He was still riding his high.
He'd done it.
He wasn't sure how he'd done it.
But he'd done it.
Stood up to his brothers.
On a level, it hurt that he'd had to.
But overall?
He was proud of himself.
He'd been the runt for so long.
The weakling.
He grimaces before he shakes off the shadows of memories.
But now?
He felt like a man.
A real man.
He steadies his gaze on the anvil.
Thanks to Book Club.
To Smithing.
To T.
He grins.
It wasn't weird for T to dip out for weeks.
Or at least hadn't been weird.
It was just something T used to do.
But when everyone else started to get worried, he couldn't stop it.
T was just an easy person to worry about, when you weren't the one with him.
So, when he'd appeared that night on the ship he'd been stupid relieved.
It had been so lonely without him.
Well, lonely and boring.
And then boom.
Yo, ever think about making swords?
He grins at the memory of the nonchalant invitation.
He'd jumped before he even looked.
He shakes his head.
It was crazy how quickly your concern for T could dissipate when he had that look in his eyes.
That spark of rebellion and mischief.
It was addictive.
And fun never failed to follow.
It was the good kind of stress, the kind that made you grow.
Tested your limits-
And your Captains.
It never even occurred to him to ask who else was going to be involved.
Or where it was happening-
Exactly what T had probably been expecting-
He just wanted in.
So, when T finally let it slip the Pup would be helping-
He was already in too deep.
God, that day had been so terrifying.
He'd never had anything against Carlos-
If anything he was intimidated by him.
Which was weird now.
It was Carlos.
One of the most patient, kindest people he'd ever met.
But back then?
He was so worried about what he was going to think about him.
He'd barely learned to read and was going to be working side by side with the Isle's genius.
That first meeting had been so tense and awkward-
But after that?
Book Club had been the second best thing to ever happen to him.
Right after Uma.
And he missed it.
Missed the comfortable silence as they all worked on their projects.
Missed the little snippets of conversations when he was forced to take breaks.
And though he knew those would never be the same-
He really missed the swing of his hammer as he beat metal (meat) into submission.
There was just something so masculine about it.
And the fact it made him stronger?
His lips twitch, he hadn't even considered that.
Consider how much more muscle he'd pack on with that hammer.
Smithing had just been fun.
And sorely needed.
As much as Deez desired to rid the Isle of that library, he desired this anvil in his forge.
He smiles.
She had protected them from the potential of more black magic being accessed-
And once they found it, and got it home-
They'd be able to arm against more practical means of attack.
His smile widens.
More than anything he missed working so closely with Deez.
Making the anklet had been fun, but it wasn't the same.
Not like when he and Deez were in tune with each other.
Wordlessly anticipating each other's needs.
Deez.
He turns, chuckling when he finds her frowning at the massive pile of debris still covering half the room.
Deez surprised him.
Not that she wasn't good at it.
It was just-
He'd never seen her so confident with her fire.
Well, that wasn't true.
He'd just never seen her so confident with her fire-
While being so angry.
That had been new.
New and awesome.
He wasn't sure he'd ever seen Junior look like he was going to piss himself before.
And Third?
His chest constricts-
He was pretty damned sure that was genuine concern that he was about to be Deez-fried.
But she'd just stood there.
Smiling.
And sure, it hadn't been a pleasant kind of smile.
But she hadn't run away from him after lighting up.
He pauses.
In fact he was pretty sure she'd lit up on purpose.
With intent.
Even though he was with her.
It had been startling, but in a good way.
In a way he was proud of.
It had taken them years-
Him years-
To get her to be comfortable with herself.
And he was embarrassed to admit he hadn't even noticed she'd gotten there.
But she had.
And he was damned proud of her for it.
"Finally," He grins when his eyes land on the familiar shape, "Treasure!" He calls over his shoulder, "found it."
He looks up when he feels her against his back, watching her face as she studies the anvil.
"It's a little smaller than the old one, but it's less rusted. And the horn thing looks stronger." She sighs as she leans all her slight weight against him, "are you really okay?"
He grins as he looks down at her, "yeah," he nods. "I know it's kinda weird, but I'm feelin' pretty great."
"You punched Third," she shrugs, "I feel pretty good for you."
"No, not that." He shakes his head.
That he had mixed feelings on.
"I just- I stood up to Junior. And you caught on fire." He explains with a grin. "With me next to you- And you didn't run. So, I don't know." His grin widens, "after yesterday and this? How can I not be feelin' awesome?"
"Good." She smiles as she bends down and hefts the anvil out from under the fallen beam before she quickly sets it down again, "that was heavier than I thought it would be."
He frowns, "ya gonna be okay carryin' it?"
"Yeah," she furrows her brow as she looks up at him, "now I know, and you'll be helping."
He chuckles, "let me write Uma."
Deez nods before she leans against the anvil.
He quickly reads Uma's last response and assures her they were on their way back before he puts the notebook away.
"My fire is whatever I choose it to be." Deez states firmly when he looks up.
He pauses, "yeah?"
She crosses her arms over her chest as she nods, "and it's okay when I use it as a weapon. That doesn't make me bad."
He tilts his head to the side, "of course it doesn't."
"Well, I just figured that out," she sighs before she pushes herself up, "so glad we're on the same wave."
He eyes her curiously.
She just-
Oh.
Oh!
"What happened in the library?"
"I destroyed really bad books." Deez says before she looks down, her face scrunched thoughtfully, "I um, I was so angry. So-" Her head shakes slightly back and forth before she focuses on the anvil, "I hate what they did. Hate how easy it was for them."
A pit drops in his stomach at the reminder, sobering his mood.
"I hate how there was nothing we could do." She continues, "and I just, took all that hate and anger and, I let it all go into my fire. Let my flames destroy. And it was-" she closes her eyes as her voice catches.
"Treasure," he breathes out as he collects her and holds her close.
That sounded scary.
Overwhelming and scary.
"I felt good doing it. Which scared me at first, but-" Her arms wrap around him, "then I could feel my fire. I've never just burned like that before."
His brow furrows.
Feel her fire?
He frowns.
"What does your fire feel like?" He tilts his head to the side.
"Like an extension of me." She explains as if struggling to string it all together, "like an arm, kind of."
His lips curve into a smile. "Well, it is a part of you. A beautiful part."
She snorts softly, "It didn't feel like that before. It was a fight, like I was struggling with it for control."
He tilts his head to the side, "remember when T used to fight with his right hand by accident?"
"Yeah?"
"He sucked at sword fighting. And that was with Harry n' Jay teachin' him."
She chuckles as she pulls back to look up at him with her swirling blue flame eyes, "so, basically I was using the wrong hand with my fire?"
"I mean," he grins at her, "kinda. He was kind of holding back on accident. He didn't know he could wield with his left hand, no one else does. But then he used his natural hand and swordplay made sense."
She bites her lip before she nods, "I was holding back. I never let myself see everything my fire could do because I was so afraid of it."
He runs a hand through her hair, "Treasure," he smiles.
He'd always known it.
They all did.
Deez was afraid of herself.
Of what she was capable of.
It never seemed to matter what they said.
What they did.
She always had a wall up.
He knew he'd put a chip in it.
Had managed to slip past it.
You couldn't go up in flames during sex if your walls were up.
Right?
It had been a glance-
But now?
Was she-
"Are you sayin' your not scared of it anymore?" He asks hopefully.
"I'm-" her tongue runs over her bottom lip, "I'm not scared it's going to act without me anymore." She explains slowly, as if only fully forming her understanding as she spoke, "But I am a little scared of how far I'll go to protect what I love."
He pauses as he lets the words simmer between them, "I think that makes all of us. Well, maybe not T…"
"T doesn't fear anything except failure."
He nods slowly. "Which, ya know, is terrifying for us."
"But I think I understand it better now."
"Is that good or bad?"
"I'll let you know if I go too far," she frowns, "or maybe you'll have to tell me if it becomes a bad thing."
"I'll keep my eye out," He smiles. "But something tells me you'll be alright."
"I do have an amazing family to help me out." She grins.
"You do," he nods, "we love you Deez. Any of us would do anything you asked us to."
She chuckles, "I'll keep that in mind. Which won't be hard since I feel the same."
He hugs her to him tightly. "You better."
"Lesson learned. So now you don't have to pick fights with your older but somehow smaller brothers anymore."
"But it worked so well." He teases.
She shakes her head before she taps his arm to be put down.
"If I must." He sighs as he settles her to the ground.
"I meant it when I said if Junior ever touches you again I will hunt him down."
"Glad to know all of you are willing to have blood on your hands on my account."
She tilts her head to the side, "I wouldn't have blood on my hands," she smiles innocently, "there wouldn't be anything left."
"You've spent too much time with T."
"I will have you know I have spent far less time with T since joining the family than I did before."
"Yeah, and that's given it time to fester."
She snorts before she pats the anvil, "come on, or we won't make it back before it gets dark and then we'll get in trouble."
He nods with a chuckle, "yeah."
"Where are they?" Uma frowns as she makes another round of the work cave.
Harry braces his cheek on his palm as he leans across the table, "ya want me ta be ah goin' out ta look for 'em?"
Uma turns to stare at him in contemplation before she huffs and starts pacing again. "No. I said sun down."
"Aye," Harry winks at her before he pulls the notebook to him, "ya did be ah sayin' that. An' they did be checkin' in."
Uma groans, "I know that."
She hides her amusement.
She couldn't help herself.
It was adorable.
How much Uma was worrying for them.
Gil, the boy who'd grown to the size of a barge.
And Deez, a girl who was born of stone and fire.
She couldn't think of any two more suitable for the Isle right now.
Sans the fact they were both pacifists-
But even then, that only went so far.
Sure, Gil would take his share of lickings before raising his hand-
But lord forbid anybody do anything to Deez.
And if someone were foolish enough to press Gil?
They'd be consoling Deez over a pile of ash.
She glances towards the sea with a smile.
Add to that they still had a good thirty or forty minutes to return and Uma was nothing short of cute.
"Aye, so since we all be knowin' that now-" he reaches behind him and grabs her workbook, "might ah we be talkin' 'bout these?"
She pauses at his tone.
Had she done something wrong?
Uma turns to him curiously, "what about?"
"The fact I be Number One, but I be bein' last ta know." Harry pouts as he pulls her sketches out.
Oh.
Her cheeks catch fire.
Uma snickers. "It's what ya get for half assin' school."
"Wha- I. Nobody be ah tellin' me school be havin' this kin' o' art." He crosses his arms over his chest as he stands up straighter, "Who be ah failin' who here?"
Uma's eyes shimmer with mirth, "Well, if you have to ask-" She shrugs.
"Captain?" Yensid greets with a smile.
"Aye?" She turns to him.
"It would seem Freddie, Celia, and Dizzy have finished the garden and wish for your approval."
Uma lifts her brow in surprise, "huh." She stands from the table. "Ain't lettin' that behavior go unrewarded."
Yensid chuckles, "they've been debating who best to approach you when I came upon them."
Her lips twitch in amusement.
Either Celia had managed to find a way to tighten Freddie's leash or-
Uma snorts, "bad mood that obvious."
-that.
She schools her smile as she ducks her head.
Uma looks around the silent room, "well, good ta know somethin' I do scares that girl." She shakes her head as she follows Yensid, only to pause and turn back to them, "be back soon. Don't go anywhere.
Like they would dare with Uma's anxiety already rocketing.
She scowls at Harry when he salutes Uma with a snort before she swats him in disapproval.
"Of course, Captain." She offers with a small smile.
Uma's eyes brighten in amusement as her lips twitch, "good." She nods before she follows Yensid from the room.
"What were that ah bein' for?" Harry pouts as he turns to her
Her brow furrows, "what was what for, my Prince?"
"Ya bein' cute?" He narrows his eyes.
"N-" Her eyes widen.
She hadn't.
Heat rushes her cheeks as she looks at him in horror. "Sorry!" She squeaks as she bows her head. "I-didn't-that-I-shouldn't-But-Then-" she trips over herself as she only grows more flustered.
She wasn't sure if she'd ever felt so mortified before.
She'd smacked him with scorn she usually only reserved for T.
Harry chuckles as he pulls her to his side, "I ain'nah sayin' I were'nah deservin' it, just askin' what it were ah bein' for."
Her gaze sweeps over him as she fidgets with her sleeve.
Relieved to find the hurt reflecting in his eyes had shifted to amusement.
"It be important like ta understand what I be ah doin' wrong, or least what ya be ah catchin'." He winks.
More heat licks her cheeks, "she's worried."
"Aye? How is that ah bein' new?" He grins.
"You know how it's new," she chides. "Deez and Gil rarely left before. To have them leave with the Isle being in the state it is? I'm proud of her for not throwing things."
"Aye, okay, I be seein' yer point, Love," Harry sighs before he pulls himself up to sit on the table she was working at.
She subtly closes the notebook and pulls it closer as she smiles up at him.
"Now we can be ah talkin' 'bout these?" He asks as he holds the page of sketches she'd done of him.
She blushes, "I'm sorry, I-"
"Nah nah nah," he interrupts with a grin, "I be lovein' these, don'nah ya dare be sorry."
"Oh," she can't help her sigh of relief, "I still should have asked…"
He shrugs, "if that be how ya be feelin', then consider me permission given."
She smiles.
She didn't think he'd mind, but nothing had been able to quell the fear of his disapproval.
"In fact," Harry stretches widely before he sprawls out over her notebook and winks up at her, "I be wonderin' how often ya be wantin' ta sketch. Cause I mean…" he gestures to himself, "I can be ah lookin' pretty for ya anytime ya be ah wantin'."
"Oh?" She asks as she leans forward and places her chin in her hand, "you'd do that for me?"
"Oh aye, I can'nah be havin' ya not practicin' now can I?"
"I would so hate to get out of practice."
"An ya know, since our lil' Pervy Princess ain'nah bein' round right now ta be shreikin', I could be takin' me clothes off."
She bites her lip as she studies him curiously. "And you don't think Captain would get upset about that?"
Harry pouts as he lifts his head to stare at the arch she'd left through, "ya be makin' ah good point. Like I be needin' ta get in more trouble." He sighs as he lets his head fall back to her notebook.
"Sorry, my Prince." She chuckles as she runs her fingers through his hair and starts playing with a curl.
"I only be havin' one page o' yer interest." He pouts.
She blushes as she shifts and looks away, "I got distracted."
"Oh aye?" He grins as he rolls to his stomach before he reaches out to cup her chin, "do I be distractin' ya then?"
Did he distract her?
She bites back a snort.
Like he didn't know it.
Her cheeks burn hotter as she looks away.
"I can be livin' with that." He chuckles before he lifts himself up to press his lips to her's, "though I do be lovin' the way ya be seein' me." He continues once they pull away for air.
"You are quite breathtaking." She smiles.
"So'er you," he grins as he sits up, crosses his legs, and plops the stack of her sketches in his lap, "an' so'er these."
"I've loved drawing since T introduced it to me."
"I did be ah seein' yer window sketchin'," Harry smiles as he looks up at her, 'ya be better at detailin' now."
Her lips twitch. "It helps to see the detail."
"Aye, that do be true," he chuckles softly, "but ya be gettin' better like Gil be gettin' better."
"Thank you," she reaches and takes the top page. Her eyes sweeping over Gil's face lovingly. "You're all just so beautiful. Especially when your masks slip. I've never felt so humbled as I did when the four of you allowed me to stay during family time. It was magical to watch."
"An' it really don'nah be botherin' ya none?"
Her brow furrows, "does what not bother me?"
"Well, like how I be havin' this kin' o' time with our family." Harry taps the sketch in his lap, "an' like, not doin' it with you?"
She pauses.
Did she have a problem with-
"I find every aspect of our family's dynamics beautiful." She offers. "It's so at odds with everything I've ever known." She answers slowly. "You're all so different, and yet you're willing to yield for each other. All four of you, such strong personalities, soften at the slightest show of discomfort. You're all so gentle, kind, and patient, while at the same time raw and demanding. It's overwhelming in every conceivable level, but only in the most addictive of ways." She tilts her head to the side, "And though I'm slightly uncertain why my bearings on the subject matters, I would never want to see something so genuinely authentic come to an end."
"Yer thoughts on this be ah matterin' ta me cause you be matterin' ta me." Harry leans forward and tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "I always be wantin' ta know where ya be comfortable like, an' where ya ain'nah bein' ready. Though I do be happy ta hear, an' see, that ya be likin' this kin' o' time," he points to the sketch again, "I be wantin' ta make sure that really be how ya be ah feelin'."
Warmth constricts her chest as she gazes into his gorgeous glacier blue eyes.
She knew her prince was exquisitely considerate.
She had just never imagined it being directed at her.
And it hurt.
Hurt in ways she'd never experienced.
Because it felt good too.
To know she was worth someone's consideration in such matters.
Worth consideration.
Words so foreign to her.
Words she'd never dare assign to herself.
Harry bites his lip as he cups her face with both hands and wipes his thumbs across her cheeks before he presses his forehead to her's, "I just were wantin' ta make sure ya know I be ah wantin' ya always. Always. But I also be needin' ya ta know we be doin' this yer way." His hand slips to the back of her head, "that be important ta me."
She blinks as more tears blur her vision and drop her eyes.
He was killing her and didn't even know it.
She wasn't sure what she'd done.
To deserve such kindness.
Thought.
Love.
What she'd done to earn a place in the family.
What she'd done to earn this.
And it hurt.
Confused her.
But-
She struggles far longer than she likes before she finds her voice, "thank you." She breathes out softly.
Shakily.
"Aye," Harry smiles as he continues to hold their foreheads together, "an' I be likin' yer way."
She drops her eyes as warmth trails down her cheeks.
"I really ain'nah meanin' ta make ya sad," Harry frowns as he wipes his thumbs across her cheeks again, "I were just, I were wantin' ta check on ya."
Sad?
She glances up at him confused. "You're not," she frowns, "making me sad, I mean."
"Then why ya be ah leakin' tears?"
She presses her hand over her heart as she looks down, unsure how to describe the emotion she was currently drowning in.
"It just-" She pauses, "hurts? I-"
"Hurts?" Harry's eyes widen as he pulls back a few inches, "I don'nah be meanin' ta hurt ya none. How can I be ah fixin' that?"
She shakes her head, "that's not-" she bites her lip. "I-" she frowns as she clutches her necklace over her heart. "It's a good hurt."
The frown on Harry's lip slowly curls into a smile, "ah, ah good kin' o' hurtin'. I think I can be gettin' that." He reaches down and takes her hand, "I 'member feelin' somethin' like that when Uma be tellin' me she be wantin' me ta be her number one."
"Thank god," she sighs as relief settles over her before she looks up and meets his beautiful eyes, grateful for his patience. "I'm sorry," she frowns. "I know this can't be easy for you."
"It ain'nah bein' 'bout things bein' easy or not," Harry explains softly as he shakes his head, "it be bein' 'bout you," he points to her chest, right above where her hand gripped the potion bottle, "an' ya bein' happy an' comfortable."
More tears gather as she swallows the forming lump in her throat. "Thank you," she breathes out carefully.
She didn't deserve this.
Didn't deserve them.
Him.
But it's all she'd ever wanted.
"For caring so deeply about my feelings," she adds quietly, "and being so accepting of my failings."
"Love, that be what we all be doing here," he leans in close as he wraps her in a tender hug, "it be no less than what ya also be doin' for us. For me."
She rests her head in the crook of his neck, "I've loved you, all of you so much, for so long." She whispers, "but I never imagined we'd ever meet or that I was worthy of it being returned."
"Silly Pirate Princess," Harry chuckles as he sweeps her off her feet and into his lap, "if you ain'nah bein' worthy of it, then who the hell do be?"
Before she can answer, he silences her with another kiss.
"That be what I be thinkin'," he grins when they finally pull away again, "I be truthin' ya ta silence," he winks.
She smiles as she rests her head against his.
The silence was comforting, like it had been on the cliff.
Time.
It was as if they were stealing small moments for themselves.
A bank to draw from when such opportunities would no longer exist.
Unspoken but understood.
Trouble was always brewing on the Isle, a constant they had familiarized themselves with, only now its noxious fumes had turned into deadly miasma.
"Love?"
"Yes, my Prince?" She frowns as she turns to him, the hesitance in his voice rare, and as such, concerning.
"I uh, I be ah wonderin' something."
Her brow furrows as she takes his hand, it wasn't like him to be so uncertain either. She sits up straighter and turns to him fully before she takes his hand, "what's wrong?"
Harry chuckles nervously before he brushes a gentle kiss over her lips, "it ain'nah bein' ah wrong kin' o' thing. Just ah curious pirate who be likin' ta know what all be goin' inta yer plans is all."
"Oh," her shoulders drop as she tilts her head, "I appreciate curiosity," she smiles, "even more so, sating it. How can I help?"
He grins as he scoots to the very edge of the table and wraps his legs behind her, "I were curious 'bout the Spider. Be ah believin' me, I understand why it can'nah be T," he snorts, "but what be makin' ya decide on Beam?"
Oh.
"I see," she sighs as she reaches up and trails her hand down his face, "my Prince, your charisma is unrivaled, there is no denying that. And there are few who can argue and even less that can match your flair for the dramatics. "
"Aye," Harry preens as he sits up taller, "I do be bein' pretty awesome."
"Another undeniable trait of yours." She smiles, "no one can hold attention like you do."
"But there do be somethin', cause I know ya well 'nough ta know ya always be havin' ah reason to do what ya be doin'."
She smiles, "I love how confidently you say that." she shakes her head, "And you're not wrong. But even you can't deny part of your charm is the way you speak."
Harry's head tilts as he opens his mouth, but he hesitates as his eyes narrow, "ah. I do be ah soundin' ah mite different."
"A distinctly roguish kind." She nods, "one that I-" Her cheeks flood with heat, "find very, very pleasant to listen to, and I suppose, more importantly, one that is irrefutably you."
"I can be ah livin' with that." He grins as he runs his hand down her arms until he can link their fingers together, "an' bonus, Beam be hella excited for this part."
She giggles as she squeezes his fingers, "no one holds a light to you, my Prince, but I do believe he will shine in his own way-" she pauses, "a way in which T can duplicate on more… incremental levels without falling unconscious at the enemy's feet."
"Speakin' o' T, Beam were havin' ah bit o' ah mean request."
Her brow furrows, "oh?"
"Aye, he were hopin' we could not be tellin' T he ain'nah havin' ta be the Spider."
She blinks, not tell T-
"Oooh!" A devilish smile curves her lips, "I like that."
"I were thinkin' ya might." Harry chuckles, "ya be ah havin' ah wicked sense o' humor."
Did she?
She'd never really stopped to consider it before-
What amused her and what didn't-
T had always paid mind to that in the past, and when he had-
"Odd," she tilts her head, "according to T I have no sense of humor." She curbs her smile, "this is simply just dessert."
"T be thinkin' ya have none?" Harry rolls his eyes, "I think he be meanin' he be jealous. An' Beam is gonna be excited ta know ya be down for it. There be that ta be lookin' forward to then."
"So very much," she smiles, only to pause when she realizes it's at T's expense. Mostly the pleasure it brought her to think of her brother's discomfort. "Oh. I think I see it."
Harry snorts, "Ya be seein' how fun this be 'bout ta be, or ya be seein' why T ain'nah bein' impressed with yer humor?"
"Both," she giggles, "because this is going to be deliciously sweet."
How many times had T changed the plans at the last minute?
How many times had he left out crucial details?
Left the other person to suffer with his vague explanations?
"It be so nice ta be hearin' yer laugh." Harry wraps his arms around her, "I can be ah listenin' ta that all day."
She smiles as she kisses him, "and I yours." She sighs as she leans her forehead against his and looks into his eyes, "sorry if I hurt you."
Harry shakes his head, "ya don'nah be needin' ta feel sorry. I were trustin' ya had a reason, an' ya ain'nah bein' wrong neither. Can'nah be gettin' attention off our lady Revenge if the Spider be havin' me voice."
"Aye," she kisses his temple before she pulls back with a smile, "but, I don't-" she purses her lips, "thank you for asking. It means a lot. That you would seek clarification and not just assume the worst of me. T never does."
"I ain'nah ever gonna think the worst o' ya." Harry whispers the promise against her ear.
Her stomach flutters as she closes her eyes, "I hope that stays true."
"Always." Harry's arms tighten around her, "I know we be ah havin' ah job ta be doin', but I just, be needin' this afore T an' I go Yu huntin'. Afore I ain'nah gettin' ta hear yer voice. Or yer laugh. Or see yer smile." His voice cracks, "I hate not bein' able ta feel ya."
She nods as she hugs him tightly, understanding even though it made her heart heavy
It was going to be difficult.
Especially after how often she'd been allowed to come out.
She was going to miss this.
His touch.
His soft assurances.
His kisses.
She nuzzles against him as she clings to him tightly.
The morning was going to come too soon.