Hey there, Dark here. I know, it's been a hot minute since I last popped in to have a chat.
Sorry guys.
Twisted has been doing her best to keep up with posting. Everyone please give her a shout out for how amazing she is.
Sorry we dropped out of existence for... what seems like... forever...
We've had a lot of family deaths in the Dark and the Twisted houses. And now, or maybe I should say, once more? We're roomies. Dark and Twisted, the Sitcom.
I think it'd be interesting. Lots of bickering and heartfelt moments. And dull moments, yeah right.
Anyway, so that's what we've been up to. Getting the Dark house cleaned up (in more ways than one) and ready to be put on the market.
Please be patient with us as we work to get our bearings and lock back into a writing routine.
Lots of Love!
Dark Sister
At least he'd taken Yensid with him.
Deez slides onto the stone bench as she watches the two dots travel slowly in town.
"I can not believe him. Them!"
She winces at Uma's tone before she buries her nose in her notebook.
Gil pulls her from the bench and squeezes her to his chest, "what do you know?" He whispers into her ear.
Well, that hadn't taken long.
She holds the notebook up to show him all the entries, "They've been reporting in."
"Huh," Gil nods, "not exactly thrilled, but good for T."
Her eyes scan over the reports before she shivers, "and I think I understand why he had to act so fast on the idea."
"What'cha thinkin'?" He asks quietly.
"He's building the Spider's lair. I know we didn't plan anything after the Howler and everything, but I think it's a good idea to continue pushing the story."
"Ah," Gil sighs, before he looks to Uma and Harry, who were both working themselves up while trying to calm the other down. "Think they forgot about the map?"
"I was really hoping not," she sighs.
He nods before he looks up, "Uma, Harry-" He states firm enough that the other two pause. "Deez figured out where they are and-"
"Sea God's help me, Baby Girl-"
"And thinks she might know what they're doing. Thinks. Not knows."
She drops her hand to his wrist and squeezes.
He knew.
She swallows hard as she fights tears attempting to form.
He knew she knew more, but he was taking her side.
Helping her.
Helping T.
It took the sting out of Uma's immediate reaction.
Harry narrows his eyes as he storms over and pulls the map towards him with a scowl. "The fuck he be doin' with the Old Man!?" He grumbles.
It was hard to miss the hurt in his tone.
"According to the notebook, he and Yensid are helping Adelaide build a giant web around bargain castle to make it the Spider's territory." She points out as she taps the notebook, "and I think he's doing it to help divide Shan Yu's attention, or at the very least continue to keep it off us."
Uma scowls, "little prick," she grumbles as she slams her hand down against the table and drags her own notebook to her.
"Why he be takin' the ol' man though?" Harry glares at the map.
"Magic?" She says as she eyes the map again, "they are in the shadow of the mountain."
"Aye," Harry crosses his arms, "more o' a reason ta be bringin' one ah us."
"Yensid's not gonna let anything happen to T, an' same with T for him." Gil shrugs, "I ain't happy 'bought it either, but he 'least he took someone with him this time. He's never done that before. Even is helpin' write the updates."
"Please don't be mad at him for this," she begs, unable to look up from the notebook.
Uma looks between the two of them suspiciously before she lets out a slow breath.
"I guess he be ah keepin' some o' his words," Harry admits before he crosses his arms over his chest and huffs, "I ain'nah happy either, but I can be ah keepin' me mouth shut. Or mostly shut."
Gil nods before he shrugs, "It'd probably bother him if you didn't say something, anyways. When ya say it, he doesn't make up as much stuff ta beat himself with."
"And he's already doing that." She adds sadly.
That was why she'd followed him last night.
She'd seen him fidgeting, way more than usual.
And he kept staring at his hands, as if they'd somehow betrayed him.
And then there was the flinching.
It wasn't new, but it was worse.
He wasn't okay, even though he was doing his best to act like he was.
She was pretty sure he blamed himself for something. A lot of things, actually. But something happened while they were out searching for the camps.
Something that shook T. And Harry.
Which was probably why he was so hurt over being left behind.
He'd seen something that worried him.
And when Harry worried, all he wanted to do was protect.
Gil sighs, "I mean, that's pretty much been his constant state since…"
Since he hadn't been able to save the kids.
Her hand squeezes the charm hiding under her dress as images begin to play in her mind.
T's face as he raced to stop Morgana from killing Zoom, the look in his eyes as she fell to the ground before everything went black-
She's pulled from her thoughts when she finds herself pulled back to be crushed to Gil's chest. "Breathe." He whispers as he caresses her wrist with his thumb.
She takes a breath automatically.
No matter how hard she tried, she sometimes found herself overwhelmed by memories that weren't hers, though it was getting easier to figure out whom they belonged to at this point.
Not that it made the viewing any less heartbreaking.
She looks up to find two more sets of eyes on her.
"Ya be okay Baby Girl?" Uma frowns as she takes one of her hands and squeezes.
"I'm okay," she loosens her hold on the charm, "they just spill every once in a while."
Harry's lips brush her forehead, "that be ah shit thing ta have spillin'."
She swallows hard before she looks back at Gil and then to Uma, "can we go get some work done," she squeezes Uma's hand, "please?"
Uma drops her eyes to the map as her frown deepens before she reluctantly lifts her head, "aye," she nods, "ain't nothin' we can do now 'cept wait anyways."
It was fucking weird.
If someone told him a year ago, he'd miss having another person with him-
He'd have laughed in their face.
-and then went on to tell him that person would be Harry fucking Hook-
He-
Okay, he probably still would've laughed-
But he'd also be confused and disturbed at the concept.
Maybe.
Cause that's how he fucking felt right now.
He wasn't exactly thrilled about it-
Definitely didn't know when the fuck it happened-
Certainly didn't understand the why of it-
But, if he were being honest with himself-
Harry made shit more-
Just more.
Whether it was their barbed banter or the pirate's reactions to his stunts-
He wasn't sure.
But what he knew was that they were more entertaining.
And, if he were being even more honest with himself-
He could maybe-
Perhaps a little bit admit-
That Harry made some things more bearable.
He just didn't know why.
Harry just-
His eyes narrow.
Nope.
He shakes his head.
He'd never exactly been a fan of his feelings-
But even he knew it was bad when a glance led him to tiny interlocking fences of tripped barbed wire.
Guarding a field of mines.
One wrong step and boom-
A shudder runs up his spine.
Best to not.
It just-
Why Harry?
Was it guilt?
Was it because every time he'd gone out since joining the family, he'd upset them every time he left alone?
But then-
He hadn't ever felt lonely on his own in the past-
Not when it came to what he was made for.
Not when he was trying to help and protect others.
But lately?
Lately, he just felt this-
This-
He glares at the ground-
Ache?
A pit that threatened to swallow him whenever things went silent for too long.
His stomach twists into a tight knot.
Not that he wouldn't deserve to be enveloped in that abyss. He'd been the one to clear out the void.
He'd been the one to, time and time again, act without thought to the consequences-
Hadn't even conceived at the time that it was even consequential-
But now?
He felt tainted.
Dirty in a way he'd never be able to get clean.
He was drowning in it.
In blood.
He thought he had long abandoned the fear of sin-
But-
At the end of the day, he'd broken the most carnal of sins, 'thou shall not kill'.
Let alone kill and enjoy it-
Not that he was enjoying it now.
In the last day alone he had corralled several, maybe, innocent people into Adelaide's lair-
And it was that 'maybe' fucking him up.
That 'maybe' that was haunting him.
Niggling at his mind every time he had a moment to think-
He wasn't sure what about Harry's presence made it easier to stay afloat in his sea of guilt and regret-
Hated it even-
But, it was hard to ignore the solace the pirate provided at this point.
Going out with Yensid was-
He had a shit ton more freedom.
Felt very much like he had every opportunity to act as independently as he wanted to-
Except with a pair of protective eyes at his back.
And he enjoyed his and the old man's talks-
But there was this-
He glances at the old man next to him-
-something-
Possibly the dark magic lurking in him?
That constantly had his guard up.
You would think it was something so nefarious.
Oh, so you are here.
Bitch-
What was the point of another voice in your head if not to distract you from thoughts?
Oh, because you're around so readily when I need it?
Hey, I don't know how to do it- This is a personal choice for you.
I was busy-
Busy with what!
What do you do when you think you're the one out?
Spar-
You are so predictable, you know that?
Oh, cause you brushing up on your reading and herb shit isn't?
If you knew what I was doing, why ask?
Unlike a certain know-it-all, I don't like to assume-
Raucous laughter fills his ears.
You! You don't like assumptions!? Puh-lease- What do you call the leaps you take to your, usually absurd by the way, conclusions, exactly?
I do not leap to conclusions.
His eye twitches as another round of condescending laughter echoes.
Yet, you knew exactly to what I was referring-
Why are you even out right now?
Weren't you just complaining that I wasn't? Make up your mind T, would you prefer me out, or back in my room?
He huffs.
I hate you.
He glares when they reach the haphazardly crafted steps and pauses.
And this. I also hate this.
They were going to be so pissed.
You took off while they were sleeping.
Because they would've said no.
So, you know what you did was wrong-
Didn't say I thought I was right, just meant I don't have the energy-
Or desire.
-to defend myself right now.
Not when he felt so uneasy about it himself-
But there was no way in fuck he was letting Uma set one foot on the Isle, without at least drawing attention away from her.
You know what, you're right. This was surprisingly sensible for you.
I will go find a worm right now and eat it.
Ew.
Yeah, think about that next time you're about to be a twat.
He sighs as he looks up at Yensid, ready to complain about the next step, before he notices the look on the old man's face.
He snorts, "don't be too amused, you came with. You dived straight into the shit end of the pool, agreein' ta help with this."
"Uma may have mentioned a few similarities we share," Yensid runs his fingers over his beard, "I believe she referred to it as T-ness."
"Huh," His eyes travel over the man, "you've actually been reading her responses? I just kinda glimpse and look for keywords like 'coming' or 'drag your ass'. "
"I have been reading her responses, but the conversation I'm referring to was in person. I may have schooled my features a little too late." He grins as he uses the staff as a walking stick, "she did not appreciate my amusement either."
"Ha!" He snorts again, "that's awesome."
"You and I might be the only two to feel that way."
"Nah," He shrugs, "D gets it. An' so does the bitch."
Yensid's eyes sparkle, "that's not a nice way to talk about your sister."
'Well, my sister isn't nice."
"Are you two fighting?"
"Am I breathing?" He grumbles as he shoves his hands in his pocket.
If you just shut up and listened to me, we wouldn't constantly be bickering.
"Hmm," Yensid chuckles as he continues to descend the steps.
"Don't hear you questioning why I would do it, though," He sing-songs as he follows.
"Sibling conflict, I hear, is best not stepped between."
"Seriously, what type of vague whale shit was that?"
"Diplomatic."
He immediately regrets his laughter when he feels someone behind him.
In hindsight, probably not the best way to return.
"I see ya made it back with yer hide intact."
"Umes," He turns with a sheepish grin, "was there ever a doubt?"
"Not especially," Uma crosses her arms over her chest as she juts her hip out, "though it's hard ta think straight when you wake up to your Problem Child being a problem child," she turns to Yensid with a glare, "and you."
"My apologies Captain," Yensid frowns, "but I found his concerns compelling."
"So you said."
"I can be compelling, Umes, don't sound so surprised."
"Do I look surprised that you're fucking compelling?"
His eyes sweep over her, "I mean, no… Maybe I meant skeptical."
"I know how compelling you can be, T. I went on a treasure hunt." She starts counting off her fingers, rather violently judging by the way her finger was bending back, "I jumped off a fucking cliff. I have followed you just because it sounded so enticing."
"Yeah," he nods, "I guess you're right, my ideas can be pretty enticing." He agrees as he does his best to keep a straight face.
Uma's glare narrows, her eyes barely slits over her lips twisted with barely contained rage, "since you didn't go alone-"
"Out of respect for your concern, which I-"
Uma holds a hand up, "did I make this sound like an open discussion?"
"Is it not?"
T, just, do our body a favor and shut up, please.
"Since you took someone with you, and constantly kept us updated of the situation, you are not in trouble."
"Huh," he nods, "cool." He turns towards the workroom.
"However!" Uma snaps as she claps her hands once.
"Damn."
That had been way too easy.
"I would appreciate being told before you run off on important errands in the future."
"It's not really running off if I tell you."
"I can take all of this back and throw you both in the brigg for, what was it, oh," Uma stomps her feet as she stops directly in front of him and flicks his forehead, "fucking insubordination."
He grimaces when his lip twitches, "which I appreciate you not doing."
"At least there's some appreciation," Uma growls as she throws her hand's in the air and turns on her heels, "though you might want to save some of that for Deez and Gil."
"True? Gil too?" He glances up at the forge, where the rhythmic 'tang' was echoing. "Huh."
That had been a minute.
Go D.
"She figured out your plan and let us in on it-"
"Checks," he nods.
"-and since I can not fault your plan, except the sneaking out in the middle of the night part-"
"What? I didn't want to forget it. "
Uma rolls her eyes, "more like you didn't want us trying to come with you."
"Multiple things can be true."
Uma's fingers flex in front of her before she crosses her arms.
"Oooh," he grimaces, "what I meant was, I am… I'm sorry that I snuck off."
"Thank you." Uma strains to say through clenched teeth.
"Of course. I felt like ya needed ta hear it."
Yensid places his fist over his mouth.
Uma takes a slow, deep breath without breaking eye contact before she turns her attention on Yensid.
"I think it's time for a meeting, but you two need a rest first."
"Nah," He shakes his head, "I'm good-"
"This ain't ah democracy." Uma turns back on him, "I said go rest."
"Technically you sai-"
Literally hate you right now.
Could've fooled me.
"Of course Captain," Yensid nods above him as a hand clamps on his shoulder, "we understand."
"Good," Uma nods before she points behind her, "go."
Yensid's hand squeezes his shoulder as he opens his mouth.
"Have you ever contemplated the saying never poke a sleeping Kraken?" Yensid questions as he guides them from the room quickly.
"Not really- but I've been told similar things about Dragons."
"I suggest you start a silent comparison and contemplation now."
"Kay."
Harry grimaces as he descends the steps, heading down to T's room, where Yensid had apparently left him to puzzle out the similarities between Dragons and Krakens.
Or, as he was beginning to suspect, where Yensid stashed T, knowing it was a bad idea to leave him with Uma while he was in-
He hesitates as he steps into the dark hallway leading to the hold.
What state was T in?
After the fire and explosions at the last camp, there hadn't been time to stop.
Time to talk.
Which also wasn't T's thing.
But he knew something was wrong.
When he'd found T leaning over a soldier-
He swallows.
He knew something was wrong then.
The moment he touched T, he could feel him shaking.
Could hear the tightness in his matter of fact attitude.
T, the stupid asshole who took off running and then faced down and killed a small squad of soldiers in the Yu army.
Granted, not the original army, thank all the sea gods for that.
He sighs before he continues to T's door.
At all cost, he swore to Uma he'd make T sleep.
But now that he was here and trudging down the hall, all he wanted to do was make T talk.
Find out what was eating his mate alive.
That, or talk to Faustina.
Assuming she'd been out at the time.
He stops at the closed door and takes a deep breath.
He could do this.
He could make T sleep.
They needed to take care of themselves if they were going to be able to save anyone from those camps.
He shakes his head.
When had that ever mattered to T?
He knocks lightly.
Best to get this fight over with.
"S'up?" T questions as he opens the door.
"You be up, 'parently." He crosses his arms over his chest as he leans against the door frame.
T tilts his head for a moment before his lip twitches, "Oh yeah…"
He grins as he widens his eyes and tilts his head back and forth with each word. "Oh. Yeah. Ya be ah rememberin' that order from Uma now?" He presses a hand to the door to force it open.
"I mean," T snorts, "no thanks to you."
He scoffs as he presses into the room, suddenly sad all over again when he sees how utterly bare it was.
No table of tinkling glass.
No pile of blankets and furs in the corner.
Just the scent of Faustina's bitter herbal ointment.
His brow furrows as he looks around the room again.
A lingering scent wouldn't be this strong.
His eyes land on T's bag hastily shoved into the corner before he turns, "did ya be ah gettin' hurt?"
T eyes him curiously, "why?"
He gestures around the room, "there ain'nah been herbs here now for ah bit, but the scent be strong."
"Good to know." T nods.
"An' why that be good ta be knowin'?"
"I mean, what isn't good to know?" T shrugs.
He rolls his eyes before he takes a step to close the distance, "then it be good fer me ta be knowin' if ya be hurt."
T holds up his hands and steps back, "for the record, it was busted."
That was not the response he'd expected. "What were?"
"And it like, wasn't on purpose-Though not gonna lie, was kinda curious what they were."
He ain't doing it on purpose.
He ain't doing it on purpose.
He's already got it in his head that he's in trouble, and he's trying to get out of it.
And if he told himself that enough times, maybe he'd believe it.
"An what were they ah bein'?"
"I don't think I've stressed the fact it's fine enough."
"Mate!" He snaps as he snags T's arm, "what be hurtin' ya, but not bad enough ta not be fine?"
T sighs, "s'not like ya weren't gonna find out anyways," he sighs.
"Cause ya be plannin' ta tell us, aye?"
"Well, yeah. Jus' tryin' ta figure out how without going deaf."
"Uma ain'nah bein' here, so just be out with it."
T turns towards the door skeptically, "you know she can read minds, right?"
He drags a hand down his face.
At least Uma would be thrilled by that statement.
"She ain'nah on the ship, she be with Gil an' Deez makin' daggers, an' more weapons like."
"Oh," T lets out a deep sigh, "I stepped-" He pauses as he looks up, "D and Gil are makin' weapons again?" He grins.
Oooh, he knew that grin.
That confident, smug grin.
The grin of he was about to go hunt them down.
"What the fuck ya be ah steppin' on?" He grabs T by both shoulders, "I be ah pirate mate, we ain'nah known fer patience."
T stares at him for a moment before his lips turn into a pout, "but weapons-"
"But things that can be hurtin' from steppin' on." He counters with a shake.
"Oh, yeah," A sheepish grin tugs his lips, "right. Right, my bad- but after new weapons?"
"They already be makin' ah set o' spider daggers for ya," he glares, "now, finish yer damn oops story."
"Christ, man, It was jus' a questi-"
"Mate-" he tugs at the hoodie, "strippin' ya be faster."
T stiffens, "ground bombs."
His fingers tighten around his handfuls of fabric.
"Ground bombs?"
"Yeah, land mines or whatever, they're buried bombs."
His eyes widen as his numb fingers lose their grip, "ya be tellin' me ya be ah steppin' on-"
The fire.
The explosion.
He'd thought it looked weird, but he couldn't put his finger on it at the time.
They'd heard the explosion and saw the flames at about the same time.
But the fire-
T said he started the fire to clean up a mess.
And then stepped on something that could have killed him.
Killed them.
T frowns, "Hook?" He asks in concern as he steps closer. "Are you okay? You look like shit."
"Look who be ah talkin'." He glares.
Fuck, that was not how he wanted that to come out.
But, now that he was really looking, other than the darkness around his eyes, T looked fine.
Nothing that a few hours of sleep wouldn't fix.
"What?" T frowns, "I told you. S'not my fault you mentioned something more interestin'."
"Aye," he nods before he looks T over again, "any chance ya be ah gettin' ta avoid."
T had been acting weird since the soldiers.
But now?
It was weird to see him like this.
Like how he used to be.
Scattered.
Excitable.
Distracted by every little thing, or at least every little thing that interested him.
"T-" he bites his lip.
How was he supposed to do this?
T was in a better mood now, should he look for teeth?
Should he not?
But, something was wrong, or at least had been.
Something that really shook T.
And anything that could shake T was something worth taking note of.
T frowns, "what's wrong? That's definitely a 'I don't want to do this' face."
He covers his mouth when he feels his lips twitching.
In spite of everything they were facing-
It made him ridiculously happy that T could read him so well.
But at the same time, nervous.
How much could T read?
"Cause ya seem ta be doin' fine now, but ya were'nah doin' so earlier like, an' I don'nah be wantin' ta be the arsehole that be draggin' ya down again like, but there were bein' something wrong afore."
"Oh," T's features fall as the smile slips from his lips.
Damn it!
T shrugs, "eh, just you know-" He pauses, "what me an' the ol' man did helped."
"Aye," he nods, "ain'nah no one tryin' ta take that from ya. I be talkin' 'bout afore that. When we be ah checkin' out the camps."
"I'm good." T's boot scuffs the wood as he kicks at nothing. "Jus' thinkin' 'bout stupid shit. Nothin' new."
He narrows his eyes as he folds his arms over his chest, "you an' me both be ah knowin' stupid stuff can be ah pilin' up an' makin' shit hard. An' I be knowin' you well 'nough ta be seein' that somethin' be botherin' ya 'bout the soldiers."
T's mouth closes as he freezes briefly. "Shit," he curses quietly before he looks up with a sigh, "I mean, they're like soldiers, that doesn't bother you? I mean, cause I for one, find it especially disconcerting."
That was-
He takes a slow breath.
Clearly, T didn't want to talk about it, but all that did was reinforce that something was bothering him. He tilts his head, "why do it be botherin' ya?"
T's brow furrows as he shoves his hands in his pockets and looks away, "I mean, shouldn't it bother us?"
He shrugs, "if ya be ah meanin' do it be ah botherin' me that there be ah group out there determined ta be ah takin' us all, then aye, it be botherin' me."
"Well a group might be selling us short but, yeah, that's-" T pauses as a frown tugs at his lips, "yeah, that's pretty much where I fall on it too. That it's fucked and shit."
"But?" He pokes gently as he lets his arms fall to his sides before he leans back against the wall.
T shrugs, "some of them are just useless."
Useless.
He turns the word over in his head as he remains silent.
Waiting.
Useless.
When hadn't there been a surplus of that on the Isle?
T shifts for what had to be the twentieth time-
"I mean," he chokes on a snort, "like-We're fuckin' Isle Born. Who among us are gonna roll over for a fucking stall vendor? Poor fucks that usually ducked when we came 'round. How the fuck is that a soldier?"
Stall vendor?
Had T recognized one of the soldiers?
Was he upset about killing?
He blinks.
He'd been slow to warm up to the idea of taking out the pleasure ring.
Had wanted to fight everyone to make it feel more-
More noble?
He wanted to say he'd grown up, but it hadn't even been a year since that.
He blinks.
Fuck, had it even been half a year?
At one point, time had no meaning, but now?
"And, yeah, I know. I fucking know, alright." He kicks at nothing again. "I don't fuckin' trust any of those fucks farther than I can fucking toss 'em, but-"
"Don'nah be meanin' it don'nah be suckin'," he sighs, "it were different afore. But now, everythin' just be," he shakes his head, one hand rolling as if the gesture would somehow help him find the right thing to say, "suckin'," he finishes lamely.
"Yep," T nods, "told ya it was stupid shit."
"That ain'nah bein' stupid," he shakes his head before he slides down the wall to sit.
"Is when in the end it doesn't matter." T shrugs.
"Don'nah mean it be easy." He sighs as the back of his head hits the wall, "I be tryin' ta not think 'bout it too hard, knowin' them that be takin' up with Yu. But, there be ah good chance we be goin' up against idiots we be knowin'. An' aye, in the end we be havin' people ta be protectin', so maybe it don'nah be matterin' none, but it still do."
Fuck, was he making any sense?
It was scary to think about.
Would he end up fighting his dad?
Smee?
Any of the pirates that half-assed raised him?
A chill runs down his spine.
What would he do?
T crosses his arms as he leans against the wall across from him.
"I-" His frown deepens, "I-" He scowls as he turns and kicks the wall, "It's just-" He growls before he drops into silence again.
Would he be able to do the right thing?
T did.
Sure, he was upset after.
But they could handle upset.
The other option was dead.
"Ugh," T knocks down his hood to pull on a fistful of hair, "this is so fucking dumb." He snaps before he kicks the wall harder.
Over and over.
Every thunk louder and more hollow than the last
"Fuck," T groans as he turns and slams his back against the wall and slides to his ass with another thud from his head to scowl at the ceiling.
He frowns as he shifts and crawls across the small room until he's able to kneel in front of T, "aye, but it ain'nah bein' ah reason ta be bashin' yer brains out yer ears." He rests his hands on T's knees, "we always be ah doin' what we be ah havin' ta do, it ain'nah bein' right that it be changin' so much that we be havin' ta kill, but, there ain'nah bein' another way. Useless or not, we can'nah be takin' chances."
T scoffs as he swats his hand away, "I know that. I fucking know that. I fucking know that I know that. I do. I just-" He growls as he glares at his knees. "This is so fucking stupid."
"Why?" He reaches again, only to close his hand into a fist, before he shifts to sit beside T.
"Cause you're fuckin' right. I know that." T huffs as his head hits the wall with another dull thunk. "Know that it's us or them. An' seriously Hook?" He turns to him with disapproval, "do you really think I, I- am fucking willing to take those chances? The thought never even crossed my mind, it's so stupid."
"I ain'nah sayin' ya be willin' ta take chances," he shakes his head slowly as he leans back against the cold wooden wall, "I were just sayin' what choices do we be havin'?"
T falls silent with a scowl, "told ya this was stupid."
"But it ain't." He sighs, "I can tell ya be upset over what ya be havin' ta do, an' all I can be ah sayin' is that ya be doin' what ya be havin' ta do." He looks down at his hands, flexing them into fists several times before he drops them into his lap, "don'nah be makin' it right, or even be makin' it okay. An' we all will be ah facin' the same thing each time we be facing the camps an' tryin' ta free them that be Isle Borns. Ya be callin' it stupid, but I don'nah be thinkin' it is."
"They're just so useless though," T drops his head with a sigh.
"Useless they may be, but they be bein' part o' an army now." His brow furrows as he turns to look at T, "an, if ya be thinkin' 'bout it, they must ah been doin' something ta be gettin' ta walk outside the camps. So many others were still in cages."
"Yeah, have a dick, carry a gun and piss in fear at the name Yu. So useful."
He bites his lip as he leans against the wall again.
"Do ya really be thinkin' that be all Shan Yu be wantin' in them he calls soldiers?"
T turns to him, "Hook, I took two out before you guys could catch up to me, and had enough time to grill the third. I'm good but I'm not that good. Standards aren't that high."
"Why do that be botherin' ya?"
"Because," T's face grows more red, "because I don't fucking know why! It fucking shouldn't. I mean, yeah it should, but like- I just feel so, I don't fucking know. This. is. So. fucking. Stupid." His head hitting the wall at every bitten out word. "I don't have time for this. We don't have time for this." He huffs. "I just- Fuck."
His eyes widen as he reaches out and pulls a struggling T to his side, pinning his head to his chest, "T, mate, it-" he sighs as he releases T, only to grab his face and force him to look up, "stop. This ain'nah bein' like the ring. Them things were doing-" he shivers as the words die on his tongue, "it be different. It be different an' fuck, mate, I- I don'nah know. I don'nah be knowin' what ta be sayin', I just be knowin' this be different. And it be hard. An' it be stupid. An' unfair. But I also be ah knowin' that no matter what it be doin' to us, we be doin' what we be needin' ta. Aye, we might not be ah havin' time right now, but when we do be havin' it, we can be ah figurin' it out."
T scowl slips as he drops his eyes, "right." He sighs as he pulls away and stands. "I'm not about ta fuck this shit up over something stupid. I can keep my shit together."
He sighs, "I ain'nah questionin' that." He frowns as he pulls T against his chest again, "I ain'nah questionin' ya at all. I know ya can be keepin' yer shit together. I be trustin' ya with me life. With our family's lives. With me everything." He shakes his head, "I ain'nah sayin' anythin' 'bout yer abilities. I be tryin' ta understand an' offer what little comfort I can. But there ain'nah anything any o' us can be doin' or sayin' ta make this, all o' this shit, be right. An' I be hatin' it, hatin' not knowin' how ta help. But I can be bein' here, an' I can be shuttin' up if that be workin' better."
"Yeah, I know that." T pushes away from him. "I didn't ask for your help. Wasn't in the cabin for a reason. There ain't any point in talkin' 'bout it. Nothing to be done. I'm just being a fucking pussy. I'll deal. No big." He crosses his arms, "we good?"
His eyes narrow, "how ya be pullin' that from what I be ah sayin'? How ya be takin' that as ya bein' ah pussy? Fuck. I don'nah be knowin' what I'll be ah doin' when I be in the same place, I can only be ah hopin' it be near what you be managin'. Fuckin' sea gods damn it all ta hell." He slams his fists against the ground.
Why couldn't he ever find the right words?
Why?
Everytime he tried to help, he only seemed to make things worse lately.
At least with T.
Always with T.
T pulls his eyes off his fist, "I don't expect you to have all the answers Hook-" His brow furrows, "especially when I'm the question." He sighs before he rejoins him on the ground and lies on his back, "I do appreciate you trying to put the pieces together, though. Pretty sure you're short a couple of dozen, but, ya know, thank you for tryin'."
"It ain'nah you that be the question." He whispers as he watches T settle, watches the way the black hoodie rose and fell with each slow breath.
"Whole question may have been pushing it. More like part of the equation. Involved. Questions where I'm involved? There. That was probably a better way to say it anyways."
That was a little more specific, still vague, but at least gave him something else to work with.
"What questions were ya be involved be plaugin' ya?" He tilts his head.
T snorts, "besides all of them?"
His eyes narrow, "be comin' on now," he sighs, "look, I get ya don'nah be askin' for me help, but I be wantin' ta try. An' I can'nah be doin' that 'less I understand what be botherin' ya."
T glances at him from the corner of his eye but doesn't move, "you're a glutton for punishment, you know that?"
He snorts before he wipes his hand across his lips and shrugs, "I be what I be."
T's brow furrows as he stares at the ceiling.
"What ya be thinkin'?" he asks, breaking the silence after what felt like an eternity.
Jay said wait him out, but he was pretty sure T was lost in his own world at the moment.
Maybe had even forgotten he was there.
Or it could be- "do the two o' ya be talkin'?"
T frowns as he glances at him again, "Both." His frown deepens as his gaze returns to the ceiling. "About be's and beings."
"Like human beings?"
"No, I already know I can't be that- But I'm still be-ing, ya know?"
"Wait, what ya be ah meanin' ya can'nah be human?" He turns his body to face T.
"I mean, I don't have my own body- I mean, I have a body- But it ain't mine. And I can't leave it. Jus' a ghost hauntin' a haughty house."
He pulls a face when he snickers.
Great. What would Faustina think of him laughing at that?
"That don'nah be makin' ya not ah human being." He purses his lips to the side, "just like Deez bein' half ah god don'nah be makin' her any less human. Same with Uma." He shakes his head, unsure if he was making the best comparisons, "Yer just, different. Ain'nah nothin' wrong with bein' different."
T's snort turns to a bark of laughter. "Mal would fight you over those words."
"Aye?" He grins as he tilts his head, "that ain'nah sayin' much, ya be knowin' that, right? Mal be fightin' me o'er anything."
Another snort leaves T, "right, I forgot. You were nearly jus' as high on her shit list."
He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, "me charms never did be workin' on her."
"Not what she would call it."
"Aye," he shrugs before he pokes a finger into T's side, "but putin' that aside fer now, why would Mal be ah fighting me over sayin' ya just be different an' there ain'nah nothin' wrong with that?"
T slowly sits up before he eyes him, "you know, she knew right off the bat there was something wrong with me. Was wrong about all the why's, but still. She knew I was a freak from the start."
"Ya ain'nah bein' ah freak. You an' Faustina be-" his voice cracks, "I could be slappin' her smug newt face."
How dare she put that damn thought in their head.
"Dude, it's cool." T shrugs, "she wasn't wrong. There is something wrong with me. Multiple things, probably- But not the point." He shakes his head. "Body or no body, I'm still who I be." He grins.
He eyes T carefully, "aye, ya do be who ya be. An' I like who ya be."
T's face turns red, "which is why you're just as big of a freak."
He tilts his head again as a slow grin spreads across his face.
Freaks.
It didn't sound as bad once he got roped into it.
He chuckles before he nods, "aye. Okay then. I like it." he claps his hands together, "we all be bein' freaks. We be ah family an' ah ship full o' freaks."
T snorts, "some jus' more than others." He pauses as he turns back to the ceiling as his face darkens several shades. "Sorry, I haven't been gettin' what you've been tryin' ta tell me." He admits quietly, "never questioned her callin' me an idiot, either."
"Well, ya ain'nah bein' an' idiot, but I can be takin' the freak." He frowns at the flush of embarrassment before scoots to lay down beside T, "if ya don'nah be believin'' anything else, please be believin' that."
"Nah, I can own I'm a fuckin' idiot most o' the time." T grins. "But when I'm good, I'm good."
He shakes his head.
Uma was going to kill him for giving T this new outlook, but at least it was better than him calling himself a ghost.
Or less than human.
The concept felt like a blade in his ribs.
T and Faustina. Two completely separate and different people trapped in the same body.
He couldn't imagine how confusing that had to be.
He'd had a hard time wrapping his head around it at first, but now?
He didn't need to understand how it worked to know he cared about both of them.
T shifts as he moves closer and rests his head on his chest, only to hide his face on his shoulder. "Jus' thank you." He grumbles before he hesitantly wraps one of his arms around him and squeezes.
"Course, Mate," he carefully picks his arm up to cradle T, supporting him without forcing him closer, "I be here for ya whenever ya be wantin' me. I hope ya be knowin' that too."
"That wasn't a question." T pauses, "brings up a lot of questions sure, but, ya know, wasn't one."
"How me support and love be bringin' up questions?"
T snorts, "cause the fuck is wrong with you? I think you're the only tail trailer I had that wasn't up my ass with how sus and sketch it was when I started coming out."
"Why they be thinkin' that?" The question pops out before he can stop it.
"Probably cause I'm retarded and knew shit I shouldn't-" T shrugs, "or it bothered them that a no one was doin' shit like I was-Especially when they couldn't."
"Will ya stop it with the name callin'?" he snorts as he tucks his hands behind his head, "an' aye, maybe that be it."
His chuckle dies on his lips as he remembers the day at the well.
The day that almost ruined everything.
The day he first laid eyes on the blur he would come to know as T.
Stubborn little idiot.
Though now, looking back, he could guess why T had been stubbornly insistent that he would get out of the well on his own.
They'd all been surprised to see him still alive. And if him being alive was unexpected, thinking his clothes were undamaged had just been stupid.
Of course, he didn't want them to see.
Or, maybe he hadn't even known himself.
He blinks as he pushes the confusion away.
It didn't matter.
Still, the fact T had been ballsy enough to fling himself at the FIre Princess in full rage had intrigued him.
And then, "I be fallin' for ya the moment I saw ya standin' up ta them pricks, even with ah knife at yer throat."
"Tch." T snorts, "checks."
"Don'nah it just." He grins before a yawn startles him.
Shit.
One hand drops to his front pocket, checking to make sure the small flask of sleep drought was still there.
T sits up, "What's wrong?"
"Forgot how tired I be." He admits with a sigh before he pulls the bottle out, "an' I be promisin' Uma I be gettin' ya ta sleep."
T glares at the vial as if it were a snake about to bite him.
"Ya don'nah be havin' ta drink it if ya ain'nah wantin' ta," he whispers as he sets it aside, "I just be knowin' it don'nah be lettin' ya dream, so I be wantin' ya ta have the option."
Several emotions pass T's face rapidly as he looks away.
"Unless it don'nah be workin' like that for ya?"
T's eyes drop to his arm with a grimace, "I'll drink it," he sighs, "but only if you promise you'll go back to sleep with the others."
He bites his lips, "what if I be too tired to row back to the cove?"
"Then sleep in the cabin."
"All by meself?"
"I think you'll survive."
"But we don'nah be havin' ah way ta be knowin' for suuuuuure," he whines, "best ta not test it."
T shrugs, "that's cool. I didn't want ta drink it anyways."
He shrugs before he pulls T closer to his side, "fine by me," he yawns again, "I be wantin' ta stay like this."
"That was never part of anything I agreed to."
He shrugs as he closes his eyes.
"Hook? Hook. Hook!" T growls as he taps his shoulder, "off. Now."
"Shhhhh," he whispers as he rolls to fully encompass T with both arms, "sleep now, meetin' later."
"I ain't sleepin' like this. I ain't even-" T takes a deep breath as his eye twitches before he lets it out slowly, "tired. Now off."
"That be ah problem since Uma be orderin' us ta sleep." He hugs T tighter, "an' as her number one, I be here ta enforce her orders."
T scowls at him before he groans, "you're such a pain in the ass." He sighs, "fine. I'll sleep jus' get off."
He purses his lips as he opens his eyes, "ya be promisin' ya really be sleepin', if I be lettin' go?"
"Yes, I promise. Now off."
He sighs before he slowly releases T, frowning at how quick he was to pull away.
T rolls to his feet as he walks to the furthest side of the room and pulls out a set of daggers and stares at them for a moment. He sighs as he tilts his head back and groans before he shoves them back in his pocket and pulls off the hoodie.
"What ya be-"
T sighs as he stands and starts towards him only to pause with a curse, "back in a minute." he calls out as he heads for the door.
He sits up, fully expecting a chase, but T only walks from the room to the hold.
He looks around before understanding dawns on him.
There was nothing here.
The room was bare.
Before he can stand, T was already back.
"Seriously," T dumps the blankets on him. "You're such a pain in the ass."
"I be doin' me best." He chuckles as he fights the fabric until he can pull it off.
"Smug prick." T grumbles as he clicks the last lock.
"Thanks fer thinkin' o' this." He smiles as he lays a few on the ground before rolling one up into a makeshift pillow.
"Well, one of us is a princess so-" He shrugs.
"Oy, don'nah ya be brinin' me Pirate Princess inta this." He mockingly glares as he plops down and pats the pile beside him.
"Wasn't talkin' bout her."
Oh. He knew.
He pats the pile again before he tosses the pillow behind him, "be comin' on, ya be promisin'."
"Don't remind me," T frowns as he picks up the abandoned bottle and glares at it before he pops the top and downs it. "And don't make promises involving my sleep again." He lightly kicks him before he walks over and blows out the lantern.
"I did'nah be promisin', I were bein' ordered."
"Well, run the next time you think it's comin' or somethin'."
"I can be ah tryin' that," he agrees with a smile, knowing he never actually would make it.
Uma was scary.
"Better." T grumbles as he plops down next to him.
He takes the last blanket and flicks it out over them before he settles back, resting his head on the rolled fabric as he waited for T.
"Why do you have to make it so hard to love you," T complains as his head hits the pillow.
"I don'nah be meanin' ta," he sighs.
But he could see it.
How many times had he taken away T's choice?
Forced him to do something he knew T didn't want to do?
It was usually for his own good, but he doubted T put much value in that.
"But ya do be lovin' me." He perks up.
"Idiot." T mutters through a yawn.
And T said he wasn't tired. Though, to be fair, he was able to fight that tonic more than the rest of them could.
"Don't make me regret puttin' my daggers up."
He chuckles at the threat before he turns on his side, "would'nah dare ta test ya right now."
"Whataya mean rig-"
He looks back over his shoulder, even in the near pitch black lit by only his red orb, he could see T scowling.
"I just be ah meanin' that I be hearin' ya."
T grouses something unintelligible as he weakly pushes him before his hand falls limp and he silences.
He chuckles when he realizes T had finally fallen asleep.
At least he'd kept his word to Uma.
He shifts and turns until he's facing T once more.
So much.
There was so much going on in T's head, and he wasn't even thinking about what it must be like for him and Faustina to talk to each other.
No.
He was thinking of everything that had happened since the Core left.
The basement.
The ring.
Making the Spider to protect the Urchins.
The barrier.
Magic.
The kids Evil Queen and Cruella took.
The ritual he'd witnessed.
The shit with Senior.
The witches.
The Howler.
The camps.
What he and Yensid just got back from.
It was never ending, no wonder T didn't want to sleep.
He lightly traces a finger across T's face, moving a stray strand of hair, so it wouldn't become an annoyance.
T had so much swirling in his mind.
Questions that maybe even the gods didn't have answers to.
It hurt.
T's words also hurt.
They didn't have time for uncertainty, at least that was what he believed T was feeling.
Uncertain.
There was more to it, but he wasn't sure he could fully fathom it.
He takes a deep breath before another yawn triggers.
A few hours of sleep, that was all they needed.
A few hours of sleep, and then a plan to bust out the Isle Borns.
Boom bitches, this one was a fucking long one. Which fair because we've definitely posted chapters shorter than some of the outro's.
What did you think of this chapter?
Lots of introspection in this one-
Then again, knowing what characters are thinking is my fave part of writing (and also why our books are so fucking long…)
D was super hesitant to share, T never wants to share, and Harry just wishes to the sea gods that they would share more freely; rather then prying open their mouths and pulling their fucking teeth out.
Who's loving Yensid's reactions to T antics?
Can any of you picture Yensid being like T when he was younger?
What do you think Yensid was like as a teenager?
Poor fucking Hook, he never catches a break with T-
But he always gets him to talk eventually-
And T thinks he's the vigilant one- LoLz
Much love and shit
-Twisted