Set Your Sails...to Atlantis || Peter Pan, OUAT

Chapter One - Dangerous Deals

~ Davina

After making sure all of the doors are locked to our quarters, I join the Lost Boys in one of the rowboats to make our way to the docks. I keep my eyes locked on the shoreline, watching the silhouettes roaming the island and ignore Peter's burning stare. I run through the instructions I need to follow for my meeting, wanting to execute the steps as swiftly and as smoothly as possible so I can get it over and done with. Finally, we reach the dock. I hop out, throwing coins as payment for the use of the space to the dockworkers with a flick of my thumb while the Boys help tie up the boats. I wait as they file off, and lead them down the dock, past other rowboats bouncing on the waves as they lap against the sand. The boards creak beneath our collective weight, and we dodge out of the way of stumbling drunkards. As we approach the shore, the smell of oil burning, alcohol, sweat, and sea air fills my senses. There's a cheer and a smashing of glass from a nearby tavern, and a sudden outburst of song. I can't help but smile as the feeling of home creeps in, the familiarity of the setting, sights, and sounds warming my soul.

"Davina, where to?" Felix asks.

"Well, you have a choice. Run some errands now, get what you can back to the ship so you have less to do and can have more fun over the next couple of days or, go and have so much fun now that the work you need to do is the most painful experience you will have had. You choose," I reply, smiling smugly.

"Boys, follow me. Let's get our supplies," Felix orders and they follow him through the streets in search of the items on the list I gave them.

As I watch them disperse, I thank myself for preparing appropriate clothing for them before we left the shore of Neverland. In those tattered, mud-stained clothes they would have stuck out like sore thumbs.

I scan the area, finding the street that I need to head down and take a step towards it, only to be stopped in my tracks as Peter grabs my arm.

"Where are you going?" He asks, his face no longer a mask of anger, but of concern.

"I have a meeting. An important one, so if you don't mind," I say and yank my arm away. "I have to go."

"Who are you meeting with?"

"Until I return, it's none of your business."

"It is."

"Why?"

"Because you have a habit of getting yourself into damning situations."

"I also have a habit of getting out of them," I counter.

His shoulders drop. My jaw tenses, prepared to debate my decision with him. Our gazes flick between each other's eyes, both waiting for one of us to say something. Suddenly, his expression softens.

"Be careful." He says quietly. "Come back to us."

"Of course. I'll be back soon."

Before I can even take a step, Peter pulls me into him, one hand on my waist, the other cupping my face as he plants an urgent kiss to my lips. My breath catches and as he pulls away, I feel as though all of the air has escaped from my lungs. I look up to him, making eye contact so he knows that I mean what I'm about to say.

"I promise, Peter, I won't be long."

He nods once and lets go of me. I begin my journey into the winding streets of Tortuga. I pull my hat lower, hiding my face. Somewhere on this island are people who would love nothing more than to find me and question me about things that I have nothing to do with, but Hook did, at one point in his past. I weave between the shadowy figures, some mumbling to themselves as I pass, and ignore the cat-callers leaning against grimy tavern walls. With a wave of my hand, I disorient the ones that get too close by turning them in the opposite direction and making myself disappear into the shadows. I fight my way through the black market, ignoring the beggars and con artists until I eventually come to the village. The stench of the fishery overwhelms the air to the point I almost empty the contents of stomach in the middle of the path.