Reckless Paradise [a descendants story]

Chapter Ten | Captain Hook

"Did you guys have classes on curtseying?" Jax asked.

"What?" Quinn looked over at him. They were sitting on the counter in the shop. It was dark, the shop was closed, and they were passing a bottle of rum back and forth and were teetering on the edge between being tipsy and drunk.

"Did they teach you how to curtsey in your school in Auradon?"

Quinn rolled her eyes. "There wasn't a whole class on it, but yes, we did. In 'Court Manners.'"

Jax snorted. "What else did you learn in Court Manners?"

Handing the bottle back to Jax, Quinn leant back on her hands. "Most of the really dumb stuff was in the younger grades – walking with a book on your head and all that." She mused. "Some weren't all bad; I quite liked the dance classes."

"That reminds me, you haven't been to a rave yet, have you?"

"I don't think we learned that kind of dancing."

"Well," Jax hopped off the counter, wobbled a bit, and turned to her. "Teach me."

"You want to learn how to waltz?" Quinn asked incredulously.

"And then I will teach you how we dance here." He held out his hands to her and when she took them, he pulled her off the counter into his arms. Quinn stayed there for a second longer than was necessary before stepping back.

"Very well," she said and took his hand in hers. "Place your free hand on my waist." As he did so, she put her hand on his shoulder.

"Are you sure we're not supposed to be closer?" Jax asked with a smile, stepping in closer to her.

"Yes, I'm sure." Quinn rolled her eyes again, pushing him back gently with a smile. "Now, the waltz goes in threes, so you step, step, and step together." After some shuffling, Jax got the basics and soon they were step-step-togethering across the room.

Unprompted, Jax spun her, hand trailing around her waist as she turned. Once she faced him again, he held her much closer and reached out to the radio on the counter and a very irate jig began to play.

This dance was a fair bit easier to learn than the waltz. Jax, confident and smiling, led her around the room, pushing her into twirls and pulling her into dips.

Soon they were both breathless and laughing and Jax dipped her one last time and then pulled her up into a kiss. And Quinn realized that she had not had fun in a long time. Sure, fighting had an element of fun in it – but this was pure mostly-innocent fun.

The next song began to play, a slower one, and Quinn wrapped her hands around Jax's neck and buried her head in his neck. Jax wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as they swayed to the rhythm of the song.

"What type of dancing is this?" Jax said quietly beside her ear.

"Something we were definitely not allowed to do at school dances," Quinn said with a smile.

•••

One day, after sparring with Blake, Quinn was reorganizing first aid kit. It was not much; just some bandages made of old rags, a bottle of whiskey, and a needle and thread. She had asked Cyrus if there was any medicine in the warehouse that Maleficent was keeping for herself, but he had told her that medicine was never sent to the Isle.

Slow, measured steps sounded in the hallway and a long shadow darkened the doorway.

"I heard there was a new recruit." The voice was smooth, almost gentlemanly.

Quinn looked up and her heart skipped a beat, for there stood Captain James Hook, more terrifying than she could have imagined. She rose slowly, trying to keep any fear from her face. Captain Hook crossed the room, his walk much more dignified than Jax's swagger. But they had the same piercing pale blue eyes.