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wpdarlingpan · 6 months ago

Note

Could we get something with Yandere ouat Peter? Preferably gender-neutral or nb reader.

An idea I had is maybe Hook has a kid, so the character would have grown up in Neverland. I think maybe a platonic Yandere Peter would be v interesting, where he maybe tries to interact with reader as a ‘cool older brother’ sort of figure, despite the fact that reader very much knows exactly who he is and that he’s dangerous. Romantic would be fine too though!

Thank you so much for the request! I apologize it took so long and I have not written in a while so I hope it's okay!

I loved this idea so I had to see how it'll play out. I did the platonic version and although I did use Y/N and made them gender-neutral, I wrote they were 17 for the story's sake. I often have Peter refer to them as a child because in his mind he feels the need to take care of and protect them.

I am considering a part two if people like this idea enough, maybe taking place when the Storybrooke residents arrive.

Warning: Yandere Behavior

Word Count: 2886

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The Love Of A Brother

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The day Killian Jones, otherwise known by his more colorful moniker Hook, came to Neverland was a day he would never forget.

He had many men aboard, each desiring to never grow old until they wished. They all had been warned about the dangers that lurk within the water and upon the soil of Neverland but the idea of dying from old age was a more terrifying feat to them.

However, one person had little choice in the matter, as they were still somewhat forced to come to Neverland.

Captain Hook's kid, Y/N.

After the day Mila died it was up to him to become a single parent. Overall he was rather good at it. Always telling stories so that they would be able to sleep at night or sitting by their bedside when they had gotten a cold. But, no matter how much love they held for each other, Killian could not stop going after the man who killed his wife and the mother of his child.

Y/N was 17 the day they had arrived in Neverland and would remain so until the day they left.

This was not a decision Hook made lightly. Bringing the person he cared for more than anyone into the hellish landscape wasn't something he'd wish on his worst enemy (other than Rumpelstiltskin) but the idea of leaving them with no idea when he would return hurt even more.

So he created the rules.

Do not leave the boat without permission.

Do not ever interact with Peter Pan or his shadow.

Avoid the Lost Boys.

"Who is Peter Pan?" They asked their father as the Jolly Roger settled after coming through the portal to Neverland.

"A bloody demon." He responded looking at the dark island as it neared.

Hook began telling the stories that he knew. Even sharing how he had met Peter Pan in the first place. Albeit leaving out what happened to his brother as he blamed himself as well as Pan for the tragedy.

Pan knew he was arriving on the island. Hook riskily contacted him through his shadow to come to a truce before being allowed to arrive on the island.

But there was a little thing Hook had forgotten to mention.

His child.

He had hoped that if none of the inhabitants of the island knew their relation, with Peter assuming they were deckhands or something, they wouldn't be targeted if Peter got bored or wanted to play a game.

But the resemblance was noticeable from the first meeting.

-----------------

As the boat docked onto shore to make an initial supply run, Hook kept Y/N close. Half of the crew, including the two of them, walked carefully through the jungle, avoiding every thorn they came across.

But the real danger was just up ahead. After all, Peter Pan wouldn't be a polite host if he didn't welcome his guests.

The second the pirates entered a clearing they were surrounded by the sound of rustles as the leaves moved around the edge of the clearing and a figure appeared about 20 feet ahead on the other end.

Hook froze, he knew he should have expected him to show himself this early, but a part of him had hoped he wouldn't, not yet at least.

Y/N held onto their bow and arrows tightly as they observed the boy up ahead who looked just a little older than them. Judging by the way he held the spotlight, they had to assume this was Peter Pan.

"Look what we have here, I didn't expect to see you on the island this quickly. I mean after what had happened last time you were here, the idea of returning so willingly was unexpected, Captain." Peter spoke as he neared the group, the Lost Boys forming a circle around them to prevent anyone from running.

Peter inspected the group as they each held some form of weapon. Be it a dagger, sword, or even one with a bow and arrow.

He neared the one with the bow and arrow, the idea of figuring out what else made them so different lingered in his mind. Peter stood closely in front of them, studying their appearance and the subtle yet noticeable looks towards the direction of Hook.

This is when something had clicked.

His brain was no longer assessing the group as a whole or messing with the Captain. His thoughts were reserved for only them. The way they were trying to hide their shaking hands and the way they held onto the bow tighter the closer he got. The shine of their eyes as they looked at him almost like a frightened deer.

He could recognize a scared child anywhere and this time he didn't want it to be his fault. It was like an instinct of protection filled his black heart. Their fearful yet innocent gaze was embedded into his soul. Someone like this simply couldn't live with harsh pirates.

He reached a hand out towards them but Hook stepped in the way. His gaze was harsh yet Peter could easily detect the fear hidden in them. For himself or the child, he wasn't sure.

Peter smirked at Captain Hook as he realized why they had looked so familiar now seeing the similarities in their features and hair color. He had been to distracted by the odd feeling of protection and familiarity to even acknowledge the finding.

"You have a child? My you got busy after leaving last time." He teased as he glanced around the man to see them standing there, their gaze locked onto the ground.

"Stay away from them or so help me you will have wished-" Hook began to say before Peter cut him off.

"You'll do what? Let me remind you, you're here because I allow it. You eat the island's food only because I allow it. You only live because I have use for you yet." He threatened motioning his hand for the Lost Boys to run away.

Y/N took a sigh of relief as the group dispersed but their worry would still remain until Peter was out of their sight. The ideas of the horrors they were told, all of which could happen to them just by being in his presence, filled their anxious mind.

Peter stared at Hook seriously before sending a look and a playful wink toward Y/N, hoping to make them less afraid.

"I'll see you soon." He commented staring directly into their eyes before disappearing.

—————————

Apparently soon meant a few days.

It first began when Y/N was laying on deck, watching the stars when someone appeared next to them and laid down on the spare part of the blanket.

“The stars are beautiful aren’t they?” He spoke as if lying on the ground next to them wasn’t an unusual occurrence.

Y/N was silent, trying to hide the fact they were afraid. The unknowing was terrible, the idea that their father was fast asleep, probably passed out from exhaustion at that, was nerve-wracking as they could not call for help.

“You don’t need to be afraid of me.” Pan said genuinely, staring at the side of their face as he admired their courage to hide their fear.

“Why wouldn’t I be? You have a reputation you know. I’m sure you could get rid of me in a heartbeat.” Y/N was nervous now, it audibly showed through the small stutter that sounded in their sentence.

“That doesn’t mean I want to… Do you know why I’ve brought all these boys to the island?”

“Because they’re lost?”

“Because no one deserves to feel alone.”

Peter Pan believed that because Y/N was an only child who spent their whole life traveling the seas, that they had to be lonely. They are constantly moving and never staying in one place, let alone with people their age.

Then their father, he’s a pirate with a drinking problem who is so obsessed with revenge that even though he is protective and loves his child, Peter couldn’t tell you which the man valued more.

Revenge or love?

If Peter were to take her right now, he could be their older brother. Someone who takes care of their little sibling in the face of everything like heartbreak, anxiety, everything that would make them feel anything other than happiness.

Y/N would be his sibling. He’d be their only brother.

Being an older brother to Y/N sounded perfect to him.

—————————

Their next encounter was when they had been sitting on the edge of the beach as the Jolly Roger was anchored nearby.

Y/N's father had allowed them to hang out along the shore alone.

The captain and crewmates were planning on staying on the edge of the jungle that was Neverland. He had figured they would be okay for a couple hours and that he could hear if they needed anything.

He knew the dangers that posed leaving them there alone but he thought they would be cornered again the second they entered the tree line so there really wasn’t anywhere ‘safe’ at the moment.

That’s how he rationalized it at least.

But when Peter saw them sitting alone on the shore, the mermaids moving closer by the second, he saw Hook as irresponsible and unfit to care for Y/N.

He quickly approached them, the sight of him causing the mermaids to swim away quickly, realizing that was not someone they wanted to lure in.

“Y/N.” Peter said as he approached, sitting in the sand next to them.

“What are you doing?” They spoke questioningly “I thought you would be bothering my father and his crew.”

“Is that what he counted on. Me leaving you alone as they frolicked or whatever they are doing in the jungle? Is that why he left you here defenseless?” He replied getting more confident that Killian wasn’t fit to take care of Y/N.

“I don’t like what you’re accusing him of.” Y/N replied, glaring at Pan in front of them but if anything it was adorable.

He raised his hands jokingly as if he actually felt threatened by them.

“I’m just saying, he knows the dangers of this island. If it’s not me, it’s the lost boys, then the Dreamshade, and as you almost realized, the mermaids.” Peter counted off making Y/N realize what the subtle splashing noise they heard was. “He shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“I’m 17. I can take care of myself for a few hours.” They argued, much like if they were telling their older sibling they didn’t need to be babysat.

“Sure you can. But you don’t need to when I’m here.”

———————-

From then on he would appear randomly whenever he knew Y/N was alone.

When they weren’t, he was silently protecting them from the shadows.

If we’re sketching in their room? He’d sit next to them silently, allowing them to focus. Meanwhile he was busy admiring their skills even if it was a simple picture of the sky.

They volunteered to go look for some more supplies on the island?

They mysteriously got separated from the group for a few hours.

He took them saying ‘I can take care of myself for a few hours’ rather literally. In those few hours, they got an entire tour of the main points of the island.

Even the camp.

Peter had them sit on his designated chair, introducing Y/N as their little sibling. Each of the boys came up to them and introducing themselves enthusiastically as the proposed all the fun games they could play if they were to stay.

Even when Y/N emphasized greatly that they couldn’t.

Each and every time.

When their birthday came around Peter gifted them a necklace, his initials were on the inside, to protect them from anyone who finds their way to the island.

Although he made sure to use his magic to conceal the necklace from the eyes of Hook.

Not that he cared about what the man thought, after all nothing would keep him from his little sibling.

Nothing.

-----------

The day Peter had been preparing for came sooner than expected.

Hook had discovered a way to kill the dark one and his need for the island was gone. Meaning it was time to return back to the enchanted forest.

The crew had begun preparing to return back to the forest. Packing up their supplies and strapping down anything they had on deck to prepare for traveling through the portal.

Y/N was packing up anything loose in their room. They had mostly finished other than having to pack the rest of their art supplies.

“So you were just going to leave and not tell your older brother? I'm offended” Peter spoke appearing in their room and sitting on their bed.

In their deal, he had allowed Hook to leave once he had found a way to accomplish his goal.

That was before he had met Y/N.

“I was never going to say in Neverland. I was always going to leave. I don’t know what you were expecting.” Y/N spoke harshly trying to push him away.

They had to admit, after all this time spent with Peter, that it was hard to view him as some irredeemable demon. He comforted them when they had nightmares of their mother’s death, protected them from the mermaids, did their favorite activities with them (even if he was not really invited), and seemed to love them.

Peter knew they were just trying to protect themself from the pain of leaving so they lashed out. He could tell they were saddened at the thought of leaving him. This made him feel warm inside.

Y/N assumed they’d be fine once leaving Neverland, they would have to forget about Peter Pan and their life would go back to normal, well as normal as it gets.

Suddenly they heard approaching footsteps.

“Y/N? Are you ready to go? We are about to enter the portal now.” Killian called through the closed door, his eagerness to leave the island covering the fact that there was a muffled sound as he spoke. Hook was ecstatic, his time for revenge had come. His head was in the clouds as he ran over his plan over and over again. Causing him to not even think to just poke his head in to check on his child, just of the idea that the portal was closing any minute

The muffled noise was Peter whispering that he would not let Hook leave if they said anything other than that they were ready.

Y/N knew if they weren’t allowed to leave, their father would be devastated.

“Yes father, I’m ready!” They called back and the two listened as the man’s footsteps grew farther and farther away.

“You can’t leave Y/N. You’re my little sibling, I have to take care of you.” He spoke manipulatively the second Hook was out of distance.

“I have to. If it’s up to me, I’ll never leave my father. He raised me, he loves me! He will take care of me better than you ever can.” Y/N retorted, frustrated at the situation. Why wouldn't Peter just go away? They knew they cared for him, even just a little bit. But their father was very important to them. Even if he had been a little distracted while searching for revenge, they didn't feel his love any less.

A loving father or a over protective, self-proclaimed brother.

They knew which had meant more. They had made their choice, one they couldn't vocalize as Peter softly blew poppy dust into their face, causing them to pass out instantly.

“Then it isn’t up to you.” as he spoke “This is for your own good. I love you Y/N and I know you love me. You are better off at my side.”

He picked them up bridal style as he and Y/N disappeared off the boat and reappeared in the camp. All of their stuff appears on the ground off to the side of them.

"Welcome to your new home, Y/N"

-------------

Hook had gone to Y/N’s cabin to check on them, the portal closing behind him as they could see the Enchanted Forest off in the distance.

He was eager to see his child, wanting to celebrate the idea of finally being able to avenge his wife and their mother. Hook knocked and didn’t hear an answer assuming they had been disoriented or hurt by the portal, he opened the door quickly.

But, he was met with an empty room and no Y/N.

He looked around for any signs frantically before he spotted a letter on the bed.

Hook,

You were always too focused on the idea of revenge that you neglected what was in front of you. You never deserved Y/N and you never will. Each time you left them alone, I was there. I comforted them, I protected them, and I loved them. Each thing is something you couldn't do while you searched for something you did not even know existed. Y/N will be better off without you.

I always wondered if you'd choose revenge over love.

I guess I have my answer.

Their brother,

Peter Pan

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not-wholly-unheroic · 2 months ago

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I remember seeing a bunch of these “what if Hook was the actual hero? The reason he hates Peter Pan? Here are theories that Hook was a Lost Boy?”, when I was younger and it didn’t really make sense.

Okay? Cool? I’m fine with villains having a sympathetic backstory, but not every villain is meant to be some sort of tragic hero.

I may not have read “Peter and Wendy”, but I’m very familiar with most Peter Pan media aside from the Disney originals and Hook doesn’t really need any special reason to hate Peter Pan other than the obvious “That scurvy brat cut off my hand!” I don’t know about everyone else, but I’d certainly hate someone enough to see them as a rival to kill on the spot for something like that.

But overall, Hook is a pirate. Have people conveniently forgotten that pirates would gore, maim, mutilate, and kill people for the fun of it during their whole pillage and ransacking of other ships? If it wasn’t Peter, then it totally would’ve been someone else.

Heck, Smee called Pan’s actions as a “childish prank” and Hook agreed “Aye, but throwing it to the crocodile! That wretched beast liked the taste of me so well, it’s been following me ever since, licking his chops for the rest of me!”

So, it’s not just the hand…although apparently Hook’s gotten used to it. Again, he’s a pirate captain, however and whenever the crew had gotten into Neverland, there’d bound to have been other pirates that they encountered before Peter Pan. It’s the fact that Tic Toc Croc never leaves Hook alone. Now Tic Toc clearly would eat anyone else, but Hook is the main snack of his attention.

It reminds me of that story about a tigress where she literally tracked and stalked a specific hunter.

So yeah, understandably, Hook has a right to be angry. He doesn’t really need any more motivation than that to hate Peter Pan.

I am curious in how and why, cuz I highly doubt Peter’s dagger would be able to chop off a hand in one blow. And I doubt Hook would’ve just been standing around to let someone, let alone a child, do that to him. “Peter Pan” (2003) does a good job in showing the mutilated stump of such an injury.

But I wonder what exactly led up to that point.

I agree with you on the “Hook was a Lost Boy and Peter is actually evil and Hook is trying to save them” trope. It’s been done so many times now and I’m just…very over it. Besides, while it is, I suppose, technically possible Hook could have been a Lost Boy AND an Etonian…it just…doesn’t seem likely to me that he would be both. And most of those retellings just end up leaving Eton out entirely…which…bothers me because it’s a big part of his character. Even if he wasn’t there for long, it clearly left its mark on him with his obsession with “good form.” Also…I like Hook in part BECAUSE he is a villain. I find him fascinating because he is a sympathetic villain with a great deal of potential for redemption. I don’t WANT him to be the hero from the get-go. That fundamentally changes his character and means we don’t get to see the complexities of his emotions and trauma play out as he struggles to BECOME a hero in his own right. Making him the hero from the start just skips over all that and totally ignores canon for both him and Peter. Peter may be a selfish, cocky kid who can be cruel at times…but he’s not some demon child and people need to stop pretending that he is. Like Hook, Peter is a fun character specifically because he is complicated. Don’t turn him into some straight-up villain who is flat and boring and totally unlikable. Barrie pretty clearly meant for us to like both Peter and Hook and have mixed feelings about them. It’s who they are and it’s why his story has stood the test of time—because well-written characters aren’t one-dimensional.

Also…making Hook the hero and Peter the villain completely misses the point… Frankly, the whole issue Peter and Hook have with each other is (ironically) that they BOTH need to do some growing up. In Peter’s case, it’s pretty obvious. He has physically and emotionally stopped aging. Hook may be a grown man, but (and I say this as someone who loves Hook) he is emotionally very immature. He loses his temper easily, holds a grudge against a kid rather than taking responsibility for his part in things as the adult, and generally just doesn’t behave the way a grown-up should. Peter is stunted in his growth, holding on too tightly to his childhood, and Hook grew up too quickly and never really matured as a result. Wendy sees this pretty clearly and finds the balance between maintaining childlike wonder and growing into a respectable, responsible adult. If you make Peter into an often literal inhuman monster and Hook into the perfect hero, then Peter becomes totally incapable of ever choosing to grow up (even just emotionally, if not physically) and Hook doesn’t need to grow anymore because he’s already reached the end goal.

As for how/why things started between them…personally, I think Hook started it. As you said, he IS a pirate, after all. My guess is that he wanted something from the Lost Boys and/or Tink…information about a treasure, perhaps, or even just information about how to get off the island, as in some versions it seems he is trapped there…and Peter saw Hook threatening them and wasn’t having it. The only way I can figure that Peter managed to actually cut the hand off entirely is if Hook had fallen flat on some hard surface (rock?) that had very little to no give and Peter just…dropped like a stone from a great height, letting gravity really do its work and putting all his weight into it. And the only situation where I can see this happening is if Hook had a weapon in his hand that perhaps Peter was trying to knock back. I honestly don’t think it was intentional to cut the hand off. I suspect, knowing Peter’s tendency to make up stories about himself to make him sound more courageous and tough than he actually is, taking the hand clean off was an accident and when he went to pick up the discarded weapon, it was really only then he realized the hand was still attached. He flung it away in disgust and the crocodile just happened to be nearby. When Peter tells the story, though, he changes things up a bit. And Hook is too out of it from the blood loss and pain to really remember all the details so he believes Peter’s version of events that it was an intentional “prank” to cut off the hand and throw it to the crocodile.

#captain hook #captain hook disney #disney peter pan #disney #disney villains #peter pan #james hook #captain james hook #captain hook jason isaacs #jason isaacs hook #Peter pan 2003 #jm barrie #asks #headcanons

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alloftheimaginesblog · 5 months ago

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Headcanons for being Sam Winchester's ex-girlfriend and moving to Storybrooke where you end up falling for Killian Jones...

After you and Sam break up, you need a clean break so you do the insane choice of putting a map on the table, closing your eyes and pointing... and that's how you ended up moving to Storybrooke.

The hunter lifestyle was too hard to maintain a relationship but there's a lot of love still between you and Sam but you need to move for both of your own good's.

Storybrooke is a small town, quiet which is exactly what you need right now. You weren't planning on staying long-term, maybe a few months and then move on again but in order to get over Sam, you needed a nice quiet town to just pass the time.

You hadn't imagined how important Storybrooke and the townspeople would become for you.

Immediately, you fall in love with the town. It's right out of a story - literally - and the people are so welcoming and... familiar.

It isn't long before Henry, the nice young boy, latches onto you and is telling you all about the town and the people. Turns out they're all quite literally ripped from stories.

It's insane but you can't help but believe him. You had just been in a relationship with a hunter who hunted literal angels and demons. Why wouldn't you believe him?

It's pretty cool learning everyone's fairy-tale and then getting to know them, strange but cool.

And then... you meet him.

Captain Hook or his actual name of Killian Jones.

He is nothing like the Disney movie.

He's handsome and charming and flirts so much.

"I thought you were swearing off men and relationships," Ruby nudges you after witnessing you ogling Killian. She had quickly became your close friend in town and of course you'd told her all about your previous relationship and Sam.

"I never said I wanted to be in a relationship with him," you roll your eyes, "but I didn't say I couldn't look and have a bit of fun."

You and Killian flirt but in actual fact, he annoys the fuck out of you. He's rude and is so unbelievably arrogant. The two of you clash a bit with the occasional flirt.

Killian likes teasing you but knows exactly how to push your buttons and go to far and sometimes he does it for fun. He likes seeing you mad; likes seeing you stand up for yourself against him.

He likes that you're a strong woman who doesn't just take his shit, he likes when you stand up for yourself and your friends. It's admirable.

There's been quite a few times where the two of you have been the last one at the bar and he becomes human to you on those nights.

"What are you drinking for tonight?" He asks sitting next to you.

"To forget." It's honest. You want to forget your past life, the hunts you'd gone on with Sam and Dean where you'd nearly died or one of them got hurt. You wanted a clean slate and yet you found your past kept sneaking up on you.

"A man, I presume," Killian says eyeing you, "Takes one to know one, suppose. I drink to forget a woman."

You like those nights. You chat about your old life and each time you meet, he opens you up a little bit more. He finds you fascinating. He doesn't bat an eyelid when you tell him about the monsters and the hunts, he's seen it all before.

After those nights, he still does annoy the shit out of you but you start to have feelings for him. He's lonely, like you, and sad, like you.

Then you're whisked away to Neverland with the actual Peter Pan who's a bad guy?! He's cruel and Disney done fucked up with their portrayal of him.

"Aw man," you groan as Killian tries to explain everything to you, "I can't keep up with this shit. So Peter Pan's bad, you're a good guy... What the fuck?"

And while you're on fucking Neverland, Killian saves you. Killian saves your life and in doing so, he ends up getting hurt. And to twist the knife that little bit more, right before Pan hurts Hook, he forces his admission of having feelings for you out of him before he strikes.

You're crying as you're trying to save him but you don't know how and then you realise, "This is all fucked, right?" You sob, "But this is all a fairy-tale so then true love's kiss should work, right?"

You kiss him and... he's saved.

There's no time to talk about it, you have to kill Pan first which when you all work together, you manage to succeed and it's only as you're coming back to Storybrooke on the Jolly Roger that you and Killian finally talk.

"I swore to myself that when I moved here, I wouldn't get into a relationship or fall in love, Killian." Killian's heart sinks a little bit as he thinks you're going to reject him.

"Sorry to have put you in that position, love," he nods, staring out to sea, "if you wish to never see me-"

"I don't want to not see you, Killian, that's not what I'm saying. I'm trying to say that I swore I wouldn't fall in love or get into a relationship and then... you happened. And... I'm not mad about it."

He kisses you, passionate and hungry, and from there, your relationship blooms. You're able to move on from Sam.

(And of course, one of the first things you do when you get home safe is introduce him to the Disney version of himself which he is frankly horrified at).

#headcanon #headcanon prompt #once upon a time #crossover #once upon a time imagine #killian jones imagine #killian jones #reader insert #sam winchester #sam winchester imagine #supernatural #supernatural imagine #imagine #ouat imagine #ouat

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devilishgaysayshey · 11 months ago

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Peter Pan x Male!Demon!Reader

(Oneshot - REMAKE - NSFW WARNING)

≈6000 words

Peter Pan paylist for this fic:

-Here's to never growing up-

–Third pov

Y/N was an adventurous and rather young spirited demon. In search of self fulfillment, or happiness to keep it frank - he had traveled the fairytale forest, the realms of the giants, wonderland, modern world, and even storybrooke. Due to not being bound by the rules of human magic, he could simply portal himself anywhere he'd like.

Although he made many acquaintances and had many adventures he thought fond of, no place made him truly happy or satisfied. No matter what he did, deep down, he always felt a deep feeling of being lost. Having no true place to call home.

But after a year of adventuring, he had heard about a magical island called Neverland, that found itself in a whole new realm he hadn't seen before. Having heard words or rather, rants, from a certain chubby man with a red cap named mr. Smee..

The man spoke of a group named the Lost Boys, their fearsome leader Peter Pan, the magic there, a banished green fairy, and the some-wicked-some-kind mermaids.

It intrigued him so much he decided to travel there despite its nefarious reputation.

However once he got there he decided to use his magic while levitating around, just to see how this place’s energy worked for him.

That caught the leader Pan's attention. As Pan and his lost boys approached him with much disdain, Y/N tried to act as if he wasn't the powerful demon that he was.

Knowing what he knew about Pan is that he was quite full of himself and proud of his power. He figured that now revealing to Pan that he was equally if not outmatched by him would only cause Pan to feel threatened and scornful.

Pan’s lost lost boys tried to attack him, but it was no use, it was almost as if he was made out of invincible steel. That was however, Y/N using his powers, unbeknownst to them, not to Pan however who seemed to have already had an idea of what he was. Now knowing their attacks were of no use, Pan decided to simply capture and imprison the demon boy who did not seem to fight back at all.

Despite Y/N possessing the ability to wield incredible power, Y/N was most intrigued by Pan. So much so, that despite not liking current affairs, he'd bear with it for the time being. He'd figure that Pan would turn around with the means of his inevitable charm. He also found Pan quite good looking and as he was escorted into the woods of Neverland he was very amused and cracked various jokes and clever flirtations towards Pan. Which however, Pan did not seem to dislike. He'd even seemed more smug about it. But the lost boys were stunned by it, it was extremely unusual and odd for a prisoner of Pan act this way.

– Y/N’s pov

I was not exactly a happy demon when Peter Pan captured me on the island. I had trespassed the place according to him and had now found myself in one of his enchanted cages. At least, that was the reason he told me. However I was quite entertained by this debacle, not to mention that Peter wasn’t bad to look at, at all.

"Well this is a most unpleasant welcome." I scoffed jokingly.

Peter Pan leered at me through the bars of my cage. "Well, aren’t you the audacious one. I don't take kindly to invaders here on Neverland. However demon, I do hope you enjoy your stay in this cage for now."

I rolled my eyes. "Kind as you are, I don't think I'll be confined for long. Alas, there's always a way out of a trap." I replied with a mischievous and challenging glint in my eyes.

To which Pan chuckled darkly. "Oh, I wouldn't count on it so confidently if I were you. You'll find that things here in Neverland work quite differently than wherever you're from. No one here, leaves, without my permission.” Peter paused for a moment, staring me down menacingly. “But for now, goodbye demon.." Pan deviously purred as he vanished right after darkly telling his blonde accomplice to: 'hang me over there next to the other one.’

It didn’t take long before the tall blonde bastard grinned satisfied next to his fellow lost boys as my cage elevated high up in a high tree.

Well this certainly wasn't how I planned the beginning of my great adventure to another realm..

I deeply inhaled as I floated around in my cage brainstorming on how to escape the contrapped nightmare I was in.

Although I wasn't able to escape initially, due to Pan’s using blood magic; when I used my knowledge of magic to my advantage I found a loophole - I switched consciousness with a tragically ugly cat that was walking around and managed to get out of the cage as an animal.

– 3rd POV

When Peter Pan caught wind of this, he was furious. However, his anger turned to intrigue when he realized what Y/N could do with his abilities. He knew he had underestimated the lad on that fateful day they met.

Deciding that Y/N would be more useful as part of his Lost Boys rather than kept in a cage. And so, Pan made the decision to make Y/N one of them, that is of course, if he made it through the initiation. But something in Y/N's eyes told him that he would.

After retrieving Y/N back in his own body, he approached him. A wicked grin spread across his face. "I could use someone like you in my band of merry misfits." His hand extended towards the demon boy, fingers curled into a fist. "What do you say?”

This intrigued Y/N. A brand new adventure? He couldn’t say no to that. And by the looks of it he didn't think he had a choice either way, so he agreed to it. "Alright." He said bluntly.

“Splendid!" Peter's grin widened as he took Y/N’s hand in his. Power seemed to radiate from his touch, electrifying you with excitement and domination in equal measure. "Welcome." His voice was low, almost whispering.

A wave of heat ran over from where their hands connected. "Thanks," Y/N said, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

Peter Pan released the demon boy’s hand, stepping back and looking at him with sparkling eyes. His presence was electric, charged with a wild energy. He seemed to radiate an aura of danger, but there was something compelling about him, a magnetism that draws the lost and the lonely. He eyes the smaller boy down, he looked enchantingly pretty, and he had a strong aura, although the boy didn't quite seem aware of it.

"Now that that's been settled. I'm Peter Pan. What is your name, boy?" He asked curiously.

Y/N blinked twice. He was pretty nervous due to his apparent attraction to Pan. His features were so gorgeously combined, it had really struck him. "..My name's Y/N" He replied rather aloof.

Peter Pan's grin grew wider, his eyes twinkling with amusement and interest. He stepped closer, their bodies almost touching again, the air around them crackling with anticipation. "Well, Y/N," he began softly, his voice a seductive whisper, "I trust you'll find adventure here with us, that is, if you complete our initiation tonight." All lost boys were accepted based on if they heard Pan's flute. Only the lost or unloved could hear it.

"Initiation? What should I imagine by that?" The boy asked confused and slightly off guard.

Peter Pan's eyes glinted with amusement. He loved seeing the confusion on Y/N's face. It was like watching a puppy try to understand a magic trick. “Oh, nothing too frightening,” he assured him, his voice dripping with wicked charm.

"Alright.." Y/N replied with a hint of wariness.

As Y/N mingled with the rest of the lost boys he had quickly acquainted some. The way he fit in with the other boys made it apparent he would most likely get through the initiation.

Besides, he easily charmed the other boys. Apart from being nervous around Pan, he was a daring kind of boy. A kind the other lost boys could quickly get along with, and felt comfortable being around.

After a day of exciting games, nightfall had fallen, and the party of his initiation had begun. Festive drums and flutes could be heard and the other boys danced wild & free. Y/N however was talking to two lost boys named Devin and Felix who tried to convince him to dance

Peter Pan watched as Y/N mingled with the other Lost Boys. Y/N was indeed a charming one, capable of capturing the hearts of others effortlessly. As the drums and flutes grew louder, so did the excitement. Pan decided it was time to make his presence known and play the melodic tune on his magical flute.

Y/N suddenly heard the new instrument mingling in with the drums and flutes. It was so trancing that he lost all that grounded him, he joined Felix and Devin in the circle of dancing lost boys. Y/N's dance fit in well with some of the more acrobatic boys. It was clear, he was a lost boy through and through.

“Ah, the beauty of youth and freedom." Pan whispered under his breath, watching Y/N dance. "He truly belongs here." Peter Pan couldn't help but watch Y/N, his gaze lingering on the boy's lithe form. He was captivated by his energy and enthusiasm, admiring how effortlessly he seemed to blend in with the other lost boys.

After a while, Pan decided it was time. He stopped playing his melodic tune. And that's when all the boys regained their consciousness. "Bravo, Y/N!" Peter Pan called out, drawing the boy's attention to himself. The others fell back, making room for their fearless leader. "You dance like the wind, i am impressed." Pan appeared before him, offering a graceful bow. "Welcome to the Lost Boys, my newest recruit.”

Y/N was stunned about what had just occurred. It all felt so unreal, yet he felt enormous joy, unlike he's ever felt. "Thanks Pan." Y/N said calmly with an ever so slight smile.

Now that the new recruit was officially initiated the drums and flutes started playing again as the boys around them cheered and grabbed the new lost boy to join them all for a final round of dance around the bonfire.

Pan grinned, his eyes twinkling in the flickering light of the bonfire. "Now, let's show our new friend what we do best!" He called out, leading the charge into another round of their frenzied dance. Pan grinned widely, watching Y/N blend seamlessly into the chaotic dance. He moved gracefully through the crowd, his laughter contagious as he danced circles around the bonfire.

After a long time of joyous dancing and partying, Pan's accomplice and now Y/N's new friend led him to his sleeping hut. "So.. Most of us sleep in huts like these, but some of us build treehouses to stay in. I can help you make one starting tomorrow if you want. But for tonight, you can join mine. Most new recruits sleep on the ground but I like you, so I don't mind having you over man." Felix said upbeat.

The next few days Y/N trained with the other lost boys. Being a demon it gave him an advantage to excel at those activities.

But alas, the flying demon proved to be a little too headstrong and rebellious for Peter's liking. Only playing pranks on Peter. Little did Pan know all that was because Y/N liked him and just loved his reactions. At first Pan put up with it, and simply pranked him back.

But after Y/N joked about Peter to one of his fellow lost boys, Pan had had enough and decided to teach him a real lesson.

Even if what Y/N did was technically harmless, Peter Pan still had a reputation to uphold as the fearsome leader of all the lost boys.

Taking Y/N into the center of the island, Pan humiliated him by hanging him upside down from a tree for everyone to see for a whole week.

Despite Y/N having been able to escape if he wanted to, he still wanted Pan to like him. And a part of him was entertained by it all, hence he gracefully sat out his punishment.

But while this punishment may have proved effective on anyone else, it had little effect on Y/N. He remained the fearless free spirit that he was. Plus this was only a win for him, he got a reaction out of Pan.

And so, Peter Pan began to punish Y/N's recently-made lost boy friends instead of him. Making him isolated from all the other boys since they did not want to be punished by Pan like Y/N's friends. Y/N however, didn't mind this and only caused more trouble now having no one to hold him back.

It was beginning to really hit Pan that all Y/N’s troublemaking was aimed at him. It was already clear to him that Y/N was attracted to him, so he finally put two and two together and realized where Y/Ns relentless teasing and troublemaking was coming from. It was textbook ‘I have a crush on you’ behavior from a guy. The cute boy was desperate for his attention.

And so, feeling his other efforts were futile, Pan came up with a new plan of action - rewarding Y/N for good behavior instead of punishing him. He began to show Y/N personal attention in the form of kissing and flattery, painfully aware of the latter's attraction towards him. And if Pan was honest, he enjoyed these interactions as much, if not a little more, as Y/N did.

And before long, Peter Pan started to want a little more than just kisses and alone time with Y/N. In an effort to also bring the boy into further submission, he planned to make the ever so willing demon have sex with him. And so he proceeded to approach him in his treehouse at night.

Peter Pan smirked, his eyes glinting with a mix of anticipation and control. He knew Y/N was down bad for him, and he intended to use that to his advantage.

Y/N, being the light sleeper that he was, opened his eyes, sensing a presence entering his tree house. He swiftly got up and got in stance, preparing himself for whomever it would be that dared to interrupt his precious sleep. Not knowing of course, that it was Pan.

Peter Pan chuckled darkly as he saw Y/N's reaction. "Well, well, look what we have here," he purred. "A spunky little lost boy who knows how to put up a good fight.”

Y/N abruptly untensed his stance and relaxed. "Oh. Pan, it's you. What could possibly bring you here this late? Is there something going on?" Y/N inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, nothing at all," Peter replied, his tone dripping with seduction. "I just thought we could spend some time together, you and I." He stepped closer, his eyes locked onto Y/N's. "Alone.”

Y/N's cheeks flushed. "Uh..What do you mean by that?" Already knowing the answer but wanting confirmation.

Peter Pan smirked wider, his intentions clear now. "I mean," Peter purred, his fingers trailing lightly down Y/N's chest, "I've been quite impressed with how well you've behaved lately. And I thought it was about time our relationship took more... intimate turn.”

"I..I see." His heart raced at Pan's lewd and sudden advances. Taking a step back from the taller guy out of nervousness.

Peter Pan's smirk turned predatory as he sensed Y/N's never seen before nervousness. "Oh, don't be shy now Y/N," he crooned, taking another step forward. His hands moved to Y/N's waist, pulling him closer. "I thought you liked me." Pan said, feigning a hurt and innocent expression. Just to get Y/N to say exactly what he wanted to hear.

"I do like you. It's just.. I'm not experienced at this. At all." Y/N admitted, unknowingly taking the bait.

Peter Pan chuckled softly, "Ah, sweet innocence," Peter cooed, his grin widening. "Well Y/N," Peter said, leaning in closer still. "I think it's time we fixed that, don't you?" His lips brushed against Y/N's in a soft, teasing kiss.

"Just relax," Peter whispered against Y/N's lips. "Let me show you how it's done." His hands slid up Y/N's sides, tracing patterns on his skin as he deepened the kiss. Peter Pan's hands moved up to cup Y/N's face, deepening the kiss. His tongue teased the outside of Y/N's lips, seeking entrance.

As Peter Pan's tongue delved into Y/N's mouth, his hands moved down to Y/N's chest, tracing patterns on his strong torso. He moved one hand to Y/N's stomach, drawing close so his fingers grazed Y/N's nether regions underneath the oversized shirt he would wear to bed. Granting both his hand, and later his business, easy access to him.

Y/N moaned into the kiss as Peter's tongue danced with his own, eagerly returning the other's affections. He felt a shiver run down his spine as Peter's hands teasingly brushed more against his crotch.

Feeling the response, Peter Pan deepened the kiss further, his hand gently massaging Y/N's arousal through the fabric. His other hand moved up to caress Y/N's neck, fingers entwining with the hair at the nape.

Y/N panted into the kiss, his body responding to Peter's touches eagerly. He could feel himself becoming more and more aroused under Peter's ministrations.

“Mmm," Peter hummed, kissing Y/N deeply as his fingers found the hem of Y/N's shirt. With a swift motion, Peter lifted the shirt over Y/N's head, revealing his naked torso.

"Aren't you cute" Peter purred satisfied as he eye-fucked Y/N's exposed body to which the smaller boy's body trembled in anticipation.

"That's it," Peter whispered against Y/N's lips before pulling back in, his hand sliding down to undo Y/N's underwear. "Let go, and let me take care of you." Peter whispered into the kiss. With that, he gently pushed Y/N back onto the bed, following him down and continuing to kiss him passionately.

Hmm, you feel so good," Peter murmured, his fingers working at the button of his own pants. As soon as it was undone, he pushed the pants down, exposing his hard cock. Gaining a small gasp from the smaller boy, smirking at the boy's impressed reaction. Only to then start grabbing Y/Ns crotch again and slowly rubbing and squeezing it.

Y/N moaned into the kiss, feeling Peter's cock against his leg. He arched into the touch, needing more as Peter's fingers teased his bare bits.

"You like that?" Peter whispered, smirking into the kiss. He groaned softly as he continued to tease Y/N's entrance with his fingers.

Y/N whimpered, nodding against Peter's lips. He wanted Peter to take him, to claim him fully. His legs spread slightly, offering himself up to the older boy.

Peter smirked into the kiss, feeling Y/N's legs spread. He could feel the younger boy's need for him. He growled softly before pushing his hips forward, feeling the head of his cock press against Y/N's entrance. He took a deep breath before pushing slowly into Y/N's heat. It was a tight fit but felt so good.

Y/N gasped at the stretching sensation as Peter pushed slowly into him. He arched his back, pushing back against Peter, wanting him deeper.

Peter Pan groaned, feeling Y/N's tightness gripping his cock. He continued to push slowly, inch by inch, claiming Y/N's virginity.

Y/N bit his lip, feeling every inch as Peter filled him. It hurt a little but the pleasure was overwhelming. He gripped Peter's shoulders, holding onto him as he took the older boy's cock fully.

Peter Pan growled, feeling Y/N's tight heat wrap around him. He held onto Y/N's hips, slowly beginning to thrust, feeling the head of his cock rub against Y/N's wall with each deep thrust.

"Fuck, Y/N," Peter panted, eyes almost completely closed. "You're so fucking tight." His movements became more frantic as he lost himself in the sensations of Y/N's body moving beneath him.

Y/N moaned, his body responding to Peter's thrusts. He arched his back, pushing against Peter's hips, wanting more of the older boy's cock. "Peter," he whimpered, feeling himself growing closer to his first orgasm.

"Cum for me, Y/N," Peter groaned, picking up the pace, his thrusts becoming rougher as he felt Y/N's tight heat squeezing him.

"Ahh!! Peter!" Y/N cried out, his body tensing as he came hard around Peter's cock. He arched his back, feeling every muscle in his body clench.

“Fuck," Peter groaned, feeling Y/N's tight heat clenching around him as he thrust into the demon boy. He could feel his own orgasm building, his thrusts becoming harder and faster as he lost himself in the feeling.

“Peter!" Y/N cried out, his voice breaking as he felt Peter's cum filling him up. He arched his back, pushing against the older boy's hips, wanting to feel every last drop.

With a final, deep thrust, Peter came inside Y/N, filling him with his seed. His body shuddered with the force of his orgasm as he held onto Y/N's hips, their skin slapping together in rhythm with their breathing.

Y/N gasped, his body trembling as he felt Peter's cum filling him up. to the brim. It was an intense sensation, both painful and exhilarating at the same time. He lay there panting, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

As their breathing slowed, Peter gently pulled out of Y/N, his softening cock slipping out of the tight heat. He leaned down, placing a tender kiss on Y/N's flushed cheek. "That was quite the experience, wasn't it?”

"Mhm.." Y/N agreed breathlessly. "I didn't know doing stuff like this would feel so good" He admitted bashfully

"Does that mean that you'll let me come back and play with you some more?" Peter asked with a wicked grin, his cock still hard and twitching slightly.

Y/N averted his gaze shyly. "I guess so.. "I want more." He admitted.

A triumphant smile spread across Peter's face. "Wonderful," he purred, leaning down to capture Y/N's lips in a passionate kiss. "I have a feeling we're going to have a lot of fun together.”

This arrangement of theirs ended proving to be an even more effective reward and slowly but surely, Peter began to crave even more from Y/N than he had initially foreseen.

During their adventures in Neverland, Y/N and Peter stumbled upon a plan for mischief.

"What if we replace Tinkerbell's fairy dust with something else?" Peter finished, grinning wickedly. They both shared a sinister laugh, their hearts pounding with excitement and anticipation.

"You know what I've got in mind, don't you?" Y/N said, licking his lips in anticipation. Peter just nodded in agreement as they exchanged a knowing glance before going about their mischievous plan.

As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over Neverland, Y/N and Peter made their move. They crept silently through the forest, their hearts pounding with anticipation. Finally, they reached Tinkerbell's treehouse, their target within reach.

Carefully, they climbed up to the treehouse, avoiding any noise that might alert the fairy. Once inside, they found Tinkerbell's precious jar of fairy dust, shining brightly.

Are you ready for this?" Peter whispered, his breath hot against Y/N's ear. Without waiting for an answer, he reached out and scooped up some of the fairy dust, holding it tightly in his hand.

Y/N watched nervously as Peter began to replace the fairy dust with a substance they'd found earlier, carefully concealed in their clothing. The impostor dust was “practically harmless”, but it looked exactly like the real thing.

After ensuring that all of Tinkerbell's supply had been replaced, they climbed down from the treehouse, their hearts racing with excitement and anticipation. Now they just had to sit back and watch the chaos unfold.

As night fell, the inhabitants of Neverland who came to Tinkerbell for fairy dust began to feel the effects of the replaced substance. Instead of granting them flight or other magical abilities, it caused them to stumble, fall, and even become momentarily invisible.

“I knew I could count on you to help me with this, Y/N," Peter said, softly grabbing his face with one hand. "Now let's see how long it takes for everyone to realize it was us." They shared a wicked laugh, feeling untouchable in their mischief.

The very day after, they found themselves in the heart of Neverland, near the enchanted river where they often swam and played. As they splashed around, their laughter echoing through the forest.

Feeling more brave by the second, Y/N tentatively tried out a new position, straddling Peter's lap and leaning down to brush their lips together before trailing kisses along his chin and neck.

However, their play slowly turned to passion and they found themselves kissing and groping each other on the shore of the river. Their skin shimmered with water droplets.

Peter moaned in approval, his hands trailing up Y/N's wet back, gently gripping his hips as he pulled Y/N closer to grind against him. He growled softly, wanting more of Y/N's sweet, loving touch.

“Mmm, yes... harder," he whispered, urging Y/N to move rougher against him. The sensations were overwhelming.

Peter arched his back, gasping in ecstasy as Y/N continued to give him everything he wanted. It felt so good, being touched and wanted like this. The two of them moved closer, lost in a world of sensation and desire.

And when the evening came, they cuddled on the rooftop of Pan’s treehouse. Which Peter held under the pretense of ‘being a reward for Y/N's good behavior that day’. But the truth was, that he just wanted to spend time with Y/N. Which made him wonder if Y/N felt the same.

As they gazed at the stars on the roof of Pan's treehouse, Peter looked deeply into Y/N's eyes. "Y/N?" Peter whispered, his voice barely audible in the darkness. "Can I ask you something?”

"Do you... like being with me?" Peter asked, biting his lower lip nervously. He couldn't believe he was actually asking this question - it felt so vulnerable. But he needed to know where he stood with Y/N.

"I do. There isn't anywhere else I'd like to be than here at Neverland. And it's all because of you." Y/N replied earnestly. A bit nervous of Pan's impending reaction to this however.

"Really?" Peter asked, his heart swelling with joy at Y/N's words. He leaned in, pressing his lips softly against Y/N's. "I'm glad," he whispered, feeling a rush of happiness and contentment wash over him.

It became clear to Peter that the feelings he had for Y/N were far more than just him being a useful and powerful asset amongst the Lost Boys or just being nice to look at. No, it had developed to something more in depth.

So, late, on an ever so clear and warm night, Pan decided to seek Y/N out. Not being able to hold these feelings he had to himself for any longer.

Y/N was sitting at the beach with his two latest befriended fellow lost boys, Devin and Felix. They had a bottle of rum with them and laughed as they talked about the most nonsensical things. And while the two other boys were completely hammered, Y/N of course, was still sober due to his high tolerance. It didn't take long before the two guys fell asleep right next to the bonfire. Which left Y/N on his own. Which Pan deemed as the perfect opportunity to have a heart to heart with Y/N.

"Good evening Y/N, mind if I join you?" He asked rhetorically. Sliding up next to Y/N, Peter gazed out into the ocean for a moment before turning back to face him. "I wanted to talk to you about something... important," he said quietly, his heart racing as he stared into Y/N's eyes.

The demon looked at Pan curiously. "Oh, what would that be?" He asked hesitantly due to Pan's unusual serious and earnest tone.

"I... I think I might have feelings for you," Peter said softly, his face flushed with embarrassment. He couldn't believe he was admitting this, but the truth was too strong to ignore. "I've always found you attractive...But recently, I've fancied you as both a company and individual too.”

"Really? I'm highly flattered." Y/N paused for a moment. Trying to find the right words for his mutual fondness. "I must admit, I've been fancying you as well. Your presence both on this island as well as with me personally makes me very happy. And frankly, I definitely find myself with feelings for you too.”

Hearing Y/N's confession, Peter's heart soared. A mixture of happiness and surprise flooded his features. "Really?" He asked, then raising an eyebrow with a smug grin. "So it's mutual then." Peter Pan declared, a small smile maintaining on his face. Despite trying to put out his usual smug demeanor, he couldn't believe his luck. He reached out, gently tracing his fingers along Y/N's jawline. "I'm glad it is.”

After that heartfelt conversation. Pan gradually started to become even more possessive and tender towards Y/N, as his feelings slowly began to transform into something far more serious and romantical.

Another time, they found themselves in the lost boy lair, dancing around a bonfire with the company of Y/N's fellow Lost Boys as per usual. As they spun and laughed together to drums and Pan's hypnotizing melody on his flute. Peter couldn't help but be reminded again of how well Y/N fit into his world.

Amidst the playful chaos, Peter managed to steal a moment alone with Y/N. He grinned, his eyes sparkling mischievously in the flickering firelight. "You know," he began, his voice low and teasing,

"There's still one more thing I want to show you." With a wink, he reached over, snatching Y/N's hand.

“Come on, let's see if you can keep up." And with that, Peter led Y/N on a daring chase through the trees, laughing and screaming as they raced from branch to branch. Y/N followed willingly, trusting Peter completely.

Finally they came to a stop, standing on a high branch overlooking the sleeping Lost Boys in their hammocks. Peter turned to Y/N, placing both his hands on Y/N's cheeks tenderly, looking deeply into his eyes. "Do you trust me?”

Before Y/N could respond, Peter leaned in, pressing their lips together passionately. Their kiss was filled with desire and longing, a testament to the bond they'd formed in this magical world.

As the kiss deepened, Y/N found himself lost in the passionate embrace. It seemed as if the entire world had disappeared, leaving only the two of them in a cocoon of desire.

When they finally pulled apart, both boys were breathless. Y/N looked into Peter's eyes, feeling an intense connection he'd never experienced before. "I trust you," he whispered softly, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

"Good," Peter replied, his voice husky with both desire and affection. He leaned in close again, nuzzling Y/N's neck. It warmed his heart that the demon he so fondly liked, trusted him. And for as much as he was capable of it anyway, he trusted the demon boy too.

After that, they were seen walking back to their home base, hands entwined, still catching their breath from their passionate encounter. As they strolled, they couldn't help but smile at each other, their connection growing stronger by the minute.

Things started to progress a lot more from there. They spend a lot of time together and one thing became clear to Peter, he wanted Y/N here forever.

Months went by, and Pan's feelings had only grown deeper for Y/N by the day. He couldn't help but want to be near him and follow him around as much as his villainous duties allowed him too. He loved how Y/N flattered him, looked at him, touched him and didn't feel intimidated by him, and in a weird way, they complimented each other. Y/N was a very fearless and stoic guy who was much like him when it came to being mischievous, yet he also had a gentle, caring and reliable side. And those very traits slowly developed in Pan towards Y/N as well.

So, on a warm and lovely evening he had requested for Y/N in his treehouse through the means of his loyal accomplice Felix. Y/N, of course being the eager man that he was towards Pan, came straight away.

He was delighted at the quick presence of his beloved demon. "Y/N, you came straight away. I'm flattered." Pan replied flirty. He couldn't help it, Y/N just brought that out in him.

Y/N smiled with a glint in his eyes. "How could I not? Look what i have here waiting for me" He bashfully looked into Pan's eyes then down to his lips and repeated that.

Pan smirked at Y/N's eagerness to him. "Oh, you certainly do have me, Y/N," Pan purred, taking Y/N's face in his hands and pulling him closer for a deep, passionate kiss.

Their tongues danced together, exploring each other's mouths in a tender yet intense display of affection. Y/N's face burned brightly as he returned Pan's kisses. All the while affectionately holding his face.

As the kiss deepened, Peter Pan's hands roamed over Y/N's body, his touch possessive yet tender. He loved the feel of Y/N's skin against his own, the warmth that emanated from him. Pan then gently pulled back as his feelings for the latter overwhelmed him.

He knew it for sure. He loved Y/N. He looked intently into his eyes, those strikingly enchanting e/c eyes.

"Y/N, I love you." There, he finally did it, he declared his love to Y/N.

To Pan's displeasure Y/N wore a stunned expression. He was silent for a good 6 seconds.

Pan looked at him with pleading eyes. He hasn't been this vulnerable in a very long time, and he couldn't have been more terrified of Y/N's response.

"I... I just.. need to- think." Y/N staggered as he flew out the door.

Pan didn't even stop him. Y/N's response had stung him too much.

Effective immediately, severe precipitation befell Neverland. Pan's emotions heavily influenced the island - the weather being one of those things.

All soaked from the weather, Y/N had sought shelter in his hut.

He felt conflicted. Pan's sudden confession really caught him off guard. He knew he had feelings for Pan. But saying those 3 words of the heart scared him.

He had never dared to think Pan loved him, he always seemed so “above it” to him, but mostly he was just scared of rejection. Hence he had only tried to repress his love for him. Expressing it, never even occurred to him.

All kinds of thoughts stormed through his mind. Their relationship started off rocky, but Y/N couldn't deny things had developed a long way since then.

But even in this moment he couldn't help but worry for Pan right now. He didn't exactly give the 'response of the year' to his 'i love you'.

Y/N then realized that he was caring for Pan by feeling this way. Like he always did in the back of his mind. Not to mention Pan pretty much occupied his mind all together all of his days.

The way he craved his presence when he wasn't around. He told himself it was fine whenever it happened. But it wasn't. He needed him.

He always missed him when he was not around. He looked forward to seeing Pan after they would have to separate. And deeply treasuring every single moment they spent together.

Not to mention how he felt when Pan praised him, hugged him, kissed him or more.

He had been crazy for him all this time.

Y/N abruptly got up from his bed and took off to find the guy he loved.

When he arrived at Pan's hut the place was very much abandoned. Where could Pan be?

Y/N then remembered about Pan's beloved thinking tree. If he would be any place right now it would be there. Through the vicious rain he flew through the sky towards Pan's thinking tree.

– Pan's pov

There I sat, alone and drenched like a sodding dog in my thinking tree.

What was I thinking? Proclaiming my love so rashly? I've really let myself become weak. And for what? To make a fool out of myself? To have an aching heart? Maybe I was foolish to think Y/N and I could be more than what we were. Perhaps villains don't get to be loved after all..

I took a deep breath before planning to head back to my hut; when suddenly Y/N appeared before my eyes.

– Y/N's pov

After flying quick circles around the entire tree I found Pan sitting on a branch somewhere high near the very top of the tree.

I approached him and sat down on the branch before him. "Hey."

Pan leaned towards me on a branch just above my shoulder. "Let me guess, you've thought and you're here to tell me you don't love me. Spare me your pity Y/N. I was foolish, I know." Pan scoffed.

I shook my head. "No you weren't. I'm sorry for how I reacted. It's just.. It can be hard for me to translate my feelings to words or any sense. But.. that doesn't make them any less present."

Pan looks to where his hand is holding the tree branch above Y/N's shoulder then back to his eyes, "What are you saying Y/N?" He asked hesitantly. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was it possible? Was he saying what Pan thought he was saying?

“What I'm trying to say is, I love you Pan. More than anything." I confessed.

Pan's expression changed and his heart leaped into his throat before he spoke. This couldn't be happening. He looked up to Y/N with a mixture of shock and disbelief, "You... you truly love me?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper and his heavy feelings beginning to slightly wash away, causing the rain to also slightly clear up.

I decided my words weren't enough. So I took matters into my own hand and pulled Pan in for a deep kiss.

– 3rd POV

Pan hesitated for a moment as Y/N pulled back, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He gazed up at Y/N's eyes then down to his lips and harshly pulled him back in for a new kiss, returning it with an intensity that mirrored Y/N's feelings. Their lips locked passionately, their hands finding solace in each other's presence.

-- Y/N's perspective

There we were, both soaked and making out in Pan's thinking tree, now knowing we loved each other. And all that we knew that awaited, was certain adventure.

-The End-

(perhaps..)

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browneyedartist01 · 6 months ago

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Wouldn't it be crazy if Elaine's book was a retelling of demon lover trope. (Bluebeard,robbing bridegroom ect.) Where Elaine discovers that Azriel killed all his past lovers and inner circle covered for him.

So the whole book would be her trying to escape the night court with her sisters and nephew.

It could be similar to the first season of promises neverland (which is about a group of kids escaping a farm) where we watch Elaine and Lucian, her only outside source, work together to prepare for the escape.

We could follow Lucian as he tries to find somewhere safe for the women to hide from the bat boys, since they can't kill them, only to find out that most of the other courts aren't willing to help because:

A) Summer and Autumn won't take Freye in due to her past actions.

B) No one else wants war with Ryhsand.

Meanwhile, Elaine is planning the actual escape, using her skills to make/gather supplies for the trip, as she's traveling with not only Freye's baby, but with a pregnant Nesta (the inner circlewould would have pressure her into having kids earlier then she wanted).

All while Elaine is trying to maintain her relationships with the inner circle so they don't become suspicious of her.

Maybe she would need to find a way to either break her sisters' mating bounds or try to cover their scents to keep the bbs from tracking them.

Oh, and Elaine would also need to convince her family to actually leave with her. (Which seems impossible to her, because it Freye and Nesta)

Azriel could also have a pov where he's trying to discover who found his room of bodies (Elaine took a fingerbone) but at some point, he finds out about Elaine's plans but he dosen’t tell anyone because,

A) He's stupid

B) the others don't believe Elaine is capable of acts of deceit or anything cunning.

C) he's convince that he could pursue Elaine to stay with him, since she so "weak minded"

But of course that wouldn't work and the story would end in them escaping the night court.

Nesta and Freye would raise they're kids in a certain ruin court, while with Elaine and Lucian traveling in worlds for a couple of decades before settling down and living happily ever after.

The end.

#Just a few ideas I had this morning.#just spitballing here #nesta archeron #acotar #pro elucien #elucien #elain x lucien #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #anti feysand #anti nessian #word vomit

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olivexii · 12 days ago

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⁀➷ ┄─ ˑ One shot . ☆ ──ㅤ OUAT

Ouat season 3 + reader insert

One shot

Masterlist

Warnings: Alcohol, swearing, mentions of being shot

Summary: Drunken nights with the lost boys, secretively contemplating if you’ll ever get off the island leads to an angry Pan and dangerous games in the dark.

┌── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┐

Late, drunken nights were not a common thing in Neverland. Usually the night would end early with a simple game, or a bonfire. But Pan had decided to celebrate tonight. Hook had left the island, meaning we could relax until a new threat came up.

The sound of boys hollering and dancing around the fire filled the camp, they had no worries of being snuck on or ambushed by pirates, only worrying of the headaches they would have in the morning.

The younger boys had been sent to bed, it was too late for them and they would have had no fun with the drunken older boys anyway.

All of the teenage boys were dancing, minus me and Felix. Pan had wondered off to scan the island, although everyone knew that was an excuse. No one really knew where he snuck off to at night. There were rumours of him getting closer to finding the so called ‘Truest Believer’, but few believed it. He had been searching for hundreds of years, was there really a chance of him finding the believer now?

“Do you think we’ll ever get off this island?”

I turned to Felix, who was sat next to me on the same log, flask in one hand (filled with rum we had stolen a few weeks back from a pirate ship that we had ambushed) as the other rested on his club, which lay upright against his right leg.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think we’ll ever get off this island?” He repeated, his eyes fixed onto the ground, a frown etched onto his brows. The fire crackled as white noise in the background and illuminated his the bottom half of his scarred face, the top half shadowed by his dark coloured cloak hood.

“I think we will eventually. We can’t stay here forever.” I sighed, looking up at the hollering lost boys in sorrow, “Some can’t even remember life before here. Their parents, homes, anything.” I trailed off and ran a hand through my hair.

Felix turned his attention towards me and followed my gaze. “All I remember of my parents is that they were French… or Canadian. One of the two.” He huffed, taking another swig from the flask, "We were poor."

I turned back to the boy and admired him, his scarred face and hands that had killed many boys before. Some called him Pan’s ‘Lap dog’, always following the shorter boys orders. But if you looked in his eyes when he was around the demon, nothing but fear filled them. He only followed orders because he was scared of what might happen if he disobeys.

“Give me that.” I said, reaching for the metal flask and taking a sip, the burning taste running down my throat and warming my stomach.

“Is that straight?” I coughed at him, not expecting such a strong, bitter taste.

“I couldn’t be bothered to go down to the river and mix it.” He laughed at me, and my spluttering state, “I thought you could handle your alcohol better?” Felix teased.

“Oh shut up. I didn’t know it would be straight.” I snapped back playfully, handing him the flask and shaking my head lke a dissaproving mother before wiping my mouth with the back of my hand gently in attempt to sooth the burning the spirit had made when it hit the cut on my lip.

There was a moment of silence between us as we watched the boys dance and sing around the fire, banging their sticks together in an attempt to make drum beats. They looked happy. A drastic contrast to when they were fighting pirates or playing one of Pan’s brutal games.

“They look so happy.” I whispered to myself, however it was heard by the tall boy beside me. He didn’t reply, just turned his head to look at me, the frown still etched onto his face.

“I think we will leave. All of us, one day.” I said, looking down at my feet and running my hand through my hair again before turning to Felix.

He nodded, breaking eye contact and sighing, “I hope we will. I want to live. I can’t li-”

The blonde boy’s sentence was cut short when a firm, cold hand landed on his shoulder from behind, gripping him tightly.

“What’s the conversation Felix?” We both turned our head quickly to look at the demon, Pan.

Felix stuttered, unable to respond as the shorter boy glanced back and forth between us, his eyebrow raised out of curiosity.

“Anyway,” Pan began, “I propose a game. A late night game. Since we can now play without the worry of running into pirates.” The boy raised his voice with a smirk, catching the attention of the lost boys as they froze in their place.

“Hide and hunt.” He stated, walking away from me and Felix to head towards the teenagers. Some of the lost boys cheered and whooped in excitement, obviously happy at being able to play.

“Alf! Hugo! You’re hunting, go get your bows.”

The two ran off quickly. They were good archers, making this game even more frightening.

“You two are playing as well.” Pan turned around on his heels to look at me and Felix, a sadistic grin plastered on his face as he took a step towards us, his chin raised his and hands at his side, the sleeves of his shirt slightly riding up his arms.

“You have 15 minutes to hide!” He called, the boys scattering around into the forest, all heading in different directions.

“What are you waiting for? Go.” The demon’s grin dropped as he pointed behind him, towards the dark trees.

Me and Felix looked at each other, worry etched on my face as we stood and quickly ran, the sound of the crackling bonfire getting quieter. I could only hear our panting and heavy footsteps as we ran deeper through the trees, me following the tall boy. It was a struggle to keep up with him, his long legs easily jumping over the roots of trees and swerving past bushes.

After about 5 minutes of non-stop running we both stopped to catch our breath. I sat down against a large tree, bringing my legs up to my chest and resting my head on my knees, while Felix stood against a tree opposite me, his arms folded over his chest with his eyes closed, his club having been left back at camp.

“Do you think we’re far enough away?” I asked after a few minutes, my voice raspy.

“No. You know how much of a good runner Hugo is, we saw him in training.” He panted.

“Fuck, you’re right.” I replied, putting my head further into my knees, still trying to catch my breath, “Why did he have to pick two of the best archers as well. Last time it was Slight and Rich, they couldn’t aim for shit.”

“Yeah we got lucky there.” The lost boy grumbled.

Suddenly the sound of a branch snapping filled the silence. I quickly brought my head up and looked at Felix, my eyes wide. Someone was coming towards us.

“Shit.” I heard him whisper under his breath as he frantically looked around in an attempt to spot the threat, his hand now resting on the hooked wooden weapon that he keeps on his belt.

“It’s just me.” We heard a soft voice say.

“Fuck Jude.”

“Don’t scare us like that.” I hissed, standing up and looking at the short boy. Jude was young, but wasn’t that young enough to go to bed at the same time as all the other young lost boys. He was 13, and had scraggly brown hair that reached his shoulders.

“Okay sorry.” He grumbled in response, holding his hands up in surrender.

“You staying with us?” Felix asked him.

“Yeah why not. Alf and Hugo are good hunters, if I get shot I don’t wanna have to die alone.”

“Jeez you’re not gonna get shot Jude.” I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest and rolling my eyes, turning my head away from him.

“Okay first of all, calm down with that attitude. Second of all, I’ve been shot in hide and hunt before! Do you not remember when Leo shot me in the foot!” He raised his voice in defence.

“Shut up.” Both me and Felix hissed at the same time, scared of being caught.

Jude rolled his eyes in response, before looking down at the ground and kicking at the dirt.

“We better move further away from camp. Up in the mountains, they don’t usually go up there.” I stated, the other two nodding in response.

The walk there was silent, aside from the sounds of hour own footsteps and the soft breeze from the sea rustling in the trees. We didn’t cross any other lost boys, and we were too scared to speak. The only time we talked was to help each other up steep hill sides or over abnormally large tree roots. Jude struggled the most, both me and Felix had to push him up over the obstacles, but not without a joking complaint about his weight.

The silence however, didn’t last as long as we hoped. An arrow flew in between me and Felix, narrowly missing Jude and pinning his hood to a tree. With widened eyes we all looked at each other, before the 13 year old quickly grabbed at the arrow to free himself and started sprinting.

Felix grabbed my wrist and we followed after the boy, the swooshing sound of arrows following us, which only heightened my fear.

“I thought you said they never go up this high!” Felix hissed at me once we had stopped running, the sound of arrows and quick footsteps behind us had disappeared.

“I guess they learnt from last time.” I sighed, hands on my hips and my head looking at the sky, trying to ease some of the pain on my lower back and neck.

“Learnt from last time?” Jude questioned, leaning against a large log.

“Don’t tell me you don’t have any common sense.” The taller boy questioned, sounding annoyed.

“What do you mean?”

“In every single game of hide and hunt, we all get to as high ground as possible. It’s harder to shoot on uneven ground, and if you’re higher than them, you have the advantage of gravity.” Felix sighed, moving to sit down.

“What?” The brunette tilted his head.

“Oh my god Jude, you can’t be serious.” I groaned.

“What?!”

“Don’t tell me that every single game you’ve been running around frantically at sea level.”

“Yeah?”

“Well it’s no wonder you’ve been shot.”

“Okay jeez calm down. I’m starting to regret coming with you guys.”

“And I’m starting to regret offering you to come along.” Felix argued.

“Anyway. We should wait here until the Sun rises. It’s high enough up that Alf and Hugo will be too tired to climb any further.” I explained, sitting down as well.

“Good that.” Felix sighed, “I’m sleeping, one of you two needs to keep watch.”

“Me too, sucks to be you.” Jude laughed, taking off his cloak and folding it into a pillow.

“Fuck you guys, I’m waking you up in an hour.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

The Sun began to rise after a few hours, me having slept only two while Felix was on look out.

“Wake up.” He grumbled, kicking my back gently with his shoes.

“Calm down grumpy, I'm awake.” I rolled over.

“Wake Jude up, he’ll get lost trying to make his way back to camp on his own, the little shit.”

The walk back was silent, the forest was still dark, but the game was over. The Sun casting beams onto the tops of the trees, leaving us walking in the shadows.

“How many do you think they hit?” Jude asked, walking along a fallen tree, arms stretched at his side for balance and his tongue sticking out in concentration. I forget that they are just boys.

“At least one, other wise it’s bad luck for them.” Felix laughed, his hand resting on his belt as he walked.

U“I’m so glad I’ve never been the hunter before. I don’t think I could handle all that pressure. Imagine knowing you have to shoot someone or else you will have your heart crushed?” I sighed, stepping over stray rocks and tree roots.

“Touch wood we’ll never be picked as hunters. But it’s just Pan’s way of showing power and inflicting fear.” The tall boy grinned, “Nothing like a bit of a death scare to get the blood pumping”

“You’re so much scarier when you’re sober.” I grimaced.

“I get too sappy when I’m drunk.” He countered, “It’s not what I really think, just… What’s that thing you mentioned again??”

“What thing.” My body stopped and turned to look at him.

“That thing where you say something that you didn’t mean but you did mean it deep down.”

“A freudian slip?”

“Yes, a freudian slip. I don’t understand all these new age terms the lost boys keep talking about.”

“First of all Felix, it’s not a freudian slip it’s called being drunk and speaking your mind. Second of all, you’re just so behind because you’ve been trapped on this island for centuries.”

“HA! ROASTED.”

“Shut up Jude.” We both hissed, the young boy starting to get on our nerves.

“Whatever, how long until we get back.” The brunette complained, jumping down from the tree log with a thud.

“I don’t know kid, we ran pretty far.”

“Well I never run this far in games.” He explained, “My legs aren’t used to it.”

“And that’s why you keep getting shot.” I laughed back. Jude replied with an incoherent murmur and a sigh, crossing his arms like a child having a temper tantrum.

After about 10 minutes the clearing for the camp became visible.

“Yesss…” Jude sighed, running ahead of us towards his tent.

Many of the lost boys had arrived back before us, already getting started on their daily chores.

“Ah! There you are, so lucky of you to finally join us.” Pan raised his voice as he walked towards us, hands behind his back, and a devilish grin plastered on his face.

└── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┘

A/N: i havent posted in so long sorry but ive just been busy with my degree and work that im hoping to publish.

#Spotify #once upon a time #peter pan #ouat #x reader #reader insert #peter pan x reader #felix x reader

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hollyethecurious · 1 year ago

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CS AU: The Law of Surprise (3/3)

Summary: The Law of Surprise: a custom as old as humanity itself. The Law dictates that a man saved by another is expected to offer to his savior a boon whose nature is unknown to one or both parties. In most cases, the boon takes the form of the saved man's firstborn child, conceived or born without the father's knowledge.

A/N: This is NOT a Witcher AU. The idea for this fic WAS inspired by the show, however. I’m not sure if the Law of Surprise was a show/game creation or if it existed before. Regardless, this fic is my spin on the concept and will be posted in three parts.

Much love and thanks to the @cssns mods for keeping this event going year after year! A HUGE shout out to my artist @eastwesthomeisbest for the AMAZING pieces she made to accompany my fic. Go give her ALL the flails! Finally, all the hot chocolate, rum, and grilled cheese sandwiches for my amazing betas @ultraluckycatnd and @kmomof4. LOVE YOU LADIES TO BITS!

Rated T / Also available on ao3 and ff.net / buy me a coffee / add to tag list / Curious? Come Ask Me!

Part One | Part Two

Part Three

The castle was brimming with life and gaiety. Orchestral sounds spilled over the balconies and light seeped from every window, illuminating the stone walls and bathing the gardens in an exuberant glow. If he’d had to guess, Hook would estimate the overflow from the ballroom to be in the hundreds as he made his way through the crush of courtiers, adorned in their finery as they eagerly awaited to be announced.

Dukes and earls. Ambassadors and emissaries. Military leaders and loyal sycophants. The creme de la creme of Misthaven and her allied kingdoms were all in attendance - all who had received a royal summons, that is. Hook had witnessed a number of people being turned away at the gate when they had failed to produce the invitation. The exquisitely designed edict with its filigree and gilded letters announcing the event of the century:

The Formal Betrothal Ceremony and Ball between Her Royal Highness Princess Emma of Misthaven and His Royal Highness Prince Neal, Son and Heir of the Dark One.

Not that Hook had received one himself, of course; their Majesties had learned their lesson the last time they’d attempted to share blessed news and an invitation with him. Pan had been serious when he’d meant no interference, though they had underestimated what the evil bastard considered as such until he’d enticed most of the Misthaven male youths away from their beds and nearly to their deaths over one of the kingdom’s cliffs, because the sovereigns had dared to have an envoy deliver him news of the arrival of their second child - a son. When David and Hook had confronted Pan before he could lure the boys to their deaths, the demon brat had made it clear that any communication, any interaction, any attempts to maintain or strengthen relationships between Misthaven and “his pirate” would be seen as a breach of contract and met with severe penalties. After that, Hook had once again kept his distance from Misthaven, and Misthaven had kept its distance from him. So, naturally, Hook did not fault them for failing to send him an invite to tonight’s festivities. They could not possibly have known that circumstances were different now.

A fact Tink kept nagging on about these past few months.

Months they had spent attempting to set things right in the wake of Neverland’s liberation. Months they had spent establishing authority and restoring order while dealing with uprisings from those still loyal to Pan. Months Hook had spent ferrying those who had wished to return to their homes, not knowing if one even still existed for them, as he warred with himself over the prospect of returning to his own.

It had been the news of Emma’s betrothal that had started the quarrel with Tink up again. Enjoying a pint in a dark corner of anonymity whilst patroning a tavern in Glowerhaven, they’d heard the toasts and cheers go up wishing the princess and “her prince” well. The Dark One’s son wasn’t truly royalty, of course, but none were fool enough to challenge the title.

While the other patrons had reveled in the news of the betrothal, their spirits high from the glee of gossip and tankards of toasts, Hook had sat with a weighty stone of despondency in his belly even as he’d tried to muster up some semblance of jubilation over the news.

“You must go to Misthaven,” Tink urged. “You have to tell them. Tell her. You can’t let her enter a betrothal or get married without--”

“Do you think I would interfere in her life now?” Hook replied through grit teeth. “Burden her with this… with me, when she has finally found happiness?”

“How do you know it is true happiness she has found? The Law of Surprise entrusted her to you. Gave you the responsibility and privilege of her destiny. You cannot sit by and allow her to--”

“To what?” Hook snapped. “To decide for herself? To pursue a destiny she has chosen? To fall in love and follow her heart while making alliances that will strengthen her kingdom and secure her reign? I am not her lord and master, nor am I her overseer.”

“No. You are not,” Tink said softly. “But you are fated to her. Bonded to her through the Law. Connected in a way she isn’t even aware of, because you haven’t allowed her to know. You owe her the truth before she establishes new bonds with another.”

Hook scoffed, but tapped the ring on his thumb against his tankard as he considered her words.

“At the very least,” Tink continued, “go see her. Before she is whisked off to the Dark Realm to prepare for her new life as Neal’s wife and future Queen of the Dark One’s subjects, go meet her. Make sure it is for love that she has chosen this path, and not out of a sense of duty or obligation. Slake your curiosity of who she has become and give yourself the peace of knowing that in spite of everything, she turned out well.” Hardening her gaze, she added, “And for the sake of all the gods, stop being a coward and go face your brother.”

He hated when the infernal fairy was right.

It was cowardice that had kept him from returning. Fear of having to divulge all he’d done in order to achieve his freedom, the lengths he’d had to go to and the ways in which he’d made Pan believe he’d broken him before finally being able to…

Afraid that there was no longer a place for him among society. Terrified over the prospect that, despite Neverland’s magic and the way it had kept him youthful, his life had already passed him by. Petrified to face the girl he’d been meant to watch over, daunted by the uncertainty of how she might react if he ever managed to work up the nerve to tell her the truth about him, about the Law of Surprise, about the fate’s design that had bonded them to one another before she was even born.

Tink had been right, though. He could not give in to cowardice, so he’d commissioned a new waistcoat and duster, one befitting a gentleman pirate paying court, and made port in Misthaven the evening of his princess’ betrothal ball. His lack of an invitation was no issue with the guards at the gate, he’d merely flashed them his hook and they’d allowed him entry, certifying that the king’s pardon of Hook’s crimes and promises of sanctuary within Misthaven still stood. Though Hook did feel it prudent to tuck his left arm behind his back, beneath his quilted, leather coat whilst in the receiving line, lest one of the guests glimpse it and start a fuss.

He wasn’t sure if it was the maddening wait, the stifling corridor, or the crowd of plumed and perfumed guests that began to grate on his nerves, spiking his anxiety and forcing him to withdraw from the ballroom hall. All he knew was that he’d suddenly found himself in a dark and isolated alcove around the corner from the crush, attempting to steady his breathing while muttering curses at himself for falling apart over something as simple as queuing for a ball.

“Is everything alright, good sir?”

Hook spun around, once more tucking his hook behind his back while his hand swept through his hair in an attempt to straighten his appearance. He stood in stupified silence for several skips of his heartbeat, too stunned by the gorgeous woman before him, until he finally cleared his throat and found his voice.

“Aye, lass,” he replied, unable to keep some of the awe out of his tone. “No need to concern yourself with me.”

The woman, young, blonde, with a slender form that did not fail to fill out the curves of her gown while demonstrating the strength he could detect beneath her proper posture, cocked her head to one side, her seaglass eyes narrowing at him even as a smile slightly tugged at the corners of her exquisite lips, rebutted, “A man hiding away in the shadows is a bit concerning, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I suppose so,” Hook conceded with a slight chuckle. Taking a step forward so she could get a better look at him, his smile broadened when her eyes widened and swept over his form with similar interest. “Truth be told,” he continued in a low timbre, “I am rather out of practice in the rules of court. It has been many years since I’ve attended a royal ball.”

Eyes snapping back up to his, she schooled her features and lifted her chin. “Have you not escorted someone to attend with you? Have you no one whose company you can rely on?”

Hook sighed wistfully. “My brother is here,” he said, attempting to keep all sense of melancholy or apprehension from his tone, “but I have not seen him in many years. My presence may come as something of a shock, and I do not wish to cast a pall on the evening. I would never wish to tarnish the memory of it for the princess.”

“The princess?” she parroted, her brows arching and achieving heights that nearly matched her voice. “You hold her in high regard then?”

“Aye. Very much.” Thoughts of his Emma, and the maelstrom of emotions they brought with them, made his voice constrict in his throat, making his next words a bit strained. “Though, I have not had the pleasure of her acquaintance since she was a child.”

The woman’s expression shifted, becoming pensive, almost far away, but as quickly as they had taken hold of her features, she shook off whatever thoughts she’d been contemplating. “Well, I highly doubt anything you do could tarnish this night for her.”

“I appreciate that vote of confidence, love.” Killian scratched behind his ear, his hips swinging with another swaggering step forward as he pressed a little too closely for decorum’s liking into her personal space. “I don’t suppose, once I’ve mustered up the courage to make my way into the ballroom, you would consider bestowing me the pleasure of a waltz?”

The corners of the woman’s lips tipped up again, and Hook wondered what it would take to encourage a full smile from her. Not that it mattered. He’d already accepted the challenge.

“Would such a consideration give you the necessary encouragement to face your brother and the court?” she asked.

Boldly, he took her hand and ran his thumb over the backs of her knuckles, murmuring, “Such consideration would give me the encouragement to do a great many things, Miss…”

Her lips parted, the response of her name on the tip of her tongue, when an attendant rounded the corner and jolted them apart with her exclamations. “Your Highness! I have been looking everywhere for you!”

Hook whipped his head from the attendant back to the woman who had snatched her hand from his and taken several steps back.

“Your Highness?” he said incredulously. “As in Her Royal Highness? Princess Emma?”

“I… I,” she stuttered. “I’m sorry, I must…”

“Excuse us, my lord,” the attendant said, encouraging her charge away from the alcove and towards the hallways that led to the royal entrance at the back of the ballroom.

Hook watched her depart, stunned by the realization that the woman with whom he’d been conversing - and was now rather taken with - was none other than the princess. His princess. His Emma. His Child of Surprise who was no longer a child.

He’d known that already of course, that she was no longer a child. More than ten years had passed since he’d last seen her, but as she was escorted down the hallway, briefly taking the opportunity to glance at him over her shoulder with an apologetic smile and a glimmer of attraction in her eyes, the reality of those years hit him full force. His princess was no longer a child, and once the betrothal ceremony was complete, she would no longer be his.

Forgoing the queue, Hook forced his way into the ballroom without being announced and found himself a vantage point where he could observe without taking on much notice. A resurgence of duty and responsibility filled him. He wanted to - no, needed to - weigh the measure of the man his princess was about to bind herself to in betrothal. Needed to know he was worthy of her.

Although, he was quite certain no man ever would be.

As the ballroom began to fill, his vantage point proved to be less than ideal. Unable to clearly see the dais, he started to shuffle his way through the throng as the prince and his father were announced, followed swiftly by Their Majesties and Princess Emma.

He was halfway across the room when the ceremony began, and the heavy weight of regret, knowing he was too late to do anything, pressed down upon him, keeping him rooted to his spot. His heart twisted painfully in his chest. He was about to lose her forever without having the chance to truly know her. He was a fool for wasting these past few months. A damned fool. All he could do now was watch as the prince and princess recited their vows while a fairy wove the betrothal bonds around them with her wand.

His heartache was quickly forgotten, however, when the final binding spell failed, leaving the betrothal void and eliciting a collective gasp from those assembled.

“I… I don’t understand,” the fairy stammered. “The magic should have worked. I… I don’t know what--”

“Clearly, you did something wrong, dearie,” the Dark One accused as he took a threatening step towards the young fairy.

“No,” Emma stated, stepping between her would-be father-in-law and the scared-out-of-her-wits fairy. “She didn’t. The magic failed to bind us, because…” Turning her attention back towards her would-be groom, Emma declared, “as I have told you numerous times, I have no intentions of marrying you. I don’t care about the deal our fathers made in order to end the war. My heart will never be yours, therefore no vows I make to love you will ever be true.”

Chaotic murmurs erupted throughout the ballroom, but Hook kept his focus on the dais.

“That matters not!” the Dark One shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Emma which made Hook’s hand itch for the hilt of his sword, unfortunately left behind on his ship. “Your feelings have no bearing and are not enough to void the betrothal spell.” Casting his ire upon King David and Queen Snow, he demanded, “Explain yourselves! We made a deal! You agreed to this betrothal on your daughter’s behalf. It is your word and your authority over her that binds that agreement, so why did it fail?”

Hook sucked in a startled breath. He knew why.

“I think I can answer that, and settle this matter,” he called out, causing all eyes to fall on him.

“And who might you be?” Prince Neal demanded.

“Captain Killian Jones,” he proclaimed, stepping forward as the crowd parted. “Though some have taken to calling me by my more colorful moniker.” Raising his left arm, he displayed his hook and a hysteria of murmurs further erupted amongst the crowd that was now cowering away from him.

David and Snow’s mouths dropped open and Liam, who had been standing by off to the side of the dais, rushed forward and took his place next to his sovereigns, a look of complete elation and shock coloring his aged face. The fairy fled, leaving Emma, Prince Neal, and the Dark One alone at the center of the raised platform, each of them staring at him with a variety of expressions.

“Hook!” Prince Neal exclaimed, before catching the eye of the many guards stationed along the walls. “Seize him!”

When none of the guards acquiesced to the command, an incensed and clearly alarmed Prince Neal sputtered, “W-Why are you all just s-standing there! Arrest him!”

“Oh, you must not be aware,” Hook said, swaggering his way towards the dais and stopping short of its steps. “You see, I have pardon in this land.”

Turning his incredulity and ire towards the King, Prince Neal opened his mouth, but was silenced by the quiet yet dangerous tone of the Dark One’s question.

“How, pray tell, do you plan to settle this matter, Captain?”

“By claiming that which was owed me the day I saved King David’s life and he vowed to honor me with a boon, dictated by the Law of Surprise.”

“A boon? What boon?” Emma demanded.

With confident, measured steps Hook made his way up to the top of the platform and stood in front of his princess, his body strategically placed between her and his new adversaries. His eyes captured hers and he knew they were crinkling in the corners as he smiled down at her.

“Don’t you know, Emma?” he murmured softly. “It’s you.”

Confusion and outrage flashed within her seaglass eyes and displayed themselves through each feature of her exquisite face. Though her reaction, not being what he’d hoped for, sliced through him, he could do nothing about that now, not when a fresh round of threats was being issued by the Dark One and his spawn.

“We had a deal!” the Dark One bellowed. “Your daughter’s hand in marriage to my son in exchange for me ending your war with George! You made a deal--”

“Which they have kept in good faith!” Hook roared, rounding on the imp and causing his son to stumble backwards. “They have prepared and presented the princess for betrothal, and Emma herself recited the vows, even as it went against everything she wished for herself. It is not their fault the fates did not bind the agreement. If you wish to lay declarations of war at anyone’s feet, then let it be mine, but I warn you…” Stepping closer, Hook loomed over the Dark One and in a timbre of hushed menace, he advised, “do so at your own peril.”

The Dark One’s eyes narrowed, perhaps sensing something about the man who stood before him that he had not registered before. Beside him, Prince Neal scoffed.

“Are we to be threatened by the likes of you? You are nothing but a filthy pirate.”

Hook grinned darkly and rocked back on his heels, tucking his thumb in his belt. “A few months ago I was nothing but a filthy pirate, but today,” hardening his expression, he declared, “I am Neverland’s King, and you do not want Neverland as your enemy.”

The Dark One visibly started, but the Prince merely snorted. “Neverland has no king.”

Keeping a calculating eye on the Dark One, Hook shrugged and addressed Neal with a casual air. “True. I never understood, with all his theatrics, why Pan had never outright declared himself king, but make no mistake…” The hard edge returned to his tone and countenance, “Pan ruled that island as a dictator king with an iron scepter and a crown of cruelty not even George could have dreamed of matching. Now that Pan’s dead,” the Dark One’s head snapped towards him, seemingly pulled from his thoughts with a number of questions swirling behind his dark gaze, “Neverland is under my rule. The island, its inhabitants, and…” Hook flicked his wrist and the entirety of the ballroom gasped when a jar of glittering dust appeared in his hand, “its magic. They all serve me now, so I say again. You do not want me as an enemy.”

Shrewdly, the Dark One scrutinized the jar in Hook’s hand, then inquired, “What, then, do you propose we do? The terms of the deal have not been met. I ended the war with King George. A debt is still owed.”

“Indeed,” Hook replied, holding out the jar towards the Dark One. “And I believe this canister of pixie dust is more than sufficient in settling that debt.” Hook pulled the jar back when the prince made an attempt to take it. “So long as you promise that accepting it means no further repercussions. Misthaven is safe from any further threats or acts of retaliation from you, and Emma is free to find love and happiness with whomever she chooses. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

“Papa, no!” Prince Neal protested. “You can’t just--”

“I can, and I have,” the Dark One clipped in a tone of censure before snatching the jar from Hook’s hand. Addressing the King and Queen, he confirmed, “Our deal has been satisfied. My son and I will now take our leave, but heed this… do not call upon me for aid ever again.”

“We won’t,” King David assured him. His eyes cut to Hook’s, relief and gratitude swimming within their depths, but before he could make any further statements another round of gasps rippled through the ballroom as the Dark One and Prince Neal were enveloped in a plume of dark smoke and vanished.

A heavy exhale fell over Hook’s lips and he stood, frozen, in the gazes of his friends, his sovereigns, his brother, and… his Emma.

“It’s you,” she said, her expression and voice void of any inflection he could identify as her eyes seemed to look past him to that far off place he’d seen her subconscious go when they were alone before. “You’re… him. We’ve… we’ve met before.”

“Aye, Your Highness,” he hedged. Her demeanor and lack of response to all that had just transpired made him hesitant to push her too far, too fast. “Moments ago in the corridor--”

“No… no, that’s not. I mean…” Her eyes refocused on him with a mixture of awe, disbelief, and something that hadn’t quite made its way to the surface yet swirling through their verdant beauty as she whispered, “It’s you, isn’t it? The man from my… you’re him.”

“Him… who?”

“My pirate,” she exhaled, stunning Hook to his core as she lifted a chain that had been concealed beneath the high neck of her white gown. Dangling from the delicate links was a familiar looking pendant. The seashell he had gifted her - after she’d plucked it from his desk, the little thief - he realized. The far off look returned as she murmured, “Not a day has gone by that I have not thought of you.”

His heart swelling, Hook elated, “Good,” and took a step towards her. The action, like all his actions since he’d revealed himself, was not met with the response he’d been hoping for.

Taking several steps back from him, Emma rounded on her parents and shouted, “You lied to me! You made me think it was all in my head! You knew! You knew why I felt so… wrong, so deficient. So… broken. My entire life I’ve… You knew about him all this time and you never--”

“You mustn’t blame them, love,” Hook insisted. “It’s not their fault. I made your mother promise never to tell--”

“Perhaps we should take this discussion elsewhere,” Snow said, making them all acutely aware of their audience. The societal vultures practically circling in anticipation of the feast such morsels of scandal might provide.

“That won’t be necessary,” Emma seethed. “There won’t be any more discussion, because I’m not interested in anything any of you have to say!”

Hook gaped when she raised her hand, calling forth magic to transport her from the ballroom in a plume of white smoke.

“She has magic?”

“She’s the product of True Love. Of course she has magic,” the Blue Fairy replied with a terse and exasperated tone, having made her way onto the dais to address her sovereigns and offer her assistance. “Your Majesties, perhaps it would be best for you to withdraw with the… captain, whilst the other fairies and I tend to your guests?”

“Yes,” Snow agreed. “Thank you, Blue.”

Hook followed his sovereigns and brother to an adjoining room where they could converse and continue their reunion in private, though none of them seemed to know where to begin.

“I think I ought to go and check on Em--”

“No,” Hook said, cutting off Snow. “Leave her be. She’s had a terrible shock and no doubt needs some time to work out all that’s…”

They stood there awkwardly for a moment more until reality set in. They were here, together, reunited at last, and in a synchronized heartbeat they suddenly found themselves in a united embrace, laughing and crying tears of joy and relief at finally having the nightmare of separation behind them.

“Admit it,” Hook demanded of David, wiping the vestiges of his emotional release from his eyes. “You were hedging your bets when you made that deal with the Dark One. You suspected The Law of Surprise would void it when the time came, didn’t you?” Turning towards his brother, Hook surmised, “That’s why you wouldn’t let me relinquish my claim and bestow it upon you.”

Sheepishly, Snow admitted, “Blue was the one who suggested the idea. We could not be sure, though, given your… uncertain future under Pan’s rule.”

“Speaking of,” Liam chimed in. “However did you manage to defeat the little bastard?”

“It’s a bit of a sordid tale,” Hook told them. “And one I do not wish to relive in detail. Suffice it to say, I managed to gain a certain amount of trust with Pan, which allowed me close access to him. Revealing some of his weaknesses. One of them being… squid ink.”

Liam led them over to the settees and they all sat down as he remarked, “Squid ink is no easy substance to obtain.”

“Aye,” Hook affirmed. “Fortunately, whilst on one of my missions for Pan, I ran into a mermaid who wished to leave her life in the sea behind. In exchange for safe passage, and because she felt bad for nearly crashing my ship upon rocky shoals when she enchanted me with her siren song, she gave me the squid ink she’d stolen from her father’s vault. Tink and I used the ink to subdue Pan.” Fiddling with his hook, he cast his eyes towards the floor as he confessed, “My hook did the rest.”

“And Pan’s death gave you… magic?”

“Not exactly.” Hook pulled back the sleeve of his right arm, exposing the cuff secured to his wrist. “This does,” he said, tapping it with the side of his hook. “It was Pan’s. He was never without it. I learned that it tethered the Shadow to him, acting as a conduit to the island’s power which he could then bend to his will. At first, I had no desire for it, but its use became necessary in order for me to begin to set things right.”

Hook told them how he and Tink had spent the past few months: squashing rebellions from those on the island still loyal to Pan, learning about the island’s magic while working with the Shadow to restore balance to her shores, and returning those he’d brought there under Pan’s order against their will.

“There is still much to be done, but when I heard about Emma’s betrothal, I…” Not wishing to tell anymore half-truths, or admit that the news of her betrothal had not been enough without Tink’s prompting, he let his words trail off. He hadn’t shared with them his misgivings in returning, allowing them to believe these other distractions had been the reason for his delay, causing guilt to churn in his gut as he sat amongst them.

“Where is Tinkerbell?” Snow asked, perhaps sensing the shift in his demeanor.

“She remained behind in Neverland,” Hook replied. “Awaiting further orders.”

“Further orders?” David parroted. “What more could you ask of her?”

“Not from me,” Hook assured. “From Blue.” Glancing down at the cuff on his wrist, he imparted, “The island should go to the fairies. They are the only ones who can truly wield and balance its power. I have no wish to be its sovereign forever, but...”

“But?”

Hook sighed. “All magic comes with a price, and the price of using this cuff is that it cannot be removed unless both the wearer and the island agree to its removal.” A wry smile pulled at the corner of his mouth and he cheekily added, “or unless the wearer is dead and no longer has a say in the matter.”

“I don’t…” Liam floundered. “I don’t understand what you--”

“The island won’t let me relinquish my connection with its magic,” Hook said. “After Pan, I believe it finds me preferable and won’t risk falling into the wrong sort of hands again. My hope is that the fairies might be able to convince the island to free me of the obligation, which is one of the reasons Tink remained there. To continue working towards that end until reinforcements arrive.”

“Well,” Snow said, standing and causing the men to follow suit. “That is something we can certainly discuss in greater detail tomorrow. For now,” she turned to her husband and with a firm, yet regal, look, declared, “we really must return to our guests and assure them that all is well.”

“Of course,” David agreed. “You’re right. The gossip mill is no doubt having a field day and our allies deserve whatever reassurances we can give them.”

“My apologies for creating a spectacle.” Hook gave his sovereigns a chagrined and contrite look, but they quickly waved off his self-condemnation.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Snow assured him.

“Snow is right,” David asserted. “Without you, we’d likely be preparing for war with the Dark One. You saved us… again.”

Hook grinned and nonchalantly scratched behind his ear. “I imagine another boon might be in order then?”

David shot him a less than amused look. “I’m not granting you another Law of Surprise, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“Though we do not plan to have any more children, I agree with Charming,” Snow said, a hint of amusement coloring her words. “Once was more than enough.”

Hook sobered at the reminder of his Emma, and the mess he’d made of things between them.

“You owe me nothing,” he said. “It isn’t as though I’ve lived up to the last--”

“Enough of that,” Snow admonished. “I know things may not have gone as you’d hoped with Emma, but tomorrow is a new day. Let me have a room made up for you, and tomorrow we can all--”

“Thank you, Snow, but I think I’d rather return to my ship.” When Liam opened his mouth to protest, Hook assured him. “I’ll remain in port. I won’t leave without discussing the matter with you first, I just… I need…”

“Much has changed for you, too, little brother,” Liam acknowledged.

“Aye,” Hook admitted. “Freedom is not something I’ve had much practice with, and I’m still getting my bearings. Still trying to decide what I want to do with my life.”

“You know you always have a home here, right?” David said, placing a heavy hand upon his shoulder. “A place to belong.”

“I appreciate that, Your Majesty,” Hook said, hoping his eyes reflected just how much that fact meant to him. “But do you honestly think things can go back to how they would have been if you’d never sent us to Neverland? Or if we’d all managed to return from the accursed mission?”

David flinched and his features twisted into an expression of guilt and regret.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Hook said, now placing his own hand on his sovereign's shoulder. “I do not blame you. I have never blamed you, but let’s not pretend I can just take my place within your navy and serve as captain of one of your ships. For one, I am no longer a man who takes orders from others willingly, and two… what crew would wish to serve under the likes of me? A pirate. A blackguard.”

“No one is suggesting we pretend the past twenty years did not happen,” Liam said. “There is much to work out, much to resolve and decide upon. For you… and for Emma.”

David’s expression shifted and he now regarded Hook in a way the pirate had never experienced before. Not as his sovereign, nor as his friend, but as a father. A rather protective father. A protective father who might have just registered the charged interactions the pirate and his daughter had shared in the ballroom.

“Indeed,” the man said with a slightly hardened edge on his words. “Perhaps we should have a talk about your intentions with my daughter.”

“Charming,” Snow scolded, saving Hook from having to respond. “Now is not the time.” Squaring her shoulders and taking up her regal posture, the queen declared, “While these matters are all important and worthy of our time and thoughtful consideration, the more pressing issue awaits us in the ballroom.” Fixing her eyes on Liam, she continued, “David and I will need your diplomacy in dealing with our allies. You and the fairies are our ambassadors for the duration of the event.” Shifting her attention to Hook, she offered, “You are welcome to stay, however, it may be best if--”

“If it is all the same to you, Your Majesty,” Hook interrupted, “I think I’d prefer to take my leave for the evening and return to my ship.”

Giving him an acquiescing nod, Snow replied, “Very well. Let us all get through this evening and get ourselves as restful of a night’s sleep as we can. We will then reconvene tomorrow.”

“And Emma?” Hook inquired.

Snow and David shared a quick look of solidarity, then confirmed with a glance towards Liam before affirming, “We will leave her be, for now. As you requested.”

Their silent recognition and acceptance of his sovereignty in Emma’s life both relieved and disquieted him. He’d meant what he’d said to Tink about not being her lord and master, but he would not hesitate to advocate for her if he felt those around her were not acting in her best interest. She needed time. They both did.

“Then I shall bid you all a good night,” Hook said, not waiting for them to reciprocate before transporting himself back to the Jolly Roger in a swirl of crimson, in dire need of a refuge where he himself could process all that had come to pass this evening.

~/~

Hook’s jaw cracked from the wide yawn he released early the next morning, his body stiff and feeling its true age as he went about his normal routine, shuffling through his cabin in naught but his skin. He’d managed to pull on his leather pants, leaving them loosely tied around his waist, when he heard a voice drifting towards him from the dock.

“Ahoy! Captain, are you there?” a woman’s voice softly called out. From the tentative tone and reserved volume, he could tell she was trying to draw as little attention to herself as possible. It mattered not, though. He’d know that voice anywhere.

Hastily, Hook pulled on his shirt, a few of the buttons he kept fastened in the front slipped free from their closures, leaving his chest completely exposed. Forgoing his boots or even bothering to check the state of his hair, he rushed from his quarters and onto the deck, stopping short at the sight of his Emma standing atop the gangplank, just shy of the deck. The morning sun bathed her in an ethereal glow, silhouetting her form, which was adorned in her riding apparel, hugging her curves and highlighting her shapely legs in a way that had Hook glad he’d left his trousers loose.

Shaking those thoughts from his mind, Hook continued to approach her, only now taking in her observations of him. Rather wide-eyed and pinked cheeked observations, he noted with a self-satisfied smirk.

“Princess?” he said, pulling her from her own thoughts, his breath catching at the way she wet her lips before clearing her throat.

“I apologize for arriving so early and unannounced,” she said, straightening her posture before inquiring, “Permission to come aboard, Captain?”

Hook grinned and closed the space between them with swaggering steps, holding out his hand to assist her. “Permission granted, Your Highness.”

When her feet hit the boards of the deck they stood there for a long moment, her hand still tucked in his as she took in the sight of his ship. When her gaze lifted to the mainsail a shudder ran down her spine. Though he was unsure how much she remembered from that night long ago when she last stood there, Hook was certain he knew what had caused her response.

“I sent him back,” he assured her, his voice low and soft.

“Who?”

“The Shadow. He’s the reason the sail is typically black, but I won’t need him until it is time for me to return to…”

Sensing this topic made her uneasy, his words trailed off and she pulled her hand from his. Noises from further up the dock grabbed their attention momentarily and Hook caught sight of her horse hitched at one of the posts, alone.

“Did you come here unaccompanied?”

“Yes,” she replied, uneasiness once again taking hold of her tone and demeanor. “I hadn’t planned it. I was out for my morning ride, clearing my head when…” Looking about she asked, “Is there somewhere we could go? Somewhere more private where we might converse?”

“Of course,” he said, not faulting her for not wanting to be seen fraternizing with him. “Follow me, Your Highness.”

He led her to his quarters and stopped at the threshold, allowing her entrance as he hung back. A soft gasp fell from her lips.

“It’s… it’s just as I remembered,” she whispered under her breath, taking in every detail of his cabin. “I thought you were a dream,” she confessed, though he wasn’t certain she was actually talking to him, her gaze far away and her words almost murmured to herself.

“I thought the whole thing was a nightmare.” Her hands skimmed over the top of his desk, pausing at his hook which he’d failed to secure in his brace before going on deck. “The shadow that kidnapped me, the dark island, the glass cage, the boy…” Her eyes flicked up, meeting his as she continued in a whisper, “The pirate.” Wetting her lips, her gaze never wavered even if his did briefly drop down to her mouth. “You’re real. You were real all this time.”

“Aye.”

Picking up his hook, she turned it over in her hands. “This is the hook you used to attach yourself to the barrel? The one my mother later gifted you?”

“How did you know--”

Setting it down she leaned back against his desk and let out a heavy breath. “I talked with them last night,” she told him. “My parents. After the ball, I demanded they tell me everything.” Her gaze dropped for a moment, then her eyes snapped up to his, determination shining from their depths. His princess was on a mission for the truth. “Did you really not know of my existence until Pan had…”

“No,” he confirmed. “I had no idea the King and Queen had a child, nor that the child was the fulfillment of the Surprise your father had granted me until Pan kidnapped you.”

Nodding her head in acceptance of his word her demeanor shifted slightly, her shoulders relaxing and her gaze softening.

“I want to apologize for the way I behaved last night,” she said. “How I reacted when you…” Her contrite expression gave way to one tinged with anger as she continued. “The morning after Neverland, when I woke up, everyone acted as though it hadn’t happened. My being kidnapped. My parents insisted I had dreamt the whole thing, even Blue made me think I’d…” Her hands gripped the edge of his desk, her knuckles turning white as she continued to lean against it for support, and it took everything within him to not go to her and offer himself as an anchor for her feelings of hurt and betrayal. “My whole life I have been sheltered, not allowed to make decisions for myself, feeling as though something… vital was missing from my life, yet unable to seek it out. Made to feel as though I were mad, because of this dream that would not leave me.”

Swallowing hard, she glanced around his cabin once more before her eyes fell shut. A deep breath filled her chest, followed by a cleansing exhale. When she opened her eyes the anger was gone, but a sadness lingered. Hook would do anything to alleviate it, but he knew she was not finished. There was still so much she needed to work through, to process, to accept, and he would give her the space to do all of it.

“Last night,” she carried on, “when the betrothal bond failed, I truly thought it was because my vows had been a lie. I thought I was standing up to Neal and his father, taking control of my destiny for the first time in my life, only to discover my future was never my own to control, because of another agreement my father made before I was even born.”

Hook winced. “I am sorry, Princess. Truly.” Pushing off from the doorway where he’d been leaning against the jamb, Hook took a few steps into the cabin, stopping at the corner of his bunk. “It was never my intention to leave you feeling powerless or alone. If I could go back, I’d--”

“You don’t have to apologize,” she said, her voice sincere and her eyes full of forgiveness. “You had no way of knowing what the Surprise would be, and with what George did to my mother, who would have ever guessed? I don’t blame you for how my life--”

“You shouldn’t blame your father either, Your Highness,” Hook said in defense of his sovereign. “He had no way of knowing either, otherwise you would never have become my Surprise.”

“True.” She crossed her hands over her chest, a hardened expression once more tightening her features. “The blame belongs to Blue and my mother.”

“What?” Hook balked.

Meeting his gaze, she informed him, “Blue knew about the barrel. She saw it listed on the inventory that was taken when the Jewel made it back with the survivors. They must have put it in the hold when they fished it and you from the sea. Blue could not be sure it had not been corrupted, so she gave the water to my mother without her knowing. It wasn’t until weeks later, when my mother came to Blue worried that something was terribly wrong with her, that Blue confessed what she’d done. She told my mother it was still too early to know for certain and that she should wait to tell my father until she was further along, then later that very same day…”

“He granted me the Law of Surprise.”

“My mother knew he intended to reward you for your bravery and sacrifice, but said she had no idea it would be… Father said it hadn’t even occurred to him to grant it to you until the moment before he declared it. So, no. I do not blame my father.”

Stepping forward, Hook closed the gap between them and took her hand in his. “I will not tell you how you ought to feel, Princess. I just urge you to not let anger and blame linger in your heart for too long. I know what it is like to let such emotions fester, letting darkness creep in and take root in your spirit, giving it a foothold in your soul. Learn from my mistakes, love. Resist it.”

“Why couldn’t you?”

Running his thumb over the back of her knuckles, he softly imparted, “For many years during my first deal with Pan, I didn’t think I had anything to live for. The demon made me a pirate and I became a villain, unworthy of association with people like your parents or my brother. I had resigned myself to a life of exile and wasn’t certain I’d even return to Misthaven, until…”

“Until… what?”

“Until I met you.” How he wished he still had his other hand so he could take both of hers in his grasp, instead, he settled for threading their fingers together. “I wanted to be a better man for you, Princess. I knew Pan would still require a villain, but I was determined to defeat him by any means necessary so that I could take back my own power and control my own destiny.”

“So… what now?” she asked, a soft tremble quaking through her words.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…” she wet her lips, trying her best to hide her trepidations. “Your expectations. You said you returned in order to claim that which--”

“I said all that in an attempt to stop a war from brewing, and so you might be freed from a deal you never wished to be a part of,” he quickly assured her. “I know all too well the perils of making deals with demons, and it is a fate I would not wish upon anyone, least of all you.” Hook lifted their hands and cradled hers against his chest. “I have no expectations of you, love. I only wish to… to try and make up for lost time. To get to know you and have you get to know me. Fate may very well have its own plan, but as far as I’m concerned, whatever we become to one another is as much up to you as it is to me.”

A smile curled at the corners of her lips. “I’d hoped I hadn’t made that up about you,” she said. “I am glad to know you are, indeed, a man of honor and good form… just as I remembered you to be.”

Hook cocked his head to one side, his brows furrowed as he asked, “If you’ve always remembered the kidnapping, then why did you not recognize me in the alcove last night?”

“My memories weren’t… detailed,” she told him. “More like fragments. Impressions.” Looking past him, she began to call forth some of those memories. “I remembered you were a pirate. I remembered the silver fastenings of your waistcoat and the fact that you had dark hair, and I remembered… your eyes. They were probably the most vivid thing about you that I remembered.” Flicking her gaze up to his, she went on to say, “The truth of a person can always be found in their eyes.” Dipping her head, she demurred, “I’ve always been pretty good at knowing when someone is lying to me. It’s always in the eyes. I knew, from the moment I looked into yours, that I could trust you. That you were telling the truth about taking me home. Your eyes told me I’d be safe with you.” Locking her eyes with his, she wistfully admitted, “I’ve thought about your eyes so many times over the years.”

Her cheeks reddened and she suddenly could not meet his gaze. Hook wondered what other thoughts she might have had about her dream pirate as she grew older, but held back from making a saucy quip, allowing her to move past him towards his bookcase. Truth be told, he could do with a bit of space between them as well.

“My parents tell me that though you are finally free of Pan, there are still loose ends for you to tie up in Neverland.” Distracting herself she focused her attention on the contents of his shelves, picking through the books and lifting the lids on a few of the boxes. “Once that is done, what do you intend to do with your newfound freedom?”

“Honestly?” Hook exhaled heavily. “I’m not sure.” A tinkling melody filled the room when she lifted the top of what turned out to be a music box, hastily letting it fall shut before turning apologetic eyes towards him.

“Sorry,” she muttered, running her hands down the front of her riding jacket before clasping them in front of herself. “You were saying?”

Hook chuckled, then sobered a bit when he remembered what he was about to reveal. “I was saying, I’m not sure what I’ll do once my duty to Neverland is complete. I would like to return to Misthaven, I just… I’m not certain I have a place here any longer.” Fiddling with a few of the items on his desk, he added, “Of course, there are people here whom I wish to build relationships with.”

“Like your brother?”

“Aye,” he replied, lifting his gaze towards her. “Among others.” He paused, hoping she knew she was at the top of those considerations. “I have missed so much, and while I realize he is now old enough to be mistaken as my father, Liam is the only family I have left.” They both shared a quick laugh over that observation before he declared, “I do not want to miss any more of his life, or anyone else’s of importance to me.

Emma hummed, her eyes cast down towards her feet, perhaps unable to meet his gaze because of the intensity of it. “I’d imagine you’d want the chance to get to know his wife and your nephews as well.”

Her words rocked Hook to his core. “What?”

Emma’s head snapped up, her eyes widening and her jaw dropping from the realization. “I’m so sorry! I thought… I thought you knew!”

Hook slumped down on the edge of his bed, a new sense of melancholy and injustice washing over him as he ran his hand through his hair and pulled at the strands in the back. “How long has he… how old are his… why did he not…”

“They’ve been married almost ten years, and have two sons. Her name is Belle and she’s…”

Emma paused when Hook buried his face in his hand. So much time wasted. The toll of the years Pan had stolen from him never seemed to cease in its increase.

The sound of the music box filled his cabin once more, prompting Hook to look up from his sorrows. Tentatively, Emma approached.

“I wish there was something I could do about the time that was taken from you and your brother. I wish I had words of wisdom or answers that might guide you towards what’s next, but I don’t. All I can do in this moment is… make good on a promise I gave you last night.”

Confused, Hook could only stare at her, until she clarified, “I believe I owe you a waltz?”

Hook huffed out an amused breath. Reaching up he pawed at the patch of skin behind his ear and confessed, “I know I instigated that, but truth be told… I haven’t danced a waltz in over twenty years.”

“Well,” she replied, clearly not letting him off the proverbial hook. “Good thing for you there is only one rule.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet before wrapping his braced arm around her waist. Taking his hand in hers she flicked up her gaze and murmured, “Pick a partner who knows what they’re doing.”

She took the lead until muscle memory returned, then Hook glided them around his cabin, holding her close and marveling at how she’d been able to pull him from his sulliness with such a simple act of kindness.

His Emma was a marvel, to be sure.

“Do you, Princess?” he asked, causing her brows to pinch together as her head tilted to one side. “Do you know what you’re doing?” he clarified, his voice low and hushed, wanting to keep the moment tender despite the question burning at the back of his throat. “What you are going to do now that the threat of Pan and your obligation to marry Prince Neal has been lifted?”

Chewing her lip, she gave the inquiry her considerations before drawing closer to him. Moving her hand from his shoulder to toy with the back of his neck, she sent a cascade of shivers down his spine as she addressed his question with one of her own.

“Did you know that other than the night I was taken to Neverland, this is the furthest I have even been from the castle?”

That piece of information shocked him, though he knew it should not have. Her existence had been kept a secret for the first half of her life because of George, and the threat of Pan had kept her parents cautious for the past decade. Fear had made his sovereigns hypervigilant with their greatest treasure, so no, it should not have surprised him that they’d kept her close to home, safe behind the castle walls, never straying from the grounds.

“I have never left these shores. Never seen the beauty or experienced the culture of other realms, or met anyone who wasn’t thoroughly vetted by my parents.” Wetting her lips, her eyes fell to the charms hanging around his neck, but Hook knew her gaze was far away once again. “I know I have a duty and obligation to my kingdom, my people, and my parents, but…”

“But?”

Glancing back up with a slight expression of guilt pulling at her features, she murmured, “I can't help but wonder if my brother, Leo, was the fates way of allowing me to… That is… I know I should not wish to burden him unnecessarily, it’s just that--”

“Where would you go first?” Hook asked, still swirling them around his cabin, maneuvering their bodies with the same ease in which he attempted to change the course of their conversation. “If you had the means to go anywhere, where would you go first?”

“Neverland.”

Her quick and unexpected reply had him stopping them in their tracks. “Neverland? Why?”

Once again, she worried her lip, her breath hitching shallowly in her chest. “As much as I long to see the world, the memory of the one time I left Misthaven still haunts me,” she said, her voice a tad unsure at first, though it gained a sense of certainty and resolve as she continued on. “I want to go back so I can face it. So I can put the fear it has held over my life behind me, once and for all.”

When she flicked her gaze up to his, something new stirred within those seaglass depths and the effect of it seemed to hum between them, electrifying the atmosphere of his cabin.

“I want to see what sort of place it is now. With Pan gone. I want to know how it has fared under your rule. How it’s changed due to your influence and direction.” Swaying closer to one another, she was practically a hair’s breadth away when she murmured, “I want to see it for myself in the hopes that…”

“That what?”

Her eyes fell to his mouth and his pulse quickened.

“That it proves that I am… not wrong about you.”

It took his mind several skips of his heartbeat to register the feel of her lips against his, but once it did, instinct took over. His braced arm pressed into the small of her back, bringing her even closer to him, their chests nearly touching with the only obstacle between them being her hand. Her fingers curled through his chest hair, pulling a groan from the back of his throat that vibrated against her lips as his own slanted across them. Threading his fingers through her hair, he wrapped his hand around the base of her skull so he could position her head to his liking, deepening the kiss and coaxing her lips apart with his tongue.

The taste of her was captivating. He could spend the rest of his life drinking her in yet never be satisfied, always wanting more, always needing more… of her. Just her. His Emma.

However, now was not the time for more, and from the gentle, yet insistent, press of her hand against his chest, it was evident that his princess was not ready for what could come next if they continued down this path of passion.

“That was…” he whispered against her lips, chasing them without thought.

“Destiny?” She giggled, her nerves and inexperience quivering through her laugh.

Brushing his nose against hers, he loosened his hold, creating some space between them while assuring her, “As I said before, I have no expectations of you, no expectations for what might happen between us or what we might come to mean to one another. Only… only hope and a promise.”

“What promise would that be?”

“I promise to do whatever it takes to win your heart, Princess. I promise, that for as long as it pleases you, I’ll be here, at your service.” Taking her hand in his, Hook vowed, “I will take you to Neverland, and any other realm you wish to see. I will remain by your side, even if, one day, it is only to stand in support of my future queen.”

“What about Liam?” she said, clearly overjoyed by the prospects he’d laid out whilst harbouring some guilt that their fulfillment would take him away from his brother.

“My brother will be here whenever we choose to return,” he comforted. “Besides… he has his own life to live, and whether he chooses to acknowledge it or not, he’s been shouldering a duty and responsibility he was never meant to carry.”

“Are you suggesting I’ve been burdensome to your brother?” Her tone was laced with offense, but it was betrayed by the teasing expression she could not keep from her features.

“Oh, yes,” he cheeked back, winding his arms around her waist. “Quite the burden you are. How will I ever bear being bonded by the fates to Your Highness?”

“Hmmm,” she hummed, running her palms up his chest then wrapping her arms around his neck. “Perhaps, you could start by calling me by my name, Captain.”

“As you wish… Emma,” he obliged on an exhale.

She graced him with a smile, then asked, “And you? How may I address you? Or do you prefer Captain?”

He wouldn’t deny the pleasure it gave him, hearing her call him Captain, and he was about to make a tawdry statement attesting to that fact when his eye caught a glimpse of his hook, still sitting atop his desk.

“Call me…” he said, his voice choked and barely able to utter the name he’d long abandoned. “Killian. Please, Emma. Call me Killian.”

“Killian.”

The sound of his name on her breath shot a thrill of wonder up his spine. His lips crashed against hers and they both surrendered to the destiny fate had planned for them long ago.

Which, honestly, should not have come as a… surprise.

Thank you all for going on this journey with me! I hope you enjoyed the ride!

Tagging the Curious Crew: (add to tag list)

(Please be advised that I only keep one tag list for all fic updates and new works. If at any time you wish to be removed, just shoot me an ask or a DM. No worries.)

@paradiselady19 @aprilqueen84 @kmomof4 @mie779 @donteattheappleshook @stahlop @anmylica @undercaffinatednightmare @zaharadessert @karl0ta @booksteaandtoomuchtv @courtorderedcake @superchocovian @pirateherokillian @ultraluckycatnd @jennjenn615 @the-darkdragonfly @jonesfandomfanatic @wyntereyez @xarandomdreamx @teamhook @winterbaby89 @justanother-unluckysoul @whimsicallyenchantedrose @badwolfreturns @deckerstarblanche @tiganasummertree @jrob64 @resident-of-storybrooke @motherkatereloyshipper @lfh1226-linda @youherotype @kday426 @snowbellewells @alexa-fangirl-forever @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @unworried-corsair @justanotherflailgirl @sals86 @natascha-ronin @livykatelin00-blog @jackieorioncat @annep1 @ilovemesomekillianjones @soniccat @youplaylikeagirl @th3capta1n @cocohook38 @zippoluv @bizquake

#cs ff #cs fic #csff #csfic #cs au #captain swan #captain duckling #the law of surprise #cssns23 #words by hollye

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ouchmaster6000 · 2 months ago

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About Me:

Age: Legal, but sometimes wish I was a shota in an Oneshota hentai.

Gender: Incubus Subby Boy

Sex: Rough and Pelvis-Shattering please.

Orientation: Femdom-sexual

Politics: Druella’s radical faction and the Monster Girl Supremacist Party

Religion: IA! IA! SHUB-NIGGURATH! BLACK GOAT OF THE WOODS WITH A THOUSAND YOUNG!!!

Favorite food: Pussy

Favorite color: Purple

DNI if:

You are a bot.

That's it.

As a general rule, I don't block people unless I suspect they are not actually a person. I think it's cowardly.

My Digimon Sideblog: @picodart

My Invader Zim Sideblog: @hideousspacebug

My Monster Girl Sideblog: @mamonoparadise

Anime / Manga I love:

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Soul Eater, Kill la Kill, Death Note, Panty & stocking with Garterbelt, Digimon Adventure, Digimon Tamers, Digimon Frontier, Digimon Savers, Digimon Ghost Game, Future Diary, Deadman Wonderland, Shiki, Familiar of Zero, Re: Zero, Overlord, Rising of the Shield Hero, Mushoku Tensei, Akame Ga Kill, Chained Soldier, Blood+, Madoka Magica, Rosario + Vampire, Monster Musume, Is this a Zombie?, Nyaruko-san, MM!, Little Witch Academia, Magical Witch Punie-chan, Queen’s Blade, Senran Kagura, Valkyrie Drive, Franken Fran, Tomie, Uzumaki, Junji Ito Manga, Promised Neverland, Parasyte, Sankarea, Princess Resurrection, Plus-sized Elf, 12 Beast, Creature Girls, Interspecies Reviewers, Elder Sister-like One, Love in Hell, Prison School, Domina no Do!, Don’t Toy with Me Miss Nagatoro, Freezing, Machimaho, World’s End Harem, Sin: Seven Mortal Sins, Qwaser of Stigmata, High school DxD, Heaven’s Lost Property, Date a Live, Zombie Land Saga, Gushing Over Magical Girls, Mitsudome, Yondemasu Yo! Azazel-san, Redo of Healer, Vandread, Monster Girl Doctor, Kandagawa Jet Girls, Keijo!!!!!!!!, Konosuba, Cautious Hero, Full Dive, Uncle from Another World, Akiba Maid War, Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan, Asobi Asobase, Darling in the FRANXX, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Manyu Hikenchou!, Dropkick on My Devil, Dorohedoro, Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun, Astarotte’s Toy, Kodomo no Jikan, Fire Force, FLCL, Space Dandy, Hoozuki no Reitetsu, Detroit Metal City, Higurashi: When They Cry, Elfen Lied, Hell Girl, Rozen Maiden, Magical Pokkan, My Life as Inukai-san’s Dog, Peter Grill & the Philosopher’s Time, Maken-Ki, Kanokon, Moetan, Uzamaid, Happy Sugar Life, Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle, Miss Caretaker of Sunohara-sou, Gleipnir, BNA, SSSS. Gridman, Chainsaw Man, Fairy Tail, Papillon Rose, Paradise of Innocence, Berserk, Monster Wrestling: Interspecies Combat Girls, Welcome to Succubus High, Boy Soprano, Mai-chan’s Daily Life, Koro Koro Soushi, Shiragasane

Cartoons I love:

Invader Zim, Avatar, Legend of Korra, Venture Bros, Metalocalypse, Rick & Morty, South Park, Futurama, the Simpsons, Harley Quinn, Teen Titans, Young Justice, Batman: the Animated Series, Batman Beyond, The Batman, Green Lantern, X-Men: Evolution, X-Men the Animated Series, Spectacular Spider-Man, Spider-Man: the Animated Series, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Evil con Carne, Xiaolin Showdown, PowerPuff Girls, AAAHH!!! Real Monsters, Kablam!, Action League Now, Ed Edd n Eddy, Codename: Kids Next Door, Angry Beavers, Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, Gravity Falls, Ren & Stimpy, Jimmy Neutron, Beetlejuice

Live Action Shows I love:

Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, X-Files, The Lone Gunmen, Reaper, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Star Trek: the Next Generation, Dexter, Gotham, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Legion, The Gifted, Jessica Jones, Runaways

Movies (and movie series) I love:

Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Sweeny Todd, Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie, Coraline, Paranorman, Alien, Hellraiser, Nightbreed, The Thing, In the Mouth of Madness, Prince of Darkness, They Live, The Fly, Videodrome, The Brood, Dagon, From Beyond, Re-Animator, Call of Cthulhu, The Whisperer in Darkness, Necronomicon, The Resurrected, The Void, The Mist, Event Horizon, Pandorum, Dark City, The Faculty, Trick r Treat, Cabin in the Woods, Return of the Living Dead, Army of Darkness, Marebito, Audition, Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl, Vampire Hunter D, 12 Monkeys, Brazil, Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, Pirates of the Caribbean, Men in Black, Galaxy Quest, Addams Family, Batman, Batman Returns, Dark Knight Trilogy, The Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Joker, X-Men, Deadpool, Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: Ragnarok

Comic Books I love:

Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Squee!, I Feel Sick, Filler Bunny, Lenore the Cute Little Dead Girl, Serenity Rose, Nightmares & Fairy Tales, Courtney Crumrin, Vampire Cheerleaders, Princess Lucinda, Witch Girls Adventures, Cthulhu Tales, Fall of Cthulhu, Hack / Slash, Bomb Queen, X-Men, New Mutants, Excalibur, X-Statix, X-Force, Deadpool, She-Hulk, Spider-Man, Venom, Batman, Batgirl, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Birds of Prey, Secret Six, Suicide Squad, Teen Titans, Outsiders, Wonder Woman, Calvin & Hobbes, Pearls Before Swine, The Far Side

Books I love:

Monster Girl Encyclopedia, Cthulhu Mythos, Books by H.P. Lovecraft, The Hellbound Heart, Cabal, Mr. B. Gone, Books by Clive Barker, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, D&D Novels, Greyhawk Novels, Forgotten Realms Novels, War of the Spider Queen, Magic the Gathering Novels, Warhammer 40k novels, Horus Heresy: Primarchs, Goosebumps

Book series I wanna read someday soon:

Horus Heresy (main series), Legend of Drizzt (Have only read comic adaptation)

Tabletop Games I love:

Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Warhammer 40k, Magic the Gathering, Weiss Schwarz, Digimon, Pokemon

Video Games I love:

Senran Kagura, Digimon Cyber Sleuth, Digimon World 2, Pokemon, Disgaea, Skullgirls, Soul Calibur, Injustice, Marvel vs. Capcom, Darkstalkers, Blaz Blue, Guilty Gear, Baldur’s Gate 3, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Warhammer: Rogue Trader, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bioshock 2, Nightmare Ned, Goosebumps: Escape from Horrorland, Gal Gun, Femdom University, Breeders of the Nephelym, Monster Girl Island, Escalation, Dominatrix Simulator

Video Games I like the lore / setting / characters of, but still need to play / havent played much:

Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Resident Evil, Nier Automata, Valkyrie Drive, Kandagawa Jet Girls, Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Digimon Survive, the rest of the Digimon World Games, a bunch of other Warhammer games.

Favorite Bands / Musical Artists:

Dethklok, Galaktikon, Lordi, Disturbed, Slipknot, Sorrowseed, Sinergy, Blackthorn, Creature Feature, Rufus Rex, Nightwish, Power Wolf, Patron Saint of Plagues, Tridevil, Voltaire, Stephen Lynch, Weird Al Yankovic, Gygax, String Storm, Abominable Intelligence, AmaLee, Ali Project, Necronomidol, BabyMetal, Myth & Roid, Yousei Teikoku, TeddyLoid, Kevin Manthei, Danny Elfman, Yasuharu Takanashi

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fountainpenguin · 2 months ago

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"I am a lost boy from Neverland, usually hanging out with Peter Pan..." (x)

---

New Dog's Life chapter today! ~ 3rd Life series fan-season

Chapter 41 - “Wednesday: Patience Zero”

❤️ Read on AO3

💛 Start from Chapter 1

💚 More Pixels Imperfect fics

---

“He’s cheating on me- Ren, this hurts so much. You’re so lucky you were never into me, dude; this hurts so much…”

Ren's restful morning at the phantom squall goes awry when BigB arrives with a Grian-shaped problem in tow. Also, Impulse takes a look inside himself. Something there ain't right…

(First 1,000 words under the cut)

---

Renthedog

Location: Phantom squall, Midsouth District, Rose House Pergola

🖤 🌕 🖤

Breakfast at the monthly phantom squall is always a delight, even when they can’t get the full flock in Between. Real icebreaker on full moon nights and the pancakes and milk are free. Plus, you get to watch glittery, shirtless beasts tear into each other, really going at it with their fangs and claws and snapping wings. And since his hands can’t respawn until he’s through a cycle, he’s got Martyn feeding him early morning treats. What could be better?

Poor Impy, Ren thinks anyway, accepting a bite of pancake from Martyn’s fork. Rosejoy’s first spar was meant to be for show, and she won’t get to do a proper fight until they finish making their way up the ranks to her beta. It’ll only be a real match if the guy challenges her legit instead of just for show. That could take hours; it’s the way of the world.

So Rosejoy’s keeping busy by bothering Impulse instead, pestering with comments like “Why aren’t you the captain?” and the more sniffled “I could totally whip Bdubs’ tail, and I’m not just saying that to sound cool.” Impulse looks a weird mix of bugged and flattered. Ren can tell. It’s in the way he bats his tattered demon wings, flaunting even if he can’t play the game.

“Yo, Rosejoy!” Ren calls out. When she twists around, he whispers to Martyn, “Lift the cup, lift the cup,” and Martyn scrambles to do exactly that. He hoists it as though in toast. “You wanna have a go with me? I’m not a phantom, but I think I could take you.”

“Yeah,” Martyn chimes in. “With both hands cycling through the system!”

Rosejoy blinks. “Uh… I’m not into playing with you.”

Nonetheless, Impulse mouths his thanks and takes that moment to slip off. Rosejoy looks around like she can’t believe the massive hunk of junk got away. She hmphs and scampers off on all fours like a squirrel. Well. Problem solved. Ren shrugs, Martyn shrugs too, and they work together so Ren can drink his final sip of milk. Martyn’s chant of “Chug, chug, chug,” drowns in the noise of whatever low-rank fight is happening onstage.

“Ah… Delicious. I wish we had cocoa beans.”

“We do on Dog’s Life,” Martyn says, refilling the cup. Milk sloshes from the pitcher across his wrist; he jumps. His eyes dart up for just a moment before dropping down again. The cup moves towards Ren’s mouth once more. “If you and Joel let me join the flock, I could take care of you all the time.”

“Oh, yes… You know I have fun when you’re around, dude, but you know Joel. He’s…”

“-your captain.”

“One of those, yeah.” Ren takes the sip. Martyn watches in silence, but his tail coils at the tip.

“I hear you… But c’mon, chief- Put in a good word for me and I’ll be at your beck and call. We could take these losers by storm; you know that.”

“You can fight Joel, if you want. That’d be fun to watch.” Ren clears his throat. “For the content.”

Martyn rolls his eyes. The false plant beside him rustles its leaves. “Ren,” someone hiss-whispers, and Ren’s ears prick up. He and Martyn turn as one to the plant. BigB? That sounds just like him; Ren knows the man well after all these years. He sits up, trying to brace his weight on the bandaged stumps of his hands. Ow. Ow.

“BigB, hey! What’s shaking, man?”

“What,” Martyn cuts in, “is that sound?”

Ren hears it too in that moment- the throaty, chirpy call that snaps his code from flame to ice. BigB pokes his head from the leaves, pressing both hands together. He’s not the source of the chirp… and Ren’s ears quiver.

Uh-oh…

“Ren, please… I need your help! It’s Grian. He’s…” BigB struggles with the words a sec, then throws out his arms, gesturing vaguely behind him. “He’s gone total nonverbal on me, dude. I don’t know how to fix this! I’ve never seen him act this way.”

“You flared him?” Ren asks, jumping up. Martyn catches him, stabilizing him, but Ren shuffles to the plant without his help (leaving Martyn to untangle his tail from his chair). BigB’s antennae quiver and he flushes cyan. He parts the plant leaves further, using one cookie-patterned wing to gesture to the hybrid pressed up behind him. At the sight of Ren and Martyn, Grian starts and shifts behind BigB. Still… he butts his head against BigB’s shoulder. His wings, usually scarlet mixed with gold and blue, glitter purple and translucent now like glossy resin. Pretty sparkles…

Ren flicks his eyes back and forth between them. He looks at Martyn. Martyn… gawks. He looks at Grian, looks at Ren, then turns to look at the phantom squall behind them. They’d been sitting off to the side to begin with; most eyes still seem centered on the fight. “Should I get Etho?” he asks. “I think he’s around.”

Get Etho? For a flare? Grian nuzzles into BigB’s arm, hands all over him like he’ll climb on his shoulder if given the chance. He might try, even without golden carrots to buff the touch barrier… It’s a full moon flare and parrots are programmed to do that. BigB turns to catch him and Ren says, “I don’t think there’s anything Etho can do? Doc’s still working on the server core; we just have to wait it out. Get him somewhere safe. Is his room okay?”

“Oh.” Martyn leans forward with more interest now. “Wait- Is this a flare? I’ve never seen one before. I mean, I never got that talk from my parents.”

Yeah, what’s with the flare? Ren turns on BigB again, who throws him a guilty look as blue sparks flush his cheeks. “I’m flattered you came to me, dude, but…” Ren holds up his injured arms. “I need a respawn before I’ll be much help.” He holds back; he holds back. He doesn’t press for details- doesn’t ask why in Between BigB thought this would be a good idea. “Hey, hey,” he says, shuffling forward as the twittery, chirping Grian makes another attempt to clamber into BigB’s arms. “Okay… It’s okay, dude; these things happen. Who’s his contact? Mumbo’s over there.”

“His contact for what?” BigB asks, blinking like his vision’s bleary. It probably is- his and Grian’s pixels crackle and blur around their faces. Grian’s whining now, flapping his wings. He wants to go up. In fact, as Ren watches, Grian backs up several steps and smacks his wings for take-off. Oh, snap. Ren gets between them fast, wrenching BigB around the plant. Flip no! If BigB’s saying No, he’s saying No. Ren snaps his fangs at Grian and settles on a growl. Grian squawks and tucks in his wings… but he doesn’t back away.

“Ren?” Martyn asks. “What… What’s going on? Can I help?”

“He’s flared,” Ren says over his shoulder, but when both Martyn and BigB make their verbal question mark noise back at him, he clarifies as, “He needs supervision. He’s flared and moon-riled. Since it’s a full moon night, he’s tipped into his mob state. He’s not going back to standard unless he’s on a server or the moon starts to wane; he’s running through his idle behaviors right now.” And when that still doesn’t get a response, he finishes with, “He wants uppies.”

❤️ Read on AO3

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fullscoreshenanigans · 2 years ago

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My guess for what Norman says to Ayshe in chapter 160, rooted in the realization he comes to at the end of chapter 153

that includes, but is not limited to, what @hylialeia succinctly articulates in this post:

the promised neverland is like…community and collectivism as sanctuary. self sacrifice as betrayal.

From very early on, Norman makes it clear that he views himself as disposable due to a paradoxical combination of pride and lack of self-worth.

(Chapter 4)

He takes pride in his capabilities afforded to him by his intelligence, though never to the point of haughty displays of arrogance in front of the majority of his family. (He mostly reserves his impishness and smug displays for Ray, a relationship both boys are fond of when there isn't the looming threat of demons and shipments over their heads.)

(Chapter 26)

The paradoxical lack of self-worth stems from him being a perfectionist

(Chapter 6)

(Chapter 10)

and him frequently placing those he loves on pedestals, which leads him to keep them at a distance at times for fear of them being tainted by him (ironically weakening the reach of their positive influence on him that helps curb this) and being seen as vulnerable.

(Chapter 4)

It's also established that Norman has a very rigid sense of morality, being willing to use and discard Ray in the escape plan before seeking insight from Emma when he believed Ray's motive was to save his own skin. Both worsen when he's isolated from the balance and positive influence of his family.

(Chapter 121 | Chapter 129)

Despite how he frames himself as being the same approachable Norman from Grace Field, there's a distance he enforces on his end as he positions himself as the stoic patriarch of the family. He wants to keep them close, but he will not let them in and consult with them on how he plans to secure his proposed paradise. He's so thoroughly convinced he needs to sacrifice his soul doing things he would have thought twice about if he didn't think he was going to die within a year.

(Mystic Code Book Chapter 5)

He places a stark divide between himself and Emma & Ray, the latter being highly ironic and comedic in the most heartbreaking way because he refuses to see the parallels of Ray's situation at Grace Field in his own.

Ray was so set on getting Emma and Norman out that he denied them their voices on the matter of his death, which was a resounding "no," the brief two-week period where Norman was so hurt by his betrayal he was considered throwing him away not withstanding against the near lifelong period where he considered Ray a treasured friend. He placed them on a pedestal, unwilling to grant himself grace or humanity in light of the terrible circumstances he found himself in when both of them felt he was worth saving. He was terrified at the uncertainty that came from any deviation in his plan he hadn't accounted for.

(S1 Episode 4)

Norman was also terrified of uncertainty back then, which was why he lied to Emma and Ray about escaping and hiding in the forest by himself despite their rebuttal to his claim that there was no other way. He made the choice that their lives were more worthy than his knowing how much it would hurt them, and while done with noble intentions and out of love, that betrayal still stung.

Almost two years later, he's willing to betray them again. They're more prepared this time, though.

(Chapter 153)

Even with all the chaos going on outside in the imperial capital, they don't strong arm him into submission and drag him out of there. They clearly communicate with him, tell him they don't like that distance he's imposed to prevent them from seeing his flaws and his fears because he doesn't need to be perfect for them in order to be worthy of their love. They would rather walk beside him in uncertainty than to an assured future without him.

Living is harder than dying, though, in that he now has to contend with the fallout of his choices, from the larger ones that threw an entire world into chaos, down to the ones with a single victim (four if we count the wolves).

(Chapter 139 | Mystic Code Book Chapter 6 Q&A)

Norman knows he's made a grievous error as soon as Ayshe starts speaking, yet he neither makes an attempt to correct the groups’ inferences based on their own experiences with the demons at Lambda, nor does he try to apologize to her during the months she spends at the paradise hideout. Not that an apology would be worth anything to her—he's just destroyed her life—but it's the attempt that counts. We can't say for sure he wouldn't have tried to make amends after the assault on the capital, but like Emma says, he's a coward about certain things; he might have been content to just let that go unanswered, figuring him dying fulfills her wish, albeit it wouldn't be by her hand.

But despite knowing that Don and Gilda were in the capital thanks to Emma and Ray, and that he had sent Ayshe with Don and Gilda to search for Mujika and Sonju, he still visibly blanches at the sight of her, the lines around his eyes given him a slightly more haggard look as he realizes, now that he's committed to living with Emma, Ray, and the rest of his family, he needs to address this in some way.

He takes a moment to consider how to best approach this, given how they're running on limited time. Ultimately, he decides it's better to indirectly come clean that he's known about her grudge since they first met by speaking to her in the near-forgotten tongue her father taught her. It might have been sweet and thoughtful in another life, speaking in a language that was dear to her heart, but here it ends up being somewhat insulting.

Again, it's clear he's worried by the sweat forming on his face, but he accepts whatever her reaction will be to both the message itself and how it's delivered.

Another possibility of his original plan could have been that, after everything was settled with ending the Neverland, he might have offered up his life to her out of a mix of atonement for what he had done and fear of succumbing to even worse seizures, assuming the death she would offer him would be quicker and less painful.

But that was before he internalized what Emma and Ray told him in the imperial throne room, words they've shared and stressed to each other

(Chapter 15 | Chapter 38)

and words that have been stressed to them by Gilda, Don, and the rest of the Grace Field escapees.

(Chapter 48)

Don't bear pain and suffering on your own; it's okay to be vulnerable and ask for help. Don't dismiss your needs and deem them as selfish or unworthy; it's okay to want some things for yourself. Don't think so inconsequentially of your life that you would casually throw it away; you have people who care about you and an impact on the world around you.

Now, even if she has every right to claim it, he won't willingly offering his life to Ayshe. That's not to say she couldn't just take it—again, he's already accepted whatever feelings she might hold, and he's no match for her physical prowess—but he's dedicating his life to his family now in earnest, which includes taking their and his own considerations on matters into account.

Think it's very poignant that after Ayshe's reaction, Emma and Ray are the only other people shown reacting to what Norman says to her.

With the little touch of having the layout of the panel reminiscent of this one from chapter 153: Ray on the left, Emma on the right. Two people who have been integral parts of Norman's life since before he could even remember. However one chooses to interpret their relationship, I don't think it's far-fetched to conclude they're somehow related to what Norman's saying there.

The boy is quick to move on, no doubt because what he says is true. They really don't have time to do more, even though that's what Ayshe deserves, and Norman knows it. But on top of being scared for their friends and family back at the base, I believe that though he accepts the most likely outcome of Ayshe being upset with him, the perfectionist in him is glad to take refuge in this immediate threat. It allows him to avoid confronting a major mistake he made that he can't conceive a satisfactory resolution for, if only for a bit longer.

And Ayshe is just…kind of left with what Norman's said. Like, “you absolute bastard. Not only did you know the demon language and knew what I was saying back when you murdered my father and knew you fucked up for months, but you still just can’t concede control of the situation to the wronged party and are trying to dictate how this resolution will play out.”

He doesn't ask her how she's doing, how she felt because of what he ordered, or engage with her in any dialogue, barely allowing her any time to react before moving on. Her eyes are obscured, there's a bit of sweat on her face, and her jaw and fist are clenched while the background takes on a common downcast pattern seen in manga. It's clear she does not take it well.

And yet it could have been much worse if Ayshe hadn't seen how much Don and Gilda cared about him and considered him someone worth saving.

(Chapter 139)

While immediately suspecting Norman was using them as bait to draw out Mujika and Sonju in chapter 135, they were absolutely ecstatic at the thought of him reconsidering, and this was right after Ayshe told them he was responsible for her father dying.

(Chapter 144)

And even when their initial suspicions were proven correct and Gilda knows she has no right to ask, she still makes a tearful plea to Mujika to help them stop Norman, not just for the demons to be spared from his plan, but for his sake too, before it "will be irrevocable" for him.

This love strikes Ayshe to her core and is the greatest source of her conflict at Norman's declaration. Family is everything to her, and though she's only known them for a few short days, it becomes apparent Don and Gilda share that sentiment.

She's privy to both the reunion hug between Don, Emma, Gilda, and Ray and the one between Don, Gilda, and Norman. It's obvious these three other children are all important to them, even the one who so gravely wronged her. It all might have gone off without a peep from Ayshe if Norman hadn't addressed her in the way he had. After viscerally knowing that pain of loss, she wouldn't want to inflict it on her new companions, especially since he appears to be repentant.

But then he dumps the fact he's known of his error since they met on her lap, brooking no room for discussion from her, and her fury is reignited. She remains unwilling to follow through on her vow of revenge, but that doesn't mean she has to be fond of him.

Two years out from Norman's declaration that appears to still be the case, with him looking remorseful but accepting of their current relationship, because he knows there's nothing he can do to return her father to her. However, Ayshe is willing to be in physical proximity to him, and even allows him to hold one of her newborn wolf cubs. Even if their relationship might always be strained, she's holding him to what he said that day about living for his family and valuing his own life enough that he's able to bring more good into the world.

Finally, the length of the English translations of demon speech in comparison to number of characters used in the demon language:

(Chapter 48)

While not a direct match, "I'm sorry, but my life isn't mine alone to forfeit anymore" is within the rough range of the lengths these sentences tend to run in relation to the number of demon characters (two under or over).

#The Promised Neverland #Yakusoku no Neverland #TPN #TPN Meta #TPN Norman #TPN Ayshe #TPN Gilda #Ayshe #Norman #Ray #Emma #Gilda #FSS Chatter #Mystic Code Book #Full Score Trio #Norrayemma #Noremray #Norayshe #for tagging purposes #Long Post #Imperial Capital Battle Arc #TPN 153 #TPN 160 #i'm assuming this has been brought up before in the many years since the chapter debuted #but organizing my thoughts a bit and throwing it out on here #if anyone's aware of any discussions of the demon language characters on here or twt hmu #also that scene in S1e04 is so funny because upon a rewatch you know Norman is taking joy in throwing Ray off balance #and making him so visibly worried because at this point he believes Ray is the traitor in order to save his own skin #so he's like “yeah‚ thought you wouldn't like that. bitch.” kdjfksdjh <3

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