*Kicks at nothing*

Sorry for always posting so late guys, it's still pretty rough right now...

That being said, if any of you are familiar with posting on the platforms we use:

Archive of our Own

Wattpad

We'd appreciate it if someone could step up and do our weekly posting for us, I would be eternally grateful...

-Twisted

"Stop playing with the bandage." Uma reprimands him softly from beside him.

He frowns as he drops his hand to his lap.

His eye.

His face.

One moment everything had been-

Well, not fine.

Handled.

Deez was making a path with her flames, all the soldiers were jumping back-

And in a moment. A single second.

Ruined.

He grimaces as his head falls to his hands.

Even his codfish of an OV still had both his eyes.

If felt strange to cry with a bandage pressed tight against his eye.

He should be grateful.

Everyone was alive.

They'd rescued a lot of girls.

He shouldn't be so upset over his face-

Gentle hands cup his chin firmly, forcing him to tip his head back to stare up into warm brown eyes.

-but he was.

He flinches as he looks at Uma's concerned face.

Pretty Boy.

It would be ironic now.

Said in pity.

"Stop it." Uma orders as she traces the bandages over his face.

One at his jaw.

One on his cheek.

The bulging bandage over his eye.

The bindings wrapped around his forehead.

Head wounds always bled worse than it really was.

But he'd never seen so much of his own.

His blood in his eyes, turning his vision blurry and red.

His blood against Deez's pale skin.

His blood soaked into rags as the old man patched him up.

He'd been in and out of it, but every memory was tinted red.

He was stuck, thinking the night through over and over again.

The building.

The cries.

The rage.

He relaxes his fists and takes Uma's hands.

The fear on Gil and Deez's faces.

The determination.

And then, pain.

One moment, and his eye was gone.

He'd never be able to see the same way.

Would he be able to do hair still?

Fight?

It shouldn't matter.

They'd saved the girls.

They called him a hero, their hero.

He should be puffed up and prancing.

But his eye was gone.

His face would be ugly now.

He should be worrying about how Beam was handling T; worried about why it was taking so long for them to return.

He wanted to think of how Faustina was dealing with this.

But no.

He couldn't get his head to wrap around this.

Around the explanation offered when he woke up.

Too damaged to repair.

Blind.

A cold chill runs down his spine.

Hadn't once been enough?

A heavy weight settles in his stomach.

He remembered so little of that night-

But he remembered the paralyzing terror of the nothingness.

Rendered so useless T opted to keep him asleep-

He clenches his fingers into fists.

It was only one eye this time, but still-

It was going to affect everything.

They had shit to do.

They were a team.

But how was he supposed to help now?

He closes his eye as if it could banish the reality facing him.

He-

"Hook?" T questions quietly as he takes a hesitant step forward.

He looks up in surprise as Uma turns on the spot to face T and Beam.

They were okay.

Beam brought T back, just like he promised.

The room falls silent as he meets T's eyes-

Which, being able to see T's face without Uma snapping an order? Any other time he would have questioned it.

But right now all he could see was the look on T's face.

Was it pity?

Was it regret?

T's eyes widen and he rushes forward, dragging Beam behind him.

Before he can react, one arm flings around him and nearly chokes him until Beam catches up and slams into T's back.

"The-" T starts to snap only for him to stop when he sees Beam and a blush floods his face, "oh yeah…"

"Yeah," Beam grimaces as he cuts the rope tethering him and T together, "should'ah seen that comin'." He adds as he rubs his wrist.

T looks between the rope and Beam before he nods and turns back to him, only to shut his mouth and stare.

"Aye?" He grunts when the room stays deadly silent too long.

"Uh…" T's cheeks burn red as he drops his eyes.

"So, uh, yeah, that's my cue ta duck out" Beam clicks his tongue before he turns to Uma, "as promised, and I cleaned him up, though I won't be offended if you want to handle changing the bandages."

"Ya be hurt?" He asks as Uma and T flinch.

And then he sees the bandages wrapped up T's arms. Bandages covered with tiny criss-crosses of dried blood.

T shakes his head before his lip twitches and he shrugs, "you should see the other guy."

Beam snorts.

He winces in pain as he lifts a brow, "what be ah happenin' to ya?"

"Sorry but I can't-" Uma sighs, "Beam, did you put him on a leash?" She asks, clearly trying to redirect the conversation.

"Yep," Beam beams as he swings the rope casually in his hand, "should'ah thought bout this years ago." He chuckles as he hits T in the head with the end of it.

T glares at Beam with a scowl, "funny."

"No," Beam shakes his head before he pauses, "actually kinda, yeah, a little bit. But mostly jus' useful. Think o' all the worry an' time it would'ah saved us."

Several emotions flash through T's eyes before he sighs and looks away.

It didn't make sense. How could a rope keep T in check?

T was a walking armory.

He frowns.

There was something. Something he was missing.

He tilts his head as he looks T over.

T-

It wasn't the rope keeping T in line.

He sighs.

It was guilt.

But the rope was a constant reminder.

Was he blaming himself for his eye?

He bites his lip.

No. It was something more.

And that something more was what had been bothering Uma.

The subject of why Beam stayed behind with T had been dropped faster than Gil's hammer.

What happened?

Why had Beam needed to stay behind with T?

Now that he wasn't so consumed with his eye, all he could think about-

The sounds.

The growls.

The screams.

What had he missed?

Uma frowns as she looks between the two before she takes a deep breath and sighs, "it's like that?"

Beam eyes T with concern before T looks away, "yeeeeeeeeeeah, it was like that."

"But you're both okay?" Deez asks, her voice muffled against Gil's shoulder.

Beam's eyes flick to T before he settles his gaze on Deez again, "jus' happy to be home."

"Ain't we all." Uma sighs.

He reaches out and snags T's shirt with one finger before he pulls him back. "Thanks. Don't know what all I be ah thankin' ya for, but thanks."

T's brow furrows as he studies him curiously before relief appears in his eyes, and he leans on the wall next to him.

"Sure thing," Beam nods before he clicks his tongue again, "if ya be ah needin' me, I'll be ah waitin' for a pickup."

Uma nods before she walks over and hugs him, "thank you."

"O'course Kraken," Beam chuckles as he hugs her back before Uma steps away, "an' you."

T stiffens at his side.

"Chill."

T drops his head.

"You got a good thing here Shadow," Beam shakes his head, "don't ruin it." He waves over his shoulder as he exits the cave. "Later."

They fall silent until Beam's footsteps fade.

"Glad you're back." Deez says softly.

Gil nods, "yeah."

T turns to them in surprise before he closes his mouth and nods.

Gil sighs as he stands and carries Deez over to them, only to turn and slide down the wall on the other side of T. "Don't be dumb."

"Yeah, T, don't be dumb." Deez teases.

"Tch," T's lip twitches, "idiots."

"Oh, they're the idiots, huh?" Uma crosses her arms over her chest as she settles on the other side of him, but her smile was hard to miss.

T tilts his head, "depends, do you agree with 'em?"

Uma shrugs, "I don't think you know how to not be dumb."

A smile curves T's lips, "my bad, I forgot you were one too."

For the first time since waking up, he feels heat in his chest, thawing the ice that had been building up in his veins.

He needed this.

Them.

He smiles as he throws an arm over T's shoulder and pulls him closer.

"I think ya be ah meanin' we all be the idiots."

This didn't' make him less terrified of facing the rest of his life half blind, but it did lighten his mood.

If nothing else, at the end of the day, his family would always be his family.

His vision blurs.

At least he could be grateful for that.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She'd seen T fighting in the middle of the horde.

Watched in agony as swords swung at him, unable to move as she'd watched the events play out.

Terrified for him-

Of him.

It still scared her.

He had every one of her instincts flaring, warning her not to interfere.

Dangerous.

She'd always known T could be dangerous, but to come face to face with it?

It killed her.

Being unable to move. To once more find herself forced to stare as she stood by.

Watching.

Just watching and unable to do anything to help.

"It's okay, you know," T shifts as he looks away, "I don't-" he pauses, "I can do it, you don't need to-"

"Do what? Check your bandages?" She glares back at him over her shoulder, "who the hell do you think you're talkin' to?"

T shrugs, "jus' sayin'. He ain't here."

She spins on her heel to face him and grabs the rope still hanging from his wrist, "don't make me use this. Ain't no one makin' me do anything, you're my Problem Child and I will make sure yer okay."

She frowns when he glances at her before he drops his eyes and shifts in discomfort again.

It takes her a moment to realize why this was so strange to her.

She was able to clearly see the lack of emotion on his face; the small, quick changes in his expression.

He was facing her directly, and there was nothing covering his face.

No shadows for him to hide in, or anyone to hide behind.

"What did I say?" She ignores the quiver in her lip when T flinches away from her hand, "what am I doing wrong right now?" She asks, uncaring of the plea in her tone.

He turns to her with wide eyes, "nothing."

"Then what happened to our deal? Huh? I never pull rank and make you sit in front of everyone while I work on your bandages, and-" she pauses for a moment when she can't fully recall what T gets from their deal before she gestures wildly with one hand, "and you be okay with it."

T's eyes drop to his hands before he shoves them in his pockets and turns away, "I jus'..." He shifts and mutters under his breath so weakly she barely catches it. "-it doesn't- I'm-" He grimaces as he steps back, "It doesn't feel right."

She frowns, "why though? Aren't you mine?"

His eye's water before he bites his lip and looks away.

"Is this about what happened in the camp?"

He sighs with a barely perceptible nod.

She bites downward on her tongue before she can jump to assuring him.

What could she say that would make him feel better?

Or, was he more worried about what she thought?

She chokes on a sob as she pulls him into a tight hug.

T flinches as his muscles coil beneath her, "Umes? Wh-"

"No! I, I think you need to hear this." She takes a deep breath as she clings tighter to him. "I don't entirely understand what happened back there. Everything was moving fast, and there were screams, and Harry!"

A sob racks her body, making it hard for her to breath, let alone speak. But when T tried to speak she shakes her head and puts a finger over his lips.

She wasn't done yet.

"There were so many attacking you," she continues the moment she can force the words out, "and you, I didn't even recognize you at first. I was scared T. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my entire life. I was scared I was losing you. Scared Harry was gone. There was, just, so much. Ya know? And, and then, you came back."

She stares at him, the confusion and horror on his face would have been comical if she wasn't fighting to keep herself together.

"So, so I. Yeah, I don't really understand everything that happened back there. But I don't need to. All I need to know is that you're okay, and you're here. And you're still my Problem Child and… And… please don't leave me like that."

"Umes-" He whispers softly before he shifts as his muscles jerk beneath her. Awkwardly alternating between lifting his arms and dropping them several times, before he grimaces and wraps them around her hesitantly, "I didn't mean ta-" He sighs, "I'm sorry." His voice cracks.

"Ya ain't got nothing to apologize for." She presses her face against him as she shakes it back and forth, "just, promise me. Promise me you'll always come back to me. That's what I need."

"Umes-"

"Promise me!" She shakes him without letting go.

"Umes," He frowns as he drops his hands from her waist to firmly take a hold of her shoulders and stop her from shaking him, "This place, you, our family- It's home. To her. To me. Has been for years. I don't wanna leave you, leave them. Here. Nothin's gonna change that, I promise. Even at my worst, it's all I want. Where I feel the safest."

She nods as she wipes her hands over her eyes, "then, then stop acting like I hate you."

"Umes," He sighs, "that ain't-" He drops his eyes, "that isn't-" he grimaces. "Sorry. I didn't mean ta…" He looks away, "you ain't the problem. None of you are. It's me."

"But you're our Problem Child," she blinks in confusion, "why do things have to be different now?"

He studies her silently, his head slowly tilting as if he was trying to work out a complex math problem before his eyes slowly brighten and his lips twitch slightly for the briefest of seconds, before he shakes his head. He drops his hands before he steps back, only for the rope to pull taut between them.

"You look like something good happened, but you didn't say anything, so, I was right?"

His eyes fall to the rope before he snorts, "can't recall a time you were-" he pauses, "well, wait, that ain't.-" His thoughtful expression slowly shifts to a grin, "You ain't ever been wrong 'bout me, yeah, that one." he finishes with a proud nod, "You've never been wrong 'bout me."

She chuckles, "I see. Well, I'll take the win here," she tilts her head to the side as she lifts the rope, "so, does this mean I don't need this? Since this is where you belong."

T looks away sheepishly, "It made Beam feel better, so figured it'd make you feel better too- Ain't like you've never mumbled it under your breath."

She snorts, but she couldn't say he was wrong. Sometimes it would be nice to know T was on a short leash.

On the other hand-

She drops the rope, "since it might not stick around, I don't wanna get too attached."

T's eyes warm before he turns, "would rather you didn't," before he turns to collect supplies from Faustina's shelves, "but wouldn't blame ya if it made ya feel better 'round me."

"I was teasing." She sighs as she points to a cleared work table, "like a rope would actually stop you if you needed to go do something important."

"Never said it wouldn't, just sayin' it would be here if it made you feel better 'round me," He shrugs, "I wouldn't blame ya for it…" His brow furrows, "not that I'm here much anyways." He tilts his head before he lets out a sigh, "I could jus' not come out here if it'd make people feel better."

"That would seriously make people feel worse."

T shrugs as he looks between her and the table several times, before he plops several feet away from it on the floor to start shedding his shredded shirts.

"Fair enough."

She didn't want to admit it, but yeah, she probably wouldn't have been able to reach everything if he'd taken her up on the table.

Each layer T destroys makes her heart drop further.

There were so many bandages.

His arms.

His waist.

Chest.

Shoulders.

Was there even an inch of skin unscathed?

Beam hadn't been kidding.

Still, even though she knew T had become reckless during his rage on the camp, she couldn't stop the gasp.

T turns to look up in concern, "Umes?"

"Sorry," she takes a deep breath, "I, I knew you had to have been hit, but I was hoping-"

T shrugs, "ain't a big deal, most o' them are shallow…" His face turns red as he looks away, "Jus' don't think Beam, like, ya know-?" He grumbles. "Like he's dressed chick's wounds an' shit too… But like-" He sighs as he glares at the ground.

She presses a hand to her heart, praying to every sea god, it was true. That Beam had been overzealous because he was still awkward over T and Faustina sharing a body.

She'd happily take that relief.

"I see. Well then, let's make it a little easier on ya." She smiles as she begins untying the knots keeping the bandages held together.

"You know…" T frowns, "I don't say it enough, but, like, thank you… For like, well, everything, really. We wouldn't be here without you, and like, I like here. Am lucky to be here."

She finishes the knot before she shifts to kneel in front of T, "I like you being here too. We all like having you in the family." She tilts her head as she watches him, "so, thank you. For wanting to be a part of this."

"Ume's I'm dense, not dumb."

"I'll keep that in mind." She chuckles before unraveling the bandages, relieved to find that somehow, miraculously, T was correct.

The majority of the injuries were very shallow, as if he'd somehow managed to dance away just enough each time a blade came his way.

"Do you actually have a horseshoe shoved up your ass? Beam seems pretty convinced of it, and I'm starting to agree."

"I mean, I think I'd feel that…"

She chuckles, "well, whatever the reason, I'm grateful."

"Personally, I think it's cause the Fates hate Senior."

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Everyone that matters, I guess, yeah."

Her eyes narrow.

That was strangely specific.

And sounded like he was attempting to insult someone.

"Let's get smaller bandages on these, and then we can head back to the ship to get you some clothes."

He nods, "she's coated Weave, can we try that?"

"Of course."

As strange as it was, she was looking forward to seeing how well Weave and the goop worked together.

xxxxxxxxxxx

*Sighs in relief*

Anyone else glad this one ended on a good note?

… Fuck it's been so long since I wrote one of these bitches…

Yeah… the struggle is real-

Any other writers out there struggle to find their voice after taking a sabbatical? (Not that I volunteered for said break…)

Annnyways, let me try this again-

Anyone else shocked T came back on a voluntary leash?

Poor fucking Hook, he's really going through it right now. He's so happy with his looks, and to have them disfigured like that?

Poor bastard…

So, what about T and Uma's convo?

Thoughts on that?

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted