Log: Complete;

[ironhook.livejournal.com]

When; Dec 19 - Heartless! - Late afternoon
Rating; PG
Characters; Captain Jas. Hook ironhook and Peter Pan all_butone
Summary; Fighting, rescuing, bantering... Reunited, nevertheless xD

Log;

So, they were called 'Heartless', were they? James smirked as with a slash of sword and hook he severed nigh three or four of them in half. Then he had no fear, did he? How often was he called heartless, merciless? A twirl of metal and he spun, hacking one of the shadow beasts clean down the middle. Not that he was denying it. They were strange, though. Nothing like the creatures of Neverland (much more swift than any Neverbird), but at least they couldn't fly. If they could, James might have attacked them with more force, so like Pan's shadow they would have been then.

Though thinking of whom, it was the little brat's fault, anyway. Sending him into the maw of the crocodile to end up... here. Wherever here was. Far away from his beloved Neverland, and his ship, The Jolly Roger. No, he had nothing. Nothing but the clothes on his back, his hook and his sword. His hat had gone missing even. Nothing was familiar, nothing but the inceassant tick-tock that he had been told was not inside a crocodile, but instead a different kind of countdown. A sneer pulled his mouth as he wiped the blade of his sword on the foliage, leaving streaks of shadow behind.

It was typical, that he should survive the crocodile, only to be thrown into this strange place. And what was the point of that? As much as he would have liked to believe Pan was here, he doubted the boy would be. So there went his quest for vengence. This wasn't Neverland, after all, and Pan had no reason to leave. Ridiculous, all of it, and it was making his mood sour by the minute.

The Heartless had stopped attacking, for the moment, and failing to see anything else to do, James turned and began his hike through the forest anew, viciously hacking at the undergrowth with his sword as though it were a machete.



Upon further reflection- well, as much reflection as Peter had been prone to giving to anything, this curse day was far better than the last. A bunch of naked people running aorund outside left him stuck indoors bored out of his mind with his rather...eccentric roommate. It was no wonder the boy was feeling restless. He couldn't bear staying in any one place for long and even back in Neverland he'd been constantly flitting from one place to another seeking new and greater adventures. But even then, he was reluctant to admit, even then adventure had been hard to come by.

In the past, when he'd grown bored with the mermaids and the fairies and the indians and the Lost Boys, he could always count on picking a fight to keep him entertained. Yes yes, Hook had been his one great enemy and yes he'd been more than content to be declared the champion at last- but things were different now. Wendy and her brothers and all the Lost Boys had gone away and he'd been left with...just Tink. It was over, all worthwhile adventures had been completed and there was nothing left for the boy to do.

Arriving in the City had been a pleasant enough change. New people and places and fun to be had, but every once in awhile something odd would happen, or he would learn of one new detail...like his inability to return back to Neverland and the news that here in the City he would have to grow u-

No. He didn't like having sad thoughts. They always got in the way of everything else he was trying to do, like fighting off those weird black ghost things that...that ate hearts. He'd never heard of anything like that before, but the thought was hardly daunting. It was the kind of adventure he'd been starved for and the boy was more than happy to let himself have fun with the things. From what he'd seen, a great deal of people had found large key-shaped sticks and started hitting the creatures with it- which meant that most of the things in the City's center were well under control. Under control, and boring, which left him no choice other than to seek out others. Peter had long since taken flight, soaring through the air and throwing rocks at the creatures below as he made his way towards the forest. After all, he'd been warned many times before that the forest's creatures were wild and dangerous, which meant that something exciting was bound to happ-

Weaving with nimble grace between and around the tree branches, green eyes widened in shock as he caught a glimpse of a more than familiar shape. But surely he had to be mistaken because the captain had died quite some time ago which meant that he couldn't possibly have just seen-

"Ah!"

With a yelp of pain and his momentum effectively halted by his collision with an all but forgiving tree, Peter fell backwards, arms pinwheeling for balance before giving up completely as he fell- hitting the ground below with bruising force.



James started like a cat, jumping and whirling when he heard the yelp and thunderous crash from somewhere off to his left. Despite what he had been told about the crocodile, the continual ticking and the fact that these shadow creatures continually came back in numbers that increased exponentially set him on edge. He would never admit it, but he was extremely flightly at the moment, and it just increased his ire. A soft red glowed in his eyes, not quite taking over the forget-me-not blue, but there none the less.

"Who goes there?" He barked, stepping towards the source of the sound. Whoever it was had caught him in a less than pleasant mood, and at the moment he didn't care who it was-- he planned to disembowl them and leave them as fodder for the animals of the forest.

"There is no point in hiding--" He started, voice pitched to a threatening, polite-as-ever growl, only to have it stopped abruptly by an attack in the other direction. It sent him stumbling forward two steps before the captain was able to recover and turn to face his the one responsible for the assault. Upon sighting who it was, however, he blanched slightly, as it was not one, or even a few-- but many shadow-creatures. Now, Hook had every confidence in his fighting ability. The loss of his hand, if anything, only sharpened his skills. But even he had to admit that at this point? He was outnumbered.

He recovered quickly enough, though, and with a shout, he lunged directly into the fray. Hook flashing, sword glinting, he hacked and slashed, ruthless and venting his frustrations. But in such a vile state of mind, James was prone to make mistakes, and had he stopped to think a moment, he might have fled in his brief moment of fight-or-flight instinct. This was one battle he wouldn't be winning, and though he fought valiantly, it was clear that he was overwhelmed. The Heartless took him down, swarming and black and merciless as the man they covered.



Effectively dazed and gasping softly for breath, Peter could have sworn that his heart had stopped when he heard Hook speak. He'd been certain that would be it- instant mortification, if not death before he'd even had a chance to recover from his shock. If nothing else, that half growl had confirmed what his gut instinct already knew. Hook, some how, miraculously, had managed to survive the crocodile amd wound up in the City as well.

But for some reason, his impending doom was still...impending, and Peter was confused. More than confused actually, as he managed to force himself to sit up and take a look at what exactly had intervened on his behalf. To say he was startled by the sight however, was a massive understatement. The pirate was outnumbered, surely he had to know that- and yet he'd charged headlong into the fray regardless
and without a keyblade either.

His body had lept up before the boy had even had time to realize he'd moved. It didn't matter. Those crazy black monsters were dangerous and bound to eat the man's heart if Peter didn't step in- and he knew it. It was the same knot that had tangled in his stomach the last time they'd faught, where he'd wanted to win, but hadn't the heart to do it himself. Enemy or not, the crocodile had eaten Hook once before and taken the glory- there was no way Peter would forfeit another victory. Though he would never say otherwise, part of him had acknowledged how much he relied upon the man. He was the only great challenge left, the only one who'd managed to keep him on his toes, land a blow, and provide endless years of amusement.

He needed no further prompting. Keyblade gripped tightly in his hands, the boy surged forward, thrusting the weapon into soft bodies- the creatures vanishing in a series of inky blots one by one as he swung.


Ignorant to his rival, James' focus had narrowed down to the few Heartless in his immediate vicinity. He had been informed of what they could do, and while he had been entirely blasé about the whole thing, now that they clouded his vision, pawing and biting and pushing, the truth of his state of affairs was becoming clear. He was in trouble. Invincible as he liked to believe, James knew (although he refrained from thinking of it), that he was just as mortal as any other man, perhaps just with more keen and more luck. How he had not connected his fighting the beasts off and their increase of numbers, he did not know, and would kick himself for later when he finally did figure it out.

He lashed, but his efforts were useless. Just as he went to swing, his sword was pulled-- either caught or taken-- from his grip, which left him nothing but the hook of his right hand. Normally this would suffice, but they were suffocating, and movement was becoming harder and harder. Finally, buffeted into submission, he curled over, one arm locked around his chest as if it might protect him, the other around his head so that the hook stood out sharply against the black of his hair. When, slowly but surely, the black cloud around him eased-- beaten back by Pan's efforts-- he didn't notice at first. Only when light finally reached him did he stir, able to breath again, cautiously peeking through tangles of ebony curls. At this point, though, Peter was behind him and above him, so James did not lay eyes on his nemesis right away.



The pirate had certainly managed to collect quite a few of the beasts- far more than he'd realized, but it didn't matter. Whatever power that keyblade held made his power unrivaled- at least as far as the Heartless were concerned. They fell away easily under his blows and when the ones that remained realized their numbers had suffered a serious decline, the shadowy creatures ran off, seeking refuge in the forest's underbrush.

Peter took a breath, chest heaving slightly from the exhertion as he reached a slender arm up to wipe at beads of sweat gathered on his brow. Hook hadn't made it easy for him, he'd been counting the number of blobs as they'd dissipated and lost track somewhere after thirty. He glanced at the man on the forest floor with furrowed brows and once deciding that he looked in well enough shape, he made short work of the creatures attempting to escape. "Guess you're outta shape old man"


Forget-me-nots narrowed suspiciously as the rest of the shadows scattered, confused and set on edge by their disappearance. Just moments before he was sure they would have killed him, or 'taken his heart'. James didn't quite realize it was somebody else's doing until he heard the bated breath and footsteps of someone demolishing the brave shadows remaining. His mouth twisted with annoyance, as now he would have to owe this individual something, and as if to put of the inevitable, he sat up without turning around. It was when Pan spoke that James' expression slacked, deadpan.

He would recognize that insolent voice anywhere.

As though the moment of weakness had never happened, the captain twisted around quickly, his hand flat against the damp forest floor. Yes, it was Pan, he wasn't imagining things (as he was prone to, though would never admit), and instead of the surge of anger he had expected, something closer to relief flooded through the pirate. Of course, once he realized it, James' expression hardened and curled into a wicked sneer, because he was not supposed to feel anything but irritation over the boy.

"Pan."


Task completed, his wrist went slack, sword arm relaxed enough to allow the tip of the blade to rest against the ground as he turned to face the pirate. He too was relieved, but didn't go through the trouble to cover such thing up. Besides, he'd never had much interests in things like feelings- at least not since he'd brought Wendy to Neverland and that entire mess had occurred...

Which was all the more reason to dismiss such things entirely. Yes, he could be relieved- but he would be relieved because he'd defeated an enemy Hook himself could not, and he now had someone to direct his constant boredom at. That was all.

The thought took more convincing than he was comfortable with.

"You're supposed to be crocodile chow." He said simply, offering the man an impish grin. Peter wasn't sure what the pirate would do next- charge perhaps? It was better to be safe than risk another gash across his side. Though he remained on the ground, Peter kept a more than safe distance from the other, ready to take flight at a moment's notice. His body still ached terribly from the fall, moreso than he wanted to admit and coupled with the exhaustion from protecting his nemesis- it was more strain than he could hide compeletly. Perhaps not obvious weakness, but enough that someone as perceptive as Hook would notice. Peter knew couldn't be foolish enough to allow himself to be caught off guard.



The sneer twisted into more of a smirk, haughty and arrogant, welcoming the distraction from any wayward thoughts and feelings that might have occurred seconds before. He was supposed to be 'crocodile chow'? For the record, he was supposed to be many things. Dead was only one of them.

"Apparently your little plan did not go as well as hoped," James drawled, and somehow felt more himself now than he had since arriving on the sandy beach. With a huff, partly of annoyance, he levered himself from the ground, "Surely you didn't think it would be so easy." He went on with an arrogance that easily matched, and on some days surpassed, that of his rival, eyeing the boy disdainfully. Yes, there was a touch of fatigue about the boy, but James himself was in no better shape. Being eaten by a crocodile, washed up on shore, hiking through foreign terrain and fighting hordes of shadow enemies could do that to a person.

But he, like Peter, held the weariness at bay. It would do no good to show weakness, as even in his worst hours Hook put on a facade to keep his enemies on edge. He would, after all, pounce if given the chance, no matter how tired, and there was no fantasy in his head that Pan wouldn't do the same.


In an offhand way that was entirely natural to him and would no doubt irk Hook once more- Peter shrugged half-heartedly. "You started it."

He didn't care much for long drawn out speeches or bouts of verbal sparring that were at this point- almost certain to lead to physical combat. It was strange to him, to suddenly feel so at ease. As though he'd spent endless amounts of time with the world tilted too far to the left and now, standing only a few feet away from his long time foe- the world had righted itself. Brows furrowed slightly at the thought, the corner of his mouth wavering between his typical mischievious smirk and a frown of concentration. If nothing else, the gesture was a subtle sign that the boy was slowly starting to come out of his own boyishness- beginning to mature and stop and think- despite his denial of it.

Then as quickly as the look was there, it was gone and Peter let his body rise into the air. "Good to have you back Jamesy. Sorry I can't stay and play so we'll have to pick this up later." Tossing the keyblade down to the man, he continued, "and you'll need that key thing to fight off those black creatures. Can't come saving you all the time."


Within the pause between Peter's first statement and his lifting from the ground, James slowly narrowed his eyes. If there was one thing in all the world he was an expert at, it was reading Peter Pan. After who-knew-how-many-turns of being his rival, of the boy being an incessant nuisance in his life, it was impossible for Hook not to be hyperaware of him. Therefore, he noticed the waver of Pan's impish grin, the unease of thought that briefly clouded the edge of his mouth. James recognized it. After all, the same had happened to him so long ago.

But somehow, he didn't know whether to smile with sinister glee, or be appalled by it. The matter was settled when suddenly Pan recovered, the insolent grin once again there, his body lifting easily into the air. James started to snarl again, but was cut short as his hand snapped out reflexively to snatch the Keyblade from the air with quickness of a striking cobra. He frowned at it (Good form, a voice whispered in the back of his mind), then looked sharply up to Peter.

"Don't think this changes anything, just because this is not Neverland," He replied, nothing friendly in his voice as he tossed the blade, catching it more properly about the handle. He pointed the sharp edge up at Pan, the soft red returning to his pale irises. "I know you're here now, and there is no place you can hide."


The scarlet gleam in Hook's eyes did more to push him along. After all, it was far easier to assume a role when other players were there to prompt you. He landed softly on a higher branch, bare feet barely scraping the rough bark. "If that demonstration a minute ago was any indication, I won't -need- to hide." The boy laughed, giving a little wave of his hand.

Truth be told, he wasn't terribly concerned- though the threat did send a chill up his spine, for reasons he chose to ignore. Hook wasn't the type to barge into anything. After all, Peter had taken up with a roommate of questionable abilities and for all his oddities, he was sure the wizard was more than capable of defending their room should the need arise. In the off chance that the pirate was able to find where he was living to begin with.

Still, Hook didn't have to be so insufferable about resuming their old rivalry. It was one thing to pick fights when bored- but for the first time he could truly recall, the boy had the distinct feeling he was being hunted. Peter shrugged it off, crossing his arms defiantly over his chest as he spoke, voice carrying that familiar mocking lilt. "Do be careful in the forest, can't have you dying before I defeat you....again."


Instead of taking to the bait, James merely smirked. "I think we've both had our victories, Pan," He returned, drawling, "And if my calculations are correct... Its my turn, this time." His voice dropped to a purr, polite but with the distinctive air that he knew something Peter didn't. Truth be told, it was constant that he and Peter were exchanging victories against one another. It was simply that Pan's last triumph and easily out-down any both rivals had accomplished before. For wasn't that what each were ultimately seeking? The death of the other?

"You've no Wendy or Lost Boy to watch your back this time, Pan," He purred maliciously, and the smile he gave was slow and sinister. They were both alone this time. And while Hook would never admit to it, or possibly fully realize it, the only constant they had left was each other.


Where a moment before he'd been hovering mere inches above the same branch, Hook's words visibly stole the light from his eyes, body lowering to land flush on the wood beneath him. His head shook slowly from side to side, lips parting as if to offer some sort of verbal denail but none came. Hook was right. He didn't have his Wendy or his Lost Boys or even Tink here with him any longer and a heavy lump seemed to settle in his chest. Peter had done it for so long, had been avoiding the subject, running from the mere idea that he could possibly be all alone and just like so many times before, the pirate had pulled everything out from under him.

He felt suddenly...lost, and his youthful glow seemed to diminish, paling. Before, there had been someone to stand with him, to count on to pull him out of such a downward spiral- but there was no fighting it now. How could he fight against something he himself knew was true? He really was all alone.
The words wouldn't come.


James was pleased with the reaction, and his shoulders squared, his posture straightening. He lifted his chin defiantly, curls of black falling from the sharp angles of his face. How bittersweet, he found himself thinking, that the boy so filled with joy and adoration from others should suddenly find himself so alone. And he hadn't realized it, either, judging from his reaction. But wasn't that the fate of every man? James believed it. And it was oh so terribly amusing when he was there to witness Peter being struck by such thoughts.

Not as young and innocent as you like to believe, are you? He thought viciously.

"Remember that," Was what he said, intending to leave Peter with that to mull over, if at least for a little while. Now that he knew Pan was here, he did not feel so rushed to throw the boy down. Just that little victory was enough to keep Hook sated for the time being. With one final smirk, the pirate king turned, twirled the keyblade, and started off through the forest again, slicing aside brush with his newly acquired weapon.