Believer || OUAT Peter Pan x OC

Chapter 13; Home

She'd never seen him like this before.

In all her time in Neverland, being an unknowing prisoner to the boy himself, not once had he shown true weakness. But now he was on the floor, struggling to sit up now that the energy and magic from Henry's heart were taken away from him. He was vulnerable, and for a moment Elena felt a pang of guilt - but when his forest-green eyes locked with hers, she was jolted back to the reality that Peter Pan was, indeed, a pretty villain, and gaining enough confidence to let her guard down around him was exactly what he wanted.

"Elena," he started, picking himself off the ground shakily, but she immediately took a cautious step back. "Elena, you don't understand - why I had to do it."

"But you didn't have to," Elena told him simply. "You did it to save yourself. One young life for another."

"I didn't want to deceive you," he tried to reason, "for you to end up hurt like you are now. But I meant what I said; I need to be alive, and you can stay here with me in Neverland. We can figure this out."

"There's no 'we', Peter," Elena said, feeling torn but remaining firm. "You chose to kill Henry. You just wanted me out of the way so you could do it. But you did it in the most horrible way--"

"Don't say that," Pan said, his voice cracking, and Elena stalled in slight surprise at his downcast expression. "I do care about you, Ella... more than I should. You're right - I did need you out of the way at first. You're smarter, and stronger - and I've never seen anything like it before. But here, you can stay mine. That's what I want now. Please... let this go. We can start over. I can figure out a way to get what I need without Henry."

Elena let out a shaky breath, processing his words as her expression softened a little. "You'd... you'd really do that?"

Pan nodded. "I'll do it, if it makes things better - makes you happy."

Elena shrugged and shook her head helplessly. "Peter, the damage is pretty much done now. I don't want to fall or any more of your tricks. It's one thing saying all of that, but eventually, you'll want more. Villains... villains always do."

Pan shook his head and grabbed Elena's hand in an attempt to pull her closer, but she pulled away, biting down hard on her lip and forcing herself not to give in. 'Don't make the same mistake twice, Elena.'

"You have to believe me," Peter said, "Elena, you can't leave me alone..."

Elena's strong facade faltered and she took his hand again. "You're.. you're not alone, but-"

"Elena?"

Neal's voice rang out from the near distance, and he came into view, glaring at Pan.

"Come on, we need to go. Henry hasn't woken up yet, and the others are ready to leave."

Elena looked from him to Peter Pan, letting her grip on his hand loosen.

"You're- we're just leaving him here to die then?"

Neal sighed and shook his head. "He did the same to Henry. Don't fall for his tricks, Elena. Come on." He took her hand then, gently pulling her away, and Elena reluctantly fell in step with Neal, leaving Pan glaring pure hatred at his back, feeling the life draining from him.

It was late at night when everyone finally made it to the ship and pulled away from the island, Felix and the Lost Boys all on board too. The Lost Boys looked nervous but excited to be going to Storybrooke, except for Felix, who was sitting alone with a dark look on his face. Elena met his gaze at one point but quickly looked away again. Of course he wasn't happy. He and Pan worked together, and he was always loyal to him.