Where was she?
He'd expected her to show up when he got to the first camp but-
Nothing.
Not so much as an insult.
Had he done something to her again? Or was this because-
His eyes sweep over Harry's face.
It was fucking insane.
Like he hadn't had his head nearly cleaved in half.
His jaw tenses at the memory, or more truthfully, the bits he could remember.
There was a reason he'd been so accepting of Beam's leash.
He'd been on a fucking war path that night. He wasn't even sure how many had taken the brunt of his anger.
Which in and of itself was concerning.
He could still taste the hot bitterness in the back of his throat at the thought of what could've been.
The pit in his stomach.
The way ice pumped through his veins.
Harry had almost been killed.
Killed.
The acknowledgement was-
Unsettling.
What the fuck would he do without Hook?
The one that always had his back.
Who had patience with all his shit.
Laughed with him.
Sparred with him.
Bantered and…
Took care of him despite all his bitching.
He'd never admit it out loud.
Not with a knife to his throat.
But, he could admit now that he liked it.
Craved it even.
Another item on the growing list of fears he hadn't known he had until last night.
It wasn't the first time Harry had been nearly killed on his watch-
A thought that made his stomach turn.
But, in the end, what was he without Hook?
Without any of them.
He needed to be needed.
To have a purpose.
He slips his hand into his pocket and grips the black orb.
Because he was real.
He was his own person.
Faustina may have created him somehow-
But he'd somehow become real.
Really real.
Something he'd been questioning for months dissipated with his Ume's thoughtfulness.
He blinks when warmth suddenly floods him.
She loved them so much.
All of them.
He knew that-
Just like he knew, Uma had probably been browbeating herself into coming up with a way to prove to him, he was real.
His lip twitches.
They all probably had.
It was an amazing feeling.
To know he was loved so deeply, that so many people he looked up to and cherished would try so hard to make him understand.
And of course he'd get that as their world fell to shit.
Dense. He was so fucking dense.
His eyes narrow.
But, he wasn't a complete idiot.
He knew the risks.
The danger.
Knew that he had accepted the reality of the situation.
But to see it?
Experience the barrage of emotions that had barreled into him like the hell-mobile?
It had been utterly debilitating.
Terrifying.
His reaction to it, even more so.
He knew he was capable of killing but-
That night had been a slaughter, and the scariest part about it?
He'd do it again.
In a fucking heart beat.
But-
That wasn't an excuse for her to do something so fucking reckless.
Harry had been fine. Yensid didn't believe the damage would permanently blind him.
Still, she'd fucking went and done-
Something.
Something fucking stupid.
Something that had done-
Something.
To her.
He scowls.
Something he didn't know how to fix.
Which was fucking irritating.
He would have got it.
Healing Harry.
He wouldn't have stopped her-
Fuck, he would've even supported her in it.
Did she think he wanted Hook to suffer like that?
That he wanted him half blind or some shit?
He scowls.
So why hadn't she fucking told him?
Given him a warning?
Given him anything.
Since when had she started doubting him?
It hurt.
Made his chest tight.
The back of his eyes prickle with pain.
Not that he was going to give her the pleasure of knowing that.
Cunt.
She glares at the map, watching the black and red dot like a shark.
She could easily send James and Beam to get them, but-
She sighs.
This needed to be done.
She didn't exactly love the way it was gone about, but-
Harry was keeping her completely apprised of the situation.
Her eyes narrow on the crude map being drawn in the notebook.
Faustina had her spoiled, but the fact that it wasn't Faustina drafting the maps alarmed her.
Was she okay?
And if she wasn't, then why was T awake?
She shakes away the ensuing headache.
If Yensid was confused by it-
She wasn't coming up with an answer anytime soon.
All she could do was wait.
And watch.
Watch the two dots scurry across the map.
Watch the maps being added to the notebook.
And cringe.
"So-"
He jumps as he whips his head towards T.
Little shit was trying to give him a fucking heart attack, he just knew it.
"-I just checked, you draw like shit." T grins in amusement.
He narrows his eyes, "oh, I be drawin' like shit, do I? I ain'nah ever sayin' I be Gil." He stabs his pen in T's direction, "That never be ah passin' these lips."
"Well, ya didn't say you were completely useless at it, either. I can't wait til she can see your work." His grin turns more shit eating. "Priceless."
He scrunches his face up as he glares, but he looks down at the notebook and sighs.
He'd never thought to try to draw before
"Let's see ya do better then," he challenges.
T snorts as he snatches the book and bends over it with a look of concentration before he picks up the pencil.
He palms his mouth, but it only serves to slightly stifle his laughter.
Somehow, T's was even worse.
"Ah, Mate, way ta be ah makin' me feel better." He manages to say as he wipes his eyes.
"Go die in a fire." He scowls at his work, "drawing is stupid."
He shrugs, "if it be ah makin' ya feel any better, Deez can'nah be drawin' either. Uma be sayin' it be a family trait." He holds his hand out for the notebook.
"Well, like fuck was I bringin' Gil." T sighs as he passes it over. "You were lucky I let you tag along."
He snorts as he does his best to draw-
Only for his attention to be drawn to scrawling letters.
What was that?
Are you okay?
-U
T was trying to prove a point.
All good here.
-H
Thats-
-U
I didn't say he made it.
Just tried.
-H
For some reason that
makes me feel better.
Don't do anything stupid
-U
"What's got you grinnin' like an idiot?" T glares at him from where he was sitting across from him.
"Uma were gettin' concerned." He shrugs.
T's eyes grow suspicious, "an' that makes ya grin since when?"
"Since I be gettin' ta tell her what be ah happenin' to the map."
"Why-" T's head tilts before his face glows red, "oh."
He chuckles as he leans forward as playfully slaps T's shoulder, "be ah comin' on, it were bein' funny."
T rolls his eyes, "maybe a little." He admits with a huff.
"I can be ah takin' that." He nods as he leans back, "anything different about this one? Ya were bein' gone a bit longer."
T frowns, "not that I can tell. Which kinda makes sense, they threw this shit together quick, an' Yu don't seem like the type ta care about aesthetics. Still, rather be safe than sorry, though."
He nods, "aye, we don'nah be wantin' ah strange buildin' ta be ah throwin' us off durin' ah run."
Again.
T nods before he pulls out an oddly familiar notebook and starts jotting in it.
Only for him to stop a moment later and grumble something under his breath.
"Ya be okay there?"
"Yep," T huffs as he glares at the page for a moment before he scribbles something into it.
It was as if he were talking to someone, but not with the group-
Oh.
"Why ya be writin' Senior?"
"I didn't think he'd fuckin' write back so quick," T rolls his eyes, "prick."
His brow furrows, "but, what ya be tellin' 'im?"
"Right now? How he can go fuck off, before he wrote back? The shit I've picked up so far." T shrugs, "I need to put it somewhere. Ain't like the fuckin' encyclopedia is here. An' I don't wanna forget shit."
"An' I like, knew him an' Tina wrote, but like fuck, he must be bored if he's this desperate." He scowls, "which, not a fan by the way." He grumbles before several emotions cross his face, and he turns his glare on him.
He frowns, "what ya be ah glarin' at me for?"
"'Cause this whole Senior Tina dynamic is terrifying, and it's on you."
"Me?"
"Tch. Don't act innocent."
"Yer the one who ain'nah knowin' she were talkin' ta him for ya."
"Yeah, but-" T pauses before he sighs, "touche."
"An' another thing," he presses as he shakes his head, "I ain'nah bein' entertainin' the damn god like you bein', so I don'nah be havin' ah pass if I be pissin' 'im off."
"I mean, get better? What am I s'pose ta say to that?"
"I dunno," he shrugs, "admit ya be friendly with Senior?"
"Tch," T scoffs, "did you get into that sludge shit, cause I know it feels great, but you're gonna regret it."
"What?"
"Ya know the shit that gets ya high that Tina made."
"No, I don'nah be knowin'."
If Faustina was making more than what she said, what else was she creating in her lab?
"Oh," T tilts his head, "the shit people smoke then..."
His eyes narrow.
He wanted to press.
Wanted to know more about whatever it was Faustina made.
But, then he'd have to admit that it would be easier to ask her instead.
And then he'd have to admit how worried he was.
He wasn't sure he was ready to face that yet; face not knowing if he'd ever see Faustina again.
Face that he might have lost her.
Because she wanted to give him back his sight. Take away his scar.
Fix his mistake.
He takes a deep breath before he looks down at the map again, "well, if there ain'nah bein' nothin' o' note or outta place here, should we be ah movin' on ta the next camp?"
T nods as he jumps up, "sounds good ta me." He offers him his hand, "was jus' waitin' for you to finish your masterpiece."
"Oh, I can be makin' ah masterpiece for ya," he claps his hand into T's and stands with the help, "me masterpiece o' me foot up yer ass."
"Assumin' ya could catch me." T grins as he starts for the window, "which," he looks him over, "ya know, doubtful."
"I would be ah sayin' we can be testin' that out, but not while we be ah workin'," he chuckles before he bumps his shoulder against T's, "Uma would be ah sayin' that it be ah fallin' in the stupid thing's realm."
"Fuckin' ass-kisser." T shakes his head, "but I get it, any excuse not ta eat your words."
"Ya be willin' ta be pokin' the Kraken fer something like that?"
"No," T sighs, "but-" he grins, "you gave in first. All I'm sayin'."
"Brat."
Were they trying to kill them?
Wasn't it bad enough they'd just left?
His eyes follow Uma as she paces.
Or did they really enjoy worrying Uma this much?
He sighs, okay.
Not Harry-
But he didn't want to think T did this shit on purpose, either.
He was doing his best for Deez, and could genuinely see her point but-
He'd still kill him.
What the hell happened to make them decide to invade a camp by themselves?
And so soon. They'd almost-
Nope.
He shakes his head.
He refused to think about it too closely.
The other night had been-
A nightmare.
A waking nightmare.
He'd been so worried about Harry-
And then when he'd seen the Spider racing their way-
T quickly jumped to the top of the list.
He'd never seen so much blood.
He'd be forever in Beam's debt for staying behind to bring T home-
He wasn't sure he'd be able to look at T the same way again if he had to see the carnage left in the Spider's wake.
He grimaces-
Not that he was complaining-
But it had been terrifying to hear the agonized screaming and, as embarrassing as it was, he was just glad he hadn't had to see it.
Worried-
No.
He was paranoid it would change his view of T. Tarnish everything he loved about the reckless, clueless, idiot he called his brother.
"It sounds like they just saw an opportunity," Deez sighs as Uma's path rounds closer to them, "I wonder what the camp was for if only five Isle Borns were being kept there."
Uma huffs as she continues to pace, "and what? The opportunity couldn't wait until we got there? It had to be right then?"
"He didn't try at the other camps," he offers, "they were willing to wait for the rest o' us for those."
"On the bright side," Deez adds, "this probably means they'll be heading back soon."
"Yeah," He quickly nods, "an' it's T an' Harry. They'll be fine. T works best in small groups, and listens ta Harry when it matters. If somethin' happens, Harry'll pull them out." He offers their worried Captain.
Uma pauses before she takes a deep breath, "I guess that is something."
He nods, "an' it ain't like T's gonna let anything happen to Harry."
He frowns when Deez shrinks a little.
"What's wrong?" Pops out of his mouth before he can stop it.
He grimaces, kicking himself when Uma's eyes hone in on Deez.
"Baby Girl?" Uma looks at Deez expectantly.
"T won't let anything happen to Harry, " Deez nods as she looks out over the sea.
"What was that?" He frowns as concern starts to bubble in his gut.
He knew that look.
Knew she was feeling guilty about something.
He just couldn't figure out-
Oh.
Harry.
He pulls her close to his chest tightly, "I couldn't move fast enough either."
"What are you talking about?" Deez frowns as she looks up at him, "you cleared a path, you ordered him out, you knocked everyone away-" she looks down at her hands before she closes them into fists.
"But I-" He blushes as shame floods him, before he takes a deep breath.
He hadn't even admitted this to himself-
But Deez needed to hear it. Understand that he understood.
"I couldn't bring myself to…" He grimaces, "I could keep 'em off, but I couldn't-"
He startles when Uma suddenly wraps her arms around him and Deez.
"I should've." He drops his head, "but I couldn't." He sighs, "dad would be so disappointed." He finishes under his breath.
At their time of need.
With his brother bleeding in his Treasure's arms-
The best he could manage was to keep them away.
"Sweet Boy." Uma's hand runs over his head.
"I forgot I could burn without hurting everyone."
"Baby Girl," Uma sighs as she hugs them both tighter. "It isn't in either of your natures; there ain't nothin' wrong with that. You did everything-"
"But I didn't." He blurts out. "I-"
"Yes you did." Deez glares up at him.
He frowns.
She rarely took that tone with him.
"No one, not a single person, touched me or Harry after he got hurt."
"But-"
"If you weren't doing everything you could, you and Harry would be dead." Her voice breaks.
"Treasure…" He whispers.
"Baby Girl, this isn't your fault any more than it is Sweet Boy's. Both of you did everything you could and for that our Pretty Boy is still with us."
Deez shakes her head, but doesn't say anything.
"I know how much you hate blood, Baby Girl, but that didn't stop you from keepin' him from bleedin' out." Uma states softly.
"I hate blood because you guys only have so much." Deez tugs at her hair, "I hate when it spills."
He hugs Deez to him tighter.
He hated when she blamed herself. She was always so cruel to herself-
And that was only what he could see-
What she let him see.
He'd hate to know what voices she was hearing.
The one that whispered your fears. Confirmed your doubts.
Made you feel stupid.
Useless.
Everyone had them.
The ones of their OVs telling you how worthless you were.
Snidely berating you for being weak.
It just made the bad things even more unbearable.
"I know, Baby Girl, but we knew the risks when we started this."
"There wouldn't have to be any risks if I could just-"
"Treasure…" He nuzzles her hair ."Uma's right, that jus' isn't who you are."
Uma nods, "you might have the force o' one, but Baby Girl, you ain't a weapon. You're not a killer."
The room goes silent as the words settle between them.
Deez might not be-
But T definitely was.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that. Either of them. Your compassion is every bit as important as…" Uma grimaces as she turns to him for help.
"As what?"
He's glad he isn't the only one to go, still.
"Finally," Uma turns on her heels to glare at T and Harry before her mouth snaps shut.
Both of them were being clung to by the wards they'd collected.
His eyes widen as he takes in the bruises.
The limps.
The teen riding on T's back that was white faced with pain.
"Cap'in," Harry nods as the young girl clinging to him tightens her grip around his neck, "sorry we did'nah be explainin', but we could'nah be standin' by an' watchin' what were happenin'."
Uma turns to him and Deez, "go get Yensid."
"Right!" Deez jumps from his lap and takes off running.
Shit.
He takes off after her.
After seeing that, he wasn't surprised she'd forgotten Yensid was on the ship.
Well, that was one way to end a chapter-
But T and Hook said they were hitting up one more camp…
But the fuck? How did Harry let this happen?
Oof.
Everyone is going through the fucking ringer on this chapter too.
The guilt and shame are just like, overwhelmingly, tangible.
But can you blame them?
Judge them?
How do you feel about D and Gil's reaction to Harry being attacked?
Was it in character for them?
Or do you feel we botched it?
This is the first time one of them got seriously injured in their mission to save the Isle Born. And remember-
D= 14
Gil=15
T is so fucking upset about F's fainting-
Any of you surprised by that?
And Dead-
T's attempt at drawing.
Much love and shit
-Twisted