"Faustina?" She calls out before she knocks on the door, "gotta moment?"
She had no idea what went into herb prep, but like hell was she going to startle Faustina into an injury.
After a moment of waiting, she rolls her eyes.
And she thought Deez got absorbed in her work.
She sighs as she kneels in front of the door and proceeds to work the lock.
At least one of them was easy to find when they disappeared.
She stands when she hears the tell-tale click.
"I'm in the room," She announces as she closes the door behind her.
"Mhmm." Faustina murmurs, interrupting her content humming as she stands at the table cutting up one of her plants.
She frowns at the difference in the room.
Herbs were hanging from the ceiling and beams.
The table was covered in leaves and sticks, as was the board that covered the tub in the corner of the room.
And the floor-
She bites her lip at the discarded scraps.
-had turned into a poisonous game of sharks in the water.
She shakes her head.
Not much grew here, but to see it all in the same room was overwhelming.
She hesitantly steps around the littered floor to stand beside Faustina, her lips pulling into a smile at the other girl's tranquil expression.
She'd seen it before-
Whenever she was just watching them quietly.
It made warmth unfurl in her chest.
To know that they could elicit the same emotions as her passion.
Her escape from-
She shakes her head.
No.
That's not why she was here.
Still-
Did Faustina find the same type of solace in them?
"Faustina?" She eventually breaks the silence before she puts her hand on the other girl's shoulder.
Faustina startles before she turns to her with a knife dripping in sap.
"Sorry," she holds her hands up, "you didn't answer when I knocked."
Faustina's face flares red as she drops her knife, "My apologies Captain." She bows her head, before she looks back up. "I didn't mean to-" She steps away.
"I would be more worried if ya didn't have that instinct. Already ain't a fan of you getting so into your projects you lose track of what's happening around ya, but ya ain't the only one."
Faustina's eyes sparkle with mirth as she looks away, "I suppose not."
She smiles before she carefully leans against the table, "So, I just got done talking with Yensid about priorities and tactics."
"Oh?"
"Aye, an I have a few things I'd like to run by you."
Faustina's brow furrows, "how can I help?"
"Well, I know how important it is to get Deez to the library and to get T to Yu grounds, but I don't want anyone going out right now. I know we all have the charms that help protect us, but what with your idea about magic light and Harry wanting a way to track the journals, I just think we should focus on that, and maybe help you get some of your brews going? At the very least I'd like to wait for tomorrow morning." She crosses her arms over her chest, "cause like hell is anyone stayin' on the Isle overnight."
Faustina nods as she settles on top of a crate, "that makes sense." She crosses her legs before she rests her hands on her lap. "We can't help anyone if we get ourselves killed in the process."
"That's where Yensid fell on it too."
It was hard to balance.
On one hand, she could see how dangerous it was to not know what Shan Yu was up to, and it was just as dangerous to let those books wait around for the wrong people to find them.
On the other hand, they knew magic was a problem, and knew that their charms weren't enough to fully protect them.
And sea gods only knew how many opportunities for magical attacks lay between her people and their missions.
Faustina bites her lip, "is Yensid still awake?"
She nods, "When I left he was gathering things he needed."
Faustina's face brightens, "is he starting on the warning light?"
She smiles, "Yes. It's why he'll eventually move to the cove. He needs Deez for the glass container, but she refuses to use her fire on the ship right now."
Faustina tilts her head slightly, "she's scared again?"
She bites her lip as she frowns, "Yeah. She's saying she's not as in control as she used to be."
"I can't blame her." Faustina sighs, "there's still a crackle in the air. And with how frightened she, and well, everyone is at the moment- With her abilities being emotionally based, it makes sense she would backtrack."
She crosses her arms as she leans a hip against the desk.
Was that the reason?
Deez did seem more on edge. Constantly close to tears.
Even with the charm Yensid and Gil worked on.
Deez had always seen things differently. Was more affected.
And now Senior involved her in the horrors that happened, shoved images in her mind that she wasn't meant to see.
But Deez was- Deez.
No matter how much it scared her, Deez wasn't one to turn her back on problems.
Especially when those problems involved those she cared about-
And who didn't her Baby Girl care about?
She grimaces.
"Yeah." She rolls her lip over her teeth, "I guess you're right." She shakes her head, "after hearing that Yensid wanted to wait for us to go out on the Isle I decided Gil and Deez should go back to the cove. So, I was wondering if there was something I could help you with?"
"Hel-" Faustina trails off with a frown before her eyes light up, "oh! Of course, the more people who know how to make them the better."
"Oh good," she stands up straighter as she claps her hands together once, "because Freddie and Cecelia want more to do too."
Faustina pauses for a moment before she slowly nods, the blade in her hand trembling, "that would be for the best."
Her lip twitches despite the heavy wariness in the tone.
Fucking-
Her eyes narrow, like fuck was she calling them Frollo's-
Twins. She clings to the word.
Fucking twins.
So different, but so similar.
Like, T would have agreed to it-
Hesitantly. Reluctantly. But agreed nonetheless.
Faustina just came to the realization faster.
That it needed to be done, to get things done.
"And DIzzy is insane about meeting T's sister."
Faustina bites her lip nervously, "right."
She frowns before she walks over and rests a hand on Faustina's shoulder, "not that you have to do anything about that right now. We have enough to worry about, Dizzy knows that."
Faustina looks up at her, "I appreciate you," she smiles weakly, "but sooner is probably for the best. T's going to be needed soon enough. I'll make what I can, of course. But on the off chance something happens to him- The more that know how to make them, the better."
She nods before she looks around the room with a frown, "If you're sure, then I think we're going to need more space for you to work in."
Faustina glances around the room before her eyes land back on her, "I'd usually argue, but I can see your point. It'd be one thing if it were just me, but-" She shrugs. "It soon won't be enough."
Her heart skips a beat at the tone of her voice.
At the resignation.
Like she'd just accepted her future death or something.
"Don't be like that." She runs her fingers through Faustina's red locks, "we're all gonna be needed for lots of things."
"Sorry," Faustina sighs as she drops her eyes and falls silent.
"No Beauty Girl," she gently tips Faustina's head back again, "I know I don't understand how frustrating it is. You and T are both so needed and wanted." She assures the other girl as she stares into her green eyes.
Faustina's lips turn in a small smile as she meets her gaze with adoration, "Thank you for saying that-" She pauses, "meaning that. But-" She furrows her brow before her eyes brighten, "Oh-" She bites her lip, "if you're okay with it- I know how restless T can get, and since Beam knows now, and, well I don't mean every time, but for most- T isn't particularly fond of meetings- not to say I'm much better, but would it be okay if I was the one-"
"Wait- Beam knows now?"
"Oh, my apologies Captain. He came down after the meeting with several questions…"
She drags a hand down her face, "of course he did." She sighs, "I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to warn you."
"He's a leader for a reason," Faustina drops her eyes, "It's not like we didn't know it was coming. T's not going to be happy about it," she sighs. "But I didn't think it was right to continue making the rest of you lie for us. Nor did I find it wise to be overly evasive with his questions. Not when everyone is trying so hard to get him to trust us. So," she shrugs. "he knows. My apologies if I overstepped," She bows her head, "but at the moment it seemed like the best course of action."
"Overstepped? Beauty Girl, that was all you an' T's call. All at your pace."
Faustina looks up, "But we had you, all of you lying, which really wasn't fair to anyone, I should've told you the minute it happened. I just..." Her cheeks turn red again as she looks around the room.
"It's okay. Family looks out for each other. You didn't want to talk about it yet, we didn't want you to be uncomfortable."
Faustina's lips twitch in a small smile, "and I love all of you for that-"
"Good. Cause we all love you too."
Faustina's smile widens, "Which I truly appreciate."
She wraps an arm around Faustina's shoulders and side hugs her.
She'd take the exchange.
She blinks when she finds herself being squeezed.
"Sorry I didn't see it sooner."
She quickly stifles a relieved laugh.
The pride.
The frustrations.
It always hit her the hardest when they finally got it.
She'd had the same moment with all of them.
Harry.
Gil.
Deez.
And now Faustina.
If only T would get there.
"Everyone understands eventually." She presses her lips to Faustina's hair, "and if you think about it, you certainly didn't take the longest-" her eyes narrow.
They'd all only learned about Faustina after they found T and were nursing him back to health.
While it felt like forever ago, she knew it had only been a couple of months.
So, from stranger to part of the family in a few months?
She doesn't even try to cover her snort, "actually, you got it the fastest."
"To be fair to the others, I still don't understand it. I just feel it. It took me a while to recognize you all weren't just doing it for T. That you all accommodate me." Her voice lowers as she places both her hands over her heart, "trust me."
She blinks away tears trying to cloud her vision before she pulls Faustina back into a hug. "Of course we do."
It was hard to articulate more than that.
Everything was so overwhelming right now, but this?
This was a good kind of overwhelming.
A moment she desperately needed.
Faustina closes her mouth as she hugs her back before she kisses her cheek, "something I will always cherish. It's still like a dream, despite living in a nightmare." She whispers as she thumbs away her tears.
"That is a way to describe this." She chuckles as she pulls away slowly.
Reluctantly.
"Speaking of the nightmare we're all in though," she looks around the room again, "what do you think of getting a larger area not on the ship?"
Deez was fishing for something to do anyway, now that their plans were delayed.
"I love this room," Faustina frowns as she picks up a thistle stock and spins it between her fingers, "but it would probably be safer for everyone if the room was larger." She tilts her head, "and easier to store and label everything."
"Deez mentioned making more room at the cove, I was wondering if that would interest you."
"I've never been able to work in fresh air before-" Her eyes sparkle with delight, "it would definitely help with some of the projects I'm hoping to work on." She frowns, "if Deez has the time and energy."
"Let me go see where we are and ask if she would like to get a start on that." She takes a step back towards the door, "but when I come back I really want to hear about the rest of your ideas. And I still have to pick your brain on some new tactics."
Faustina smiles, "of course, Captain, it would be my honor."
This was the first time he was seeing the cliff in any kind of light.
He blinks at the odd pattern before he grimaces.
She'd…
Those were the handholds she'd burned into the cliffside.
How the hell had she managed to pull them both up-
He got she was half-god, but even with her strength…
She had a dislocated arm.
He looks back at Deez in amazement.
He'd always known how strong she was.
Mentally.
Physically.
He got it.
But looking at the unequal zigzagged shadows?
The true gravity of how much hit him.
That looked-
He frowns.
-painful.
How much agony had she been in?
How much had she been forced to push herself?
How?
Just how?
He looks down at her.
Shaking at his feet.
So small.
Unassuming.
But she was so much more than that.
She was the writer who'd managed to get the Rottens off the Isle.
She was the compass who led their family in the right direction.
She was his Treasure in the middle of trash.
If it had just been him in that cave, there's no way he would've made it.
It was incredible.
She was incredible.
He stops himself from dropping the oars to pull her close and kiss her stupid.
The last thing she needed was for him to rock the small boat more than it was already swaying.
He chuckles.
Deez.
So strong.
Fierce.
Yet soft and caring.
She was the perfect combination of passion.
He grins, maybe it was a family trait.
Uma.
If he didn't know anything about either he never would have associated Deez as threatening or Uma as caring-
But they were.
His beautiful walking contradictions.
He shakes his head before he rows them to the shadows in the rock, warning her before he pulls the boat to the ledge.
Deez sighs before she tilts her head back to look up at him, "so a space for Faustina to work and a place for Freddie to grow more herbs."
"Yeah," He nods as he runs a hand through her hair. "C'mon," he sighs, "I know ya hate it, but the quicker you're on land, the better you'll feel."
"No arguments here." She smiles as she takes his hand and closes her eyes.
He chuckles as he carefully maneuvers them to the pool landing before his eyes sweep over the hidden swimming hole with a smile.
He hadn't gotten to really appreciate it the last time he was here, but Deez had outdone herself.
Despite it being in the cliff, he didn't feel the walls closing in. It was that open.
Open while still remaining hidden.
A slow grin pulls at his lips.
He had no doubt she'd had him in mind in the construction.
Always so thoughtful.
"You'll be okay?"
"Duh." He picks her up to kiss her nose. "I still got ta finish the anklet. I only have one charm left."
And maybe some cleaning up on a few others.
"Well now I have something to look forward to." Deez claps her hands excitedly, "I know how hard you've been working on the charms."
He chuckles as he rubs the back of his head. "Yeah, I just hope she likes it."
"She kept your cat." Deez reminds him with a grin, "and what you have shown me has been amazing." Her fingers catch at the charm hidden under her toga.
His nose scrunches.
That cat.
It was the first thing he'd carved.
He still remembered carving it to give to T. A thank you for the idea.
He wasn't sure he'd ever have thought to carve things on his own-
But how often had doing so staved off the loneliness when Uma and Harry had to work?
It surprised him to find out T kept it.
Well, Faustina.
Maybe.
That made more sense.
A sad kind of sense, but still.
You could barely make out it was an animal.
"But I get it, I always worry about my writing and glass art too."
He grins at the soft kiss on his cheek.
"You get me." He kisses her once more before he sets her on her feet. "Promise ta come eat when I call?"
"I'll do my best."
His eyes narrow, "No." He shakes his head, "you'll just do."
"My best, exactly." She grins as she dances back a few steps.
He shakes his head, "Seriously Treasure. Or Uma will send someone out with ya that you'll listen to, an' I like spendin' time with you."
Understatement.
Ever since the incident with the wave-
He hadn't been able to let her so much as a hundred feet from him.
He wasn't sure when she'd become his security blanket-
But she had.
Deez's mouth drops open before she puts her hands on her hips, "I listen to you. I listen to you all the time. I was just-" She huffs before she crosses her arms over her chest.
He walks over to her and picks her up, "don't be like that," he nudges her head with his nose. "I'm jus' worried. I know how focused ya get. I'm the same way. I just- I need ta make sure you're takin' care of yourself. Need."
Deez frowns before she sighs, "I'll come back as soon as I hear you calling. There. As soon as I hear you."
"Thank you." He sighs with relief before he places a kiss on her cheek. "Maybe if ya get it done quick we can-"
"Eat up in your area where the stars are?" She asks excitedly.
"Right." He blushes as he looks away.
Wasn't appropriate anyway.
"I'll go check ta make sure it's still there." He grins at her. "Figured it'd be the safest place ta work without worryin' you."
"You are not wrong." Deez nods as she fidgets with the charm again.
The charm he'd managed to finish after the meeting, the only thing between her and the nightmares her father had dumped on her.
He frowns, "are you okay?"
She tilts her head to the side before she looks down at her hand, "oh." She looks back up with a small smile, "I think I'm just nervous."
"That's fair," He sighs as he gathers her close and squeezes before he steps back, his gaze sweeping over her again. "Wanna talk about it?"
"No. We have so much to do," she sighs.
He nods slowly, "can't argue that, but still-" he nudges her chin so she was looking at him. "I'm here for when ya wanna talk."
"Thank you."
He kisses the top of her head, "of course."
He didn't like it, but he didn't have to.
"And," Deez continues in a small voice, "if I need you, I'll call for you."
"Good." He nods in approval as he takes her hand and squeezes, "I'm holding you to that."
She nods, "right." She grins, brightening as she bounces their joined hands, "the faster we start."
"The better." He finishes with a kiss to the top of her head.
He frowns as he braces his arms against the railing to stare out into the water.
Some orders were easier to follow than others.
And some looked simple on the surface.
Sail the ship around the Isle to give Deez time to add more space at the cove.
Meanwhile, Faustina was locked away in the crowded workroom with Uma, Freddie, Celia, and Dizzy.
He shouldn't complain, since it was his suggestion that Freddie and Celia might be able to help, but he was hoping it would have given him time to hang out too.
At this rate he wasn't going to get time with her before he and T had to head out to spy on Shan Yu and Atilla.
"Yo," Beam greets as he leans his back against the rail, "jus' the Psycho I was lookin' for."
"Aye?" He turns to Beam curiously, "What can I be ah doin' for ya?"
"Uh," Beam scratches the back of his head, "Cool if ya don't wanna talk 'bout it an' shit- It's more jus'-" he narrows his eyes, "curiosity."
"Curiosity huh?" He pushes off the rail, "I can help where I can mate, what be eatin' ya up?"
Beam's eyes scan the deck.
"It be like that then?"
"Think he'd like, legit kill me if we talked where others could hear, honestly."
Well, that narrowed it down quite a bit.
"We can be ah talkin' in the cabin," He tilts his head towards it, "come on."
"I mean, twist my arm." Beam grins as he pushes off the rail.
Once they're in the room and the door is shut he slides into his seat at the table, "what be up mate?"
"So, like…" Beam clicks his tongue, "Uh, so, I jus' talked ta Faustina." He crosses his arms as he leans against the wall. "Well, talked to her earlier. I kinda, needed a minute."
Oh.
Oh, he knew.
"Faustina be tellin' all then?"
"Fuck I hope so."
He snorts as he lays his hands on the table, "Aye, it can be ah mite overwhelmin'."
"Mite my ass." Beam shakes his head, "I. I mean I don't- Well, I mean like, I care but like- Not 'bout-" his eyes narrow before he groans and runs his hand through his hair as he breathes out. "Like, how?" He sighs, "I had like no fuckin' clue somethin' like that was-" He glares at the floor. "He's such a twat." He looks back up. "I, just…" He bites his thumb. "Huh." He nods, "Yeah, that's actually pretty much where I am, huh."
"Ain'nah bein' ah bad place ta be." He shrugs.
"Oh," He sighs in relief, "Thank fuckin' god."
He pats the table, "can ya be sittin' afore ya fall over on me?"
"Right," Beam pushes off the wall and plops in a seat, "The fuck." He tilts his head back to look at the ceiling, "An' I thought bein' on this ship was fuckin' weird."
"What ain'nah bein' weird right now, ta be fair."
Beam scoffs, "No shit." He shakes his head. "Isle goin' ta shit. People droppin'. Magic. Sacrafices an' other fucked shit." He sighs, "Findin' one o' my best is-" He pauses as he eyes him, "Got a lot more goin' on then I would'ah guessed."
"That be T. Little shit scared the life outta us while back, an' then we be meetin' Faustina. Things do be startin' ta make more sense-"
"Does it?" Beam blurts out before he facepalms, "my bad yo. Jus'... Yeah."
"Knowin' who Faustina is-"
"Which, fuckin' Frollo by the way? That's the hole the Shadow fuckin' crawled out of?"
The name was a punch to his gut.
"Aye, hard ta be believin', but aye. Bastard were bein'-" He cuts himself off as he forces his fists open to lay against the table again.
Beam closes his mouth as he eyes him with a frown, "I'm callin' bull shit. Ain't no way she's that creepy as fuck's kid. She's too fuckin' pretty. Which-" His eyes narrow, "the fuck?"
"Aye, I be thinkin' the same thing." He sits up straighter, "like, they don'nah be rememberin' him takin' her or something. Cause who would be willin' ta fuck that?"
Beam grimaces as he looks away.
Oh.
So he'd figured that part out too.
"Sorry mate."
"Ain't shit for ya ta be sorry 'bout." Beam shakes his head. "Known plenty that had to-" He pauses as he closes his eyes before he slams a fist on the table. "Right." He frowns, "That purge makes a fuck ton more sense now. Was wonderin-" He frowns.
The purge.
A shiver crawls up his spine.
"Ain'nah one o' us that could be stomachin' it when we be realizin' what all were goin' on in the red lanterns."
The room he'd found T in-
The room he'd been in before-
Even with it burned to the ground, it still haunted him.
Memories he couldn't quite see, and ones he wished he could have been there to stop.
Beam scowls "No shit." He shakes his head. "But like, Shadow? Fuckin' Shadow?"
"He did'nah be knowin'."
"See, now that makes fuckin-" He blinks, "Wait-" He holds up his hand. "He's like, my age- I mean I wouldn't have guessed that- But like Shydow is. Or 'least close to-" He shakes his head, "not the point." He sighs, "What I mean is- fuck man. How do ya make it this long on the Isle without knowin' 'bout sex?"
He frowns as he leans back in his chair.
How indeed.
But, he'd been a part of the pleasure kids. He couldn't remember a time he hadn't known what sex was.
When he'd first joined Uma, he was the one to introduce her to the concept.
Gil pretended not to know what it was, but he remembered the look on his new brother's face.
Deez had been clueless, though.
"I guess we all be havin' different kinds o' fucked up."
"No shit," Beam runs a hand through his hair before he falls silent, several emotions passing his features. "So-" He pauses, "we're jus' like, treatin' 'em like twins then?"
"Aye. That's how they be seein' it," He shrugs, "an' it be how it be feelin'."
Beam nods slowly, "Right, I can do that."
"Good ta be hearin', cause T-" He sighs, "T can be more than ah mite testy 'bout all this."
"Gee, I wonder why." Beam sighs, "Shadow's never been big on sharin'." He bites his lip, "so how'd ya'll figure it out? Ya said shit happened, an' then ya met her-" He stops short. "Guessin' round the time that fuck ended up dead."
"That were me."
"Good on ya," Beam stops mid-nod before he eyes him.
"An' that be how we be findin' out."
Beam knew enough without having to be told what that meant.
"Deez be havin' an idea that somethin' were goin' on with T afore that," he continues to explain, "but it were after that we be first meetin' Fasutina."
Beam leans back in the seat and crosses his arms as his gaze travel's the room. "By accident."
"I think we were all surprised when Fausitna be wakin' up here," he winces as he eyes the bed, "even her."
Beam frowns as he follows his gaze, "fuckin' bet." He sighs before he falls silent again.
"So," Beam eyes him, "ain't no secret that the Psycho liked stalkin' the Shadow-"
"Oh it were'nah secret?"
Beam snorts, "Shadow used ta hide in my holes."
He chuckles as he slams his hand down on the table, "I fuckin' knew it."
"I jus' thought he pissed off an' Elite."
"Probably did half the time, he be good at that."
"Yeah," Beam's lips twitch into a smile, "fuckin' idiot. Not like I complained, kid saved mine more times than I can count."
"T be savin' all o' us more times over the years than I can be ah countin'."
"So, that leads me to the question of how the fuck does that work?"
"How do what work?"
Beam lifts an eyebrow, "the three o' you? I ain't blind, ya clearly claimed Shydow."
"Aye. She be lettin' me. But yer really askin' if T be okay with it?"
"Ya, we talked 'bout it before but-" He frowns.
"It be ah little different now that ya be knowin' they share ah body?"
"I mean, yes."
"It helps that I be likin' both o' 'em-"
"You are a Psycho."
He chuckles, "Ouch, mate."
"I think your pride can be takin' the hit."
"Can it though? I be takin' hits from T all the time."
Beam snorts. "Clearly ain't complainin' 'bout it."
"It do be his favorite form o' love."
"Damn, we might be in competition."
"I could be lettin' T know ya be countin' yerself in the runnin',"
"Nope." He shakes his head, "I'm good. You can enjoy that mess."
"An' I dooooo."
Beam snorts, "I know ah' lotta girls who'd fight ya for it though."
"I always wondered. He were always hidin' from groups o' girls."
"Ain't one for attention."
"Which, now that ya be ah mentionin' attention-" He sits forward, "I know ya be down for playin' the spider once the ol' man be ah gettin' that shit together, but I were wonderin' if ya were there when the Spider first came out."
"I mean, I saw the fuckin' mess he made of-" He shrugs, "that guy." He tilts his head, "never pictured Shadow ta be so-" his eyes narrow, "like," he breathes out, "thoughtful don't seem right. S'why I never was sure it was Shadow."
"Ah, ya were'nah bein' there for the big event with Maleficent then?"
"Oh! That shit show?" Beam shakes his head. "Where she-" His eyes widen before he bursts out laughing. "Oh, the Dragon. Shame she wasn't here ta see that."
"Aye, she would'ah been stranglin' him for sure."
Beam nods, "can't count the number o' times I pulled Shadow back from-" He rolls his eyes. "Was he friendly with 'em too?"
"Aye."
Beam shakes his head, "ya know, for not bein' a whore that kid gets around."
"Him an' Deez have been friends for years too, if that ain'nah somethin' ya already know."
"Tch, can't have a Shadow without light." He shrugs, "sides' Lil' Writer was the only Elite I didn't try ta keep mine away from. Ain't many who treated us like equals."
"That do be soundin' like her." He admits before he looks away.
Deez, the fucking half god on a rotten Isle full of mortals, treated everyone like equals.
The one who literally was more than.
While he'd never held any disgust towards the Urchins and Nobodies, he certainly hadn't tried to make their lives any easier.
"Hey man," Beam waves him off, "ya'll stepped when it mattered. Still can't believe ya'll came for us, but I ain't complainin'." His smile fades to a frown as his eyes dim. "Saved a lotta us."
"We finally be doin' what were right, fuck what anyone else be thinkin'," he points out, "fuck the adults, an' fuck the Isle."
"No fuckin' kiddin'." Beam shakes his head, "was still feelin' weird 'bout this sitch-" He gestures around the cabin with his finger, "til', ya know, weirder shit happened."
"Ain'nah that just the way o' it?"
Beam's snort turns to a grin, "The weirder shit gets, the rest gets normal."
He laughs and nods along, but it made him stop.
Magic. The Isle fighting against them. Witches casting such an evil spell.
No. That was totally what happened.
They'd just been adjusting to one new thing after another since the Core left.
And now they'd gone from T has split personalities to Witches can kill in mass just to mess with the barrier.
Seriously? He'd take finding out someone he knew had a second person in them any day.
Beam frowns, "So, like why were ya askin' 'bout the Spider shit?"
He blinks before he slouches in the chair, "Aye, just wonderin' if ya'd seen how the Spider be actin' an' such."
Beam nods as he looks away, "yep."
"Well that be soundin' like ah story."
"Even the killings didn't make me as uncomfortable as watching 'the spider' on stage. Totally kinda toned down the intimidation vibe." Beam closes his eyes as he shakes his head, "Fuckin' Shadow stays in the shadows for a reason."
That was more like what he'd been expecting to hear.
Senior always made it seem like T had nearly pissed himself, something T vehemently denied.
But he'd been real fast to try and hide the pictures Senior had.
"Makes sense why Faustina asked ya ta play the Spider."
It still stung.
He was as charismatic as it came, so why Beam?
He hated the heat it brought to his chest-
But, she had a reason, right?
One he was dying to talk to her about.
"I know," Beam beams, "Dope right?"
He snorts, "aye, it do be ah certain kin' o' thrillin' ta be the center o' that much attention."
"Oh, it's gonna be awesome. I didn't realize how many things I had to say, til' she said that. Highlight yo. Definitely a highlight."
As much as he would have loved acting the Spider, it was fun to see the king of the urchins acting like this.
Could Faustina have reasoned that this would help Beam feel more involved?
"I be excited ta see what ya be plannin'."
"Dude," he leans his head into his hands as he slinks in his chair contentedly," me too."
T.
It was very T.
Uma'd mentioned the similarities a couple of times, but that move?
It did make him wonder who copied who.
"So, can'nah be helpin' but see ah whole lotta T in that," he gestures at Beam's posture, "who be copyin' who?"
Beam looks at him as an amused grin pulls at his lips. "Shadow didn't get 'is name cause he stayed in the Shadows. Worst fuckin' stalker ever."
His snort quickly turns into rolling laughter.
Jay said something similar once.
"Seriously yo, so fuckin' awkward."
"Oh, that ain'nah ever gone away, ya just be havin' ta push the right buttons."
"Really?" Beam sits up straighter, "think we can get Shydow ta keep the face thing to herself?"
He slowly grins, "me Pirate Princess do be havin' ah tiny mean streak in her-"
Beam snorts, "I mean if I had to live with Shadow…"
"Aye. So maybe."
Beam closes his eyes as he pumps his fist, "yes."
T was going to kill them.
For this, and for putting Beam directly in the line of fire.
He hated the thought of throwing his Pirate Princess under that ship-
But with all of T's flinches, and the pure disdain in her commands to Senior, he wasn't all that worried.
His jaw tenses before as his eyes narrow.
But why did it ignite another fire in his chest?
Hey Readers.
Dark here again.
Thank you for reading these, and for your understanding and support.
Writing this fanfiction means a lot to Twisted and I, and it sucks when illness gets in the way of something we love so much.
Anyway, just wanted to ask/beg you guys to please give us a shout out so we know you're there. We write for each other, but hearing what you as our reader thinks really makes our work worth it.
Lots of love, warm wishes, and happy all the things,
Dark