Citizen 681 Killian

Artist: moonflowerrs

Dreary. That’s the word for what today was, waves crashing against the hull of Killian Hook’s ship with a violence he knew well. The Sea’s Grief rocked back, and forth, with a vehemence usually reserved only for the worst, stormiest days.

The large, dark Rexal heaved a sigh and dragged himself away from the railing as he caught sight of a familiar purple face reflected in the water. No, he would not be thinking about that today.

He would not be thinking about that any day, or ever again. Both Ragnarok and Harper were long behind him, one dropped unceremoniously into the sea and one left at port with misty eyes. The sea was always choppy when Killian felt like true, unadulterated shit. Especially when Killian felt like shit.

“Harley! When are we set to leave?” He shook himself from his thoughts, staring at his first mate and best friend.

“Not until after dusk. You know this, Killi.” The blue Rex rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “If you want to be off on some adventure or another, you've got time. I won't leave without you.” It struck Killian right then that she didn't really look like her brother. They were both pretty much the same shade of blue-purple in some spots, yes, but that's where the familial resemblance ended. One was full of blues, with a hint of green covering most of her face. She was rough and unkempt, with long, unruly fur. That pelt had never felt a brush, not even in its’ younger years. And of course, one was nearly fully covered in dark red-purple across his entire body. Harper was all smooth lines and soft edges, his fur greatly cared for. Killian had seen his morning routine up close and personal, and he never envied it. He supposed that the wild differences between the two probably helped him keep Harley aboard after everything. Well, that and the fact that he left her, too.

Killian thought, for a moment. And immediately grimaced at the thought. He walked aimlessly back towards the railing, hiding his face from Harley. “Maybe it'd be good to take a quick market stop. Make sure we have oranges and the like.” He glanced towards the dark clouds on the horizon. Were they getting closer?

Seawater crashed over his head as a wave almost tauntingly slammed against the hull of his ship. Great, now his fur was drenched, and the seawater in his nose tried to bring him back to just a few months ago. A striped light purple body being thrown overboard.

No, that wouldn’t do either. He shook his fur out with a sigh, grabbing some of his longer hair from the top of his head to ring out with his paws. He turned towards his first mate again, opening his mouth to tell her to steer clear of the budding storm.

As he looked back, he caught a hint of green in Harley's eyes, tinted from the sun reflecting off the long green hair across her face. And caught the hint of Harper he'd accidentally been searching for.

–

He was next to the kindest Rexal in the whole world. That was what Killian thought when he caught sight of Harper's gentle, well-kept face in the water. He was the kindest, and the most trustworthy, and…the love of his life.

Wow, the love of his life.

Killian found himself smiling at the thought, even against the panicked chord that struck deep in his soul. The last time he cared that much for a Rex, Tenebris found him. His father died in that conflict. He ran away from his home, the navy, the Posian Islands because of that conflict. He'd sworn he wouldn't love anyone like that again.

But Harper was different. He was honorable, like the navymen he'd seen growing up. He cared so much about so many things, including the sister he'd brought aboard. He did not fit the pirate life.

Much like Killian didn't fit the pirate life. The young Rexal didn't want to steal or pillage. He sure as hell didn't want to kill. Harper showed proof that maybe he didn't have to. He could just live his life, in his ship, and love who he wanted to love. No fear of Tenebris coming for him.

He wished that was the case.

Killian was quickly brought back by Harper giving him a few nudges. “Killi? You doin’ alright?”

He gave a grin and nodded. “Absolutely splendid. Just thinking about life is all.” The dark chord struck again, his smile faltering. Harper didn't seem to notice, instead wandering away from the rail to glance at the sky from the center of the ship. Something about the stars framed by the sails always seemed to make him happy.

Killian followed him, pulling both of the sleeves of his jacket down to cover his hands as he did so. The glove that covered most of his fog-scarred hand was simple, a black leather that matched his jacket. The hook was nowhere to be seen, and instead he carried a small knife on his belt, paired with a long rapier. In this time of his life, the young Killian Jones found himself in practically no trouble at all. His crew sailed peacefully through the seas, avoiding battles and only stealing from other pirate ships. He was hardly even a pirate, really, just a navyman without a true affiliation.

He found himself sitting next to Harper for a long time that night, not really talking. Something in his soul told him this would be the last time he'd get to do that, and he cherished it as much as he could. He was Killian Jones, and he was doomed to lose everything he loved one way or another.

This time, he just hoped it'd be peaceful.

Of course it would be. It was Harper, after all. He was the most peaceful Rexal in the whole universe.

Unfortunately for the most peaceful Rexal in the whole universe, the world was not peaceful. It was full of danger, and hatred. And Harper couldn't escape it any easier than Killian could. Another ship, holding a very angry and very violent pirate crew, came after him that night.

Killian had never killed before. He didn't want to. He fought bravely, trying so hard to keep his streak. No killing in ten years of piracy, a real record right there. The dark Rexal found himself pushing the rival pirates harder and harder, until eventually… one found themself on the business end of his sword, and found themself run straight through by it. Harper watched the whole thing go down, practically throwing his own sword to the side as he realized what his boyfriend had done. What about peace?

Killian was in shock. The Rexal he killed was small, probably new to pirating, and a deep, dark grey color, with black gradients on their face, legs and tail. They almost reminded him of himself.

The fight ended with the death of that young Rexal, their captain slithering off without another word and leaving their dead littered across the deck of the Sea's Grief. Killian made sure to give all of them a proper burial at sea, dropping each body carefully into the depths to join the gods and creatures that lived below. Halfheartedly, he wondered if they'd find the Elders he'd heard past domedwellers mention. He hoped they would.

Harper wouldn't talk to him. He knew that killing was a problem, and didn't intend to keep it going- But Harper didn't seem to believe him when he said so. There was even a sort of… fear in his eyes as he looked at Killi, one he'd never seen before.

That next day, Harper broke Killian’s heart. He was gentle about it, of course he was. He didn't want to see Killian cry, he didn't want to hurt him. He just had to get off of the boat.

The week of trying to find a port was the most awkward, horrifying time of his whole life. Killian found himself heaving a heavy sigh when Harper left, an ounce of relief coming to him despite the pain. Harley spent the whole week crying softly, barely even audibly. Her permanent smudged-mascara markings helped keep her from being too easy to notice as she cried, and she tried her hardest to keep it even more hidden than she needed to. Killian only knew because she was his best friend.

That night, they set fire to some of the old things that they'd shared with Harper. A carving here, a painting there. Harper's horrible, handmade, squeaky flute that made everyone hate life. All of it went up in flames, before quickly being doused in water and thrown overboard.

He would not be forgotten, but Killian would always find regret cutting him deeper when he found the letters that Harper wrote him in the following years, telling him all about his new life. As Killian worsened, Harper became better- He joined the Navy of the Posian Islands, and then built a little lighthouse to steer rogue ships from the rocks. He wrote about the stories he'd heard, too, of a monster with wild unruly fur and a hook for a hand, and how surely that couldn't be Killian?

Those letters went unanswered. He never could find the courage to tell Harper that yes, the Killian he'd known and loved was long gone. Killian Jones died that night, in a horrible fire.

All that remains is Killian Hook, captain of the Sea's Grief, menace of the sea.

Author: moonflowerrs

Artist: drackana