Forever Neverland (Peter Pan x James Hook)

Chapter 2

James gasped as he finally broke the surface of the water, engulfed by soft moonlight and the sweet, cool night air that filled his burning lungs.
Though for a moment back there he had intended to surrender to his fate and die, the moment the crocodile's giant jaws closed around him he had regained his will to live; or at least his will to kill that wretched little brat.

With the last remains of his strength, he swam towards the close shore, glad the salty water washed away the beast's blood on his skin. Finally, that horrible creature that had lusted after his blood for centuries was dead. One less threat to worry about.
Shakily, he finally crawled ashore, collapsing as soon as his feet were fully out of the water.

'Just another day in Hell,' he thought bitterly, rolling over to stare up at the beautiful, star filled night where he saw his beloved Jolly Roger sailing towards the full moon, levitated by a million glowing fairies.

Pan had ultimately taken everything from him. Maybe he should have stayed inside the crocodile and died, after all. His comrades were dead - either killed by Pan, eaten by the crocodile, or drowned by mermaids – and his life; his love; his ship was sailing away into the horizon with the person he detested more than he could word.

~*~

After leaving the Darling family behind, Peter joined the fairies onboard the Jolly Roger again so they could head home, though Peter didn't know what for. There was nothing left in Neverland.
For the first time in... a very long time, he felt desolate and lonely; a feeling he had always hated and made sure never to feel.

"What do we play now, Tink?" he asked as he took his place at the wheel. He had always wanted his own pirate ship.

Tinkerbell flew around him in circles while she giggled in excitement of a new game. But what game? There was no one left to play with. Peter didn't like to play alone.
Of course there were all sorts of other creatures in Neverland: the mermaids, fairies, Indians... But he wasn't crazy enough to mess with mermaids, so no to that; fairies were all so grown-up, aside from Tink, so they bored him; and the Indians... Well, they were a tribe that he didn't really have much in common with. They weren't like him; they didn't long for adventure and excitement.

No one was like him... The closest to being like him had been Hook: unchanging, un-aging, fierce, bold, brave and wild.

"Did I make a mistake, Tink?" he asked quietly. "Of course not!" he answered himself right away. "I'm perfect. I don't ever make mistakes. How silly of me to think that!" He shook his head with a laugh.

Tinkerbell also laughed, flying around frantically.

"I'll just find a new toy to play with!" It's not like Hook had been that special. Right? Of course not!

Peter laughed delighted as they approached Neverland where the sun began to rise as soon as it saw him. Today would be another wonderful day in Neverland; he would rebuild his kingdom; he would find a new group of Lost Boys, and another lost pirate captain with which he could have epic battles.

His earlier dreary thoughts about losing Wendy were almost gone, and he had completely repressed his earlier promise of never returning to Kensington Gardens. The only feeling he had difficulty shaking off, was the unusual one he felt every time he thought about Hook. He didn't even have a name for that feeling, because it was one he had never felt before. However, it felt a little similar to when Hook had said Wendy would bar her windows and he would never be able to get in... What was that feeling?
Peter shook his head in annoyance; he hated feelings. Such stupid, useless things. He should banish them from his kingdom.