Her pen races across the paper-

Her mind had been racing since the meeting, making her worry she'd forget the formula.

As soon as Uma dismissed them she'd raced down here to hide amongst the herbs so she could transcribe all her new ideas without interruption.

She'd spent years dreaming about the future.

How to make things better for those she loved and cared for.

Formulating machinations to assure Uma's rise to power.

It had been one of the things that kept her going.

Gave her hope.

But, the dynamics of the Isle became fluid when the Core were taken-

Nothing could have prepared her for the fallout of Maleficent's escape; the darkness that befell the Isle.

So much happened, and none of it good.

And despite all the scenarios and contingencies she'd conjured through the years-

She'd never considered magic a variable they'd have to combat.

All her work, up in smoke.

Her lips twitch.

But her determination flared back to life.

And with it a wealth of ideas.

Her family had risen to every challenge so far-

So, what if the playing field had changed?

They could do this.

The odds, as unfavorable as they were, weren't insurmountable.

Suffocating, maybe.

Discouraging.

But not impossible.

She had faith in them, though.

In their newly formed council.

She rereads the formula critically before she nods in approval.

T, her eyes drop to her bandaged hands, despite his struggles, would see to it, or die trying.

She knew that in her soul.

She flips the page before starting another formula.

It would taking cunning.

Resourcefulness.

Imagination and ruses-

They'd just have to be clever.

Underhanded with their tactics and ploys.

There would be no clean hands by the time it was over-

But they could do it.

She fills several more pages, finally clearing her mind of the frenzied ideas before her eyes settle on the notebook that connected them to Hades.

Idiot.

He was just as bad as her brother, if not worse.

Which was rather embarrassing.

As old as time and yet the mentality of T.

Her fingers brush the book, but before she can grasp it a knock pulls her attention to the door.

She eyes it curiously before she slides off the seat and hesitantly goes to open it.

At least she'd finished her new ideas.

"Yo." Beam greets casually, though the intent in his eyes told a different tale.

She steps back with a frown as she opens the door wider, "Beam." She greets quietly.

He nods as he walks, "was hopin' ta talk ta ya."

She chews on her lower lip nervously as she shuts the door.

This didn't bode well for her, "of course."

Beam wasn't an idiot.

And if he was approaching her, he'd made some conclusions.

His nose twitches as he looks the room, "Fuck, an' I thought it smelled in the hall."

She can feel the heat crawl up her neck as she drops her eyes, "right, sorry."

Beam grimaces. "That's not-" He pauses as he scans the room. "Shadow's not 'round is he?"

She purses her lips together as she shakes her head, "No. Haven't seen him. If you're looking for him-"

"Actually," He grins, "You were the 'dow I was lookin' for."

Her head tilts to the side, "Whatever for?"

"Well, now that you mention it-" He crosses his arms as he leans next to the door. "Was hopin' you could let me in on a few things."

She twists her hands nervously, "I think that line of questioning-"

"Is perfect for you? I agree." He nods.

She bites her lip, "I don't really leave the ship though-"

"That's cool," He shrugs, "this ain't bout the Isle."

"Oh." She kneels next to the bowls of herbs, needing something to do with her hands. "I think T-"

"Would run away? I see we're on the same page again." Beam nods as if agreeing with her.

She grimaces.

This wasn't good.

She eyes the door with a frown.

"I ain't gonna bite," Beam assures her before he lifts an eyebrow, "it's just ah couple questions, no need ta run to yer brother."

Heat burns her cheeks as she drops her eyes back to her herbs, "I know that…" She chews her bottom lip.

It was the line of questioning she was concerned about.

"Look," Beam holds his hands up, showing her his palms as if he were afraid she thought he was going to attack her, "I can ask, an' if you don't like it, I can piss off. How's that?"

Her eyes narrow on the blisters before she sighs, "Alright," She sighs before she stands up, "But I'm taking care of those." She points to his hands.

"Those-" His voice trails off before he flips his hands towards him and grimaces, "ah, guess I ain't thinkin' 'bout the hurtin'." He sighs wearily.

"It's the infection I'm worried about." She crosses her arms as she eyes him sternly. "And we can't afford you to get sick right now." She tilts her head slightly, "or ever if I have any say in it. So-" She points to the chair. "Sit."

Beam eyes her before he shrugs and takes the seat, "alright. So I guess first off you should know Uma and hers didn't explain anything, other than they knew, but it was your story to tell. For ah bunch ah elites, they're real loyal."

"I do find the Captain and hers to be of a different kind." She smiles as she gathers what she needs before she returns. "But, this might be a T story to-"

"I highly doubt it, since it was him who told me he was ah nobody like me." Beam sighs, "which I ain't sore 'bout, just so we're straight."

"Just to be clear, we're the ones who wanted to keep it a secret, not them," she frowns as she takes his hand and starts cleaning it, "At the time he thought he was son to a hero-"

"Ah hero? Like, he- wait, are ya'll that old man's kids?"

She sighs as she looks away, "Not that old man's kids."

Beam tilts his head, "Not Yensid's."

She nods as she returns her attention to his hands.

"I guess ya did say thought, an' Yensid is a hero. But there ain't anyone else-" his eyes narrow.

She purses her lips, refusing to look up as she continues doctoring his hands.

She could almost hear the cog clicking into place.

"No." Beam grimaces before he shakes his head, "no. That don't, that don't make ah lick o' sense."

"No." She agrees, "It doesn't."

"But yer pretty."

Her lips twitch into a smile before it falls, "I guess I take after our mother."

"But- but then someone had to fuck that disgustin'-"

She flinches as her stomach turns as she squashes down the intrusive memories.

No.

"Fuck, sorry. I didn't mean ta-" Beam grimaces as he pulls his hands away, "make ya do that." He shakes his head again, "whatever that was-"

She bows her head as she steps back and starts to fiddle with the fabric of her shirt, "sorry."

"I swear I weren't trying ta hurt ya or nothing. I just- Fuck, I can't even. I didn't know he had ah kid, let alone two."

She crosses her hands behind her back and leans against them. "You didn't hurt me." She says quietly.

"Ya be as bad ah liar as Shadow." Beam clicks his tongue, "I ain't blind. I know hurt when I see it."

She grimaces. "Fair," she drops her eyes, "but you're not the one who hurt me."

Beam bites his lip as he looks away, "Sorry, for pullin' that shit back up."

She rubs her arm, "It's okay, it's over now…" her eyes drift back to his hands. "Hands now please?"

"Ya still wanna clean 'em?" He blinks up at her from under a furrowed brow.

"It both needs to be tended, and gives me something to focus on, so please?"

Beam closes his mouth with a nod, "fair."

"Thank you," she offers softly as she tentatively reaches forward only for Beam's hand to grip her wrist.

She yelps as she tries to pulls away, but Beam pulls her closer.

"Sorry sir!" Her eyes widen as she catches herself, her heart slamming against her chest as she steps back, "I didn't mean too." She bows her head when she realizes he still had her wrist.

"Woah, woah, woah," Beam shushes, "ya ain't done nothin'." His eyes narrow as he stares at the bandaged hand he was still holding onto.

She bites her lip as she focuses on her spasming heart.

This was Beam.

Beam, the guy who took street urchins in and protected them.

He wouldn't hurt her.

But why was he holding her so close?

Why was he staring at her so intensely?

Beam's brow furrows as gently covers her hand with his blistered and swollen own, his eyes darting between their hands as if he were trying to figure something out.

Her eyes widen.

Oh no.

"I burnt it on a flask," she offers quickly.

Beam lifts his gaze before his eyes narrow, "both of 'em?"

She blinks, "I wasn't expecting anyone to knock."

"We did just have that big meetin', makes sense ya would be hard at work."

She pauses, "I mean, hard might be pushing it unfortunately, I've been rather worried."

"Uh huh," Beam nods though he doesn't release her hand as he looks up at the baskets of herbs piled in the corner before he eyes the hanging bundles and then finally shifts to the table where she had plucked leaves.

What was he seeing? Or looking for?

She bites her lip.

She could hear the gears spinning.

She needed to say something.

Derail his thoughts.

Anything.

Beam frowns as he releases her hand, "so, how ya really be ah hurtin' yerself?"

She eyes him carefully, this wasn't good.

Beam had always been extraordinary at sniffing out lies. Even for an Isle born.

Was she really willing to stake his trust on continuing this deceit?

"You can't tell T," she frowns, "promise."

"Tell T? What? That I've noticed you have the same injuries? Noticed ya ain't ever in the same room? Or that if you burnt both hands this badly on a heated flask you'd have to be some kind of idiot?" He tilts his head as he looks her over, "which, I know ya ain't an idiot, so- What exactly am I not tellin' T now?"

Her cheeks burn as she looks away, "it was never to insult you." She frowns, "or to trick you. At least not in the way you might be thinking…" She sighs. "But the truth is rather complicated and comes at a high cost to T."

Beam slowly nods, "I hear it costs T. But, since he owes me for that game of ditch he played-"

She grimaces.

"-you tell me, I won't say anything to him, an' we'll all be even."

"That's very kind of you," she offers as she drops her eyes to her hand with a frown, "T is my brother-"

"Yeah, that part I get. Makes sense. Overprotective brother with a pretty sister." He traces a checkmark in the air, "yep. Checks."

She takes a deep breath-

"Shit, ya ain't like, magiced to him so ya take on his stupid, are ya?"

"That would make more sense, honestly." She rubs her temple, "But it's more complicated, still."

Beam continues to stare at her in confusion, "So, not magic?"

"No." She shakes her head, "Not magic." She frowns. "T's my brother," She takes a deep breath, "but he-" She closes her eyes. "-we, share."

"Share?"

"Time." She rubs her arm.

"Time?"

"And," Her tone softens as she looks at the floor, "a body."

"A. Body?" Beam's eye twitches.

"Something's wrong with us," She explains quietly. "We're broken." She sighs. "T-"

Beam holds his hands up as he shushes her again, "Wait- wait. Just, wait." He holds up a finger.

She fidgets with her skirt, unable to lift her gaze.

"Uuuuuuuh, okay. Broken." Beam's voice draws her attention again and she looks up to see him absently nodding, "Broken I get. There's ah hell of ah lot 'o it out there in mine."

His nods pick up tempo slightly as his wrist begins to roll, as if he were following a train of thought.

"And broken never looks the same, cause ain't none o' us hit with the same shit."

"Not that I've noticed," She agrees.

"Kay." He frowns as he stops nodding, "So uuuh, yeah. Okay."

"Okay?" She studies him, "As in you're content with your answers?" She asks skeptically.

"That you an' yer brother are like-" he holds up a finger on both hands before he claps them together, "I mean, I guess I have a fuck ton more questions, but like, you two also seem ta have ah handle on it." His brow furrows again before his eyes dart to the ceiling, "Do the others know? Wait, does Harry?"

"Yes, he does." She can't help her smile, "They're the only reason we're handling it." She continues as she looks in the direction of the cabin.

"Huh." Beam clicks his tongue as his hands drop to his lap, "No fuckin' wonder T trusts 'em so much."

She bites her lip, "he wasn't trying to hurt you, or-"

"No, that ain't-" Beam shakes his head, "I've been tryin' ta figure it out this whole time. What could possibly make the Shadow calm the fuck down enough to take up with a gang, with Elites. And, whatever the story is. Whatever it was that lead you- Him? Both o' ya- Whatever, just like, wow. I uh, I guess I'm just glad ya had help? That he had help."

A smile curves her lips as she nods, "More than he'd ever admit out loud."

"No fuckin' shit." Beam snorts, "I uh, I had no idea. Which I guess was the point an all. But yeah, wow, he like, wow. Years. That was ah lot o' years. He held it all together, or you did, or ya both did, okay, yeah- that, that parts confusing."

She shifts, "We didn't know." She sighs. "We knew each other existed. Knew that we're siblings. And I can't ever recall a time without him… But we didn't know until right before The Rotten's were taken."

"So like, born an' then one of ya died? There was a little that talked to his brother while back- Said his brother died of sick, but never left? But that ain't this."

She shakes her head, "No." She sighs, "I don't think so… Now that I know… I can't picture Father ever raising T, to be well, T."

Beam's eyes widen before he frowns and nods in agreement, "Though, lookin' back, some of the things he said- not that it was like, glaring things. But makes sense now."

"I find knowing has clicked a lot of pieces together for people who care for him."

"And I do, that. And uh, good to know." His eyes linger on her for a moment before he looks away and shakes his head, "Uh, yeah. Yeah. Nope. All good. I just uh, ya know, don't like secrets and shit. And Lil' Writer was all her and shit with not tellin' me anything except that there were a story, but not her's and um, yeah."

"Sounds like her," She smiles fondly. "And," She eyes him with a frown, "I'm older if that's what you're avoiding."

"Older?" Beam frowns as he turns back to her, "But I thought you were twins?"

"Even with twins, one is always older."

Beam stares at her blankly, but once again she could see the cogs turning until understanding contorts his face, "Oh? Oh!"

Heat burns her face at the look of disgust and she turns away as shame washes over her like a torrent of rain.

"Sorry!" Beam stands up so fast he knocks the chair into the wall, "I didn't get what you were sayin'. Sorry, I can uh, I can leave if I've upset ya. I don't need T and Harry huntin' me down. I weren't aiming for rude, it just came out that way. Sorry."

She closes her eyes, "No, it's- I know." She swallows the lump in her throat. "I-" She hugs herself tighter.

She knew.

Disgusting.

Vile.

Dirty.

Stupid.

"I understand." She fidgets with the sleeve of her shirt, wishing she had T's hoodie on. "It's just a fact. Nothing to apologize for." She offers softly.

"Nah, I'm good bein' sorry. That, fuck, I knew T was tough shit, but like, fuck man. That's some shit." His eyes drop to her hands, "So um, like ya both know it all or like, were ya there when we," he holds his hands up, "just for like, understandin' how it works."

She takes a deep breath, "To answer you truthfully, I have very little understanding of how it works. T used to tell me stories about everyone. It's why he first started leaving the tower… But nowadays? I can be present when he's out, but he's never around when I'm out."

Beam nods as he clicks his tongue, "got it. So uh, he don't like, have ta know I cornered ya?"

A ghost of a smile passes her lips, "No, but I wouldn't bring it up to him either."

"Had no plans ta." He nods firmly, "I uh, well, I had no idea what I was askin' for, did I?" He chuckles as he claps, only to yelp when he remembers the state of his hands.

She bites her lip, "I understand if you don't want me touching you- But I'd still like to see to your hands if you'd let me. My Prince really doesn't like illness and I don't like to see people I care about hurt."

"Huh." Beam nods before he turns curiously, "yeah, guess I should let ya finish, if ya don't mind none. Else I'll end up useless." A smile curves his lips, "got any more of that goop shit?"

She smiles as she gathers their last tin from T's bag, grateful that Deez would be working on her equipment soon. "I do."

"Dope. Lay it on me." Beam beams.

There was just so much.

Too much.

And every time she turned around more seemed to pile on.

It was becoming a struggle to simply keep on top of who could do what.

She frowns as she eyes the table.

And the meeting helped as much as it hadn't.

There was just so much to do.

Harry gives her a look that suggests he was thinking the same thing before he starts rubbing her back, "all we can be ah doing is plannin' things out best we can be. We be havin' things at the cove that be needin' done, since ya ain'nah wantin' people ta hit the Isle 'till mornin'."

She tilts her head.

"It would give us some time to get our shit together an' figure out our next steps."

"I were thinkin', once Faustina be satisfied with her herbs, T an' I could be headin' out ta check on the Yu's. It be makin' me nervous like that people with guns be runnin' around, but there ain'nah been ah sightin' of the OV or Atilla since afore the big storm."

She closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath.

It made sense.

They needed to know.

But she hated it.

Hated that T was the best person to send.

Hated that where T went Harry followed.

Hated that this discussion was even happening.

Harry's fingers under her chin forces her head back and she finds herself staring into cold blue eyes, "if ya be that worried I could be askin' for volunteers ta head out with us."

She bites her lip, "I-" She frowns, "Let me think about it?"

"Course," Harry presses a kiss to her cheek, "ya be the Cap'n after all," he teases with a wink.

She wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him tightly, "thank you."

"What use be ah number one if I can'nah be helpin'?" He smiles as he plucks a braid up and fixes the frayed end.

She chuckles as she takes his hand and runs her hand over it. "We need a game plan. We know what Yensid is doing. We know what Gil an' Deez are doin'. Figured ya could take Beam out ta collect more herbs." She crosses her arms, "as for James an' Big Murph, I'm hoping their team will be willin' to scavenge metal for Gil's forge."

She rubs her thumb over the back of his hand, "I'm hoping Faustina will stay out a couple of days." She sighs, "But, I don't think anyone but T is willing to go to Mal's."

"I can be swingin' by the hangout with 'em after we be seein' what we can be seein' in Yu turf." Harry offers

She nods.

She wanted to talk to Deez and Faustina before making that call.

And Yensid.

She wasn't sure what was better, a two-man group?

Or a whole crew?

A few months ago, she would've left it up to Harry-

But now? With everything being life or death, literally, she had to call the shots.

It was her duty as Captain and a leader.

But she wasn't so prideful she wouldn't accept help or guidance.

Especially not now.

Every member of their newly formed council meetings was worth their weight in gold; each one bringing her a vastly different perspective on every situation.

She was incredibly fortunate in that regard at least.

"Aye, that works." She nods before she starts writing up the chore list for the day, and the checklist of jobs for tomorrow.