Between Sleep And Wake

Alice and Slightly

Vigorous attempts at carving weapons was wasteful. Alice wanted to forfeit, but something about using her own devices to fight Peter filled her with satisfaction. Alas, she was not as skilled as she desired. She couldn't utilize her own creations.

Her logical side was telling her this idea was dangerous and reckless. Peter was stronger than her; how likely was it that she could defeat him?

But her stubbornness overtook all reason. Peter needed to learn his lesson and she was the one to put him in his rightful place.

She headed to the main deck of the ship, where Hook was carousing with the rest of pirates over pitchers of beer, and said, "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Oh, is he in trouble?" Smee joked.

"No, he isn't," Alice replied, giving him a sour look. She was in no mood for his teases!

His turned away from her and carried singing some silly pirate song with the other men.

"What is this concerning, Alice?" Hook asked her, once they were at the ship's port, away from the merry chorus of off key voices. Where they stood overlooked the stellar night; the moon, as always, was dazzling and full, almost blinding in its intensity

"I have decided to give Peter a visit," she informed him.

"Did I not advise you that was dangerous?" he inquired, in a stern, almost fatherly tone.

"Yes, you did, but you should know better than to expect me to listen to you by now."

He gave her a smirk. It wasn't amusement; it was understanding not to argue with her truthful point. It was a smirk of defeat.

"But I'm not able to go alone. I need reinforcements," she sair.

"I beg your pardon?" he asked, his face red and his voice angry. "Reinforcements? Do you expect my men to sacrifice themselves so they can be killed by an insolent—"

"I will go with her."

Alice and Hook both directed their attention to Slightly, who had obviously overheared their conversation.

"You will?" Alice asked.

"Yes. You're correct. You aren't able to go alone. It isn't safe for you."

"Slightly, I encourage you to think of the ramifications," Hook said.

"But, Captain, this involves the lives of two innocent women. Should we not at least attempt to rescue them?" Slightly questioned. "It isn't proper to know they are imprisoned, but willingly refuse to help. That is not virtuous."

Alice smiled. It was noble of Slightly to step forward and be a hero. If only others could be the same. Sadly, bravery was not a trait inherent in everyone. If no one else volunteered, then she and Slightly could very well go off by themselves. The rest were nothing but foolish cowards.

"That is . . . noble of you," Hook said, echoeing Alice's own thoughts. "All right, but, please, the two of you need to be cautious."

"I believe we are well prepared. We both did live with Peter, after all," Slightly pointed out. "It has helped me become very familiar with his capabilities—with how he thinks. I hope I'm not being presumptuous, Alice." He turned to her as he spoke those final words.

She smiled reassuringly at him. "You're not. I know Peter very well and I'm confident I can use that knowledge against him." That was a slight exaggeration, but playing up her own convictions mighy alleviate Hook's skepticism.

The lines pooling over Hook's expression suggested he wasn't fooled, but his next words were, "Fine, you may both go."

Alice made it obvious that she would have left regardless of Hook's disapproval; however, Slightly would not have casually opposed any given orders. Unlike Alice, he enjoyed abiding regulations, which she would never fathom.

"Thank you," Alice said to Slightly when Hook went to rejoin the pirates.

"The arguments you were expressing were well grounded. Those women—they must be rescued," he said. "I know it will be difficult, being face to face with a man I once considered an invaluable friend, but I'll manage."

"He's betrayed too many people," Alice added. And she could not understand how anyone could be cruel to Slightly—he had the kindest brown eyes and a trusting smile that showed his innocence. It contrasted with his unruly, wild dark hair.

They both had their experiences with Peter that each comprehended but never articulated. It was a shared sympathy, of ongoing fright. Perhaps that was why they shared a bond that Alice did not feel with anyone else on the ship, not even Captain Hook.

Although, Alice and Peter's relationship had been more convoluted and entangled—a history she felt ashamed to admit to Slightly. It was not one defined as platonic.

Her residence had caused a distraction for Peter. Once she had began living in his hut, he had seemed to forget about Slightly. This was one of the reasons why, in a twisted way, she had truly saved Slightly's life. Peter did not speak well of his former friends; however his recollections had consistently seemed odd to Alice. They all hurt him. They deceived him. He was the constant victim of abandonment. And Slightly hurt him

During her final escape, she had run into Slightly in the woods. She had been ready to attack him when she heard him call for her. Peter's behaviour had made her unease rise, her defenses releasing on instinct if she felt any pending danger. Slightly had caught her trying to eat berries she hadn't known were lethal.

"Who are you?" she asked, pointing a stake she'd stolen from the hut at him. "What do you want? I found these first. They are mine."

"They're poisonous," he said. "They can cause severe deliriousness and death."

She stared down at the bright blue berries in her hand, the stake still directed at him with the other.

"And my name is Slightly."

"Slightly," she repeated, her eyes raising up to his. "You're Slightly? Peter's friend?"

He gave her a weak, awkward smile. "Oh, so you know Peter? And he spoke of me?" he inquired. "Not positively, I imagine?"

"No," she admitted. "Not positively. He said you betrayed him."

"If by betrayed, he meant forcing me out of his home with nothing because he was bored of me."

After that, she convinced him to find the Jolly Roger with her. Alice was not certain what her intentions where once she saw the ship; her only objective was to find it. Of course, once she did, she realized Peter's perception of the truth was skewed. Peter was the enemy of Neverland.

What would Slightly think if he knew the truth about her relationship with Peter?