“Are you planning on wearing your coat through the nightmare jungles of Neverland?” he asks, raising his brow. “I would think we were passed such shows of status.”
“Is it necessary to be an asshole all the time?” Smee asks, coming to stand beside me, his thick arms crossed over his chest.
“Smee!” A genuine smile pulls at Hook’s lips but Smee doesn’t return the sentiment. “It’s great to see you, old friend. Are you still upset with me about that little misunderstanding?”
“You tried to kill Pete, for the crime of our love, because you let a kid convince you it was the right action to take.”
The smile drops from Hook’s face and I watch in fascination. Long ago, before Neverland chose us, before I was gifted with my own ship, we’d been forced onto one. I was not the only crew member who had eyes for someone else. Pete had fallen hard for Smee, and the feelings had been returned. They’d tried hard to keep their love a secret, but it’s hard to be secretive onboard a ship. Hook’s crew wasn’t so accepting of such things. One of the men had discovered Pete and Smee sharing a kiss and used it to send the men into a frenzy. Under the pressure of their shouting and demands, Hook had caved, and forced Pete onto the plank. Smee has fought to get to the man he’s cared for, but they held him down. I remember watching Hook closely, confused at the man in front of me, as he forced Pete overboard, into the dangerous waters. I’d been waiting for him to come to his senses but he didn’t, not then.
“Noooooooooooooo,” Smee had screamed, bloodying his hands in his attempt to drag himself from beneath the men holding him down, trying to leap overboard after his lover.
No one held me down, though, and I hadn’t hesitated. I dove overboard to rescue Pete. I remember Hook cursing, before he followed me over.
Hook glances at me as we both remember the scene, the nightmare which had transpired. We weren’t immortal then, and we had all almost died horrible deaths. When we were Chosen, neither of us had commented on Pete and Smee leaving Hook’s crew to board my ship. It was that event which solidified my resolve to lead my crew with respect, rather than fear.
“I’m sorry for my actions that day,” Hook spoke, bowing his head for a moment before meeting Smee’s eyes. “I’ve grown since then.”
Smee snorts. “Aging doesn’t cure spinelessness, Captain.” The word 'captain' is spit with such venom, I immediately move forward and push Smee behind me. Hook meets my eyes head on, the piercing green of his clashing with my blue. I’m not sure why I move to protect my First Mate. The old Hook would have drawn his sword to fight for his honor, I think. The new Hook simply smiles and stands taller.
“We should go.” I clench my jaw at the tension between us before turning to Smee. I shrug out of my coat and pass it over to my First Mate, topping it with my tricorn. I stand before him in a blouse and leather pants, my weapons circling my hips.
“Be on alert,” Smee warns. “Don’t let your guard down.”
“I can handle Neverland,” I remind him, adjusting the saber on my belt.
“I’ve never doubted that.” Being careful with the coat and hat, Smee nods his head and makes his way back up the gangplank. He doesn’t say another word to Hook, doesn’t spare him a glance.
“Smee can really hold a grudge.” Hook watches my First Mate leave, a frown pulling at his lips.
“Can you blame him?” I shake out my hair and cross my arms. “For most of us, holding a grudge is the only thing we can fixate on.”
Hook turns back to me and I try my hardest not to let my eyes dip to the column of his throat, to the corded muscle there. The pirate has really filled out, and I can’t say I don’t like it.
“Does that mean you hold a grudge against me, too?”
I stare at the man in front of me, studying him, taking in all the details. It seems Hook has truly grown up, matured even. But that doesn’t change what he’s done, and it doesn’t change my resolve. Neverland is the current problem. I can deal with annoying pirates later.
“I don’t have time for grudges,” I say, turning away from the too perceptive eyes.
I can feel Hook narrow his gaze, but he follows along the dock. My three crew members follow along at a respectable distance behind us, but I notice Hook doesn’t bring any of his.
“Aren’t you worried I’ll take advantage of your weakness?” I ask, raising my brow, as he steps up to walk beside me. “Awfully trusting to come alone.”
He shrugs his shoulders. “I wouldn’t complain at being your prisoner.” He leans closer, so his next words are for my ears only. “Would you have your wicked way with me, Captain?” he purrs, his shoulder brushing against my own.
I shove him away but he doesn’t even stumble. “I’d sooner toss you to the mermaids.”
“We could skinny dip if you join me.”
I look at him in exasperation, throwing my hands in the air. I stop, and he follows, a tiny smile curling his lips. “We’re here for a reason, Hook. Not so you can tease, or mess with me, or try to get lucky. You had your chance long ago and you blew it, so fuck off.” I turn, ready to continue our mission, but his warm fingers wrap around my wrist, halting me. “Remove your hand, pirate, or I’ll chop it off.”
“You’ve never needed me, Wendy Bird, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t always wanted you.”
I jerk my hand free and go for the dagger at my waist. He doesn’t flinch when I press it against his throat, his eyes going hooded with desire even as I prick him the slightest bit, a drop of blood gathering against my blade.
“I don’t have time for your games,” I snarl.
“It’s never been a game,” he whispers, his fingers reaching up to my wrist. He doesn’t pull away from the knife. Instead, he presses against it harder, leaning closer. “You’ve never been a game, Wendy Darling.”
I ignore the hard thumping of my heart as I stare into Hook’s eyes, searching for some glint of a lie, some hint he’s teasing me. When I find none, I back away and slide the dagger away. He lets me go without comment, watching me closely. He wipes the drops of blood from his neck, revealing the already smooth skin beneath.
“You turned me away. That’s on you. Now, you can take whatever it is you're playing at and shove it up your ass.”
“Neither of us were ready for the nightmares,” he answers as we begin walking again. “Neither of us were prepared for what would happen if we chose each other over our duties.”
“And what? Suddenly, you are? The nightmares have never stopped, and it’s not something that can be conquered in Neverland.” I press my hand against my head, wiping the sweat already beading there. Without the breeze of the sea, the temperature is sweltering.
“They stop.” Hook stops at the edge of the trees, looking once more at me.
“How?” In all my time here, I’ve never had a sleep free of the terrors. Hook can’t be serious. “How did you get them to stop?”
He frowns and clenches his jaw, looking away. “They stop,” he says, twisting his hook restlessly, “when you become a nightmare yourself.”
I stare at the man in front of me with wide eyes, but I don’t have time to question him, or figure out what exactly he means. I’ve never known Hook to be a monster to me, but I’ve seen how he was with others. I’ve seen how he used to run his ship.