Uproar
His hand tightens around the new dagger at his hip as he stares uselessly out into the darkness.
Where the hell was T?
After all that chaos, he'd been so sure T'd managed to slip away.
But now the sinking feeling in his gut was starting to twist that trust.
He looks around the small area they'd gathered in, all silent as they waited.
One camp down.
Thirty-something rescued Isle Borns.
Every single one of them just happy to be free.
No lies.
No deceptions.
Just clear answers that they would follow Uma and Beam's orders, and eagerness to follow Big Murph and his crew back to the cove.
But that infiltration had been-
He closes his eyes as his knuckles pop around his dagger.
Chaos. Though that didn't even begin to cover it.
The soldiers had been everywhere.
Smoke.
Fog.
Riffle fire.
Flashes.
One hand drops to his ribs.
They'd all hit the ground when they'd heard the cracks of rifle fire.
They'd dodged the bullets, only to be trampled by the scared soldiers.
Was that what they should expect every time?
He looks over at Gil sitting with Uma and Deez, his head resting against their laps as Deez slowly finger combs his hair.
Something was wrong, he could tell by the look in his eyes.
Not that they could talk about it right now, not with everyone catching their breath and checking for injuries.
Not when they weren't all here yet.
He needed T.
He looks up when an elbow digs into his side.
"Everyone okay?"
Relief.
Sheer, painful relief.
That's what T's voice gave him.
Relief so powerful he wasn't sure how he'd managed to pull T into a vice grip hug.
He also wasn't sure who was more surprised.
"Are you?" He whispers roughly, his lips pressed tightly behind T's ear.
"That didn't answer the question. Also, off."
He growls as his arms tighten, "couple bumps an' bruises. Ain'nah bein' nothin' major. People be adjustin' cause that were'nah bein' smooth sailin' with the soldiers runnin' crazed like." He explains before asking once more, "do you be hurt?"
"Maybe a scrape or two, but nothin' major." T grins at him, "worried?"
"After all the shootin' back there?" T's back pops as he holds him tighter still, "aye ya lil' fuckin' shit. I were bein' worried."
"Hooook," T whines quietly as he squirms to be let go.
"Teeee," he whines back, but reluctantly drops his arms to his sides.
T was back, but they still had a job to do.
He quickly takes T by the hand and pulls him towards Uma.
Best to get this over with as fast as possible.
Uma's eyes widen before she pulls herself up, "T," she nods, but he could see the way she bit her lower lip to keep the tremble from showing.
T taps two fingers to his forehead, "alive an' kickin', like there was any doubt." He grins cockily. "ready for round two?"
He takes a deep, slow breath.
Were they?
And if they weren't, did they have a choice?
Uma clears her throat as she gestures for everyone to ready themselves before she looks back to T, "what do we need to expect this time?"
"I mean," T tilts his head, "probably more o' the same ta be safe."
He frowns as Gil turns his face away from the group.
"Wasn't 'spectin' them ta start attackin' each other," T crosses his arms.
"We weren't expecting blind fire, either." Deez frowns.
T turns to her curiously before the grin slips from his lips. "They were-" He tilts his head back and groans. "Good. To. Know." He rakes a hand down his face. "But since we're clearly not talkin' 'bout the same thing- The runners were gettin' gunned down on my end."
"No shit?" Beam eyes T critically.
Uma grimaces before she shakes her head, "it's Yu's army. We always knew he played for keeps. Don't know why I didn't see them that followed him, playin' by the same rules."
"I ain't complainin'." T shrugs, "but- I'll keep that in mind for our next run." His eyes linger on Gil, "that smoke couldn't've made shit any easier."
"It be havin' ups 'n' downs." He frowns, "if it were bein' bad fer us, it were bein' bad fer them too."
"But we have to do something about the guns," Uma demands, "if they ain't bein' at all careful 'bout how they use 'em then they're bound ta get lucky shots."
"Glad we're on the same page," T nods, "D, you're with me this round."
Deez tilts her head to the side as she steps forward, "what did you have in mind?"
Those two working together as a distraction?
He drags a hand down his face.
What could go wrong?
It made sense to deprive the army of its most dangerous weapon.
And it wasn't even the rifles.
It was the bullets and gunpowder they loaded into the rifles.
Deez slowly turns on the spot in the middle of the storage building, horrified by the sheer amount of bags, caskets, and piles of small pebble-like balls spilling from crates and yet more bags.
"Think ya can manage?"
"I can," she slowly nods, "but you need to not be around."
"Oh?" T leans against a beam, "and here I've always wanted to be holy."
"One, that was a bad joke, even for you," she smirks, "and two, just no. If bullets sting me, they have to fucking hurt."
"I mean kinda the point D," T snorts as he pushes off the wall.
"How much of a head start do you want?"
"Thirty," T smirks before he turns out the door, "see ya." He throws his hand over his shoulder before he dips out the door.
"Good luck." She whispers before she spins on the spot once more.
One, she taps her foot softly against the dirt floor.
Nine camps, at least nine that they knew of.
And each camp had a building like this.
It made the air leave her lungs in a strange, painful whoosh, as if another wave were smacking her into a wall.
How long had Shan Yu been working on this?
How long had he been gathering supplies?
Making weapons?
Ten, she continues to tap.
From the moment he'd woken up here?
Twelve.
Questions continued to flood her as she turns slowly, like one of those small figures in the boxes Evie loved collecting.
She felt so small compared to all of this.
Tiny in the wake of this man's revenge-fueled plans.
Twenty.
She looks down at her hands as she slowly gathers flames around her fingers before it begins to dance across the skin of her arms.
Nine camps.
Nine buildings like this.
Twenty-five.
And how many more that they didn't know about?
The thought freezes her heart and breath.
How much more did they not know?
Thirty.
She closes her eyes as she sends orange flames out to lick every exposed surface.
Destroy.
She had to destroy all of this.
Burn the powder.
Melt and burn the metal.
Nothing could remain.
Nothing could be salvaged.
The flames spreading from her turn white as they roll like waves to consume everything in their path.
Her eyes widen when her flames find a large crate and the contents inside explode, pushing her back into a wall as the flaming building collapses in on itself.
Whoops.
The minute the letter D popped out T's mouth, Uma knew she was going to hate it.
She was just proud of her Sweet Boy for swallowing his objection.
Sea God's knew that hadn't been easy for him.
It had taken everything in her to keep from crying out herself.
And yes, she knew it was ridiculous.
Knew that, out of all of them, Deez was the one who could walk away from being shot-
But the idea of someone directing a gun at her Baby Girl was enough to make her stomach turn.
Not that it was in an upright position to begin with, but still-
She meets Harry's glacier blue eyes.
Good. At least she had cause for her worry.
Harry trusted T with everything-
So to see the concern in his eyes was a kind of relief she wasn't entirely familiar or even comfortable with.
Why was Harry's distress making her feel better?
She shakes her head.
Not the point.
It had been hard enough allowing T to separate from them-
Smug little shit.
But with Deez joining T, and Gil opting to stand guard of their exit-
It would be a miracle if she made it through the night without succumbing to a stroke.
She jumps when something explodes in the distance and the night sky glows orange before fading to a soft glow.
There it was.
The signal.
"Let's go."
Dread pours over him as a hand clamps down on his shoulder.
"Are ya fuckin' kiddin' me with this hero wannabe shite?" A familiar voice hisses against his ear.
He blushes at the instant relief that floods his system at the lilt.
"Why? Jelly?" He smirks as he glances at Harriet from the corner of his eyes.
"Questionin' me trust in ya be more like it." Harriet glares, "what the fuck ya doin' here?"
"Ya jus' said it."
"Yer tryin' ta bust people-" Harriet pinches the bridge of her nose, "ya fuckin' idiot. Ain'nah anyone here needin' ah hero."
A stone plummets in his gut at the ice in her tone.
"Did'nah we be agreein' that I should be ah joinin' up?"
"Well, yeah but-"
T, if Harriet is-
He stops as his forgotten dread seeps into his bones like ice water. "No."
"Aye, them that be here be wantin' ta be here." She punches him in the shoulder, "if ya ain'nah here alone, ya best be gettin' 'em out."
He grabs his shoulder reflexively. "Got it."
"Next time I see ya, ya better look like yer aimmin' ta kill. I got a reputation ta make an' exploit."
"Heard," He nods as he searches the shadows.
Fuck.
They would be heading straight to the cages.
Cages that weren't holding prisoners.
T! Don't just stand there! Do something!
Right!
He takes off behind a building, relying on the map Faustina was shoving in his face to stay on track as she shouted directions at him.
Normally he'd be annoyed but-
He had to get them out of here. Now,
Had to cause a big enough distraction, so they'd run.
Please! Please let them catch on.
He shoves the ring on his finger as he rolls out of the last shadow and lunges at the first Soldier, his new blades glinting as venom flings off its edge.
There was something satisfying about the sound as he drew them from their glass scabbards.
Something beautiful about the way the light highlighted the legs of the spiders on the hilts, reflected in the gemstone eyes.
And oh, so deadly.
He grits his teeth as he drags the dagger up the man's chest, preparing himself-
One day, he'd get used to the blood-curdling scream of agony-
Though he doubted it would be anytime soon.
"Fuck!" Someone screams into the night, "it's the bloody fuckin' Spider!"
He kicks the man off his dagger before he spins.
"Sound the alarm! Release the recruits!"
Several clay bombs hit the ground as smoke clouds the air.
"Shan Yu promised a life of luxury to the one who brings him the Spider's head!"
"Seriously?" Laughter passes his lips, "come on fuckers, first round's on me!"
"Free pass?" A haughty laugh echoes around him, "I see ya enjoy playing down your abilities to those stupid enough to rush you."
Oh.
She meant now.
Harriets lips curve into a smile as she pulls a long sword from her belt, "but I've seen what your teeth can do."
"I don't know what's funnier, a Hook actually steppin' up, or a girl thinkin' they stand a chance."
A gathering group snickers.
"You know what this girl does when she sees a spider?" Harriet taunts as she pulls out a dagger and begins to circle, "I squash it, like the insignificant bug it is."
A slow smirk tugs at his lips.
T!
What?
Stop enjoying this!
She started it!
"Let's see you try," he grins.
Harriet lunges forward, using her sword to block as she slashes at him with her dagger.
He snorts as he meets her clash for clash.
"I guess yer decent, for a bug." Harriet whispers during a moment they were locked close together.
"An' you ain't bad for a Hook."
"You know I'm gonna injure you, right?"
"Be pissed if you didn't, really."
"Kind of you to say that." Harriet smiles wickedly before she drags her dagger across his arm, the cut surprisingly light with the way she held the blade.
"Cunt!" He growls.
"Just pluckin' legs." Harriett sneers before she presses again.
"What are you idiots gathered around watching for!?" A deep voice bellows out over them, "take the Spider out, now! Don't let a girl take all the glory."
"Don't breathe." Is his only hushed warning before he kicks out, aiming for her ribs as he sends her back and staggering to her ass.
"Get him!" The deep voice bellows again.
"Yeah!" He chuckles, "come get me!"
After that fight with Harriet, this seemed too easy. Even with his arm burning like crazy and bleeding, he could block their feeble attacks.
When he was being attacked.
Most seemed more concerned with dodging his daggers.
"Ha! An' I thought Hook hit like ah girl!" He taunts as he slams a clay bomb into one of the soldiers chests.
That had to have been long enough, right?
He covers his face as he moves, staying low to the ground.
The sounds of coughing and hacking grow distant as he races away from the fight.
Now, where were the others?
Where was T?
Gil holds Deez closer as his eyes scan the building again.
He'd gotten out, right?
It was T.
T always got away-
He grimaces.
-except when he didn't.
But, that had been different.
Right?
T played with OVs all day.
Hell, T did nothing but play-
And though he doubted that's what he was doing right now-
It was easier to be mad at him for being an asshole, then worried that something awful had happened to him.
An hour.
They'd pulled out nearly an hour ago.
He lets his gaze wander over the faces sharing the silent room with him.
Each one as tense as the last.
They'd been avoiding it.
Beating around it.
But none of them were willing to voice it out loud.
The big question.
Did T need to be rescued?
Or had he once more managed to escape.
He wasn't sure he'd ever seen Harry look so sick over a what if.
Or Uma so tense.
James had been quietly seething since they'd been intercepted by the Spider.
And this had to be the longest he'd seen Beam go without so much as a twitch of his lips.
Deez sighs as she curls around his arm, the scent of burning and gunpowder flooding his nose with the simple movement.
He frowns as he nudges her with his chin, "what's wrong?" He prompts quietly.
She shifts before leaning back into his chest, "realizations?"
Oh.
That didn't sound foreboding at all.
"Any ya wanna share?"
"There was just, so much-" she shakes her head, "that one building had so much in it, and it was just for them," her voice trails off.
He grimaces as he pulls her closer and squeezes.
She was worried about the weaponry.
About the amount of planning that was behind it.
Scared, and with good reason.
He looks up as he scans the others.
And she wasn't the only one.
Shan Yu had been intimidating long before Maleficent left the Isle. Now he was a downright bogeyman. Haunting and preying on those weaker than him. Trying to-
He sighs.
Trying to what exactly?
Did he know something the rest of them didn't?
"This be ah whole new level o' stupid Uma," Harry snaps as he pushes himself to his feet, "I will be bein' back, but I be ah havin' ta go check."
Uma's features darken as she crosses her arms, clearly torn.
"I can go too," Deez volunteers.
Uma glances at her as her frown deepens.
"Same." Beam quickly adds.
"Where we goin'?"
A sigh of relief rushes past his lips as his attention jumps to the ceiling to catch T settle on one of the rafters.
"Oh," Deez narrows her eyes as she stares at T, "well, mission accomplished," she continues, her voice more curious than upset.
"What mission?" T frowns.
"Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting for you?!" Uma seethes before she points to the ground beside her, "get yer ass down here, now!"
It was strange to see Uma quietly yelling.
T studies her warily before he reluctantly slips off the rafters and lands several feet away from them. "A bit?"
"What. Happened?" Uma demands, "one second we're racing for the damn cages, an' the next the Spider is pickin' fights not twenty feet away."
"It's not like I had a lot of time or options," T sighs, "that camp was volunteers only."
"Volunteers?" James glares.
His eyes narrow as T pauses.
"Uh," T turns to Uma, "yep." He nods.
Deez takes a slow breath, "So if we'd made it to the cages-"
"Ain't nothin' good that woulda come of it." T finishes. "Not when we're try'na keep this shit low-key."
Deez slowly nods before she sinks back against him.
"Fair." Beam sighs before he continues, "An' it took ya so long ta join us here cause…" he rolls his wrist.
T's silent as he looks around the room before he slowly moves closer to him and Deez. "That's a great question."
"One we all be wantin' answered." Harry sighs.
"That's fair."
"T!" Uma snaps, making everyone in the room jump.
"Right," T blurts out, "what I meant to say was that, I-" he tapers off.
He looks down when Deez smacks her hand to her face.
"And when you remembered?"
"I read it, and boom. Here I am."
"And that took an hour?"
T shifts, "I may have overheard some shit an' got distracted."
Uma presses her fingers to her temples before she gestures as if wiping something away, "what kind of shit did you overhear?"
"The Cap of the camp going off about how Yu was gonna have a shit fit if he finds out 'bout him lettin' the Spider get away. Pretty sure it's the same for the first camp leader too." He offers before he drops his head, "and I got-" He pauses, "found more info on the other camps so that shit wouldn't happen again."
Harry walks forward and puts a hand on T's shoulder, "it be soundin' like ya be doin' ah good job, mate."
Uma takes a deep breath before she slowly nods, "sure, but next time fucking remember the damn notebook."
T's face nearly glows red as he turns the back of his hand to Uma and points to it with the other.
Uma's eyes narrow before she snorts, "ah, well, hopefully you'll remember to look at the back of your hand too. Did Faustina leave you the reminder?"
T's face burns brighter as he drops his eyes and kicks at a pebble. "think ya'll are up for hittin' another camp?"
Uma and Harry share a glance before she turns to look at him.
He frowns as he looks back at T curiously, "why tonight?"
"If the camps ain'nah puttin' out the alarm, might be best ta keep strikin'." Harry shrugs.
"That too." T nods.
His eyes narrow.
"Too?" Beam raises a brow as he looks at T expectantly.
A dark look crosses T's face as his fingers curl into fists at his side before he shakes his head, "are you guys up for it or not?"
He frowns as he studies T curiously.
"Something has you upset," Deez frowns as she stands and pulls him to his feet, "and I don't need to know what it is to know that we need to take care of it."
T nods as a ghost of a smile passes his lips before the frown returns. "It ain't the closest." He warns, "an' if ya'll-"
"You can explain on the way." Uma nods, "where are we heading?"
A relieved sigh leaves T, "to the one furthest south."
Uma nods before she pulls her notebook out, "I'll get the ship to meet us at forge beach."
Well, something got T's panties in a twist-
What the fuck do you thin it is?
WTF the fuck are T and Harriett working on together?
And why the fuck does T always have to poke his allies?
Whoot, whoot!
D just took out a silo of fucking bullets-
Way to fucking go D!
Who do you think is going to dev a mental condition over T's lack of prioritization when it comes to returning to the group: Uma or Harry?
C'mon-
Where you land in the pool?
Much love, appreciation, and shit
-Twisted