the only ones below deck, except for a sleeping man holding a small pack to his chest. The air was even thicker than above, the smells of past passengers lingering. We chatted quietly amongst ourselves for maybe an hour or two, before sleep came and stole our focus one by one. Hercules was first, his large head nodding off and leaning onto the wall beside him.
Alexander had sat down next to me when we came down, and he had steadily inched closer while we spoke. His head lightly dropped onto my shoulder, soft snores telling me he had fallen asleep mid-sentence. I chuckled at his sleepiness, scooting lower so his head would rest on my shoulder, and curled my fingers around his limp hand.
I could get used to this…
We were all shocked awake by shouting above deck, deep, accented voices carrying to where we were. We all shot up, ripping our bags off the ground, and booked it up the unsteady stairs.
"At least they don't sound British…" Alexander muttered as we winced at the blinding light at the top of the staircase.
The docks appeared to be completely abandoned, a few crushed crates scattered about the weathered-wood pier. The men we had heard were off to the side of our ship, discussing something in hushed tones, their brows furrowed at each other.
"Wonder who they are." I questioned aloud, glancing at Hercules and Alex. They were intently listening to the trio, who occasionally lifted a vague finger in our direction.
"I don't know, John," Hercules answered, rubbing the nape of his neck with his hand. "but I don't like that they keep gesturing to us."
We turned to watch them as their voices rose, enabling us to hear what they were arguing about.
"I'm telling you, Brian." One of the men growled, stepping closer to the man he addressed. "That bloke is him! He looks just like his brother!"
"No, you prat." Brian shook his head, glaring at the other man. "He lives in New York, why the hell would he be here?"
"Oh, for Christ's sake, Brian." Another man entered the conversation with a stoic expression. "That's Mulligan, all right?"
"No, no, why would the bloke come back?" The first man argued, stealing glances at us while he spoke. "His only family is dead, there's nothing here but trouble."
"Uh, Hercules?" I whispered, turning to face Alex and Hercules.
"Yeah?" He prompted, keeping his eyes on the ground.
"I think you should start walking. Now."
He nodded, and Alex adjusted his bag over his shoulder. Hercules lifted his own luggage, and led us down the gangplank. We strode by the conversing men, our heads low and turned away from them. They immediately quieted when we passed by, their eyes burning holes in the back of our heads.
"Oi!" One of the men, Brian, shouted.
I exchanged quick looks with Hercules and Alexander, deciding whether we respond or not. Alexander shook his head, and we quickened our pace down the pier.
"Oi, blokes with the luggage!" Brian shouted again, footsteps sounding behind us.
Hercules shot me an urgent look, and then broke off into a sprint. His bag was slung over his shoulder as he ran off the pier, running onto the road. He made a sharp right turn, disappearing behind a string of down and out buildings.
"Let me handle this." I told Alex, who was standing next to me with wide eyes. The men caught up with us, their shadows looming on the floor of the dock. Alex and I pivoted, facing the three men who were catching their breaths. One stepped forward, stopping barely a foot away from us.
"Why'd ye run?" He growled, eyeing us as he spoke. "We just wanted to have a chat, yeah?"
"Pete, you're scaring the lads. Shut it." Brian reached his hand forward, dragging his friend back by the shoulder. "We just had a bit of a question for your mate there, but it seems he had plans, huh?"
"Yes, he's a very busy man." I nodded, putting my bag down and crossing my arms. "What did you want from him?"
"Woah, calm down there, boy!" Brian laughed, resting a hand on his hip. "We just wanted to know if he was Hercules Mulligan or not."
I narrowed my eyes at them, internally arguing with myself. Do I tell them yes? Or, what if they're bad guys and I just gave up that Hercules is back?
My silence apparently answered their question, because two of the men fist-pumped the air.
"I knew it was him!" One yelled with a smile. "You were right, mate!"
"You're damn right I'm damn right!" Brian loudly agreed, a grin spread on his face.
"Ugh, you bloody idjits…" Pete muttered, turning around and trudging back to the boat.
"Just what are you blokes doing here? Last I heard, Hercules got his ass kicked all the way back to America." Brian chuckled, tilting his head at us.
"I'm not too sure that's any of your business, sir." Alexander replied, glaring at the two men. He stood next to me, if not slightly behind me, and dropped his pack on the ground. He crossed his arms as well, knitting his eyebrows. "Now is it?"
"Well, you're quite intimidating, aren't you, kiddo?" Pete taunted, a condescending grin spreading across his square-jawed, pasty face. He drew himself up to his full height, a good five or six inches taller than Alex and me.
"F… fuck off." Alex squeaked, moving further behind me. Pete laughed, elbowing Brian's side.
"Wouldja lookit? Little bugger doesn't want to stand up for himself." Pete laughed again, staring right into Alex's eyes and jabbing a finger at me. "What, is your boyfriend gonna protect ya?"
"Hell yeah, I am." I stated, straightening my back and bracing myself for a fight.
Pete looked surprised for a moment, but recovered quickly. "Oh, yeah? Get ready for an ass-whoopi—"
Brian roughly grabbed Pete's arm, yanking him away from us.
"All right, that's enough." Brian yelled, glaring at both Pete and us. He dragged Pete behind himself, pivoting and whispering something to him. Pete nodded at him, and glared at us one last time before begrudgingly stomping towards the boat.
"Sorry, folks, he doesn't play too well with others." Brian apologized, watching his friend walk away. "Uh… I should go, he's a drinker when he's right pissed. You behave yourselves now, yeah? Don't let that giant of yours get too deep in the local business."
Alexander and I both glanced at each other, confusedly nodding at the other man. Why did they just give up?
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alex piped up after Brian had turned away. The man rotated on his foot, glancing at us before shrugging.
"It means don't let him do anything too stupid." He answered. "It's mighty cold six feet under."
He grinned, and continued walking away, leaving Alex and I to think about his words.
Was that a threat?
A/N: Yeah, yeah, I know this chapter sucks:( I've been suuuper busy lately, working on getting my learner's permit and my upcoming school review. I actually meant to finish this yesterday, but life gut-punched me, soooo... I hope somebody enjoys this chapter, and (hopefully, maybe?) leaves a review! :D
'Til next time, mon petite pomme de terre!
thatwritermadeofpotatoes