PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

FIFTEEN ~ FLIRTATIOUS FIGHTING

Back on the bridge, Uma's anger increased with each attack Mal blocked. Panicking, Mal could feel the strength behind each blow increasing. Her arms wobbled as she fought to keep the Captain back. With a lucky kick, Mal managed to knock Uma's sword to the floor. Grateful for the small distraction, Mal sprinted away from the blue-braided girl and towards her VKs.

Before Ben could make his escape, he found himself cornered by Gil. Unsure what her next move should be, Eva mentally battled with himself. It was her duty to protect Ben but she'd never be able to live with herself if she hurt Gil. Thankfully, she was saved the decision when a bunch of the crew surrounded her. Losing sight of the King and the pirate, the girl focused on her attackers.

Watching as each and every one of them were foiled by the daughter of the Evil Queen, Uma made it her mission to put an end to the girl. Charging through the crowd, the Captain aimed for the Knight but a desperate yell from Harry changed her course. Rushing to her friend's aid, she yanked him up from the ladder and onto the safety of the pier. Scanning him for any injuries, she was relieved to see he was free from harm.

"What the hell were you thinking?" She hissed.

"Dad's hook went in," muttered Harry sheepishly.

A look of understanding passed Uma's face. Most children on the Isle wanted nothing more than to escape their villainous parents but despite despising them for all the abuse, some small part of them were unable to completely forget about that parental bond.

Glancing around the battlefield once more, Uma failed to spot the dangerous whirlwind of blue. She had disappeared from sight. Hook in hand, sword in the other, Harry darted back into the fray. Cutting down any pirate unfortunate enough to cross her pass, Eva kept one eye trained on her family in case they required help. Training with the Knights had, unintentionally, prepared her for this very moment.

The VKs were attempting to make their way back towards the tube and whilst they kept getting blocked, ever so slowly they almost made it. Jay had already snuck off to get the limo ready to go.

A hook-handed boy crept up behind Eva, grabbing her and shoving her into a secluded corner. His face split into a Cheshire-like grin as he looked down at her startled face. Water dripped down his face. The white shirt he wore clung to his stomach, outlining the distracting muscles of his abdomen.

"You know," Eva smirked. "If you keep crowding me against surfaces, people may start thinking you have a thing for me."

Regardless of the chaos and carnage occurring around them, Eva was fairly confident the son of Hook wouldn't harm her so her sword remained lowered. Oh so slowly, Harry took three steps forward. Back colliding against the brick wall, Eva realised there was no escape. Heartbeat quickening and cocky smile faltering, she felt her mouth go dry as his body pressed against hers. Dipping his head ever so slightly, the two teenagers' faces perfectly aligned.

"You're getting water on me."

The breathy way her words came out disguised the disgust she was supposed to convey. His hands landed on either side of her head and the muscles in his arms bulged. A hand touched her chin, tilting her head so that her eyes were on his. Sea salt surrounded Eva as Harry invaded all her senses, and he inhaled the lavender scent of her perfume. A soft undertone of green apple clung to her skin. Nothing smelt better to him. Red lips teased him; the soft plumpness of them inviting him closer.

Not one to deny himself of the small joy's life had to offer, that's exactly what he did. Gasping in surprise, Eva melted into him when Harry's tongue brushed gently against her own. A warm feeling blossomed in her chest. Since Auradon, she had felt happiness, joy, and friendship but nothing like this. Ignoring the commotion around them, Harry could hardly believe he was finally getting the kiss he had so badly craved these past few months. This was the reunion kiss we were supposed to have, he thought to himself before being pulled under Eva's spell once more. Not the disaster that had happened last night. Nothing could beat the feeling of her lips on his, decided Harry. His heart felt like it could burst from his chest with the amount of joy swelling within it.

Both the princess and the pirate slammed back to the reality of the Isle when their lips parted. Jumping apart at the sound of Mal calling out for the blue-eyed girl, Eva remembered their current situation. Realising she was still trapped beneath him, her leg darted out, swiping Hook's out from underneath him. Blowing him a kiss as he collapsed into a shocked heap on the floor, she picked up both her sword and his.

"No hard feelings, Hook."

Twirling on her heel, she took her leave.

"You don't get to decide when the last time is."

"I'm holding you to that."

Having brushed himself off, Harry raced after her before coming to a stop by his Captain's side. Purple smoke filled the air, hiding the woman who had stolen his common sense and clouded his judgement. When the smoke cleared, she had disappeared from his grasp once again.

╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍ ♛ ⎈ ♛ ╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍╍

Sunlight shone down on the exhausted group of VKs (plus Lonnie and Ben, who were considered honorary VKs at this point) as they made their way across the field. Fresh, clean air filled Eva's lungs and she inhaled greedily. Escaping that limo and onto the grounds of Auradon Prep had been like a gift from Fairy Godmother herself. After Mal and Ben's disagreement, the remainder of the journey had been extremely awkward.

Lonnie headed off towards the gym so she could return the swords before fencing practice started, and their absence was noted. Ben was dragged away to discuss last minute Cotillion details, reluctantly leaving behind a distressed Mal.

"We need to talk." Evie whispered to Mal, looping her arm through hers. "You too," she said to Eva, who had been unnaturally quiet and sombre since leaving the Isle.

"No." Carlos said.

"No?" Evie was taken aback.

Even Jay glanced down at him in shock. Carlos was the most laid back of them all.

"You guys are always going off and whispering your girl talk stuff. Jay and I are tired of it."

"I'm not."

"I don't do girl talk." Eva defended, not wishing to be the subject of his wrath.

"We're your family too. We're not stopping that now, okay?" Carlos plonked himself down on the grass, legs crossed. "Everyone sit."

The others obliged but Eva stood there in disbelief. "Right, well I don't have any pressing issues to discuss right now so, can I go?"

"Sit." Carlos demanded. She did. Everyone looked at him expectantly. "I don't know how to start girl talk."

"Um, well... I'm a mess. I'm such a mess," chuckled Mal. Her voice broke as she did her best not to cry. "I mean, six months ago, I was, you know, stealing candy from babies, and now everybody wants me to be this Lady of the Court. And I have no idea how to keep up the act."

Assuring them that it was okay for them to be different, Evie reminded the VKs that it made them special compared to Auradon natives. Tugging at the collar of her jacket, Eva felt her irritability rising. She had no desire to listen to this. Over the past six months, she had convinced herself she could live quite a happy life in Auradon. She had manipulated herself into thinking that by throwing herself into work, she would forget all about Harry Hook.

Although it wasn't Mal's fault, she was unable to stop resentment for the woman from coursing through her. Ben was devoted to her, through and through. Instead of just telling him how she felt, Mal ran away, assuming Ben would never understand or accept her for who she was. She was throwing her chance of love away without even really giving it a try. At the first sign of trouble, Mal had hidden herself on the Isle. Eva would maim someone for that opportunity. Unfortunately, the horrific reality was that, after the events that had transpired, Harry would never be allowed to come to Auradon. And, no matter how deep her feelings for him ran, Eva would never be able to live on the Isle again.