This was getting ridiculous.

Everyone knew about a Howler, but of all the people they'd spoken to, not a single one of them knew where.

Only that it was in a few hours, and that the location would be obvious by then.

Which meant this stupid thing was going to start at sunset.

When no one should be out.

And he hadn't seen or heard anything from T.

Uma wasn't happy, but she did take the time to thank them for at least remembering to use the codes.

He could feel her frustration through her writing.

They were all feeling it.

T was not letting them know anything.

He flinches and looks up, same as Beam and James, when a shadow passes overhead.

The last thing they needed was to get spotted out here by witches.

Or worse, Yu's men.

When nothing moves, the others go back to their notebook, possibly reading Uma's furious writings and elaborate descriptions of where T could stick his own head.

The Kraken was known for her temper, after all.

As his gaze drops to his own notebook, a shadow whips overhead again, this time in the opposite direction.

He snaps his notebook shut.

Fucking T.

"S'up-"

"Ya gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me!" James growls.

"Really?" He looks up at the crumbled second story of the building they were using the shadow to hide in, "Ya be runnin' off an' leavin' us with Senior after ya be slammin' ah dart in me ass an' that be all ya be havin' ta say?"

"I mean," T shrugs, "was gonna ask what took ya'll so long ta catch up, but-"

He could feel one eye twitching.

"Shadow." Beam snaps. "Down. Now."

"With that tone?"

"T!" James growls before he nervously looks around and lowers his voice, "seriously mate, get the fuck down here so we can talk."

T jumps down from the second-story window and turns to glance at all of them, "where's the others?"

He crosses his arms over his chest, "they be back at the damn temple with Senior."

"Who decided only ah few of us could leave to go after you." Beam finishes before he clicks his tongue, "so yeah, there's that."

"Huh." T frowns, "Wait- He sent you guys after me?"

"No, he didn't." James rolls his eyes, "but we figured out ya went an' left us."

T's mouth snaps shut as he looks away.

"Asshole," Beam slugs his shoulder, "you fuckin' forgot."

"Annnyways," T rubs the back of his head, "what'cha guys got?"

He sighs before he opens his notebook to let Uma know they'd found T.

"We ain'nah findin' jack shite about where the damn thing be bein' held," he offers once Uma responds.

Violently.

He was so glad he wasn't T.

T sighs, "it's bein' held in the red lantern district. Which is fuckin' bullshit'cause Tremaine is in charge of the stupid thing."

"Tremaine?" He looks up in surprise, "but everyone be sayin' it be the Twins doin' it."

"That's what I heard, too." T nods, "but then I stumbled over Hans and Percy talkin' 'bout it."

Something wasn't right.

Anthony was a pompous little shit, and sure, sucking up to the new highest-level VKs sounded like him-

But the election was supposed to be held early today, and yet there was a Howler already set up that involved the Twins?

Even he knew that math was off.

Howlers took months of planning, even back when they had the barges.

"I've been rumor huntin' since I left-" T crosses his arms, "an' no one seems to know what the fuck is happenin'. It's been a fuckin' pain in the ass."

"What'cha know so far?" Beam asks with a click of his tongue.

"Urchin's are welcome-"

He frowns before he drops his eyes to the notebook again.

Something smells.

We should check this out.

-H

If you must.

Just be fucking careful.

-U

"You're shittin' me." Beam narrows his eyes.

"Uma be sayin' we can be checkin' the Howler out, careful like." He explains as he snaps the notebook closed and stands.

"Good." Beam nods, "cause somethin' is fuckin' wrong if Elites are fuckin' invitin' us to their damn Howler."

"Aye," James sighs, "ya ain't wrong mate. It be a mite concernin'."

He slowly looks around before his eyes settle on T, "where ya be thinkin' it could be?"

"A warehouse," T shrugs, "I don't think anywhere else would be big enough. I was on my way there ta check it out."

"Be leadin' the way then." He nods as he puts the notebook away.

T looks between him, Beam, and James with a frown for a moment.

Long enough to border on uncomfortable.

"Get fucked, ya ain't going alone ya idiot." James glares.

He crosses his arms over his chest as he levels a stern glare.

T sighs before he nods, "Like I have a choice."

"Damn right ya don't." Beam crosses his arms, "So don't even try ta play another fuckin' game of ding-dong ditch us."

"Right," T rubs the back of his neck as he looks away, "so, leading the way then?"

"Good choice." Beam nods.

I. Fucking. Hate. You.

Liar.

No, for real this time. I hate you. That was fucking humiliating- If you're gonna insist on fuckin' bein' here, ya could at least-

I was thinking T, why must you always think the worst of me?

Cause you're the fucking worst?

It's your fault for assuming things.

See! He accuses when he hears the amusement in her tone. You, like, get off on this shit.

Breathe T, I really was just thinking this time. If you stumbled into something, I'm sorry, but I wasn't intentionally ignoring you.

Great. So were you thinking about telling me I'd forgotten them?

I assumed they would follow honestly. Hades holding Deez, Gil, and Uma is genuinely a surprise to me. Probably to him too. Honestly, this is quite vexing to me.

Vex-Woman! Ume's fumes are way higher priority than your vexes!

I suppose that's fair. I should've paid more mind to what was happening. I forgot how little awareness you have when you're worried.

I feel like that was really backhanded.

Brother, I would never.

Oh yeah, definitely backhanded.

"Ya be right," Harry says as he passes the spyglass to him, "there be Tremaine himself."

His stomach sinks as he watches Anthony argue with Percy.

"That ain't great." He was really hoping he'd misunderstood Hans and the boy getting an earful.

That this wasn't Tremaine's Howler.

But there he was, in the middle of the flurry of activity he seemed to be in charge of.

And something was off.

Anthony was usually so self-assured, but right now?

He could see sweat rolling down his forehead from his damp hair.

"Great, so we be knowin' the where." Beam huffs from where he was laying on his back to watch the sky, "but only just before it's set ta start. What the fuck can we do with that?"

Great question.

If he was by himself, he'd already be in the rafters-

But he wasn't.

"We could have the Spider do something," James suggests.

He turns to him curiously, "like what?"

James shrugs, "I ain't the details guy, it's just an idea."

"Fair," he sighs as he returns his gaze to the warehouse where Anthony and Percy were coming and going from.

Harry taps his forehead to the roof they were on a couple of times before he groans, "we don'nah be knowin' anythin'. The Spider be claimin' to have eyes everywhere. I don'nah be ah knowin' if that be ah good idea with us bein' blind."

My Prince isn't wrong. We can't go in knowing nothing, but neither is James. The Spider has to make an appearance.

What'cha thinking?

I'm thinking it would be best to scare off as many as possible from coming- But I'm not sure that we can get Adelaide here in time. Which just leaves-

Leaves what?

I put a flask in your bag.

Okay-

It's a last resort, but it might allow you to scope out things alone.

"No."

Beam, James, and Harry all turn at his sudden outburst.

I wasn't talking about using it on them, idiot.

Couldn't have said something sooner?

"Uh, sorry." He grumbles as he feels heat sear his cheeks and sinks further to the roof.

"I know ya ain'nah wantin' ta lead," Harry sighs before he drags a hand down his face, "but what if ya went in and we be keepin' an eye out from around the area?"

"Really?" He asks, unable to keep the surprise hidden.

"Aye." Harry nods firmly before he turns to stare at him, "ya be workin' best alone like, but with something this big ya be needin' the back-up an' ta know what be ah happenin' on the outside."

James and Beam stare at Harry in horror before they drop their heads.

"I don't think I like the sound o' this," James sighs deeply, "but things bein' what they are-" he shakes his head.

"Ugh," Beam groans. "You fuckin' ditch on us without warnin' an-" He looks at James and Harry, "-I 'parently won't be the only one kickin' your ass."

His eyes narrow.

Were they fucking with him right now?

"I can see a few other roofs we could wait on, give us ah full view around the warehouse." James adds before he taps his bag, "these notebooks really do be makin' life easier."

He eyes them all curiously.

Harry's brow furrows, "it ain'nah havin' ta be you, I were just thinkin'-"

"Wait-" he shakes his head, "sorry, I can do it."

Preferred to do it.

But usually, when he preferred something, it pissed off everyone else around him.

So, what the fuck was this divine intervention?

And what was the catch?

Trust, perhaps?

Since when?

He eyes the other three again.

Pretty sure I lost that shit about, I don't know, fucking sixty mistakes ago.

It's not like they're setting you up T. It's just what makes the most logical sense. Stop being so paranoid.

He sighs.

Speaking of paranoid, however-

"Somethin' happens-" He turns to Harry, "hook has a spot close. We'll meet up there."

Harry tilts his head before he nods in understanding, "aye. An' last I be checkin', it were still contained." He sits up slightly before he points off in the distance towards the old hide out, "it be bein' that building there. The smaller warehouse stuck 'tween the two really beat up, rusted ones. Ya be havin' ta climb the busted lookin' pipe ta the fan that still be spinnin', that be the way in."

Beam frowns as he nods, "we got a word for worst case?"

He glares at the contents of his bag, "Y."

Bitch- I don't touch your shit.

I'm sick of the rummaging.

I have a system.

"That's if there's trouble," Beam points out, "I'm talkin' like, we're totally fucked trouble."

Give them the clay bombs.

"Here," He holds up a handful.

Take heed to stay downwind of the smoke.

He pulls back the bombs instantly, the fuck are these?

Experiments, naturally.

Are you fucking high, woman! These are our fucking friends-

It was one thing when he tried stupid elixirs for her-

But to make the others her guinea pigs as well?

Line drawn.

I would never put them at risk T, what do you think of me?

Nothing good at the moment.

Beam lifts an eyebrow, "you two gonna share?"

"Tch," He scowls, "she wants to play fuckin' trial an'-"

A rock plummets in his gut.

What?

He stares at Beam, completely dumb struck.

The fuck did-

His eyes dart to an unfazed James before he drops his eyes.

James knew. He'd known that James knew-

But Beam too?

His heart slams against his chest.

It was one thing for them to know-

He was going to be sick.

-there was nothing he could do about that-

He takes a step backwards.

-but to acknowledge it?

No. Nononono.

"T?" Harry's frowns as his hand closes on his hoodie, "we ain'nah bein' done talkin' this out."

Why was it suddenly so hard to breathe?

He needed out.

Away.

He needed away.

"Mate?" James tilts his head, "ya look-" his eyes jump to Harry before he continues, "off?"

Beam watches him with a frown before he sighs and shoves his hands into his pockets as he looks away, "shit."

"Shit?" James questions with a frown.

Harry's brow furrows as he eyes Beam, but suddenly he finds himself pulled into the shelter of darkness.

Darkness.

Leather.

Clove.

His eyes sting.

No.

No.

He clamps his eyes shut as blood pumps in his ears.

God. Fuck, no.

His nails bite his palm as he clenches his fist.

"Oh." James runs a hand through his hair.

Fucking great.

"Be givin' us ah minute?" Harry whispers, guiding him away after James and Beam agree, "ya be okay?"

Did it matter?

He nods swiftly, afraid to open his mouth.

Out.

He needed out.

Away.

A hand clamps the back of his head before he feels his face squished against Harry's chest.

"That ain'nah bein' ah answer to me question."

He fucking hated this.

Hated himself.

There were more important matters to worry about.

A howler to crash.

Information to gather.

He fucking knew that-

So why was the rest of him so slow to catch up?

"It's fine." He manages to get out, it's not like there was anything he could do about it.

Or the mortification.

Or shame.

"We have more important shit to do. It's whatever," he shrugs, "I can deal."

"I know ya can be dealin' with all the shit, mate, that ain'nah bein' in question. Don'nah be ah meanin' I can'nah be thinkin' o' ya an' wantin' ta give ya time. I," his blue eyes stare down at him before Harry bites his lips and looks away, "I know how much ya be hatin' this."

"And? I don't have time for this shit. We don't have time for this shit. It's whatever."

He closes his eyes.

It wasn't like it could be un-fucking-done.

So more people knew he was bull-shit. What the fuck ever.

T, your not-

Oh go suck Hook's dick, I don't fuckin' want to hear it from you right now. I know you think I'm fuckin' retarded- But I also know you're the only one cunt enough to pull this bull shit. I'm not the one who fuckin' thought me into existence or however the fuck you managed this clusterfuck. So fuck off.

He waits a moment for her pretentious rebuttal, but is only met with silence.

Yeah, that's what I fucking thought.

He scowls.

He'd been enough of a freak before this crap.

Harry sighs before he looks over at Beam and James, "why don'nah you two go get set up? We can be writin' when we get ta our spots."

They fidget awkwardly before Beam takes a hesitant step closer, "Shadow, man, this ain't shit an' it don't change nothing."

"Aye mate, so ya be havin' ah sister," Jame steps forward a little more confidently, "lots o' people have sisters they ain't always likin'," he nods towards Harry, who snorts.

"I stand by you're a pain in the ass, an' Shydow or not, I will still beat the shit outta you if you ditch us again." Beam crosses his arms.

"Aye." James nods, "just so ya know."

He looks between the two skeptically.

Beam raises his brow, but before he can act he closes the distance between them, and suddenly the air is knocked out of him as pain blossoms in his gut.

"Oi! What the fuck man?" Harry growls as James pulls him back.

He can't help his grin as he eyes Beam who was looking down at him expectantly.

"Better?"

"Kinda, yeah."

Beam nods before he turns to where James was struggling to keep Harry from launching at him, and snorts. "an' you, Psycho, like, damn, I know ya wanna fuck 'im, or his-" he shakes his head, "not important. Point be, he ain't ever been normal."

His eyes widen before he finds himself in a headlock, "an' don't twist that, Shadow. Ain't no one normal laughin' at bein' drop kicked."

He snorts as relief settles over him.

A reassurance he hadn't known to ask for.

Not that he would've known how to ask for it.

Or why being punched assuaged his fears-

But it had.

He grins as he hooks Beam's leg and yanks it out from under him.

"Ya little shit," Beam snorts, "can't stand ta get one up'd."

His grin widens, "not in the slightest."

"That checks." James rolls his eyes, "don't it, Number One?"

Harry sighs before he holds his arms up in surrender.

Beam snorts again before he kicks to standing and holds out a hand, "we good?"

He nods as he clasps Beam's hand, letting him pull him to his feet before they bump shoulders. "thanks."

"Hey man, any time ya need me ta knock some sense inta ya, I am-" Beam clicks his tongue, "always down."

He snorts, "'preciate the support."

Beam snorts, "fuckin' idiot." He drops his fist on his head with a thud.

"I know." He rubs the back of his head sheepishly.

James chuckles, "an' this one's moniker be Psycho?"

Beam snorts again. "Hey, s'not like I knew my awkward Shadow had a pain fetish."

"Fair." James nods before he looks down, "ya good mate?" he asks, waiting for Harry to nod before he drops his arms away. "In that case, you stay on this building. It's the closest to the warehouse, Beam an' I can get to the buildings there," James points, "an' there."

"Works for me." Beam nods, "we ever settle on the word for 'oh fuckin' shit, scatter'?"

"S for Spider," Harry grumbles as he rubs his neck.

He nods, that was easy enough to remember.

"Meet at the beach when this is over?" James asks.

Beam frowns as he holds up his hand, "hold up."

He blinks when Beam is suddenly in his space, "what?"

"You never answered my question." He crosses his arms.

His brow furrows, "when?"

Beam rolls his eyes, but he doesn't miss the amusement.

"When ya psyched us out with them clay balls."

"Oh." He frowns, "she said that we needed to stay down wind, cause she doesn't know what they'll do."

Harry's eyes narrow as he eyes the bag, "what do she be thinkin' they can be doin'?"

Yo. He asked you a question.

Oh, so I'm allowed to speak now?

Get off your horse an' answer the fuckin' question.

Nothing any of us want them to catch wind of, but to answer my Prince, it's several variations on the toxic gas that I col- Oh, can you ask them to take note of the colors and the effects if possible?

His eye twitches.

Are you fuckin' kidding me?

About trials? T, you know me better than that.

He wipes a hand down his face. "Various, color coded, poisonous smoke."

Harry's eyes widen, "she be colorin' the shit that be burnin' her an' Uma?"

"Yep. 'Cept, more potent and less predictable."

Harry's eyes widen before he turns to the others, "if ya use 'em, run the fuck away an' don'nah be breathin'."

There are strips of cloth in your bag-

God damnit! Stop touching my shit.

Organize your life.

He growls before he flips his bag open, "here, these might help if ya douse 'em with water." He offers the others strips of cloth. "She wants to know if they don't though." He turns to Harry, "She also muttered something about not being able to verify the theory."

T!

He grins.

What? You did.

"That's what ya meant by trial an' I suppose error." Beam rolls his eyes as he packs the bombs away carefully.

He shrugs, "it's our favorite game."

"That's ah game?" James shakes his head before he holds a hand up, "wait, no, changed my mind."

"Cause ya already know the answer." Beam grimaces, before he eyes him. "Were you even aware you were playin' when it started?"

"It was fun." He shrugs again.

"I guess that be ah way o' lookin' at it." James rolls his eyes as he wraps the cloth around his hand.

"And I thought you had problems," Beam shakes his head as he mimics James' action.

"Anythin' else like we should be knowin'?" Harry asks as he checks his gear over.

"Vital knowing? No. But if possible, she'd like to know what they do."

"Scary and fair," Beam snorts before he taps two fingers to his head a casual salute, "tell 'er we'll do our best."

He nods, "right, jus' don't forget what she put in my fuckin' darts while lookin' behind you."

Beam takes a step back, "that was, that was unexpected. And the two o' ya are ah terrifyin' mix."

Harry and James both nod in agreement.

A smug smirk tugs at his lips. "We try."

James snorts, ruffling the top of his hoodie as he walks past, "an' now we know."

He chuckles at Faustina's whine about not being scary.

It's not like they weren't going to find out eventually.

"Everyone stay on yer toes, eyes open, don't get dead." Beam nods firmly as he levels a glare on each of them.

"Oh? No naps then-"

"Keep it up, Shadow," Beam chuckles darkly.

James chokes on his stifled laugh before he nods and starts climbing down the side of the building, followed by Beam.

"Hey-" Harry grabs his elbow.

He turns to look up at him curiously, frowning when he sees the concern reflected in his glacier blue eyes. "I'll be careful, promise."

"You be ah gettin' in, an' findin' the most T like place ya can be findin'. No hero shit until we be knowin' more, aye?"

He wasn't sure he'd ever seen the pirate so anxious.

Worried.

Or tense.

He nods solemnly, "I can do that."

"I know ya can." Harry smiles before he taps his lips.

He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes when Faustina's laughter bubbles up in his mind.

What?

Did you forget your 'punishment'?

Seriously?

Oh no, would you like-

Yes! Please, by all means. I take enough hits for you.

I mean, if you insist.

He blinks as he finds himself looking up at Harry.

"Thanks T."

He frowns as he nods, "seriously Hook, pissed as shit or not, I'd never let anything happen to her, promise."

"I ain'nah bein' worried 'bout that." Harry admits as he rubs the back of his head, "just don'nah be likin' how all this be comin' together. I be havin' ah bad feelin' like."

"I always have bad feelings about shit," He squeezes Harry's forearm, "s'how I'm still here."

"Fair, mate, fair." Harry nods before he wraps his arms around him and squeezes, "don'nah be meanin' I can'nah be worryin'."

"Same."

The hug lasted longer than he wanted.

Harry clung to him a little harder than normal.

But, he got it.

Everything was shitty, and here they were splitting up to watch something that was bound to be even more shitty happen.

They'd all agreed, though.

This was something they had to do.

To keep the ship safe.

To keep all of them safe.

He didn't have to like it.

Clearly.

He already admitted once he couldn't do this alone.

Had begged her to understand.

This was what they had to do.

What he had to let them do.

They all had to go into the thick of danger.

Or none of them stood a chance.

His arms tighten around Harry.

I fucking love T antics so much, but it's been a pain in the ass to get them in this fucking book-

But him flying past Harry, Beam, and James seriously tickles me. I know, I know-

What type of narcissist laughs at their own work?

*raises hand* Me. I'm that narcissist.

What did you think about T not wanting to join the others once they realized it was him? (Honestly, I'm shook he doubled back in the first place. Progress not perfection people. Progress not perfection. I'm proud of him.)

Fucking dead.

We all know T has issues when it comes to sharing a body with Faustina, but had any of you guessed that Beam's gut punch would be the kick in the ass T needed?

Fuck there is so much going on in this book-

Like so much.

Cause we love you guys and, truly from the bottom of my cold black heart, think we hate ourselves.

We're still only ⅗'s of the way through the book and we're already on chapter fucking 106-

Any bet's on how many chapters this book is going to be?

Fuck, I just want to get to book 6 and break this god awful curse- *note to self- never take someone's writing advice who doesn't write. *smacks head against wall repeatedly*

Seriously guys just don't do it.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnyways-

You guys hyped for the Howler?

And that fucking banter between T and Faustina *kisses fingers like a chef*

Delicioso.

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted