His stomach twists tighter as he makes another lap around his old haunt.

The memories of his last meeting with Jay were inciting the bats beating against his ribs to further furry.

T.

Where the fuck was T?

Why hadn't he moved yet?

Where was the scratch he was desperately waiting for.

He ducks into the shadows as another explosion sounds off close enough to rattle the remnants of the windows.

It had been bad enough back then.

Just being worried about T-

But it wasn't just T anymore.

He curls his shaking fingers open and shut.

His mate had his girl in him.

Faustina.

Sea Gods, he fucking hoped they were safe.

He grimaces as a scream pierces the air-

T wouldn't-

He closes his eyes.

Did T know how to not intervene?

He pulls his orb out to check the notebook again.

Please.

PLEASE!

For the love of any god, sea or otherwise, listening-

Fuck, he'd pray to Senior right now if he thought it would work.

Not like this-

A slight motion on the page suddenly makes the world around him blur.

Fuck yes.

He scrambles from his hiding spot as he stashes the notebook in his bag.

T made it out.

T made it out!

Now they just had to get through the chaos rampaging through the streets of the red lantern district.

All movement in the room halts when the lock keeping them contained in the room clicks.

She glares as Pain and Panic stumble in with trays.

"Oh poor Mistress!"

"We're so sorry Mistress!"

Somewhere behind her, she hears Deez sigh, "it's not your fault."

"We have brought food for you and your followers."

"Please eat! You never eat when you're worried."

"Thanks guys," Gil grins half-heartedly.

She crosses her arms tightly over her chest, eyeing the still open door wistfully, before she turns back to the others.

She'd never make it anyway.

And her Sweet Boy wouldn't be so sweet if she left him behind.

She sighs in defeat before she walks over to join Gil at the foot of the bed.

"We managed to collect more apples, Mistress!"

"When your father releases you, we will make sure to give you some."

She'd never been particularly fond of the imps, but even with how worried and pissed she currently was, she could see their efforts to care for her Baby Girl.

And them.

She wasn't entirely sure what all was on the ladened tray, but the sight and smell of it made her stomach growl.

"Thanks. For the apples, and the food." Deez looks up from the notebook in her lap, "you aren't in any trouble for this, right?"

"The almighty lord of death did not specifically say we could not bring you food."

"And it's only a risk IF he finds out."

"If is good," Deez nods before she points her pen towards the door, "but he's less likely to find out if you leave now."

"Thank you, lovely Mistress."

"So caring and thoughtful, Mistress."

She rolls her eyes as the door closes and locks behind them before she looks over the notebook beside Gil.

Still blank.

Like it had been for the last hundred laps of the room.

Not that she didn't think Deez would say something, but checking at least made her feel like she was doing something.

Anything.

She begins to pace again.

"They're fine." Deez says as she adjusts in her strange space, wedged between a chest of drawers and the wall.

"Yeah. They're smart. They'll get out." Gil nods before he stands.

It had been like this since the scratch.

Deez watching the notebook, her and Gil pacing the room.

And no fucking way to tell how long they'd been here.

No way to communicate with the others.

Nothing but dread and worry.

The moment she'd heard about the Howler, she'd known something was wrong.

But Atilla and witches?

Fear lodges like knives in her throat.

Seriously?

Why-

No, how-

Were Atilla and witches working together?

And if they were, why?

As if one threat hadn't been enough?

She alerts to the door when Deez's head shoots up.

Not the notebook.

She narrows her eyes as she strains to hear.

Someone was approaching.

Their footfalls quick and hard.

That didn't sound like Senior.

Deez wouldn't be standing for her father.

So-

She grimaces as something slams into the door.

Fuck it.

"Hello?" She races to the door and slams her fist against it, "hello?"

"Thank. Fuck." The lock clicks as Beam stumbles in, red-faced and covered in sweat, his breaths short and ragged as he clutches his knees and tries to catch his breath.

"Wasn't. Sure-"

She jumps at Beam, nearly knocking him down with the force of her relief.

One of them got out!

One of them-

"-Kraken?"

"Yer okay!" She shakes her head as her grip tightens, "Yer- wait- Are you okay?"

She immediately begins to look for blood or cuts in his clothes.

"Look, I was only doin' what ya told me," Beam stiffens as he places both hands behind his head and spreads his legs.

"She's looking for injuries." Deez explains as she struggles to keep her grin from turning into a laugh.

Beam's brow crinkles quizzically as he studies her in confusion, before he chuckles. "Ah," he beams. "I'm straight Kraken-"

"I'll be the judge of that!" She snaps as she continues her inspection.

"O-kay," Beam nods.

"You an' T have a lot in common," she points out as she plucks at a new tear, "this better not be one of 'em."

Beam stares at her in surprise, "I mean, I got caught on some shit- But, I don't think I'm bleedin' or nothin'."

"You're not." Deez offers after sniffing the air lightly.

"Thanks for the assist Lil' Writer," Beam grins at her, before he turns back to her. "I swear, he didn't pick it up from me."

"Good." She nods firmly before she steps back, "did ya see anyone else out there?"

Gil's eyes brighten with hope.

Beam's face falls, "sorry." He rubs the back of his head before he looks over the room. "I was really hopin' they'd already be here."

"You know the town better than most of them." Deez points out before she steps up to hug him, "they'll get here. You're just fast."

Beam hugs her back as he eyes the three of them with a frown, "Still, sucks I was the one who show'd when the rest be like, yours an' shit. I'm sure they're, like, right behind me."

"We may be equal, but you're still mine."

"Huh," Beam frowns as he looks up and meets her gaze for a moment, "weird- But like, thanks."

Deez's head tilts to the side as she takes a step back, "someone else is coming-"

" .Damnit."

She smiles at James' litany as he races into the room.

"Oh thank all the fuckin' sea gods, this room is impossible to find," James breathes out as he runs his hand through his hair, "Where's T? Can we leave now?"

Deez immediately shakes her head, "We can't leave until he releases us," she grimaces before she sighs, "but that's not the rules for you two."

"Nope," James crosses his arms, "if-"

He jumps when she wraps her arms around him tightly.

Two.

She had two.

"Captain?" James frowns, though he returns the hug.

"Ya hurt?"

"No-" James pauses as she starts poking and prodding, "but you can be the judge."

"Oh, did he get that fakin' shit from you then?" Beam snorts.

"Hell fuckin' no," James shakes his head.

"You all do it," Deez rolls her eyes, "no one ever admits when they're hurt."

"Cause no one's supposed ta care." Beam shrugs. "That or you're just askin' ta get robbed or some shit. This is the Isle Lil' Writer-" He gestures to the room, "this is the weird."

Deez huffs, "fair enough."

"Was the weird." She corrects as she steps away from James, satisfied he wasn't injured. "But I give a shit 'bout every member of my crew."

"Aye Captain." James nods, "an' we be answerin' ya truthfully."

"You both spend too much time with T not to question it." She shrugs.

"Was that an insult to him? Or to us?" Beam snorts.

"Yep." Gil nods.

Beam chuckles, "got it."

She drops her gaze to Deez, waiting to see if she could hear anyone else.

But Deez slowly shakes her head, as if she could read the question on her face.

Which she probably could.

Harry and T.

Of fucking course, it was those two.

It was always those two.

Which meant-

Had Harry been caught waiting for T?

Her stomach drops.

Caught being the best scenario.

"Did ya get ah look at the people comin' out o' the buildings?" James asks as he leans back against the wall before he slowly slides to sit.

Beam sighs, "Jus' that they were all in brown an' some were packin' guns."

"We never figured out where the Yu's went after they abandoned their territory." Deez bites her lip.

She groans as she runs a hand down her face.

At least she knew T would survive now.

If only to say I told you so.

Deez narrows her eyes before she turns and grabs one of the trays, setting it in front of James, "you guys should eat something."

James' lips twitch into a small smile, "thank you, but-" He sighs as he looks at the notebook.

"Shit looked bad-" Beam finishes as he drops his eyes.

Her heart sinks at the weight of the statement.

How somber it sounded in the air.

Bad.

How did an urchin measure bad?

Based on conversations so far-

No-

Just no.

She couldn't afford to think like that.

Not again.

"Aye," James rubs the back of his head. "But if we be makin' it, Harry an' T'll be right behind us."

"Right," Beam clicks his tongue. "Shadow always comes back- Kid's like a fuckin' yo-yo. Gone. Back. Gone. Back. Gone." He crosses his arms, "an' Psycho's one o' the few Elites who walked 'lone at night-They're good."

She can't help her smile.

Or how much she appreciated them, even if they were just trying to make her feel better, it helped to hear.

"Yeah," Gil nods. "I'm sure you're both right. They're jus' bein' cautious."

That.

She could believe that.

T might not have been the most careful of people-

But he wasn't an idiot.

And if he just saw shit go down and-

She glances at the notebook.

No one responded that they were safe.

If nothing else, that would have her Problem Child running home.

Concern.

Worry.

Guilt.

Those were T's motivators.

He'd come back to her-Even if it was crawling.

And her Pretty Boy?

He knew how to keep hidden.

Was quick on his feet.

Fast with his blade.

And if worse came to worst, he could usually talk himself out of trouble.

They were fine.

They had to be.

Well, that could have gone better.

Could've gone a fuck ton worse-

-but definitely could've gone better.

And yeah, it'd been exhilarating-

He sighs as he glances at Harry's arm and the red seeping through the makeshift bandage.

-until it hadn't been.

He sighs as he keeps Harry's pace.

Were the others okay?

Had they made it out?

He wasn't sure what the fuck he'd do if he found out he abandoned them too-

You'll go rescue them, that's what you'll do.

But-

Rescue. Them. No one has time for you to wallow.

He scowls.

I don't wallow.

If you say so...

What!? I don't fuckin' wallow.

His eyes narrow.

So, what the fuck do you call what you do?

Oh I don't know, thinking?

Oh go fuck-

"Ya know he be fuckin' livid with ya, aye?" Harry breaks the silence when the temple comes into view, "just ta warn ya for what be ah comin'."

"Shocker." He rolls his eyes.

"I don'nah be knowin' the way ya two be workin'," Harry sighs before he adjusts the bandage, "just thought ya be appreciatin'' the reminder ah'fore it comes barrelin' at ya."

"'Preciated." He grumbles.

Like he needed the fucking reminder.

He's just trying to prepare you.

For what? Every day of my life?

Always so dramatic.

You like fucking Hook, thought you were into the dramatics.

Don't you dare put what you do and what my Prince does in the same category.

Ha!

I wasn't agreeing with you, idiot.

But ya didn't say he wasn't dramatic.

I hate you.

So, ha!

"T! Harry!" Deez screams as she rushes through the temple entrance and throws herself down the stairs.

"D!" He cries out as he and Harry both lunge to catch her.

"You're safe!" She nuzzles her face into their shoulders as she wraps an arm around each of them, knocking them together as she hugs tightly.

Safe? Sure, from the Yu's maybe...

But-

It's your fault.

I mean usually.

"Beam an' James back?" He questions

"Back long enough to start pacing with Uma and Gil."

He sighs as he holds her tight.

Thank fucking god.

T, something's been bothering me.

And? When doesn't something bother you?

-Don't be an ass, this is serious-

Yeah, as in, seriously my problem. Just, don't.

"We could try to leave," Deez offers softly, her voice the barest hint of a whisper he found himself straining to hear, "he hasn't moved."

He pulls back and eyes her curiously.

Why would Senior being a couch potato mean they could leave?

"Kay-" he shrugs.

Deez frowns before her eyes drop to search between him and Harry, her small nose flaring as she takes in another breath.

"Nothin' worth stressing about." He drops his hand to her head.

"I wouldn't recommend trying to hide it from Uma," her small hands clasp a handful of his hoodies before she finally releases him.

"Heard." He nods, "heard."

Fan-fucking-tastic.

"I don'nah be thinkin' it be the wisest move ta be sneakin'." Harry chides, though the look on his face as he stares at the temple contradicts his argument.

Anywhere but here.

"What-Is he like-" His eyes narrow before he continues with the first random thought that pops in his head, "keeping you here?"

Deez slowly nods, "we're leverage."

"Prick," he rolls his eyes.

That yes obviously but, why? After all, he was the one who pointed out that something strange was going on.

"Deez!"

Uma's stern yelling voice sounded so strange when reduced to a frightened whisper.

He sighs as more shadows appear at the entrance.

Oh. So it was everyone then.

Great.

But why keep Uma, Gil, and Deez? Why stop you from sparring with Atilla- Oh- maybe he didn't know it was Atilla's howler- But, he's also not an idiot. A howler in the middle of the apocalypse? Could you wave a redder flag? A howler, which, he was totally okay with sending you and the others to- I'd say he was being sexist- Except he kept Gil behind with Uma and Deez- But if that's the case-

"I heard them." Deez mumbles as she turns back to the group, "and he's not moving, so let's go."

"Sorry D," He takes a deep breath before he lets it out and laces his fingers through Deez's hand, "You guys go, we'll meet you back at the ship."

"Fair," Deez sighs as her grip on his hand tightens, but she looks up with a small smile on her lips, "it's cool-"

"No-" Uma and Gil snap at the same time.

No.

It really wasn't.

But it was the fastest way to get everyone back home where it was safe.

An upset Lord of Death is a dangerous Lord of Death.

Yeah, but a war path driven Atilla-

Can be avoided, and they are already aware he's on the board. They'll be safe. They won't be here. Not with him this temperamental.

"Please." Deez begs, "please, just, for right now, in this moment, trust me and T."

"Dude," He drops his eyes to her, "don't lump us in together-"

She glares up at him before she turns to the others again, "me, you and Faustina then. Trust us. This is the only way, and we don't have time to argue. This is bad. That Howler was bad, and we need to figure out our next steps, but we can't do that with my father's anger and frustrations hanging over us. So please. Go. Home. We'll be there soon."

Gil frowns as he looks between the two before he takes a deep breath and sighs, "fine." He relents as if it was the most excruciating thing he'd ever done-

To be fair, looking at your track record, it probably is.

Oh fuck-

"Thank you." Deez breathes out before she reaches for Gil, only to hesitate, as if afraid any contact would break Gil's resolve, "everything will be okay."

He looks away when Gil closes his hand around Deez's.

How does that make you uncomfortable?

Because those are the hands that will be strangling me if I fuck this up. And they won't be so gentle then.

Fucking Goliath.

Ah. I see.

"Look," he turns to Uma, "this is on me. I fucked up, let me deal with it. An' then we'll come back to the ship."

"Straight to the ship." Deez adds at the look of indecision on Uma's face.

"That. On D's honor. Straight back."

Uma stands there in a silence so absolute it felt as though he was being drawn in. "Yer right. Fuck, I wish you weren't. But he's not-" She shakes her head before she pulls him and Deez into a tight, awkward hug.

The size difference between us has never been more apparent.

Yeah.

"T and I as a team are the safest you can get on the Isle. And we won't let anything happen to each other. We never have." Deez whispers into Uma's ear.

"You better not." The grip around his neck tightens, "I can't handle anything else tonight. So do-" Uma sighs, "do what you have to and then get yer asses home!"

"Aye." Deez salutes as she steps out of the hug.

He settles his gaze on Uma,"thanks, Umez."

"Come on, before I change my mind." Her eyes travel over him before they widen, "and don't even think of trying to get out of me taking care of that. Hear me?"

"Hook is pretty hurt," He nods.

"Oi!" Harry glares at him.

"And we'll talk about how when everyone gets home."

Deez sighs as light clapping echoes inside the temple before it fades.

"If you two are done ignoring me then?" Senior's annoyed voice booms.

"Jesus-fucking-christ," He groans, "we're workin' on it!"

"Kitten, you have five seconds to tell your real family to get the fuck out."

Oh, well, that was a tone.

"Go!" Deez quickly ushers the others away, "please go."

"Pathetic. You have to beg."

He turns to scowl at the temple, "fuck man, who pissed in your coffee?"

Gil, though always lamenting how not fast he was, quickly grabs Harry and Uma before racing down the steps with James and Beam on his heels.

He takes a deep breath before he pulls Deez's hand into his and guides them towards the temple.

"Let's get this over with."

Deez's eyes linger on their family running down the stairs before she turns and nods, setting her shoulders as they walk into the temple together.

Well, fuck.

What the fuck is going on with Sr? He's like all over the place right?

And so many good questions from Faustina. Like why stop T only to send him to the Howler?

He even let them have their goodbyes with Deez's 'real family' which seriously Sr?

Fucking petty prick

But besides that-

What do you think of Deez's assessment? Agree that her and T are one of the most formidable teams on the Isle?

I know, I know not a lot to pick apart here, but they can't all be fun- Which boo.

On a random note: weren't Beam and fucking James adorable?

How are you liking Beam btw? It's been a while since I've had a chance to ask…

Love you guys

-Twisted