XF → Harry Hook [2]✔

Audrey's Revenge

XJ's hiss, that was reserved for whoever had had the nerve to intrude upon her and Harry's privacy, fell away before her lips parted.

Evie had returned, and was currently standing on their threshold, with wide eyes and a pale complexion. Her blue hair was wild from her run and there were small flecks of mud on her leggings. She had never seen Evie's normally immaculate appearance look so disturbed, nor had she before witnessed the girl's expression match her outfit so perfectly.

"Oh my god!" Evie looked about ready to cry with relief. "XJ, listen, I am so incredibly sorry about Mal accusing you of taking the scepter, especially now, since it's clear that you didn't have it. I'm so sorry on her behalf and - "

XJ cut Evie's long-winded apology short with a sigh of amused exasperation. "What's Mal gone and done now?"

"Well, it's not really Mal's doing," Evie looked around cautiously. "I think you'd better come with me. We really need your help."

"'We' as in Mal and Ben?" XJ questioned. "Because if so, you'll find that I couldn't care less."

Harry chuckled from behind her, earning him a petulant look from Evie, whose gaze snapped back to XJ.

"'We' as in all of Auradon," Evie said grimly.

That seemed to pique XJ's interest, for she unfolded her arms from across her chest, a sign of temporary peace. "Where are the rest of your friends?"

Evie let out a breath that she had been holding. "My place." She answered, her back already facing XJ and Harry as she hurried back down the trail.

The couple followed Evie, the sounds of the trio's approach an odd cacophony as they left the beige dirt paths, instead choosing the faster route through the shrubbery. Evie's shallow breaths filled the air as her platforms made deep grooves in the soil, although they were nothing compared to the traces Harry left; while the soles of his shoes were half as thick, he left a path of snapped twigs and ruined leaves in his wake, crashing through the bushes and jumping over logs like a bloodhound that had caught a scent.

XJ, on the other hand, was as quiet as the two were loud. She navigated through the forest, snaking between trees and avoiding leaves that crackled at even the slightest touch. She moved with calculated accuracy and astonishing speed, to the point where she had to slow down to let Evie stay ahead.

It took about five minutes before they emerged on the edge of a clearing, in the middle of which a series of three cottages lay. They were all the same style as XJ and Harry's lone house, with cream colored walls outlined by mahogany wood and sloping triangular roofs, but a sense of community was much more prevalent, with all three houses interconnecting to become one much larger space.

"Why didn't the two of you choose a place here?" Evie asked, finally able to catch her breath. They slowed to a light jog, heading towards the left side of the structure. "Carlos follows Jane around; Jay's got tourney practice so he only comes back at night too tired to do anything but sleep, and Mal's barely around – it's just me and Doug most of the time."

"We don't like many people," Harry said simply. "Besides, I don't think you would want us around either."

XJ smirked at his comment. "I don't think Doug's too keen on the idea of me being within a ten-mile radius of him."

Evie rolled her eyes as she opened the door of the first cottage from the left. "I think we all know that if you didn't want him afraid of you, he wouldn't be."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Evie shot XJ a knowing look as they walked through the house. The layout was identical to XJ and Harry's cottage, the only difference being that less fabric had been ripped and the walls didn't have massive dents in them. "You can make anyone feel anything towards you, especially when you want something."