Wings of the Forgotten ~ Harry Hook

Slaving over the hob and working in the kitchen wasn't something Dorian ever saw himself doing. If you'd asked him a year ago what he'd be doing today, he'd probably say something like "terrorizing the Isle with my friends," or "scaring Carlos with Jay," maybe even "letting Evie measure me so she can practice designing for men." Never would he have guessed that Ursula's fish and chip shop would be where he'd find a strange sense of peace.

Sure, the food he made wasn't the best, but that had more to do with the quality of ingredients than his cooking skills. The fish they got from the polluted sliver of ocean near the Isle was the freshest they could manage, and even then, the water's filth was unmistakable. Still, there was a quiet pride Dorian found in his work here, something he'd never expected.

The wooden utensils in his hands moved quickly as he worked, their smooth handles familiar against his fingers. He remembered the day he got them—made by Harry himself. Back then, they hadn't yet put a label on whatever they had, but Harry had practically begged him for a chance.

One evening, Harry had come back to the ship, a ratty satchel slung over his shoulder. The bag was bulky, stuffed with things Dorian couldn't quite make out. It wasn't unusual for Harry to come home with random odds and ends, but this time, when he handed the bag to Dorian with a wide grin, it left him confused.

Turned out, Harry had spent several late nights making Dorian his very own cooking and eating utensils. They were rough—just twisted bits of wire with wooden handles—but Dorian had smiled despite himself. That was the day Harry broke through the walls around Dorian's heart and made himself at home there.

The gesture meant more than Dorian would ever admit. The Isle wasn't known for acts of kindness, and yet Harry, stubborn and persistent, had found a way to show Dorian that someone cared. Not just about him, but about the little things too—like the fact that iron utensils would burn him.

As he stirred the pot absentmindedly, lost in his thoughts, the kitchen door creaked open.

"Oi, love," Harry's voice rang out, playful and warm. "How long you plannin' on keepin' yourself holed up in here? Missin' out on some quality time with yours truly."

Dorian glanced over his shoulder, rolling his eyes as Harry strolled in with that usual swagger, a smirk curling at the edges of his lips.

"I've got work to do, Harry," Dorian muttered, turning back to the stove. "Can't exactly slack off, can I? Got plenty of customers waiting."

Harry slipped closer, draping himself lazily over the counter beside Dorian, his arm grazing Dorian's. "Who says you can't? Come on, leave all this for a while. I'm more fun than a pot o' clams, yeah?"

Dorian huffed a laugh, shaking his head. "Not gonna work this time, Hook."

"Oh, but I can be very persuasive," Harry teased, his fingers brushing against Dorian's wrist as he leaned in. "Why spend all day slavin' over this when you could be with me instead? I'll even help you clean up later."

Dorian's lips twitched, trying to suppress a smile. Harry's persistence was part of his charm, and as annoying as it could be, it was also the reason Dorian had fallen for him. "You're really not gonna let this go, are you?"

"Not a chance." Harry grinned, blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "Come on, what's one little break gonna hurt?"

With a dramatic sigh, Dorian set down his spoon and turned to face Harry. "Fine. But only because I want to, not because you're bugging me."

Sure, there were customers waiting for their food, but they got complaints anyway. They could wait, right?

"Course, love," Harry said, smirking as he wrapped an arm around Dorian's waist. "Whatever you say."

They shared a quiet moment, the steady rhythm of the kitchen fading into the background. Harry's touch was comforting, grounding, and for a second, Dorian allowed himself to forget about everything else—the job, the Isle, the pressures of their world.

Just them, together. It was enough.

And Harry, as always, made sure Dorian knew that. "Told ya, you'd have more fun with me."

~~~~~

A/N: SO SHORT :(((( but i felt like i hadn't posted in a while so i quickly wrote this. Ik away from home for a while, so updates will be quite slow (sorry) but ill be sure to get a much longer one out by sunday!!