TW: Attempted rape

"Evil fucking godsdamn-"

Grimacing, Mal moved a little further away from Jay as his curses turned into retching. Her right-hand man was huddled over their "bathroom", just a hole in a bench that went straight down to the water, his hair tied up in a bun by Evie, puking nothing but bile. Only two hours into their journey and already Jay had emptied his stomach completely. According to Captain Whatever His Name Was, it would take at least a week to arrive in Auradon, if the weather stayed nice. He'd also said that Jay had something called seasickness.

Even though it had the word "sickness" in it, apparently it wasn't an actual illness. Personally, she thought it was stupid to call it a sickness if it wasn't. But at least the rest of them couldn't catch it from him. It was caused by the motion of the ship and Jay was more sensitive to it and his body didn't like it. There was also nothing they could do about it other than wait and see if he adjusted. If he wasn't vomiting in front of her, she'd be teasing him for being "sensitive".

Evie knelt beside him, rubbing his back, while Carlos finally sat down after looking over every inch of their cabin. As far as rooms went, it wasn't too bad. Not too small and they had two bunks. Normally they'd only need one; the pathetic excuse of a mattress they used in their base was smaller than the bunks and they shared it almost every night with no problem. She preferred it that way. It meant she could keep her pack close. At the moment, however, Mal was more than willing to make an exception and stick Jay in a bunk alone. Being puked on in the middle of the night didn't appeal to her and Evie would be livid if her clothes were ruined. Not to mention the smell.

"Do you have anything that might help, E?" she asked as Jay slumped over with a groan, head resting in Evie's lap, carefully positioned so he couldn't throw up on her or her clothes.

The princess tapped her fingers against her leg, the hand in Jay's hair pausing as she thought, blue eyes focused on nothing. "I might? I have what I need to make my usual potion for nausea. Whether or not it will help…" She trailed off with a shrug. After a moment, her lips twitched and she pressed them together before taking a breath and adding, "I'm running low on a lot of my ingredients and we don't know when or where we'll be able to get more."

Another groan came from Jay and Mal frowned. Was it worth it? Evie was the only one who could actually take care of them if they got hurt or sick. If she ran out of supplies then they were screwed. There was another groan and then Jay was lunging for the hole while Carlos scrambled to stay out of his way…Sweat slicked Jay's skin and he was pale, shuddering as his body heaved again. Shit.

"Do it," Mal said. "If it works then he feels better. If not, it's not like he'll get worse."

Evie nodded. "Carlos? Take over?"

Their youngest moved forward and, with Evie's help, settled Jay against him. Mal moved to their window and pushed it open. The fresh rush of air cleared her mind and nose as she stuck her head out as far as she could. No wonder the shrimp and her crew wanted to sail so badly. Mal'd never smelled air so pure.

Overhead, the sky spread out, and it didn't feel like the same sky she'd stare at on the Isle. It seemed more vibrant and wild. Somehow it looked even bigger too. And the air…the air was sharper. Something about it called to her and something deep in her chest wanted to go to it. Frowning, Mal cursed and she could feel Carlos and Evie glance at her. She wanted to be on deck where she could really be under the sky. They were out of the barrier. Why should they be trapped in a cabin?

"This fucking sucks," she said, looking at them over her shoulder.

"Don't," Jay glared. "At least you aren't dying."

"You're not dying."

"Sure feels like it."

"We can walk through the permitted areas after I finish the potion," Evie offered without looking up from where she sorted through her ingredients.

"We really shouldn't leave the cabin," Carlos protested, idly running his fingers over Jay's hair, careful not to pull any out of the bun.

Mal rolled her eyes. "Come on, Los. It isn't like we're going into the 'restricted' areas."

Chewing his lip, Carlos dropped his gaze. "They can do anything to us," he whispered. "It'd be our word against theirs if we even try to say anything…And that's if we get to the mainland at all." When she arched an eyebrow, Carlos shrank in on himself. "All they have to do is push us overboard and we disappear."

She didn't have an answer for that. What could she say? He wasn't wrong. But what were they supposed to do for a week? Sit in the cabin? Already she was restless and it'd only get worse. A lot worse. But she couldn't, wouldn't, put her pack at risk. A string of curses left her as she turned to glower out the window.

"Mal…I…" Carlos started, but she shook her head and he fell silent, plucking at the hem of his shirt.

The only sounds were the rustle of Evie's clothes as she worked and the occasional groan from Jay. Finally, Evie said, "You can draw. We can be your muses."

That…that had potential. Mal didn't draw her pack very often; Evie and Carlos were usually too shy and Jay never stayed still long enough. When she glanced over her shoulder, Carlos was blushing faintly and Evie gave her a small smile.

"Maybe," she replied. Tension faded from Carlos's posture.

Day six. Day fucking six.

Thank the gods that the weather was still good. The sooner they got to the mainland the sooner they could get off the ship. Leaning as far out the window as she dared, Mal closed her eyes. And promptly cursed as ocean spray hit her in the face.

"Shut the fuck up," Jay groaned.

In the corner, Jay tried to glare at her, dark circles under his eyes. Evie's potion wasn't as effective as they'd hoped and for six fucking days he'd been fighting to keep food down. The constant retching had her nerves worn thin, Carlos fidgeting with anything he could get his hands on, and Evie trying to come up with new mixtures with her dwindling supplies to help him. After Evie made another two attempts to create an effective potion, Mal had told her to stop. Jay wasn't going to die and they couldn't use all of Evie's ingredients. Not when they didn't know when they'd really need them.

"You'll wake them up," he added when she flipped him off. He was right, but Mal flipped him off again before moving to flop on Jay's bunk. Across the room, on the bunk Jay was not allowed on, Evie and Carlos were curled together, holding hands, foreheads touching, breaths slow and even. It was the first time since leaving the Isle that Carlos was able to sleep instead of just dozing, and Evie had been tending to Jay whenever she wasn't messing with her potions or helping Mal get their rations so she hadn't been resting. Only the constant reapplication of makeup disguised the darkening circles under her eyes. But now, now they were finally resting.

Slowly, her gaze trailed over them. The way the light and shadows fell over them. Features slightly more relaxed. Gentle curves of their bodies. It was irresistible.

Careful not to wake them, she fanned Evie's hair out behind her and mussed Carlos's hair to create a fascinating mess of black roots and white tips. Once she was satisfied, Mal grabbed her sketchbook and charcoal and settled on Jay's bunk again. Soon the world faded to a quiet buzz as she tried to capture what she saw on the paper. Constellations of freckles. Delicate features still graceful asleep. A princess. A pup. Sapphire. Diamond and onyx… It was a dangerous piece. A piece she shouldn't draw… Not that it stopped her from doing it.

"Mal?"

"What?"

When Jay didn't answer, Mal glanced at him. Their gazes locked and his dark brown eyes flickered from her sketchbook to their packmates. Eyes narrowing, Mal muttered, "Fuck off." There was a reason she guarded sketchbook as closely as she guarded her pack.

Silence fell between them again and she went back to her drawing. It wasn't until she was finishing the shading of Evie's hair that the quiet was broken again.

"Mal… I'm hungry," Carlos said, voice low.

"I wouldn't mind some food too," Evie yawned, stretching slightly and kissing Carlos's cheek before sitting up. "Jay?"

"Just something to drink," he muttered, looking a little green.

"Alright," Mal nodded. Putting away her materials, she stretched. "Come on, E."

Princess in tow, she made her way through the passages to the galley. Despite her best efforts, she hadn't been able to confine herself to the cabin like Carlos and Jay. Though Jay's wasn't entirely by choice and more out of necessity. By the afternoon of day two, she'd given up and left the room with Evie. No one was leaving their cabin alone. Not in enemy territory.

A few soldiers–because no one would agree to travel with four villain kids without guards and normal sailors wouldn't be so well armed–gave them quick glances before ignoring them. And she wasn't sure how she felt about that. She was supposed to be feared. She was supposed to be the one everyone avoided… The first time they left their cabin they'd gotten the same looks they got on the Isle: wary, expecting Mal and Evie to steal anything and everything that wasn't nailed down.

So she and Evie had walked through the areas they were allowed to go and got some of the watered down rum for Jay. That same night they got their own rations, wanting to keep the sailors away from their vulnerable members. And Mal insisted that they show the goody-two-shoe soldiers that they weren't intimated. After all, they were the children of some of the worst villains in history.

But by day four, the soldiers were used to them, alert but not hostile. It was probably a good thing in the long run, but still…

Reaching the galley, Mal headed in to get their rations while Evie stood watch just outside the doorway. The rations were the same every day: salted meat, dried fruit, hardtack. It was more than they needed. More than they'd ever expected. But turning down food was something only idiots did. Besides, it gave them an emergency stash they could use if they needed to run, hiding it in Carlos's bag. They'd never really had one before.

Shoving the rations into her pockets, Mal grabbed the tankards of watered down rum and called, "Let's go, E."

"Don't touch me!"

Evie!

Dropping the tankards, Mal sprinted for the door, drawing her dagger.

As she skittered through the door she snarled, eyes glowing green as she reached for her magic, ready to strike.

A soldier towered over Evie, trapping her against the wall and between his arms. The way he trailed his gaze over her had Mal's hackles rising. Evie's chin was a little too high, eyes too regal, fingers twitching at her side where her dagger was hidden.

"Enough!"

The sharp order froze Mal in place and she whirled to see Captain Alcott storming towards them. Eyes wide, the soldier backed away and Mal took the opening. Lunging forward, she grabbed Evie's hand and bolted. They couldn't stay. She needed to get what was hers somewhere safe. Away from the men. Back with the pack. Somewhere they could defend.

Carlos jerked in alarm as she slammed the door open. One look at her blazing green eyes and he was scrambling to lock the door behind them, drawing his knives and standing guard. Still in the corner, Jay struggled to get up, but Mal waved him down, attention on Evie as she stepped away from Mal.

"What happened?" Jay asked as Evie perched on their bunk and pulled out her mirror and lipstick. Still at the door, knives drawn, Carlos glanced at their princess. Restless, Mal paced the cabin, jaw clenched, dagger drawn, eyes green, listening closely.

Evie's lips twisted. "One of-one of the soldiers thought I owed him a 'favor' for transporting us to Auradon."

Behind her, Carlos made a strangled sound as her own blood screamed.

"He what?!" Jay growled.

Carefully painting another layer of red onto her lips, Evie shrugged. Despite her trembling hands, none of the lipstick smeared. "He was a man incapable of using his head instead of his dick. Before he could do more than grab me, Mal and the captain showed up."

"The-the captain?" Carlos repeated. "What did he-what did he say?"

"We left before he could do anything," Mal said. "We weren't sticking around for it. And we aren't leaving to find out."

He nodded and they fell quiet, Mal switching places with him. She didn't know how long she stood guard, eyes blazing green, Evie silently leaning against Carlos.

A knock at the door broke the silence and they all braced themselves, Mal's eyes flaring green again.

"Go away!" Mal snapped..

"I'd like to speak with you," Captain Alcott replied and Mal's eyes narrowed. When none of them answered, he added, "I do not need to come in."

After exchanging looks with the others, Mal stomped to the door and leaned against it. "Then talk through the door," she told him.

There was no reply for a moment and Mal assumed the old man had left until he said, "You have my deepest apologies. What happened is unacceptable and the man will be punished with twenty lashes and once we return to Auradon he will be dishonorably discharged."

That…wasn't what she'd expected. Her shock was reflected in her pack's faces.

"I wish to assure you that no one will attempt such a thing again while you are under my care," he continued.

"Because of the Crowned Prince," she snorted.

"Because rape is a truly despicable act." There was nothing but disgust and fury in the man's voice and Mal blinked. Again, she didn't reply. Finally, Captain Alcott said, "I will personally deliver your rations and escort you whenever you wish to stretch your legs."

When he said nothing else for several minutes, Mal peeked out the door. He was gone, but there were four mugs of the watered-down rum on the floor. Collecting them, she closed the door again. The others accepted their mugs and she returned to sit against the door. None of them spoke. Carlos stayed beside Evie, the two eventually dozing off against each other. Even Jay managed to doze.

It left Mal to her thoughts and the strange words from the captain.

That night, they heard the crack of a whip against skin twenty times. It wasn't enough.