Sorry again!
I can't believe how fast and yet slow time is moving. It seems like everything in our lives is currently upended for vastly different reasons and neither of us are happy about it.
If you're reading this, thank you for sticking with us. I will continue to try and do better in the future.
-Dark-
James eyes the door handle to the Captain's quarters before he sighs and knocks.
They hadn't heard from them for an entire day, not that he could entirely blame the Captain and First Mate.
He'd believed the three were gone too.
But now, it was time to get back to leading the ship.
Her meager crew was back, most hauntingly disappointed by their time on the Isle.
Sam was taking his missing younger brothers hard.
Not that he could blame him either.
It sucked.
The not knowing.
But now that they were all back, everyone was at a loss.
What could be the next possible step here?
He'd never admit it out loud, but fuck if he wasn't just as lost as the teenagers.
Yensid was hella old, and even he didn't really seem to know what the next step should be.
His brow crinkles, or he was just waiting for Uma so he could advise her.
Which was why he'd volunteered to check on the five in the first place.
Five.
Thank every fucking sea and trickster god!
Uma and Harry had been so desolate. So lost in their grief-
He wasn't sure what the fuck they were going to do.
There wasn't a crew without a Captain.
So, when he'd seen that it had been Deez summoning them? That Gil was with her?
He'd fucking been beside himself with relief and joy.
And then getting T back?
His reaction to seeing T surprised him.
He hadn't realized how close he'd gotten to the Isle's shadow. Didn't know how much he enjoyed their bond.
Hadn't realized how much of a loss he'd felt, until his eyes landed on him.
Fucking T.
And now they were back.
Safe and where they belonged.
Which meant that now-
It was time to gently remind Uma she had responsibilities.
Gently.
So, very, very, gently.
They were responsibilities he didn't want to deal with.
He knocks again, letting out a sigh when they don't answer.
Of fucking course.
He groans. Resigned to his fate, he slowly opens the door.
He pauses in the doorway, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness within the room.
A whimper makes him frown.
He couldn't blame the kids.
Fuck, he was having nightmares too.
"Cap'n? Harry?" He calls out softly as he takes a single step into the room, no need to wake the others if he only needed one or two of them.
A tight noise of distress to his right catches him off guard, making him jump away as he registers someone was sleeping in the hammock.
Not someone.
Two someones.
Not just someones.
His eyes narrow as his jaw goes slack.
T-
T and Harry?
Those two were sleeping together?
Huh.
He blinks.
That was-
Good for Harry?
But also, how the fuck had he pulled that off?
He wasn't sure who made the noise, but he coulda sworn it was Deez.
He couldn't picture anyone else in the sea family making a sound like that.
He shakes his head as he dismisses it and walks over.
Disturbing two seemed better than disturbing three.
He stops when the sound happens again, louder this time.
Along with an erratic, hollow tapping sound.
"Woah-" Harry sits up suddenly.
Before he can react, the two tumble to the floor.
The sudden movement elicits a short yelp before it's cut off.
His head tilts when T whimpers and pulls his arm to him, protectively curling around it and himself.
His eyes widen.
What the fuck?
He'd never seen the kid so much as flinch, and now he was whimpering?
Whimpering…
He tilts his head to the side.
No…
That wasn't right.
T did not whimper like a girl.
"Ya be scarin' me near half ta death with that shit."
"Sorry-Sorry." T snivels.
Whoa.
He blinks at the unfamiliar tone.
At the unfamiliar word coming from someone who looked like T.
At the everything not very T like coming out of T.
Fuck.
This was concerning on a whole new level.
What happened to T this time?
"Faustina?" Harry looks around in confusion as he untangles himself from the blanket, "Fuck, ya be- Are ya hurtin'?"
T squeaks as he turns to Harry.
Squeaks?
Before he can react, T scrambles behind Harry, sniffling as he taps his shoulder and points.
Sniffles?
Who the fuck was-
Faustina?
His brow furrows.
"Right!" Harry pushes himself off the ground, T hesitantly shadowing the motion, before he looks up, "James."
"Aye?" He asks.
What the hell?
"Oh, I do be ah guessin' this might ah be mite bit confusin'." Harry grins tightly as he wipes his hand over the back of his head.
A mite?
Harry looks over his shoulder at T, "Do ya be mindin'? We were'nah sayin' anythin' afore cause of the adults that be lurkin' in the crew, but now-" He shakes his head, "I can be explaining more later. But they ain'nah bein' ah problem." He nods once as his hand absently runs over his arm, "Still though, it be up ta you an' T. Can we be tellin' 'im?"
It takes a moment before T tentatively, almost painfully, nods.
He blinks.
Surely he was seeing things.
Because he knew T would never clutch onto Harry's coat in-
He narrows his eyes.
Fear?
That didn't make sense.
In all the years he'd known T-
That look-
He'd never seen that look on T's face.
The kid was fearless.
Stupidly, stupidly, so.
So what the fuck was this?
He looks between the two- Or at least tries to.
If he didn't know better he would swear T was using Harry as a shield.
"Kay…" He questions, "Well, we, uh, the crew, don't- Is he okay?"
T and shield felt about as right as T and fear.
Harry nods, "It be soundin' like the crew be back?"
"Aye." His eyes still on T.
"Thanks fer holdin' the ship together while we were'nah bein' fit ta be doin' it."
"'Course," He turns back to Harry and nods.
"Think ya can be ah waitin' in here while I be talkin' with the crew?"
T quickly nods before he drops his grip on Harry's jacket and looks around before he rushes to the table, crosses his arms before he lowers his head to them.
That was just-
Weird wasn't a strong enough word.
"Uh, I need you an' Uma," He explains, "the crew is back and lookin' for their Cap'n." He turns his head towards the bed in time to see Uma silently sigh.
"I'm up. I was just reveling as long as I could."
He nods, "Then I'll be waitin' at the helm for ya, when yer ready." He turns to leave.
"Be takin' yer time Cap'n, I can be taking the news and bringin' it back for ya." Harry waves over his shoulder before he steps out right behind him.
"Faustina?" He asks skeptically once the door is shut.
"Aye, it be ah tale." Harry nods as they make their way up the stairs, neither one of them doing anything to keep the constant rain out of their faces, "An' it were'nah bein' like we did'nah be ah trustin' ya, just ta be clear."
"Okay?"
Was he going to get said tale?
He wanted it.
Needed it even.
Anything to explain what he'd just seen.
"We-" Harry frowns before he looks around.
Probably checking to make sure no one else could overhear.
But with the storm still raging something fierce over them, even five feet away he doubted they would have been overheard.
As it was, he had to strain to hear Harry over the gales and the sound of the rain slamming into the deck.
"Back when we could'nah be ah findin' either, we still thought T were bein' a guy. But when Deez be ah joinin' us again, she be tellin' us different."
James nods before Harry's words register. "Wait- What?"
Thought T was a guy?
What the fuck was that supposed to mean.
"Aye, give ah sec though an I can be explainin'." Harry runs his hands through his hair, making it stand up before he rests his forearms on the handles of the helm, "T be havin' two people in 'im."
He stares blankly at Harry.
Two…?
"What?"
"Yensid be havin' ah book that don'nah be explainin' it any better, but it be ah mental disorder, something with the brain or something." Harry sighs and rubs the back of his head, "Important bits be that T be Faustina's protector. Faustina be ah girl. Faustina be ah creatin' T…" He bites his lip, "Look, I know it be soundin' complicated when I be tryin' ta explain it." He dips his head forward, leaning heavily against his arms, "Basic like, Faustina be ah girl, but T be ah boy, an' they be ah sharin' Faustina's body."
He blinks. "T's a what now?"
What the hell?
How could two people live in the same body?
T being a protector?
Sure, that made sense.
T sharing his body with a girl, not so much.
Honestly, if he hadn't just witnessed T-
Fucking T!
-hide behind Harry he'd have laughed in his first mate's face.
As it was though- He'd take it.
It made more fucking sense than what he'd just seen.
Heard.
How the fuck had T hid something like that for so long?
Better question, how the fuck had he missed it?
He would've bet his left testicle on T being a guy. But Harry just said he was.
How the fuck did someone create someone else?
"Like, the whole time?" He asks, the question sounding stupid the second it left his lips.
"Since Faustina were ah wee one," Harry explains when he picks his head back up, "But T still be ah bein' T mate. Trust me, he ain'nah changin' none. We just be ah gettin' ta see Faustina at times now."
Huh.
But-
That-
The-
How the fuck did a little girl create T?
He frowns.
Though, he supposed, if she needed protecting, he couldn't think of many much better suited to the job.
Though what the fuck did she need- Oh.
His stomach knots.
Frollo.
What the fuck had that sick fuck done for this to happen?
He grimaces as he shoves the thought away. He didn't want to know.
In the end, it made a hundred percent more sense than anything he could've come up with to explain what he'd just seen.
A timid and polite T had broken his brain.
"I be takin' it." He nods.
Sure. Why not?
"Good man." Harry claps his shoulder before he takes a deep breath and stands up straighter, "I do be wantin' ta thank ya for brinin' our family home ta us. We were'nah bein' in our right minds, so, I be glad we be havin' someone we be trustin' here."
He can't help his grin. "Just happy ta be havin' 'em back."
"Aye." Harry stretches his arms above his head, "I uh-" He shakes his head, "me too."
"I get it." He clasps Harry's shoulder.
He did.
He didn't even know if his girl was still-
No. If anyone could survive the hell that had just happened, it was her.
"Ya be ah sayin' ya need Uma fer somethin' though?"
"The crew be restless." He rubs the back of his neck, "Them that couldn't be findin' their kin be effected by it something fierce. And worry be catchin' like wind in sails. They need something to do. A direction. Anything to distract them."
Harry's brow furrows, "I can be understandin' that." He eyes the cabin before he looks back up, "Ya think ya can be gettin' me ah list o' the missin'?"
"Aye," he nods, "That I can be doing." He was relieved to have something productive to do.
"I be ah talkin' with Faustina 'bout what T were doin' on the Isle," Harry claps his hands together, "We did'nah really be gettin' more than they be real in the state we be in last night." He admits before he drops his chin to his chest.
Fair. He'd been shocked to find those three at the shore. "I can't blame ya none." He squeezes Harry's shoulder before he drops his hand.
"Thanks." Harry whispers without looking up.
"You don't be havin' two people in ya too, do ya?" He teases as he punches the younger boy's shoulder.
"Not that I be ah knowin' of." Harry looks up with a grin, "But if'n that be ah changin' I can be lettin' ya know."
"Would be my preference." He chuckles. "That," He tilts his head towards the cabin, "nearly be blowin' me mind."
"Aye, It were bein' ah mite bit o' ah shock ta us at first too." Harry shakes his head before he snickers, "Remember when Gil be snappin' orders at ya?"
"Hard ta forget." Out of all the kids he'd watched through the years, Gil was by far the least volatile.
It had rattled the shit outta him.
"He were just learnin' 'bout T and were needin' ta be hittin' shit."
"Mmm." He sighs. Why would that-
The image of the room they'd found T in-
The blood.
The salt.
The fire. The pokers.
The chains. The wall.
Those instruments.
The state T had shown up in-
He'd always known shit like that happened on the Isle.
Knew that the adults got off on causing pain and humiliation.
It had just never been shoved in his face like it had that night. It was something he had to push out of his head whenever he saw T. It had been fucking rough, but he'd told himself if anyone could survive that, it was T.
The kid who'd do anything to keep the others safe.
The protector, huh?
He couldn't think of a better title for him.
He shakes his head.
He honestly wasn't sure how or when it had happened, but that didn't make it any less accurate.
T had somehow become his best mate.
He looks to the cabin. That timid girl had survived it too?
His stomach twists and lurches as anger swells in his chest. "Yeah," He frowns as he turns back to his First Mate, "I can get that."
Hitting something sounded good right now.
That had been…
Uncomfortable.
Uncomfortable definitely seemed like an apt word.
She sighs.
T was going to kill her when he found out.
But what options had she truly had?
James deserved an explanation.
She slowly shakes her head before she turns to the bed where Uma was still curled around Deez and Gil.
She couldn't blame her. Couldn't fault the desire to remain close to them.
She smiles at the comforting sway of the ship before the tinkling of bottles catches her attention.
Oh.
She turns her attention to the floor, her eyes flickering from one bottle to another before her eyes soften.
How painful it must've been for them.
Harry and Uma.
The rest of them had at least had something to focus on.
She and T had the people on the Isle that needed help.
Deez had Gil's injury, and then they had each other, and the idea of finding the rest of the family once he woke up.
The Captain and Firstmate though?
The realization squeezes her heart painfully.
What did they have?
A mutiny the moment they made it through the storm, and then the cove.
Confirmation that their Baby Girl and Sweet Boy had been taken, or at least perceived confirmation?
How awful it must've been.
She couldn't even fathom-
Didn't want to.
What they'd suffered was the exact reason she'd pushed T so hard the last several days.
At another clink she shakes head, pulling herself from her thoughts.
She couldn't change the past, but she could at least get rid of the remnants of it.
She turns to the crate Uma had given her and T to keep their clothes what felt like forever ago.
Like T, or admittedly her, would ever get dressed in the cabin.
With a small snort, she places it on the table and opens it.
Her brow furrows when she notices dark material gathered at the bottom and tilts her head before she gives a slight shrug with a wince.
Stupid.
How had she forgotten?
Hadn't it been her concern that had led to Gil dislocating the damned thing?
She bites her lip as she pulls out the cloth curiously, her eyes widening when she pulls it out and places it on the table.
Surely whoever it belonged to, Harry by the look of the dark red, wouldn't mind. Not if it meant getting rid of the evidence of the last few days.
Satisfied, she nods her head and begins to tidy the cabin.
Not that there was much to clean besides the dozen or so bottles so it doesn't take her long to gather them.
Quietly cleaning the room as she went.
Clearly, Uma and Harry misplaced some of the liquor in their drunken grief; most still held at least a quarter or more of the drink.
She smiles as she easily combines the partial bottles into four full bottles before she tucks them into the chest and returns it to the nook she'd gathered it from.
With that done she collects the remaining glass and traps them in their hammock to bring down to her workroom later before she grabs a rag to wash the table down.
She eyes the pile of Deez's notebooks as she bites her lip.
Her gaze drifts to Harry's clothes.
What was one more liberty?
Surely Deez wouldn't mind her taking a few pages, right?
After a moment she nods before she pulls one of the rattier books to her and gently pulls several pages out.
She turns her attention to Uma, another soft smile on her lips as the other girl lovingly continues to play with her sleeping miracles.
This peacefulness couldn't last forever though.
She knew what was coming, and she was worried she'd be too embarrassed or ashamed to answer the questions to the Captain's satisfaction without tripping over herself-
With that she picks up a half-chewed pencil, best to just start now.
She still couldn't believe it was real.
That they were here.
Alive.
With her.
Them.
It was just so-
Incredibly surreal in all the best ways.
But still, she couldn't stay in bed all day; as much as she appreciated Harry speaking to James, she was still Captain.
And as such, she had responsibilities that needed tending too.
She stifles a groan as she slowly untangles herself, no sense in waking the others when Sea Gods only knew the last time they'd slept.
But a small giggle instantly alerts her to how unstealthy she was at escaping the bed.
Gil sighs in silent acceptance before he releases her.
"He does make it really hard to escape sometimes," Deez explains as she sits up.
"If you two are still tired-" She tries to offer, only to be interrupted by Gil's stomach growling.
"I think that means we have other more pressing needs."
Gil chuckles as he rubs his head sheepishly. "It feels like forever since the last time we ate."
She frowns at the grimace on Deez's lips.
Fuck. Why hadn't she thought about that before?
When was their last meal?
Before the storm?
"Sounds like we're getting up then." She explains before she rolls out of bed.
Now that she'd thought about it, she was starving too.
Gil groans as he follows her, pulling Deez with him.
She hesitates when the ship rocks forcefully, but it takes a moment to realize what was missing.
The bottles.
Her brow furrows as she looks around the cabin.
The very clean cabin.
When had that- She frowns.
Where was Faustina?
She couldn't recall her leaving with Harry, but- She turns to the girls hammock, puzzled when she sees it tangled.
"Here Treasure, Harry won't mind ya borrowin' a shirt."
She turns in time to see Gil playfully toss a shirt at Deez who seemed to be in the middle of staring at her trunk thoughtfully.
"What's wrong Baby Girl?" She asks, unable to help her smile.
Sea Gods, she never thought she'd ever see that expression again.
Deez turns to her as she pulls the far too large shirt on, "Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking about why I was only wearing the black clothes and realized that reason isn't really a reason anymore." She tilts her head to the side, "Is it?"
She closes her mouth.
Great question.
They'd spent the last several months keeping Deez's presence a secret, but...
"I mean, people saw us when we were in town. No one came up to us, but, people had to have seen us."
Question answered.
"I suppose that answers the question then," She pauses before a snort escapes her. "Though I doubt the entire family will agree with that."
Gil grins, "He'll live."
"So, I don't have to wear the hoodie?"
She shakes her head, "No point if you've already be seen, gone ta shit or not, I have no doubt rumors still spread."
Deez smiles before she bites her lip as if trying to cover it.
She walks over and pulls the smaller girl to her, "I'm sorry," She kisses the top of her head. "We were just tryin' ta keep you safe."
But upon seeing the smile, she knew.
Just knew, that it had bothered her. "But if Shrimpy's outta the bag-" She pulls back to study her, "Ya can wear whatever." Her eyes narrow, "An' if Problem Child's gotta problem with it, jus'-"
"I can handle T having that kind of problem. I have before." Deez rolls her eyes.
She chuckles, "Haven't we all."
Gil snorts. "Yep."
"And you don't have to be sorry. I get it." Deez shrugs as she takes a length of rope from Gil and ties it around her waist, "A lot happened to get me here and we all had to adjust."
Wasn't that the Sea Gods' damned truth.
She can't help the tears that gather in her eyes as she pulls Deez close, "You will forever and always be worth the wait." She whispers into her silky hair.
A wet chuckle leaves her when they're pressed tighter together and their feet suddenly leave the floor.
"What she said," Gil hugs them to his chest tightly. "Fuck, I missed this." He adds as he nuzzles against the both of their hair.
No fucking kidding.
"Not to put a shadow on this moment, but the lack of whining about not being part of this is very loud." Deez frowns as she looks around, "Where are Harry and T?"
"Shit," She taps Gil's shoulder, "James came in earlier." She grimaces.
"That's a face," Deez says as her nose scrunches.
"Jus' thinkin' 'bout the fall out." She sighs as her feet touch the ground. "It's Faustina that you're lookin' for by the way."
"Oh." Gil studies her. "He didn't scare 'er did he?" He frowns.
She sighs, "To be fair to our bo'sun, there ain't much that don't startle her."
"Bet it was the other way around too," Deez adds.
"You wouldn't be wrong." She pokes her nose playfully. "If you think I had a face, ya should'ah seen his." She chuckles.
"That's not nice Uma." Gil shakes his head.
They all turn when the door opens to reveal their missing shadow balancing a tray.
"Ah. That makes sense." Deez chuckles.
"Sorry," Faustina drops her eyes as she walks over to place the platter on the table.
"Don't be sorry Beauty Girl, thank you." She smiles as she walks over to help, "We certainly hadn't made much progress trying to get food."
Gil snorts, "Or any in some cases." He blushes as he quickly pulls on a pair of pants.
Faustina looks between them, her eyes settling on Gil in confusion before a soft smile pulls on her lips and looks away.
"One case." She teases.
Gil turns to pout at her. "You're on a streak today."
"Sweet Boy, sometimes you have to breathe the salt air like it's your last."
He shakes his head as he pulls on a vest.
She chuckles as she puts a hand on Faustina's back, "Thank you. We made a real mess of things in here-" She sighs before she shifts to lean her hip against the table, "Actually, we just made a real mess of things, but thank you for cleaning up the cabin."
Faustina's brow furrows as she studies her, "I don't think any of us would have fared much better Captain." She states quietly as she drops her eyes.
She blinks before she looks away as well.
It couldn't be that simple.
She was the Captain. She was expected to fare better.
Gil's stomach interrupts her thoughts, "can we eat?"
His impatient question and the laughter around the room help chase the depressing thoughts away.
She pats his seat with a smile, "Yes Sweet Boy, 'bout time we all ate something."
"Yes!" He pumps his fist before he all but jumps in his seat and pulls a bowl to him.
She tilts her head to the table as she gestures for Faustina and Deez to join him.
"I just need to go get Harry. I want a family meal."
Gil blushes as he places down his half-eaten bowl, "Right."
"Eat." She scolds as she playfully ruffles his hair, "I'll get more. We have a lot to talk about anyway."
Gil grins before he picks up his bowl again, Deez and Faustina sliding into their seats.
Her head tilts when Faustina pulls a small pile of papers to her, before she picks up a pencil and bends over it.
Her reprimand dies on her tongue.
Sea God's knew the girl wouldn't begin to eat unless they were all at the table now.
Especially when they were waiting for their Pretty Boy to join them.
She'd never finished a bowl of soup so fast in her life.
The bowl thuds against the table before she wipes the back of her hand over her mouth.
She couldn't even remember what it tasted like.
Which probably was for the best.
She sits back in her chair before she looks over at Gil's empty bowl while Faustina's remains untouched.
Whoops.
But she also recognized the look on Faustina's face, or atleast the thoughts behind it.
The look of 'I need to get this on paper'.
Actually, that was a really good idea. And something she could do now that her stomach wasn't yelling at her.
She purses her lips before she slides out of the chair to collect a notebook from her stash.
"What'cha doin' Treasure?"
"What I always do." She chuckles as she grabs a pen, "Write to the Prince."
"Ah." Gil grins, "Duh." He chuckles.
"I mean, they have to know what happened," She frowns as she returns to her seat, "right?"
Gil tilts his head to the side with a thoughtful expression, "Well if they don't know already, they definitely should." He nods. "An' after seein' Prince Ben's library, I'm sure he'd like to hear that you're okay."
She smiles as she looks back to the trunk where the pictures from T and Harry's video meeting were stashed away, "That we're all okay." She places her hand over his before she looks over at Faustina, "and maybe a list of the others we've seen so far?"
"Yeah." He nods as he pulls her into his lap, "That's a good idea."
"I have those sometimes." She sighs.
"Most of the time." Faustina corrects her as she places down her pencil and studies her before her eyes drop to her notebook, "For the Prince right?"
"Yeah. I'm thinking if we can get a letter out quickly, maybe we can-" She trails off, unsure of exactly what she was hoping for.
Faustina nods, before she slides a piece of paper towards her, "If you don't mind, could you request these items? It would be best coming from one he trusts."
She tilts her head as she takes the page and looks over the list.
Medical supplies.
Food.
Weapons.
Her brow furrows as she reads the last item again before she looks up.
"I- can try to work that last one in, if you think it's a good idea."
She sighs, knowing exactly where Faustina's mind was at if that was the list of priorities.
"I can't say it's the best I've had," She admits softly. "But, I believe it would shed some light on the situation."
Gil frowns as he looks down at the list, before he looks up "Faustina." He reprimands. "She can't ask that!"
She grimaces, "It's not like we can make them right now."
"To be fair, it would take months even if we could. None of us have crafted guns before."
She closes her eyes, suspicions confirmed.
Gil makes a sputtered noise of disbelief, "What?"
Faustina drops her eyes as she shifts in discomfort fidgeting with her sleeves.
"She's right. T found the Yu's stockpiling guns before the howler."
"Yeah but-" Gil pauses before he goes silent.
"We can hope they were just as affected by this-"
"Hope is not something we can really afford at this juncture though, is it?" Faustina adds barely loud enough to hear.
"No, which is why we should plan as if we were the worst hit and everyone else is perfectly fine."
"I- you two- Where's Uma?" Gil sighs as he looks towards the door.
"One, mister. I said hope first." She sticks her tongue out at him, "And two, she's getting Harry and more food"
Gil makes a disgruntled noise as his forehead thuds against her head with a long exasperated sigh.
Faustina studies Gil in concern but closes her mouth when the door opens.
"Sweet Boy, Baby Girl!" Harry chirps, "Good ta be seein' ya both up."
"You too." She grins as Harry swoops in to hug them both before he turns to Faustina to do the same.
"I see how it is," Uma snorts as she kicks the door shut behind her, "Not even tryin' ta help your Captain." She adds as she balances two precariously filled trays with skill only a waitress could possess.
She quickly jumps out of Gil's lap to take one of the trays.
"Thanks Baby Girl," She smiles brightly, before she places the tray on the table.
She bites her lip as she places her tray in front of Gil, "To be fair, I think our conversation broke Gil."
Gil purses his lips as he narrows his eyes at her, before he turns to Uma. "They think it's a good idea to ask the Prince for weapons."
Uma pauses as she looks between her and Faustina. "Well… That's not great." She breathes out as she sinks into her seat.
"I said I'd try to work the request in, but yeah." She sighs as she passes out the bowls.
"That be some request." Harry grimaces as he takes the seat next to Faustina.
"Ain't it?" Gil sighs as he hugs her tightly.
Upset or not, she couldn't refuse his need for comfort.
They'd only just gotten back together, and she was right there with the others in the want to just be happy they'd all survived.
But she couldn't ignore the pit in her stomach and the connections her brain refused to stop making.
"Beauty Girl?" Uma turns to Faustina with a frown. "Ya really think it's like that."
"At the present I don't think it's a pressing concern."
"But when everyone figures out that Maleficent is gone?" She sighs.
The stories about how the Isle found its leader were all pretty consistent.
It had been bloody.
"I didn't mean to disturb the mood." Faustina responds softly, "It's been so long since we've eaten together."
"It has." Uma smiles, "So eat while we talk."
Faustina blushes as she pulls her bowl to her and picks up her spoon.
She picks a bowl up and hands it to Gil, who grins down at her.
"Thanks Treasure," He kisses the top of her head.
She smiles before she picks up the spoon and plays with her bowl.
Was it so wrong to be worried about what was going to happen?
Or to ask for the help they were going to need desperately if things went as bad as they could?
Hadn't they used up all their good luck by being reunited?
"Deez?" Uma sighs, "Are you full already?" She asks, her voice as concerned as it was doubtful.
She frowns as she looks down at her bowl, "I guess I ate the first one too fast."
And now she was full of thoughts.
"Uh-huh." Uma studies her with a frown, "Well, can you at least try to eat some more? It'd make me feel better."
"I will, " she quickly nods, "Just letting it settle."
Uma snorts, "If that's all it is."
She stirs her bowl, watching the way the strips of seaweed danced in the mirky broth. "Just don't want to get sick or something if I eat too fast."
"Ain'nah no one wantin' anyone here ta be sick." Harry shudders before he picks up his second bowl and drinks from it.
"Fair," Uma nods as she eyes Gil. "Hear that Sweet Boy?"
Gil closes his mouth as he puts down his third bowl, "Yeah." He grins sheepishly.
She grins up at him before she offers her spoon.
"Got it," He chuckles as he takes it.
She rolls her lips over her teeth as she turns back to Faustina, mesmerized by her graceful eating before she shakes her head.
"Do we, are we thinking about next steps yet?"
Uma purses her lips to the side, before she lets out a sigh. "I-" She sighs again, "It would be for the best, wouldn't it."
Harry groans, "Can'nah we jus' be enjoyin' bein' this for ah moment? I ain'nah even finished me baskin'."
Gil quickly nods, "We just got back together."
Faustina pauses, "And I'd like it to stay that way." She states quietly before she lowers her spoon to her bowl.
A chill like she'd never known before runs down her spine.
Was that how other people felt when she connected dots?
Uma studies her curiously, "You okay, Baby Girl?"
She nods, "Faustina just made a good point."
Uma turns to Faustina who was currently sitting silently with her hands in her lap. "Ya made a point?"
Faustina drops her eyes, "I just, I want us to be able to stay together."
"Same." Uma nods before she looks up again, her brow furrowed.
Gil turns to Faustina, "I think we all want to, Angel." He offers, confused.
"Want," she points out with a frown, "we want to stay together."
Faustina meets her eyes as she nods.
That's where the chill came from.
The room blurs.
From knowing the only thing she'd been hoping for since the wave was about to be taken away again.
"An' here I be ah thinkin' T be the gloomy one." Harry shakes his head.
Gil nods as he hugs her to him tighter. "No kidding."
"I'd be less gloomy if I knew what our next steps were."
"I'd be less gloomy if we had guns," Faustina adds as she picks up her spoon and takes another sip of soup.
"That too."
"What too?" Uma frowns.
She tilts her head to the side before she sighs.
How often did she look insane because she was hearing things the others couldn't. She really needed to figure where the difference was so she'd stop responding.
Gil narrows his eyes as he looks to Faustina. "Angel?"
There was no way Faustina was answering that question.
But how could she without causing more problems?
"We'd feel less gloomy if we had weapons and ended up not needing them."
Uma snorts, "Is that what Beauty Girl said?"
"Baskin'," Harry reminds them. "Me. Us. Now."
She'd never been more appreciative of Harry's antics.
Faustina turns to study Harry for a moment before she closes her mouth and turns back to her soup.
Uma frowns as she looks over the table before she sighs. "How 'bout we meet in the middle? Bask for a day or two, then worry about the next steps."
"Aye!" Harry nods enthusiastically, "I be votin' on that."
Gil quickly raises one hand. "Same."
She can't help the small smile when she realizes she wasn't the only one to sigh in defeat.
At least she wasn't alone in this.
Faustina bites her lip as she slowly swirls her spoon in her soup. "T can't do that."
"To be fair, I don't think I can either."
Not without spiraling. She was too scared.
Uma sighs. "A day? Or the rest of this one?"
Faustina gives a delicate shrug, "I would like to bask at least a little, but T really needs to get back."
Harry groans, "Can we be ah baskin between moments of takin' stock o' ourselves? Do that be ah workin' for the two o' ya?"
They did need to know what they were working with. If the wave had destroyed the cove and the docks, she could only imagine the damage to the ship and the stuff they'd stored below.
"That would probably be for the best. We need to know what to retrieve from the commissary- Besides the necessities of course."
"That-" She nods, instantly grabbing onto the idea of a next step
Uma lifts her brow, "You want to raid the commissary?"
"Raid is-"
"Why not? T's in charge of the Goblins now."
Faustina gestures to her.
Uma blinks. "Shit." She turns to Faustina.
She jumps in surprise at Harry's barking laugh.
"The real question be-" Harry struggles to talk around his own amused laughter, "Do T be ah rememberin' that?"
"Not the entirety." Faustina sighs, "He just, when he spoke to the ones we came across, he's very used to them just doing him favors. And they've always called him master. And, I didn't think it was the time to bring it up…"
"If I ain'nah gettin' me baskin' time with ya, then I be needin' ta be there when that be dawnin' on T."
Uma snorts, "Make sure ta get a picture for the rest o' us."
"Like he'd let that exist for long." She rolls her eyes, "no matter how well you hide them, he finds them."
"That sounds right," Gil chuckles. "He ain't one for lettin' things go."
"I always thought it was more about the evidence of his face." She muses.
"Two things can be true." Faustina smiles in amusement.
She smiles as she looks down at the notebook laying off to the side.
She could handle this.
Writing a letter while everyone took some time to do what they needed.
At least Faustina had gotten a next step worked out.
Faustina hangs her head before she takes a deep breath, "Captain?"
Uma turns to her with a wary look, "Yeah Beauty Girl?"
"I made a report, and since it seems like everyone's finished eating, I was wondering if you'd like to-"
"You-" Uma holds out her hand, "Give me."
Harry snorts as Gil chuckles.
"Now ya be doin' it."
Gil nods, "She's gonna be expectin' those now."
Faustina nods as she picks up the papers she's neatly placed to the side before she hands it to Uma.
She quickly covers her mouth before her chuckle can escape.
Why hadn't she thought of that?
She shakes her head before she pulls her notebook over to continue her letter.
"Are you sure it was Harriett that helped?"
"Harriett?"
She looks up at Harry's tone in time to see him roll his eyes.
Faustina stares at the table, "I am."
She bites her lip as she watches Uma and Harry.
Harry's older sister was a topic she'd learned to avoid. Especially when her only experiences with the older girl were positive.
Uma studies Faustina for a moment with a frown waiting for her to continue before she gives up and turns back to the report.
She'd have to ask more about that later. For now, she was just glad to know Harriett was alive.
She jumps when Uma's hand slams down on the table.
"Is this a list of people who are alive?" Uma demands, her voice tinged with barely contained excitement.
"Yes sir." Faustina quickly responds, as her back straightens and head bows.
Uma grins as she jumps to her feet, "Oh thank all the fuckin'-"
The rest of her sentence was muffled as the door slams shut behind her.
Harry sags against the back of his seat, "From 'er reaction, I be thinkin' some crew be 'bout ta be gettin' some good news." He grins as he reaches out to take Faustina's hand.
Gil nods with a grin, "Good, it'd be awful if we're the only ones ta find each other again."
Bout time James found out.
Can't blame him for blanking at the idea.
T and Faustina are as opposite as they're not.
Cause, surely you saw some similarities in this chapter.
Care to name them?
What a way to find out though. James was definitely confused as fuck.
Though I'm sure anyone would be in that sitch.
I mean if I found out Dark had a dick, I'd be fucking shook.
(You and me both. -Dark)
Wouldn't care- but still shook. And even more envious of her fucking rack.
(Eyeroll. -Dark)
T's gonna definitely be feeling some type of way when he finds out James knows though.
And probably not a good one.
And look, we figured out a way for Ume's (and ya'll) to get a recap of everything without writing another ten pages, which was awesome for us.
LoLz.
So, knowing what ya'll know, what do you think Harry and Faustina are going to make of the destroyed work room?
Fuck knows I'd be devestated if my lap top died, and if Darks PC went? *Shudders* We'd all be feeling that one.
Materialistic? Sure, but when your life revolves around something it's hard not to feel it's loss. And not going to lie our lives revolve around our computers. Like legit. We spend at least- at least- forty hours a week at the damn things and I fucking loathe tech.
Then again, I also loathe human contact, oil, and speaking to strangers yet chose to become a massage therapist so there's that.
Clearly, I just fucking hate myself.
(It's funny cause it's true. -Dark)
Much love and shit
-Twisted
Oh yeah, before I go more shameless shameless plug time!
We got art made of Deez, T, and Faustina if anyone gives a shit.
And for only $3 dollars ya can check it out on Pat-reon. Ya know, the site that keeps getting censored.
I know. I know.
Frustrating and all that-
But seriously? We spent a stupid amount of money to have several artists whip up different renditions of our OCs, including Roy. And even some made up of your fave cannon characters.
Which by the by, if you have a story involving any OCs I highly recommend checking out sketchmob, they have some crazy talented artists and some are very affordable- Others not so much.
Still, worth it.
The ones we used are listed with the pics if you're interested.
We also have some music vidz I whipped up. Not saying they're the best by any stretch of the imagination- I'm still figuring out the programs and stuff, but they're slowly getting better as time progresses.
Oh, and there's extra content.
Like the first time Uma met D and shit like that.
And we're always open to suggestions when it comes to writing scenes ya'll wanted to see but we didn't have time to put them on screen.
Not sure if ya'll have interest in any of that crap- But it's there for the reaping if you are.
Your call obvi, just sayin' the arts pretty boss.
The vidz albeit mediocre, give some insight. Some are even kinda funny- Like Senior's and Maleficents. Not the best, but still I just make 'em when Dark can't write and I'm stoned AF at 3 am. Just to give you some insight on the quality ← Again never claimed it was good, just fun- Cause ya know. Staying up to 8 am cursing and wanting to throw my laptop for distance is apparently my definition of a good time.
And come on, bonus content? Cause Gods know we don't give ya'll enough to read ← LoLz. JK. But still. Some of you are fucking psychos in all the best ways.
So, ya know, something ta think about.