Grim (A Peter Pan Fanfic)

Chapter 13: Cat and Mouse in Partnership

"Isn't everyone a part of everyone else?" –Budd Schulberg

***

            "I can't believe we're doing this," Menthol mutters as they depart for Peter's side.

            "What choice do we have?" Cyanide replies. It's not that they hate asking for help or insist on doing things alone, they just don't want to see Peter or his Lost Boys again. After their last encounter, they're definitely not the best of friends (excluding Cyanide and Felix). As for Elly, she doesn't want to have to face Pan after their last accidental meet up.

            "It's the only way," Sahara adds. It is the only way to keep the island safe, so the girls trudge over, completely armed. Elly secretly hopes that Peter refuses to aid them.

            "What does their shelter look like?" Joro wonders.

            Elly tells them, "The entrance is inside of a tree. You slide down; the base is underground."

            "How do you know?" Menthol asks with a slight smirk.

            "I did some spy work for a short time," Elly responds. "We're coming up on their shelter. Like before, don't engage unless they do first."

            They stop at the base of the tree. They're not sure if the Lost Boys are inside or out on the island, so Sahara knocks on the stump that reveals the hole to the slide. Nothing happens for a few minutes until the Lost Boys all fall out of the nearby trees and surround them.

            "What do we have here?" Devin asks, drawing his sword.

            "Where's Peter?" Elly questions dully.

            "Looking for me?" Peter steps out from behind the tree that hides their base. "I knew you'd show up."

            Elly crosses her arms, ignoring his smug expression. "Hook's shadow. We need magic. We don't have it. Will you help?"

            Peter sighs. "You're always so straight forward. Can't we talk about this a little?"

            "No," Elly says. "It's simple. Help us or don't."

            "Let me consult with my men," Peter says, signaling the Lost Boys over to him.

            "Boys, more like," Bubbles mumbles. They giggle, causing some of the Lost Boys to glare at them over their shoulders. They talk for a long time—a whole five minutes—and then they finally break up.

            "We've decided that we'll help you," Felix says. "This is our island, too, we all hate Hook, and he's a threat to all of us."

            "Good choice," Elly says. "We'll be back tomorrow." They start to leave, and they almost make it across the line before Peter calls Elly back.

            "Just for a moment." He's alone, so Elly complies, telling the girls to go ahead of her. She sees Bubbles and Joro wink at her at the last second and rolls her eyes.

            "What can I do for you?" Elly approaches him and crosses her arms again.

            "About last night, I just want to clarify that I don't know what came over me. That was completely out of line, and even though I sort of like you, I shouldn't've come on to you like that. I'm sorry."         

            Elly feels like he's being sincere. He's keeping his distance, and there's no hue in his voice that suggests a joke. He's actually kind of cute when he's not being maniacal.

            "It's okay," Elly says. "I'll see you tomorrow."

            "Yeah, see you." Peter frowns as she walks away. He spots Felix talking to the one girl he said he knew—he thinks they call her Cyanide—and stalks away in the other direction.

            Across the base and closer to the beach, Felix pulls Cyanide aside for a word.

            "About last night," he starts, "I just want to ask if it meant anything."

            "What did it mean to you?"

            "Everything," he admits, not taking his eyes off her. That's one thing Cyanide always loved about Felix—he isn't intimidated by eye contact like most people are. He could stare at someone the entire time they had a conversation if he wanted. And he had pretty eyes: green and hazel that swirled together like a tiny spiral galaxy.

            "Then it meant the same to me. It seems like the Lost Boys and the Wayward Women will be seeing more of each other; we can either make it easy or hard." Cyanide knows if they try to call it off and forget they ever had a relationship, things will get tough for both of them. It would be easier to forget the past and start over. That is why they came to Neverland in the first place.

            "I've always been in favor of the easy things."

            Cyanide grins because that's what she was hoping he'd say. When she reaches up to connect their lips this time, she lets it linger. She's elated that he doesn't remind her of Montana; he reminds her of the island—salt water and fires.

            "What's my name?"

            "Cyanide."

            "See you tomorrow."

            Felix watches her go before going to put his feet in the ocean for a while. He doesn't hear Peter come up behind him until he asks,

            "How?"

            "How what?"

            Peter moves next to him in the water, knee deep. "How do you get someone to love you?"

            "It's not up to you; it's up to them. If they like you as you are, they'll learn to love you. It's a growing emotion. It starts small and gets bigger; but, of course, it can shrink just as fast as it grows."

            "Someone can't love me. No one could."

            "What makes you say that?"

            Peter starts skipping rocks. "I'm too cold. I find pleasure in others pain because it relieves my own. Who would love someone like that? Don't answer that. I don't know what I'm doing."

            He turns and walks away before Felix can respond.