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gayashelljatp · 1 month ago

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Prince Charming x James Hook | Trophy Boy Chapter 2.

Tags :Sorta Enemies to Lovers Fake/Pretend Relationship Not Canon Compliant, Inspired by Cinderella (1997), I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, Prince Charming is a Bi-King, Prince Charming Is Filipino, Because the actor is and I also am one so yeah, Prince Charming gets a lot of bitches but no love, Merlin Academy (Disney), James Hook is gay, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, I don't know how to tag in this fandom, No Beta Like Not Going To Castlecoming

Content Rating: Teen and Up.

Wordcount: 7028

Notes (Same On AO3):

The first chapter of this fic is up on my tumblr please go support!!! My Tumblr.

Well hello there, the second part was made!!! This second part was so long that I decided to split it into two chapters. Charming and Hook development happens here. Did they start being friends? enemies? lovers? (Ricky Bowen reference.)

More side characters (Bridget x Ella mentioned and Morgie and Maleficent being Hook's bestie is cannon here.) This chapter is more Hook focused. This chapter was actually edited and helped written by my friend shoutout to her for helping me finish this shit. (So apologies if some part sound completely written by someone else.)

A few housekeeping reminders:

- This fic has multiple POVs for Charming focused parts 👑 emojis are used on the other hook if it's James it's this emoji 🪝.

- It wouldn't be a GayashellJATP fic without a playlist of songs I have on that help immerse you in the universe. Spotify playlist here!!!

Notes (Tumblr):

This is such a late post. This Chapter has been up on AO3. I'm sorry to my tumblr peeps. Still tryna get the hang of this. But thank you so much for the support on my fics here ily y'all.

Chapter 2: The Day-te Before The Ball

👑

It was always an early morning for Christopher Rupert Windermere Vladimir Carl Alexander François Reginald Lancelot Herman Gregory James, more commonly known as Christopher—or, to the public, Prince Charming.

His day started at the crack of dawn, forcing himself into a princely run to maintain the perfect physique for his and the people's eyes. Afterward, it was straight to bench presses, with Lionel by his side rattling off the day’s duties. By the time the list was done, Charming was already halfway through a hundred push-ups.

After that, a ten-minute shower— it was his favorite part of his mornings and the only time he got some privacy in this rigid routine. He’d belt out a song or two while shampoo was in his hair.

Even while dressing, he juggled paperwork, signing what felt like endless documents. Apparently, being a prince came with a mountain of administrative work no storybook ever talked about.

But today, there was a break in his routine. Instead of reading the morning letters and catching up on the news around his kingdom, he grabbed his skateboard and sped through the halls, headed toward the other dormitory.

He’d asked the doorman for James Hook’s room number, though the name “James” didn’t even exist in their archive. It was simply “Captain Hook.” That, along with a few other things, he’d have to ask about later.

As he neared Hook’s dorm, a flash of green zipped past him. Morgyn Le Fay, the light-haired son of Morgana, ran out of the room, looking frantic—likely late for something. The door swung wide open in his wake. Charming approached and was about to knock, but with the door ajar, he decided to step inside.

Before he could fully take in the room, he was greeted by the sight of Hook—standing in nothing but a towel, hair damp, water still glistening on his skin. Charming froze, eyes wide, before he quickly turned his gaze to the side, his cheeks slightly flushed.

“Princey, you’re too early,” Hook drawled lazily, clearly enjoying the prince’s discomfort.

“Early? Royalty are always on time,” Charming replied, still doing his best not to stare. “Don’t you eat at the castleteria?”

“I do, but I like going last minute,” Hook said, smoothing back his damp hair with a cocky smirk. “Looking gorgeous might seem effortless, but it takes work.”

“Can you look gorgeous with more clothes on?” Charming asked, his voice a bit too sharp as he chanced a glance. Big mistake. Hook was barefaced—no signature eyeliner—and his skin looked frustratingly flawless.

Charming’s eyes trailed lower, catching a glimpse of the pirate’s toned abs before he snapped his gaze away. He wasn’t going to ogle. But… he did see them.

“Come on, I’m not that hideous to look at,” Hook teased, catching the prince’s not-so-subtle avoidance. “Why’d you have to look away?”

“I’m just being polite,”

“I thought you were fun,”

“I can have fun looking at my own body.” The Prince meant to sound nonchalant, but it came off as much more vain than intended and more charged. It was blowing the Prince’s cover immediately.

“Oh? You like staring at yourself naked, do you, Princey?” Hook shot back, grinning. He leaned against the doorframe, dripping confidence, and maybe a bit of water.

Charming cleared his throat. “Moving on, please.”

“Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll be ready.”

“Can I come in, at least?” Charming asked, gesturing toward the room. He was trying to keep things casual, though the pirate was clearly getting under his skin.

“I was trying to save you from the mess but if you insist,”

Charming stepped inside. The room was interesting, to say the least. Hook’s side looked like a treasure chest had exploded—clothes, jewelry, and trinkets were scattered everywhere.

Morgie’s side, in contrast, was more organized, though still odd—his bed had animal-print sheets, and a collection of wilted plants lined the windowsill.

“Not what you expected, huh?” Hook asked, now rummaging through a pile of clothes. “Don’t worry, Princey, I’ll tidy up just for you.”

“No need to tidy your stole-” Charming had to remind himself not to be too blunt with him so he stopped midway “Just... hurry up.”

Hook threw on a billowy white blouse, tucking it into his trousers with a smirk. “Patience, Your Highness. Time may be fast but growing diamonds takes forever.” He sauntered over to the full length mirror, lazily adjusting his collar, taking far longer than necessary.

“I just like being punctual now,” Charming said, eyes flicking to his watch. He wasn’t always the best at being on time, but he had been trying to improve lately. The kingdom loved to gossip, and being known as a latecomer wasn’t exactly the reputation he wanted to maintain.

Hook rolled his eyes, still fiddling with his reflection. “Oh, lighten up. You royal types always act like you have a stick up your—”

“Careful,” Charming interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “I’m doing you a favor. You could at least be a little more grateful.”

“Grateful?” Hook spun around, his tone dripping with mockery. “For the honor of breakfast with His Highness? I’m thrilled.” He gave a theatrical bow.

Charming clenched his jaw, trying to hold onto his composure, but it was almost impossible when Hook was being so... insufferable.

“Let’s just go. We can talk and plan over food,” he said, walking toward the door. He paused, casting a sideways glance at the pirate. “If you’re even capable of sticking to a plan.”

👑

The two arrived at the castleteria, and the energy of the room shifted the moment they entered. Charming noticed the subtle glances, and a few whispers trailing behind them as they passed through the crowded space.

Hook, on the other hand, seemed to bask in the attention. When they walked by Hook’s usual crew of villain kids, the reactions varied from raised eyebrows to snickers—Morgie, ever supportive, even let out a playful whistle. Not quite catcalling, but more like encouragement.

The sight of Charming and Hook together was strange to most. They looked so mismatched—Charming was laid back but still had to be regal and composed, while Hook was one to strut.

They got in line, grabbed their meals, and made their way to Charming’s all-too-familiar private room, away from prying eyes. As soon as they sat down, Hook wasted no time.

“So, what’s your plan for this whole sham?” Hook asked, leaning back in his chair. He hadn’t even picked up his fork yet, clearly more interested in getting down to business—or, more likely, getting under Charming’s skin.

“Calling this a sham is unnecessary,” “Please, this is easy. Don’t act like don’t do bad things, I’ve seen the papers,”

Charming just shoved the pancakes into his mouth trying to stop himself from saying anything. “Do you have anything you're not comfortable doing?” He asked, trying to keep things professional—diplomatic, even.

Hook leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as if considering it. “Hm,” he mused. “No, everything’s on the table for me. You can even love me with the lights off if you want.”

Charming nearly choked on his pancakes, quickly covering it up with a cough. He shot Hook a withering look. “In your dreams,” he muttered, trying to keep his cool. But inside, his mind was racing—Hook was too much, and Charming wasn’t entirely sure how to handle him.

Hook, of course, wasn’t phased. “Relax, lad, I’m just messing with you,” he said with a wink. “You’re not this stiff. I’ve heard you're a great date. This is not an arranged marriage.”

Charming, taking another bite, he was gonna ask how Hook knew such information but decided to push forward. “Well, I was thinking we could just act… I don’t know, platonic? Like we’re together were not together, but we don’t have to put on a show or anything. We say we’re a couple, people believe it, and we’re done.”

Hook leaned back in his chair, his signature smirk creeping onto his face. “You’re taking all the fun out of it, Charming. What’s the point of a sham romance if you don’t play it up? Where’s the excitement?” He drummed his fingers on the table. “You and me, strolling around, being all chaste and polite? Sounds boring as hell.”

Charming frowned, hating how Hook always managed to poke at him just right. He liked to have fun—he did—but when it came to Hook, it felt like he had to be on guard and guarded literally. He didn’t know why he kept up the royal façade.

“I’m not boring,” Charming said, defensively running his hands through his hair. “I just think we don’t need to overdo it. This is for show, not for real.”

Hook’s eyes glinted, catching onto something in Charming’s words. “You say that, but you’re so buttoned-up around me, it’s like you’re afraid to let loose.”

“I’m not afraid of anything,” Charming shot back, a little too quickly.

“Prove it.” Hook’s voice was smooth, challenging. He leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes locked on Charming’s. “We’ll make it fun, Prince Charming. You act like you want this to be all business, but deep down, you’re itching for something a little more interesting. Admit it.”

Charming felt his pulse quicken and opened his mouth to deny it, but Hook was right. Part of him did want the thrill, the unpredictability, the spark that came with being around Hook. But admitting that, even to himself, felt too unreal. Instead, he shifted in his seat, trying to regain control of the conversation.

“You have no idea what I want,” Charming said, his voice quieter but edged with tension.

Hook just smiled, that infuriatingly smug smile. “Maybe I don’t,” he said softly. “But I’m starting to get a pretty good idea.”

Hook leaned back, clearly enjoying the tension, the little game they were playing. “This is gonna be more fun than I thought,” he said, his voice a low drawl.

The bell rang, fizzling out the tension in the room, but for Charming, the planning was far from over. Hook stood up, stretching lazily as he prepared to leave.

“Well, see you after class, Princey,” Hook said casually, already heading toward the door.

Charming, not entirely sure why, blurted out, “Wait.”

Hook paused, turning back with a curious smirk. “What? Miss me already?”

Charming panicked the words came out of him without a single thought. “Actually… I was thinking. Maybe we should get excused from class today. It’d give us more time to, you know, get comfortable around each other. Make it easier to pull this off if we actually liked each other’s company.”

Such a smart move Charming. Asking to skip class with him to spend time together. Totally not going to backfire on you.

“Oh? And how exactly do you plan to excuse me from class?”

Charming squared his shoulders, trying to appear more confident than he felt. “You’re the prince’s boyfriend, well pretend boyfriend,” he said, the words slipping out smoother than expected, causing Hook’s lips to quirk into a grin of his own.

“The teachers wouldn’t mind if you skipped. Royal duties call, after all.” Charming added.

Hook’s grin widened, his amusement shifting into something almost… impressed. “You royals always have a way out of things, don’t you? I gotta say, I’m impressed. Using your little privileges for something a bit selfish—kinda hot, Princey.”

Charming didn’t expect the compliment, and for a second, he wasn’t sure how to respond. Instead, he stammered, “It’s not selfish, I just need this to work. We need to make this believable.”

“Mm-hmm, whatever helps you sleep at night.” Hook shrugged, leaning back against the door frame. “I have a stitching & enchantment test in first period and I have a thing in second period, but I can ditch the rest.”

“Of course, school is important,”

“Less of a hassle for me,” Hook said, trying to make it sound effortless, but Charming knew the list of top scholars of the school. James Hook was on it. How did he know this information? it was not because Charming had asked Lionel for any details about the pirate. Absolutely not

“Right. Well, I’ll handle getting us both excused. I’ll see you when I see you.”

Hook’s eyes gleamed as he pushed off the door frame and stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them. “Don’t worry, Princey. I’ll hold up my end of the deal.”

Charming held his ground, even as the tension between them crackled in the air. “We’ll see.”

Hook chuckled, the sound low and lazy, before giving him a mock salute. “You know where to find me.” Then, with one last look that lingered a little too long.

🪝

Sewing & Enchantment should’ve been an easy test for Hook to ace. After all, he’d been sewing up sails and tailoring his own clothes since he was a baby pirate. But today, his mind was adrift, lost at sea, and he couldn’t find the lighthouse—or, more accurately, the answers.

There was a nagging thought, an irritating little itch in his brain, like the screeching of a seagull that wouldn’t shut up. It was Charming’stupid face. With his stupid smile with perfect white teeth that had lingered far too long in Hook’s mind. He hated it. Hated how it distracted him, how his brain kept flashing to the image of Charming’s chin-length, perfectly windswept hair.

What was it about that royal pain in the ass had suddenly become so…painful?

He was finally starting to understand what the others saw in the prince. But of course, no one was as beautiful as himself. Still, he forced his focus back to the test. Come on, Hook, stop thinking about the prince and think about the damn answer.

Maleficent, who sat next to him, had already finished her test, leaning back with her arms crossed. She had a thing for sharp objects—thorns, spindles,and needles. She found them interesting, but her main interests were world domination and, of course a bit of mischief.

The brunette teen rushed through the last of his test, hoping he got everything right. Overthinking wasn’t his style—he preferred being thoughtless and vain. But lately, a certain prince had been taking up way too much brain space.

Maleficent smirked, her voice low so as not to draw attention as she tilted her chair back. “Saw you with your man earlier.”

Hook didn’t miss a beat. “He’s not an object for me to own. He’s not valuable enough to be called mine. More like I’m… borrowing him.”

“Care to tell me what this whole ordeal is?” Maleficent asked, checking her nails with a bored flick. “Yesterday you were bitching and moaning about the prince, and now you’re cozying up to him in the castleteria ? And don’t lie to me, Hook. I saw you smiling .”

Hook leaned back in his chair, flashing her a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I just loved the attention, that’s all.”

Maleficent gave him a knowing look, tapping her long nails against the desk. “Come on, Hook. Since when do you keep secrets from me?”

“I’m very good at keeping secrets,” Hook drawled, but the hint of defensiveness in his voice didn’t go unnoticed.

“Not from me, you’re not.” Maleficent smirked. “Of course, I could always hit you with a truth gummy.

“I’d lose all my friends if you did that.”

“This pirate’s a liar.”

“A damn good one at that.”

Their teacher, Ma’am Odie or more she’d to be called Mama Odie, glanced up from the front of the room, her eyes falling on the two troublemakers. “Maleficent, James,” she said sweetly, her southern charm making her reprimand sound more like a warm invitation. “Y’all can take this conversation outside, please. I don’t wanna disrupt the rest of the class.”

Hook nodded, gathering his things. Ma’am Odie was too sweet to argue with, and Hook wasn’t one to make a fuss unless absolutely necessary. Maleficent, however, shot him a curious look as they stepped outside.

“Now spill,” she said the second they were out of earshot. “You and Charming, huh? You’re really into him, aren’t you?”

Hook rolled his eyes. “Don’t start.”

“Oh, I will start,” Maleficent drawled, crossing her arms. “You’re all smiles and excuses, but you’re slipping, James. Just admit you’ve got a little soft spot for your royalty.”

“Just because you got fucked over by your ex who left you for royalty doesn’t mean they're all bad… And I don’t like him,” Hook was cracking badly at Maleficent's accusatory woes.

“Bringing up that traitor Stefan means you really want to defend him that badly,” The dark fairy said, giving Hook the look of if you ever bring him up again you’ll be in a 100 year curse.

“Look, it’s just all just some stupid game,” Hook said, trying to dodge the accusation. “He’s just using me. That’s all. I don't like his company.”

“Uh-huh.” Maleficent’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “And what about that slip earlier? Borrowing him? You’ve got it bad, Hook. Just admit it.”

Hook let out a groan, running a hand through his messy hair. “Fine, maybe I enjoy riling him up. Maybe he’s fun to mess with. But like him? Please, that's preposterous!”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Maleficent replied, clearly enjoying herself. “I’m just saying, if this is all a game for fun, you seem to be enjoying it a little too much.”

Hook shot her a look, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. “What about you and Hades? You two have been circling each other for centuries .” Hook is really throwing every single rock at Maleficent and he keeps missing.

Maleficent rolled her eyes but smiled, the hint of affection breaking through her usual cold demeanor. “Hades and I have an understanding. It’s not the same.”

“Right, because no one could ever get under your skin, could they?”

“Exactly. But nice try, Hook. You’re the one getting all flustered over a prince.”

Hook grumbled, but before he could respond, Maleficent leaned in, her eyes gleaming. “Get your act together Captain.”

🪝

Hook sat cross-legged on his bed, leaning back against the headboard, absentmindedly polishing his hook. The sound of the metal scraping softly should've been calming, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Across the room, Morgie was sprawled out on his bed, face buried in his pillow. He looked like a starfish, completely taking up as much space as possible. His muffled voice floated up, tinged with exhaustion. "Magicology is killing me."

“Has Madam Mim been awful to you again?”

Morgie rolled onto his back with a groan. “Yeah. She cares more about my mom’s reputation than teaching me anything useful.”

“That’s ridiculous. She shouldn’t be all bitchy with you, especially since your mom’s way more famous witch than she’ll ever be.”

Morgie sighed, tracing patterns into the sheets. “Well, my mother is public enemy number one in the magical community.”

“Yeah, fair. I’m still surprised they let you in this school with a reputation like that,” Hook teased, but his smile softened when Morgie only groaned again.

“Why are you here sulking?”

“ Sulking ?” Hook raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “I don’t sulk. Pirates don’t sulk.”

Morgie rolled his eyes and shifted to his side, squinting at Hook. “You only polish your hook when you’re trying to avoid something,” he muttered. Then, lowering his voice dramatically, he added, “Are you trying to avoid the prince?” He mouthed the word prince as if it was a forbidden curse like saying his name out loud would summon him.

The brunette haired teen hated how much Morgie knew him.

Hook scowled, flipping the hook in his hand with more force than necessary. “Why is everyone on my ass today about that prince? I’m just going to a ball with him. No big deal.”

“I’d love to go to a ball,” The sandy haired boy said wistfully, “But villain kids are always on the banned list. Even if the invitation says it’s extended to everyone in the kingdom, we both know that doesn’t include me. Le Fays are public enemy number one in the neighbor kingdom Camelot.” His voice dropped in frustration at the last part.

Hook glanced up from his hook, watching Morgie with an amused grin. “You could always just go in disguise,”

“Then what’s the point? What if I meet someone there and fall in love?” Morgie sighed dramatically. “You can’t fall in love with a disguise on. They’ll feel deceived.”

“Are there really no other things to do at a ball than fall in love ?”

“Dancing and food do seem amazing,” Morgie admitted, a little smile tugging at his lips.

A comfortable silence stretched between them. James returned to polishing his hook, trying to focus on the shine of the metal rather than the image of a certain prince’s smile that kept creeping back into his mind.

Morgie turned his head slightly, peering at Hook with half-lidded eyes. “You know, something’s bothering you,” he said, his tone casual but piercing.

“What?”

“You can’t fool me. What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Hook’s response was immediate, too quick. His fingers fumbled a little on his hook.

Morgie’s lips quirked up in a knowing smile. “Should I have not mentioned your date? Should I not bring—”

Hook’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not a date and he’s the last thing on my mind right now,”

Morgie sat up, crossing his legs to mirror Hook’s position. “You can’t lie to me, James Hook. I can feel it. You've been weird since last night.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Uh-huh, and that’s why you’re sitting here, polishing your hook like you’re trying to keep your brain from thinking about him .” Morgie grinned, nudging him with his foot. “Come on, you’re practically gushing over him.”

“ Gushing ? Please,” Hook scoffed, though he felt his ears burning. “I’m just... caught up in this dumb plan. It’s all strategy, Morgie. You wouldn’t get it.”

“Oh, I get it,” Morgie teased, leaning in with wide, curious eyes. “He’s got that whole royal, windswept thing going on, huh? You like it. Admit it.”

“Why are we even talking about this? In the first place.”

“Because you're a hopeless pirate, and I’m your best friend.” Morgie poked him again with his foot, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “So, what is it? The hair? The smile? Or is it the fact that he’s actually not affected by your charms?”

“I mean... his hair is stupidly perfect, right? And don’t get me started on that ‘I’m better than you’ attitude. It’s annoying.”

“Annoying?” Morgie snorted. “Or are you just mad because you can’t quite get under his skin like you thought?”

“Shut up,” Hook muttered, but he couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

Morgie flopped back onto his bed dramatically. “God, I love it when you fall for people. Does this mean you're going to be a prince if you marry him?”

Before Hook could correct him, Morgie suddenly bolted upright, his eyes wide on the clock in the side of the room. “Oh, no. I’m late!”

“Late for what?”

“Muse-ic class! I completely forgot I promised Uli I’d help her,” Morgie scrambled off the bed, nearly tripping over his own feet in his rush.

Hook rolled his eyes, still lazily polishing his hook. “Just tell her you were with me. I’m your ‘get out of jail free’ card, remember?”

“Thanks!” Morgie shot back, grabbing his bag and making a dash for the door. “And also, go get your prince!”

Hook scoffed, shouting after him, “He’s not my prince, Morgie!” But even as the words left his mouth, he felt that familiar frustration creep back in.

Ever since Charming had walked—no, sauntered —into his life, Hook hadn’t been able to think about anything else. No matter how hard he tried to push aside the royals' annoyingly confident demeanor had lodged themselves firmly in his brain like an anchor.

With a groan, Hook pushed himself off the bed. He needed air, a break from all this thinking . A walk to the castleteria sounded like the perfect distraction. Maybe he’d grab a drink or... anything to stop these thoughts.

But as he turned the corner into the hallway, his mind still swirling, someone suddenly barreled into him. Hard.

“What the—” Hook stumbled back, glaring at the person who had dared to knock into him. “Watch where you’re—”

His words froze in his throat as he realized who it was. Of course. The universe really had it out for him today.

“Charming.” Hook straightened up, trying to act like he wasn’t rattled by the collision or the fact that his lie had just come crashing into him—literally.

The prince raised an eyebrow, a half-amused, half-annoyed look on his face. “Funny seeing you here, Hook. Didn’t you say you had something to do?”

Hook plastered on his best grin, the one that usually got him out of trouble. “Ah, yes, well, you see... things change. Pirate business. Very important.”

“Pirate business?” Charming crossed his arms, clearly not buying it. “And that involves wandering the hallways during class? Where’s your crew?”

Hook’s smirk wavered just a little. “You know, sometimes pirate business looks a lot like... taking a walk.” He shrugged, trying to seem casual, but Charming’s piercing gaze was making it harder than usual.

“Mhm.” Charming didn’t look convinced in the slightest. “And here I thought I could trust you.But I’m starting to think you’re avoiding me.”

He wanted to make fun of Charming trusting him. But he had to have the upper hook.

“ Avoiding you ?” Hook’s laugh was a little too loud, a little too forced. “Please. Why would I avoid you? You’re... delightful company.” His tone dripped with sarcasm, but the flicker of heat in Charming’s eyes told him the prince wasn’t going to let this slide.

“Right,” Charming said, stepping just a little closer, the space between them shrinking. “Because running into you in the hallway was purely coincidence, wasn’t it?”

Hook shifted uncomfortably, his brain scrambling for an out. “I told you, I’ve got pirate things to–”

“You mean, you’re free ? No classes, no pirate business, just... wandering the halls?”

Hook opened his mouth to argue, but Charming was right. He had nothing. And now, he was caught up in his own rope of excuses.

“Fine,” Hook muttered, crossing his arms in a defensive stance. “Maybe I was... considering taking the rest of the day off. What of it?”

Charming’s smile widened, satisfaction clear in his expression. “Good. Because if you’re free, we’re going to actually sit down and start planning.”

Hook’s stomach twisted at the thought. Planning meant sitting with Charming, hashing out the details, and spending more time in close proximity. And that was exactly what he’d been avoiding. If he just ignored it long enough, maybe the whole ridiculous idea would vanish, and he wouldn’t have to deal with whatever was happening between them.

“I’m not avoiding anything,” Hook lied again, his voice too defensive to be convincing. “I just figured this whole fake dating plan didn’t need... overthinking.”

Charming narrowed his eyes, stepping even closer now, his tone lowering as if they were sharing a secret. “Sounds like someone’s scared.”

“ Scared ? Of you? Please.”

Charming’s lips twitched into a smirk, the same one that made Hook’s pulse quicken for reasons he hated to admit. “Then why are you running away?”

Hook opened his mouth, then closed it, searching for a comeback that wouldn’t sound weak. He hated this. Hated that Charming could see right through him. But running away from the truth was exactly what he’d been trying to do.

After a tense beat, Hook exhaled sharply, dropping the act. “Fine. You win, Princey. Let’s plan.”

👑

Charming knew from the start that Hook was going to be a problem.

Getting the pirate to sit still and actually focus on anything was nearly impossible, but this little "accidental" run-in had finally given him the upper hand—or, more fittingly, the upper hook.

The pirate was slippery, always finding some way to avoid responsibility or slink away from their plans. He had finally managed to pin Hook down, so to speak, by dragging him to the gymnasium for a "meeting" that involved more sparring than talking.

Hook was lounging on a bench, lazily twirling his hook, watching as Charming fenced with Lionel. The prince dodged and parried with ease, but there was an obvious frustration building in Hook’s eyes.

“Charming, I’m getting bored watching you win every single match,” Hook called out, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I thought we were supposed to be planning something, not watching you show off.”

Charming grinned, narrowly avoiding one of Lionel’s strikes. “I’m sorry this isn’t entertaining enough for you,” he quipped, deflecting the next attack. “Lionel, do I have any other duties planned for today? Something a bit more exciting for our guest ?”

Lionel, panting slightly but still focused, shook his head. “No, sir. I’ve told you all the tasks for today. I’ll let you know if anything else comes up.”

Charming took a quick glance over at Hook, who was still lounging, his sharp eyes half-lidded with boredom. The pirate twirled his hook absentmindedly, clearly not paying attention to the sparring.

That single glance distracted Charming enough for Lionel to get the upper hand, and before he knew it, Lionel had landed a clean hit.

His first loss of the day. Lionel stood victorious, while Hook let out an unexpected cheer.

“Wait, I cheered for the wrong team,” Hook muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips. He seemed genuinely amused for the first time that day.

Charming shot Hook a withering look, wiping sweat from his brow. “Lionel, you’re excused,” he said with a sigh. “I’ll deal with him myself.”

Lionel glanced between the two of them, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “As you wish, sir,” he said, bowing slightly. “Try not to get into too much trouble,” he added with a wink before heading out of the gymnasium.

As soon as Lionel left, Hook stood up, stretching lazily before walking over to the weapons stand. He casually picked up a sword, giving it a few experimental swings. “What do you think you're doing?” Charming asked, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.

Hook smirked, twirling the sword in his hand. “You’ve got a thing for multitasking, don’t you? I thought I’d play to your strengths.” He gave Charming a wicked grin. “Let’s spar, Princey.

Charming raised an eyebrow, his competitive spirit kicking in. “You’re on,” he said, readying his stance.

They began circling each other, swords raised, both of them tense and ready. Hook moved first, quick and agile, his strikes more precise than Charming expected. “I think you forget,” Hook said with a mischievous grin, “I have this class too.”

Charming dodged another attack, their blades clashing with a sharp clang . “We have a meeting with the tailor later,” he reminded, trying to regain the upper hand as Hook’s blade narrowly missed his shoulder.

“Ooh, clothes. I love it,” Hook replied with a sarcastic lilt, his sword almost piercing through Charming’s sleeve. “But what color are you going to force me to wear?”

Charming parried, their swords clanging loudly. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t like it,” he said, his voice strained from the effort of matching Hook’s strikes.

“I’m a considerate prince.” Their blades locked for a moment, and Charming looked Hook dead in the eyes. “But we really need to work on our chemistry—you look like you want to kill me with those eyes.”

“Well, I’m sorry I keep giving you the death glare.”

“I could work on smiling more,” Charming quipped, his breath quickening as they continued sparring.

“Please don’t. You smile enough,” Hook shot back, though the way his eyes flickered away suggested there was something more behind his words. Charming noticed it, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it as their swords met again with a loud clang.

Charming saw an opening and decided to exploit it. He flashed Hook one of his signature, brilliant grins—the one that made heads turn at every royal event. It was blindingly confident, and he saw Hook’s steps falter for just a second, enough for Charming to push forward and take the upper hand.

“Checkmate,” Charming taunted, smirking as he pressed the attack.

Hook stumbled onto the floor, his eyes narrowing. “Lad, I think that’s for chess,” he muttered as the match came to an end, Charming’s sword pointed directly at Hook’s chest.

“Well, I bested you,” Charming said with a wink.

Hook groaned dramatically, rolling his eyes. “You seriously need to work on your endings. Are you gonna take that sword out of my face or what?”

Charming tilted his head, leaning just slightly closer. “I think I like being on top of things.” He said looking down at the other in such a compromising position.

Hook’s brow shot up, his lips curling into a wicked smirk. “No need to get sexual, Princey. I didn’t know you were into doing things in public.” His voice dropped to a low, teasing drawl.

Charming choked on his own sweat, eyes widening as he stumbled back slightly. His face flushed, and for the first time in the match, he felt genuinely flustered. Hook just grinned, clearly enjoying the effect his words had on the prince.

Charming cleared his throat, quickly composing himself. “

“Help me up?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Charming muttered, offering Hook a hand, though he purposely avoided looking at the pirate’s face, still reeling from the innuendo.

Hook took the offered hand and pulled himself up, but the contact lingered a moment too long. Their gazes met, and for a brief second, the teasing banter faded into something more charged, something neither of them was quite ready to acknowledge.

As soon as Hook was back on his feet, he leaned in close, his voice low and teasing. “You know, you should really work on your defenses, Charming. You’re too easy to beat.”

Charming rolled his eyes, trying to shake off the strange fluttering in his chest. “You’re just... annoyingly good at this,” he muttered, though there was a hint of admiration buried under the frustration.

Hook grinned, sheathing his sword with a flourish. “I try my best.”

Lionel, who had been watching the entire exchange from the doorway, couldn’t help but shake his head with a fond smile.

As he watched the two of them bicker and spar, Lionel muttered under his breath, “Young love... even if they’re too blind to see it.”

🪝

Lunch rolled around, and Hook found himself enduring yet another round of "ball planning." Charming was running through an endless list of hypothetical disasters that could happen on the big day, his voice steady and serious.

Hook, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less about what might go wrong, especially when the conversation shifted to dancing.

"I don't dance," Hook said, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair.

Charming blinked, as if he hadn’t heard correctly. "What do you mean? Everyone knows how to dance."

"Well, I don’t." Hook said firmly.

Charming’s lips curled into a smile. "Then I’ll just have to teach you," he said, clearly amused at the idea.

Hook was ready with a sarcastic retort, something about never needing to dance on a pirate ship, when the doors swung open, and in walked Bridget and Ella, hand in hand.

Bridget, the Princess of Wonderland, immediately caught Hook’s attention. She was Uliana’s worst nightmare—the living embodiment of everything pink and bubbly that his sea witch friend despised. Bridget, with her unshakable spirit, was a hard target to torment, much to Uliana’s eternal frustration. Hook had always found it hilarious.

Ella, on the other hand, was quieter, more reserved, Hook mused, watching the two approach. He knew little about her other than that she was Bridget’s partner (Uliana called her Bridget’s lap dog.) and apparently had a tolerance for the constant excitement that followed Bridget wherever she went.

"Hey there," Bridget chirped, her voice light and sweet. "We wanted to bring you a little treat. Tomorrow, we won’t be able to attend the ball, so we’re bringing this as an apology." She waved a metallic pink cloche (That’s what those serving things are called.) in her hand before passing it to Ella.

"It’s okay, B," Charming said with a warm smile. "I know you’re not a fan of parties."

Bridget shook her head, pink curls bouncing with the motion. "No, it’s not that! I’d love to come, but I’m heading back home to Wonderland for a little trip. I’m bringing Ella with me to meet the Wonderlandians." She beamed as if this was the most exciting thing in the world.

"Yay," Ella said flatly, her voice devoid of enthusiasm. Hook couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. He liked this girl’s deadpan delivery—it almost made him regret teasing her in the past.

"She’s totally excited," Hook quipped from the corner, a smirk playing on his lips.

Ella turned her gaze toward him, a knowing look in her eyes that told him she was far from thrilled. Hook nodded at her, as if in silent agreement—meeting new people could be a drag.

Charming, meanwhile, was already moving on. "So, B," he said, "what do you have for us today? And what side effects should I be warned about?"

"Blame the cookbook, not the cook!" Bridget giggled, twirling a strand of her pink hair around her finger. "Well, actually, I’m more of a baker than a cook, but you get the idea."

Charming chuckled, but then turned to Bridget with a more serious expression. "B, I need to talk to Ella about that project we have together, but I’m sure Hook here would love a little company while I’m busy. Why don’t you chat with our resident pirate for a bit?"

Ella on the other hand looked like she was ready to vent to Charming. It was clear to Hook those two were really good friends and Bridget was the ray of sunshine that was in between these two.

Bridget’s face lit up as she practically skipped over to where Hook was seated. "Of course! I’d love to." She plopped down next to Hook, her infectious energy filling the space between them.

"So," Bridget began, her bright eyes fixed on Hook, "how’s the whole ‘dating the prince’ thing going? You two make such a cute couple!"

Hook almost choked on his water, his mind racing for a response. He hadn't exactly agreed to this charade for the compliments, but Bridget was looking at him with such genuine excitement that he had to try.

"Oh, you know," Hook said, waving his hook hand nonchalantly. "It’s... a lot of work. Keeping up with someone as perfect as Charming."

Bridget gasped. "I knew it!" She leaned in closer, her pink curls brushing against his arm. "You’re totally in love with him, aren’t you?"

Hook blinked, caught off guard. He’d been prepared to bluff his way through this conversation, but something about Bridget’s sweet, innocent nature made it harder to lie outright.

It reminded him a bit of Morgie’s bright energy—the same warm, unwavering kindness. His usual defenses felt weaker around people like her.

"I mean," Hook began, trying to sound convincing, "how could I not be, right? Charming’s... charming." He grimaced inwardly at his own terrible pun.

Bridget giggled, clearly delighted. "I knew it! Love is just the best, isn’t it? It makes everything brighter and more magical."

Hook shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond. He wasn’t one to talk about love, let alone pretend to be in it. But Bridget’s wide-eyed enthusiasm was almost... endearing. Maybe in another universe they were friends.

"Sure," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Love’s great."

Bridget sighed dreamily. "I’m so happy for you two. You know, I think it’s important to fight for love. It’s like Wonderland—you have to be brave enough to embrace the chaos."

Hook tilted his head, watching her with a curious expression. Despite the intense energy she exuded, there was wisdom to Bridget’s words. "You really believe that, don’t you?" he asked, a note of respect slipping into his voice.

"Of course!" she said, beaming. "I’ve always been a ‘love conquers all’ kind of girl. When you find someone special, you have to hold on tight and never let go."

Hook glanced over at Charming, who was deep in conversation with Ella now. He felt a strange pull in his chest, something he couldn’t quite name. Bridget’s words lingered, gnawing at him in a way that felt both uncomfortable and... intriguing.

"Yeah," Hook murmured, almost to himself. "Maybe you're right." He caught himself and flashed Bridget a grin, trying to shake off the strange feeling creeping up on him. "But don’t tell him I said that."

Bridget giggled again, clearly thrilled. "Your secret’s safe with me, Hook."

The pirate was trying not to think of the prince across the room.

But just as the thought crossed his mind, Charming looked over at them, catching Hook’s eye for a split second before quickly turning back to his conversation with Ella. Hook’s heart gave an unexpected lurch, and he cursed himself silently.

"Well," Bridget said with a wink, "it sounds like things are going to get interesting for you two at the ball."

Hook just smirked, not trusting himself to say anything else. This whole fake-dating situation was starting to mess with his head—and the worst part was, he wasn’t entirely sure he hated it.

Notes:

Hope you enjoy the fic & Remember to give feedback!!! It is always appreciated. That was a doozy to edit down, I'm so excited to show more of this to y'all and I hope your ready. (And if you reading this on tumblr. Thank you so much for giving this a read.)

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