"Don't. You. Dare."

He scowls.

Fuck.

He turns on his heels, "I wasn't doin' anything." He denies.

Yet.

"Uh huh," Uma nods as she crosses her arms over her chest, "and I ain't giving you the opportunity neither."

He closes his mouth, "was jus' goin' for a walk, don't tell me you don't wanna go for a swim."

The last several hours had been exhausting.

He still couldn't believe the condition they were in.

He was going to rip out Yu's throat with his teeth.

Fuckin' sadistic prick.

Uma frowns before her arms slowly fall to her sides, "wanna go swimming with me?"

He studies her for a moment, wishing he could just say no and hunt down Shan Yu like the bitch he was.

Healers.

He had a camp full of healers.

And he worked them-

One of them literally, to the bone.

He was fucking pissed.

But Uma-

He sighs, he wasn't sure Uma could handle him leaving right now either.

He shifts in indecision.

He'd already pushed her pretty far, and she hadn't even yelled at him yet.

His eyes sweep to her face.

She looked fucking exhausted.

Lost.

He could run.

Knew he would beat her-

Satisfy his need to hurt something-

Break something-

But-

Not her.

Not when she already looked so close to breaking.

He and Harry put her through the ringer with, unnecessary in his opinion, worry.

Like he'd let fucking Harry get hurt again.

"I- I want us to regroup. I know you learned a lot more about the camps."

And then had spent several hours patching up the healers.

"Right now?" He frowns. "Shouldn't that wait 'til, I don't know, you don't look like shit run over?"

Uma sighs, "we all look like shit, Problem Child. An' yeah, it can wait a little, but not very long."

His frown deepens, "like the mornin' after you sleep?"

She bites her lip as she looks at him with uncertainty. "Last time I slept, I woke up with you and Harry gone. Promise me that won't happen this time. That you'll stay. You and Harry both."

He snaps his mouth shut.

"Bitch move." He sighs in defeat.

"I will be the ultimate bitch if it means I don't develop a fear of falling asleep." Uma states, the words sounding playful, but her tone was lackluster.

She was dead on her feet.

He shakes his head.

Damn it.

He didn't want to be the one responsible for that fear.

"I promise." He sighs in defeat.

"Then yes," Uma nods as she walks up to him and rests a hand on his shoulder, "after everyone gets some rest."

"Sleep." He corrects her, "you need actual sleep."

"I was making room for those who fight sleep."

He frowns.

"Who do I have ta drug?"

Uma snorts before she pulls out a small circle and opens it towards him, so he can see himself in the small, cracked mirror.

He only needs a glance before he snaps it shut.

Like he needed the reminder she still wasn't back. "Guessin' that was a point…"

"Maybe it will help, both of you." Uma suggests, her voice pleading.

He pauses, "really?"

He grimaces at the hope in his tone.

"Yensid said what she did wiped her out, but then you woke up a lot sooner than we thought, so, maybe if you both get some sleep."

He frowns.

"I mean, I don't know," Uma drops her gaze, "I know you don't either, but, I- I'm worried."

"Me too…" He admits quietly.

He hated it.

The gnawing in the pit of his stomach, "but if I'm still here, that means she has to be too…"

Right?

He might be real-

But if she was dead, wouldn't he be too?

"Of course she is," Uma wraps her arms around him, "she's just, knocked out."

He hated the way his vision blurs as he hugs her back, hiding his face from her.

"I also know you will feel better when she does wake up."

He sighs.

She was desperate.

Because of Faustina being a reckless pain in the ass.

And maybe a little because of him taking off.

He blinks until he can see clearly before he stands and sweeps her into his arms. "You're very persuasive, you know that?"

"I like to think I've learned a little from a lot of the best." She smiles as she rests her head against his shoulder.

"Nah," He shakes his head, "natural talent one hundred percent." He sighs, "but you gotta sleep too."

"T, I don't think I could stay awake if I tried." Uma shakes her head, "not after that."

"You push yourself too much," he sighs.

"Look who's talking," she rolls her eyes, "do I need to pull the mirror out again?"

He grimaces, "please don't."

Uma frowns, "do you hate mirrors?"

"I mean, they're useful for checkin' corners," he shrugs.

Uma sighs before she wraps her arms around his neck, "is that a drop it?"

"I don't like it when it's me I'm lookin' at."

Uma blinks up at him before she frowns, "sorry."

He shrugs, "nothin' ta be sorry 'bout."

"Yer hurtin'," she shakes her head before she cups one of his cheeks, "I can be sorry over that."

He looks away, "it's stupid."

"It ain't." Uma states firmly as she forces him to look at her again, "there ain't nothing stupid 'bout the way you and Faustina work."

He snorts.

"I mean it."

"I know you do, I jus' have a differin' opinion."

Uma glares.

"But-" he quickly amends, "I appreciate hearing other perspectives."

"I'll take it." She sighs, "make sure everyone else sleeps too?"

"Yeah, I got you Umes." He nods, "jus' get some-" he pauses when her weight shifts in his arms and looks down in concern.

"Oh." He smiles when he finds her already asleep in his arms.

He wasn't sure why, but it filled him with so much warmth.

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Damn, he was glad he'd gone with T.

The first camps they'd gone to were nothing complicated.

T would gather rumors while he, though poorly, mapped everything out as best he could.

And then they'd gotten to the last camp.

Even laying with his family, arms around T, his blood runs cold.

The things being shouted at those kids-

The sounds of them being beat-

That would haunt him forever.

He'd been so sure he wouldn't touch Faustina's venom unless it was life or death but-

He hadn't considered other factors. It had been disturbing, but once they'd killed the first, the ones who hadn't run in fear, kept coming.

Not that any of them were going to speak of it again.

At least this time, he hadn't lost control and gotten himself injured.

He hugs T tighter and smiles at the soft murmur of contentment as the stoic boy cuddles closer.

Try as he might to say he hated being touched-

He shakes his head.

Not that he'd ever tell T that.

He looks over at Uma curled up with Deez with Gil engulfing both of them with one massive arm.

Such a strangely perfect way to wake up, right smack in the middle of everything going to shit around them.

Sea gods, he could only hope this was the middle.

Only thing missing was his Pirate Princess.

He closes his eyes.

He'd been too afraid to think about it.

Scared that if he asked, T would blame him.

Which wouldn't have surprised him, he already blamed himself.

After all the times he'd told her-

Over and over and over again.

Scars aren't ugly. They're proof you survived.

And yet-

He absently runs a hand over his face.

All that scar would have done was remind him of what an idiot he'd been.

How had she known?

And fuck him if that didn't make him the biggest, most hypocritical, asshole ever.

He sighs before he rolls onto his back, pulling T with him.

All he could do now was hope his vanity hadn't taken his Love away.

He looks down when T shifts against his side and purrs happily as his arm slips around him.

No way in hell T would ever pull him closer.

He sits up so fast Faustina lets out a startled squeak, but before she can lose her balance, he grabs her and pulls her to his chest.

"Ya be awake!" He rubs his face against her's, "ya be back!"

"Was T really that bad?"

He glares as he pulls her away at arm's length, "no, he were'nah bein' bad. He were bein' worried like the rest o' us."

Faustina blinks at him, her eyes transfixed on his face, "your eye…"

"Aye me eye, ya be doin' ah singin' spell an' fixin' it, but it be drainin' ya somethin' fierce an' don'nah ya ever be ah doin' that again!" He scolds before he pulls her back into a hug and kisses her.

It was all he could do.

He wasn't sure he'd ever been so fucking happy while also desperately trying to make a point.

Faustina hugs him tightly as she returns the kiss before she breaks it and nuzzles him. "I am sorry I caused such alarm."

"Aye, ya better be bein' sorry. Sorry ya be ah hurtin' yerself ta keep me face pretty."

Faustina flinches, "my apologies, my Prince."

"I be needin' ta hear ya say ya ain'nah gonna be doin' that again!" He begs before he pulls her back to kiss again.

"I understand you don't want me to do it again," Faustina offers.

"Aye," he crushes her in a tight hug.

Wait.

"No!" He pulls her back and shakes his finger in her face, "ya need ta be sayin' ya ain'nah gonna sacrifice like that again."

"Would it calm you to hear that?"

He shakes her, much like he had T so many times before, using the motions to punctuate his words, "it. Would. Make. Me. Calm. For. You. To. Mean. It."

Faustina purses her lips in quiet defiance.

He shakes his head as he continues to push and pull her, back and forth.

"I always thought it would be T ta break him," Uma shakes her head.

"Yeah," Gil nods slowly.

"Is that broken?" Deez muses, "cause he does that to T all the time."

"Maybe-" Uma sighs, "Pretty Boy has always-"

"Uuuuuummmmaaaa!" He pleads as he stands with Faustina still at arm's length, "be makin' her promise."

Uma looks between the two of them with a frown, "Beauty Girl, can you please just-"

"No. I will not make promises I have no intention of keeping, Captain," Faustina interrupts with a frown, "and please do not ask me to."

"So, not sure if this will help," Deez starts as she claps her hands together, "but since T and Harry rescued the healers, Yensid mentioned wanting Gil and me to make a few things to help them, and then he wants to offer lessons."

"Oh," Faustina blinks, "well, this puts things into perspective." She sighs. "What did I miss?"

"I can be tellin' ya I be missin' ah promise ta not be hurtin' yerself o'er me face."

Faustina glances at him in annoyance before she turns to Uma, "Captain."

"Oy! That ain'nah bein' fair, me Pirate Princess. Ya be ah scarin' me, an' thinkin' I might never be ah seein' ya 'gain ain'nah worth it."

Faustina's frown softens, "I'm sorry I worried you my Prince," she turns to the rest of the family, "that I worried any of you, that wasn't my intention."

"I get it." Deez sighs before she walks over and hugs Faustina around his grip on her arms, "I'm just relieved you're safe."

"Thank you, Star Gazer." Faustina smiles as she returns the affection, "I appreciate your grace for my lack of judgment."

What?

Lack of Judgment?

He huffs, but just as quickly he frowns.

"Can I be gettin' ah you'll be more careful if it be bein' needed again?" He begs.

Faustina turns to him with a smile, "Since you asked so nicely my Prince, I believe I have learned a lesson and I promise I will take more care in the future. I appreciate your understanding that I made a mistake."

"Take it Pretty Boy," Uma pats his cheek before she wraps her arms around Faustina too, "I believe it's the best you'll get."

Yeah, he was pretty sure it was too.

"Now, may I please be caught up on what I missed?"

"Oh, is this a first?" Deez asks as she reaches for Gil.

"Second." Faustina sighs. "And may I say I have garnered more of an understanding for my brother's frustrations."

"Second what?" Gil asks in confusion as he puts a hand on Faustina's head.

"The second time I have no recollection of T's going ons, my Lion. It is-" Faustina narrows her eyes, "quite vexing."

"Okay, okay," Uma chuckles as she steps back, "let's get you caught up."

"I would very much appreciate that, Captain."

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"Honestly," Beam shrugs, "cool with waitin' 'til Shydow has time to process. Ain't sayin' what we got's bad- But if she can think o' anything ta help, I think it's worth waitin' for."

James nods, "aye, I be seconding that."

Uma looks around the table and breathes out in relief before she turns to T, "How long does she need?"

T's silent for a moment, "a couple o' hours at most. She agrees it's a good plan, but she still wants to think on it from a few angles."

"Sounds good," Uma nods, "then let's get back ta takin' care o' the crew." She stands before everyone else gets to their feet. "Meet back at Sundown."

Deez turns to Gil as everyone else nods, "I need a sec and then I'll be up."

Gil's brow furrows for a moment before he shakes his head, "kay," he shrugs, "I needed ta help bring the metal up anyway."

"Meet you in the forge?"

He grins, "yeah." He pulls her up and kisses her once before he reluctantly lets her go.

"Thanks," she calls out as she hops to her feet, "hey T, can you help me with something?"

"See! D needs me. Later." T quickly darts from Beam to her side.

Yeah, she'd seen the burning questions in Beam's eyes during the meeting.

But it wasn't the reason she needed T.

She's yanked into running as T pulls her through the cove so fast it blurs.

"Yeah," she snorts when he releases her wrist, "I guess you really didn't want to answer his questions."

"Wha-" T blinks, "no? I love answerin' questions. You just-You needed me, and I mean, it's Beam, he'll be fine."

She absently nods as she kicks at one of the piles of blankets and furs littering the floor of the cave they slept in.

"So," T throws his back against the wall, "sup?" he crosses his arms.

She bites her lip as she grips the stone pendant around her neck, "I um, I, you of all people. Well, you and Faustina really. I just wanted to-"

This was not the way she'd practiced this.

"I just wanted to apologize, about how I acted the other day. When Harry-" She looks down at her hands, reminding herself that she'd long since washed the blood off.

She startles when T's hand settles on her shoulder.

When had he gotten so quiet? Or was this just a new thing her entire family could do since she was so often in her own head?

"D," he frowns, "breathe. I don't know what'cha freakin' out about, but-like breathe."

"No, well, yes, obviously breathing is important," she huffs, "I could have gotten us out. I could have done more than just clear a path. But then I saw the sword, and Harry, and the blood."

So much blood.

"Oh," T drops his hand as he runs the over through his hair, knocking down his hood in the process, "is that what this is about?"

"Yes!" She stomps her foot, "I should have been able to rush us out, but when I saw him take a knee, I, I think I panicked. I stupidly forgot I could have grabbed him and still burned everyone else away. But I didn't, because all I could think about was blood, and mortals, and how little blood you have and I just-" she tugs the ends of her hair, "it was his face, and his eye-"

"D, stop." He states firmly as he takes both her shoulders, "look at me."

Her gaze immediately shifts to his green eyes, a flaming tear lighting up his face as she waits for the judgment the rest of her family wouldn't give her.

He nods, "good." He sighs as he drops his arms and studies her for a moment.

"Look," he frowns, "I don't-" He sighs.

"I'm sorry-"

"Stop." T holds up his hand. "Just stop an' give me a minute." His frown deepens as he continues to study her.

"Look, I know you saw what I did, right?" He asks after several moments, "or at least heard it."

"I saw your face, but no," she shakes her head as she wipes the flame from her cheek, "no one's really talking about it, but what does that-"

"Great…" T grimaces before he lets out a heavy sigh, "look. What happened the other night after-" He closes his eyes, "after Harry caught a sword with his face-"

She clasps the necklace in both hands.

"I didn't have control over that-" he sighs again, "and I will find a way to hurt you if this gets out but-" He sighs once more, but this time she can see the hesitation, the fear, "I- I don't really remember it. Just the screams and the blood, and-" he scowls, "the rage. Nothing else mattered but getting to you three."

"You did look pretty enraged." She sighs, "but-"

"Was I finished?" He glares.

She closes her mouth with a click.

"Good." He nods, "that was my base reaction. Killing. It was my go to. I could have slipped those fucks during fucking daylight and got to you guys- But instead I mowed down everyone in my way. It didn't matter who. Didn't matter what. If it was in my way, I fucking killed it." He scoffs, "I could'ah fuckin' hoofed it off the roof and been there in a quarter of the time, if not quicker. Instead, I fuckin' traumatized everyone."

She looks away, "you, and I wouldn't be having this conversation if I'd just, I mean I'd already blown my cover and used my fire, why not just-"

"D-"

She blinks as her hair shifts in the wake of T's hand nudging the back of her head.

"Fuckin' Christ," T scowls as he wrings out his hand.

"What?"

"Idiot." T shakes his head.

She snorts, and before she can stop herself, "me or you?"

"Both, accordin' to her."

She chuckles, but it quickly dies down again, "why aren't you-"

"Look," T takes her by her shoulders before he crouches to meet her eyes, "D. I know you're upset ya didn't crisp those fucks, and I get why, but do you know why you didn't?"

"Because I panicked when I saw Harry hurt, and I stopped thinking about everything," she clutches the stone with one hand, "everything else except keeping pressure on the bleeding. That's all I could remember. You put pressure on things when they bleed."

"Exactly." T nods, "because you're not a fuckin' killer D, you've never been. Your first thought was to keep Harry safe- My thought would'ah been to kill the bastard that hurt 'im. And that's okay-" he states sternly, "got it."

Her brow furrows.

It was okay?

Even though she could have kept them safe?

Could have even prevented Harry from getting hurt in the first place?

"Look," he frowns as he picks up her crystal necklace and dangles it between their eyes, "this. This wasn't your choice, yet you have to fuckin' live with it. A burden that should've never been dumped on you. And I-" His eyes narrow, "ain't bout to be loadin' you with more baggage when we can handle it together an' sharin' the load."

The pink and clear stone swings lightly between them as she stares at T.

She could see more, now that they were only separated by a few inches.

Could see the strain around his eyes, the dark of the circles under them.

How gaunt his cheeks had become.

Such little details he hid under his hood; with the distance he tried to keep.

He was strained.

Tired.

Stretched too thin.

And yet, here he was, telling her it was okay that she wasn't a killer.

He was fighting his own demons. His own regrets.

But he was still making time for her.

"These people are fuckin' useless, D. Fuckin' merchants and vendors Mal loved to terrorize. Fuckin' five foot nothin' Mal. It's fuckin-" He stops and lets out a heavy sigh.

Things were weighing on him.

Heavy.

She could feel it more than she could see it, but it was there.

Regrets.

Loss.

Things they were all feeling, but T?

T was-

"Look," he turns towards the gem between them, "you saw shit go down that night, an' I'm sure my face stood out." His hands tighten around her shoulders as a look of pain crosses his features. "Know that me an' the Old Man were too slow." He gets out roughly. "Saw-" his jaw tenses.

He shakes his head, "what I'm sayin' is, I can't do this alone-" His eyes soften, "and I wouldn't ask you to either. Wouldn't want you to."

She takes a deep breath before she wraps her arms around him.

"Oh, thank Christ." He breathes out as he picks her up to hug her back.

She snorts as she squeezes him tight, "was it the tear?"

He glares, "of course it was the fuckin' tear. Gil would'ah fuckin' decked me to the ship-" He rolls his eyes, "but that doesn't change shit 'bout what I said."

She shakes her head, "no, guess it doesn't." She sighs as she pulls back, "I really thought you were going to be pissed at me, even if you didn't blame me for Harry."

T eyes her, "can't control your instinct. What would shoutin' at you accomplish? Make you wait longer to react? Pass. You're slow enough as it is."

"I really wish that had been your thought process when you were helping me overcome my fear of the water," she glares, "but no, you threw lighting up under the water in there too."

T places her back on her feet, "there's a difference between reacting an' reactin' on instinct." He crosses his arms. "And for the record, if I had been pissed, I would'ah loaded you with chains and dumped your ass overboard while you were sleeping before I attacked Gil. Just, ya know, so you know I ain't just placatin' you."

She blinks up at him, "that's a big leap in Surprise, T."

"We're at war," T shrugs, "was jus' sayin'. Never planned on actually doin' it. Jus' ya know…If I was worried 'bout it, that've been my solution."

She narrows her eyes, "good to know." She crosses her arms over her chest before she sighs, "just, tell me that, if you had to, you would."

"Oh, abso-fucking-lutely. None o' you are dyin' on my watch."

"I trust that." She nods, "and, thank you, for still trusting me. Knowing that I would, if I had to."

She'd hate it.

Probably hate herself.

But, she'd do it.

T eyes her for a moment, "trustin' ya ain't the problem D- It's doin' my best, so you don't have to. Faustina created me for a reason, and I'm here for it. But, you ain't a fuckin' weapon D. You're a pen, you create shit."

Not a weapon.

It made her chest tight and heart race every time someone said that to her.

Not a Key.

Not a weapon.

Part of her felt lost, losing titles she'd had since she could remember.

Felt weird that she wasn't even being asked to be those things for the family that loved her.

But, another part of her was relieved.

She hated it when people looked at her in fear.

Hated when roads would clear at the mention of her name.

She'd never wanted to be scary, not really.

But, shouldn't she want those things for the people she loved?

T's eyes widen, "what? What did I-"

"Idiot." Faustina breathes out before she finds herself pulled into a hug. "He isn't wrong you know." she squeezes her tightly before she pulls away, "you acted swiftly and decisively, you didn't scream, you didn't pass out. Run or freeze. You protected him."

"I could get used to that." She admits in a whisper, "being a protector, protecting in my own way."

"Silly sister," Faustina pulls back with a soft smile, "you've always been a protector." She kisses her temple.

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Awwwwwwww!

This whole chapter was so fucking squee!

Between D and T's talk, F waking up, and T trying to assuage Uma-

It was just nice to write a fucking light hearted chapter, ya know, mostly.

And I'm sure it is well needed for you lot, hopefully, I pray anyways…

What did you think about T and D'z conversation?

Do you agree with the Fam?

That D is okay for not killing those soldiers?

What did you think of T's admissions to her?

Speaking of-

There was a time I once asked who is the scariest of the VKs and HKs-

Has anyone's answers changed?

God, F is just full of so much fucking sass in this one-

Like seriously-

Way to just shut Hook down-

Which, anyone surprised by her stance and how strong it was?

Dead.

T and fucking tears slay me every fucking time, anyone else die?

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted