Peter Pan The Killer

Chapter 18: A Sulking Peter Pan

The sun had sunk into the cloudy horizon, night fell and darkness blanketed the unilluminated road. Gwen had not spoken a word since Crocker's statement. She did not know what to make of it. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He drove in a contemplative silence. Unlike before, his eyes were distant, thinking.

Skul's pawn. Just like Peter.

Both of them had rough stories tailing behind them. The same hardened green eyes. As test subjects, they were twins. Yet as people, they could not be more different.

Peter was mischievous, playful, quick-witted and dangerous. Crocker seemed rather straightforward, honest and calmer than Peter had ever been. She did not know what it was, but he almost felt less dangerous than Peter. It was this single thought she clung on, in hopes the man she perceived him to be, was in fact the man who was with Pauline.

"If what you're saying is true... Thank you..." Gwen said.

Crocker sighed, "There is no need to thank me. Skul and I imprisoned her," he muttered in distaste.

"You were following orders. Call me naïve, but I believe you helped her, nevertheless. At the very least, I'm grateful for that," she spoke, observing his slight changes in expression intently.

His grip on the steering loosened, his shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. The tension in the air reduced significantly. "You're just like she described."

A slight smile tugged at Gwen's lips, "I don't think you were just listening to Pauline talk to herself," she said. Crocker's eyes skittered away from the road momentarily.

"But then again, Pauline talks a whole lot. I wouldn't be surprised if she forced you to sit through a million conversations. You probably know her mother's famous pozole recipe," Gwen mused. It turned into missing Pauline hours again. Nostalgia tugged at her heartstrings.

For the first time, she saw the stoic man beside her smile. Okay, maybe calling it a smile would have been an overstatement. A microscopic grin. But it was something.

Gwen leaned back into her seat. The awkward silence was now a comfortable tranquility.

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She was hungry as it became well past dinnertime. To stay under the radar, Crocker drove them to a bar in the middle of nowhere. From the outside it looked like thugs gathered there on a daily. Heavy bikes and jet black Fords parked at the front. She gulped in nervousness.

Sure enough, as they stepped in the semi-crowded bar, tables were filled with suspicious looking fellows. She tried her best not to make eye contact with any of them, some had eyes follow Gwen and crew with interest.

The only available space was the barstools at the counter. They quickly ordered. The faster they got over with dinner, the better. While Belle engrossed herself with her phone and Crocker left the bar to make some calls, probably giving Skul a status update, Gwen turned to Peter who by all means was ignoring her.

"Hey! Look at me!" Gwen pestered waving her hand in front of his face. In a truly childish manner, he huffed and turned further away from her. Gwen widened her eyes.

He was sulking!

"Oh god, are you still mad at me for talking to Crocker?" Gwen said exasperated.

Peter folded his arms, "No..." He muttered and clearly meant the opposite. He was pouting, and Gwen almost wanted to laugh.

"You're jealous," she exclaimed.

Peter eyed her with annoyance. Gwen could not stop herself as the snort of laughter escaped her throat.The next second, Peter has snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her and the stool closer with ease. She yelped and the sudden motion.