Work Text:
“Are you sure you want me to teach you...?”
Uma shot a glance at Harry, who smiled approvingly and shrugged.
“Tomorrow is the talent show and I have a place. So, I want to look good.” Celia sat at the table.
Harry hid his smile behind his hook. That gesture was very typical of Uma. And Celia had copied it perfectly. The way Celia had rested her hand on the desk to push herself and turned her body to gracefully land on the wooden surface indicated that she had practiced multiple times. That and the smile of victory on Celia’s lips.
“You know?” Uma pointed out to Harry “He’s so much better with flashy makeup.”
“I will take it as a compliment,” Harry smirked.
“But you know better than anyone how to look...” Celia waved her hands with elegance “As if you were the one calling the shots.”
“That’s a good point...” Uma got up and walked around the desk “Do you want to try some styles first?”
Celia nodded enthusiastically. Uma opened a drawer and took out her makeup bag. Harry meanwhile removed all important documents so that they wouldn’t end up at the Council or where Ben with makeup on. But besides that, he just kept watching. Uma had that.
He instead watched her explain in detail how it was important to find the correct colors and feel comfortable with what she was doing. Celia asked what was for each item Uma brought out, and his captain began to answer without losing her voice of command. Celia was excited to be there and the attention she received from Uma. Like many VKs, Uma was Celia’s role model. And from the start, they had been naturally drawn to Uma. Especially when his captain never rejected them.
Because Uma had a soft side.
Sure, she had a strong and sharp side. A powerful and combative personality. But Uma was also the kind of protector who would let her guard down if the other one needed her.
Children usually did.
“You want the audience to be able to see you well. But don’t look like a clown up close.” Uma continued as she took the girl’s face “So I would recommend a fantasy style.”
“What does that mean?” Celia asked even though her lips made a fish-like gesture.
“Glitter or gems, what do you say?” Uma looked at him.
“Both.” Harry played with the tip of his hook. “Celia has the attitude to deal with both. Dazzling.”
“And somehow scary.” Celia wrinkled her nose as she said that.
“Absolutely, princess of the shadows.” Uma chuckled and started to work.
Harry settled into place. He remembered when Uma helped CJ with her first hairstyle for a party. All because Harriet had no patience and because CJ didn’t trust Harry to do his best. Just like at that time, Uma had been incredibly gentle and patient. Still with her serious face. And like now, CJ had the same happy smile that Celia showed.
Because that was the interesting thing with Uma. She could be brutal and ruthless. But her hands were just as gentle and caring. No one could refuse that healing touch. When Harry had been a little boy and Uma had been taller than him, Harry had found comfort in her soft hands. Then, like most VK’s hands, Uma’s became strong and somewhat rough from hard work. Countless hours washing dishes and many more sword training did that. Harry’s hands were like that too. As well the hands of each member of the crew. Uma had beautiful hands. But after their reunion, it seemed that part of her healing process and reconnection with the sea had made Uma’s hands soft again. Powerful. But also, soft.
“... And don’t forget to wear sunscreen.” Uma continued because if she wasn’t expressing her concern in the form of orders, it wasn’t her “You have to take care of your skin. I can recommend some brands that don’t look like white ink.”
Celia nodded and despite being still, she was showing a small smile.
Harry admired Uma’s work. The makeup she had chosen was a violet and terracotta palette that looked great on Celia. The red glitter on the eyeshadows was exceptionally fine and only made the girl’s eyes stand out more. The little amethysts that outlined Celia’s eyebrows were a genuinely nice extra touch. Uma shot him a look, taking advantage of the fact that Celia had her eyes closed and he nodded.
Harry smiled. Perfection.
“Well, you can see.”
Celia opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror Uma offered her. Her satisfaction was immediate and as always, Celia began to pose with an elegance similar to the old paintings that the nobility used to keep.
“It’s perfect.” Celia jumped off the table “I have to show Dizzy.”
“Don’t you want me to show you how to do it?” Uma raised an eyebrow.
“Or you could do my makeup tomorrow too.” Celia took Uma’s hands without hesitation “Please? I could use a motivational talk before the show.”
“I think that’s more Ben’s department...”
“Please!” Celia flicked her eyelashes “Yes?”
“Okay… You are going to represent the island. I make sure you do it right.”
Celia took a small victory jump and ran out of the office. Harry had to get up and close the door.
“She always forgets to close behind her.” He shook his head but didn’t hide how entertaining he was “That was...”
“…Don’t say it.” Uma crossed her arms and leaned against the desk.
Harry widened his smile.
“Hook.”
“Lovely.” He closed the distance between them “Very adorable.”
“I was just teaching her something useful.” Uma turned her face away.
She didn’t like being reminded that like the sea, she wasn’t only destruction and chaos but a source of life and calm. But Harry admired every aspect of her.
Harry slid the tip of his hook up Uma’s bare arm, making an upward path. She moved her head to clear her neck and he turned the lethal weapon caressing her pulse. Uma closed her eyes and clung to the desk. She dropped her head back and he traced multiple paths with his hook across her throat. Uma opened her eyes and he had less than a second to put his weapon away. She hopped onto the table and hooked her heels behind his knees. Harry closed the distance between them and rested his hands next to Uma’s hips.
“Lovely?” She repeated.
“Uma...” Harry smiled intoxicated by her closeness “Only sometimes, darling.”
“Am I being adorable now, Hook?” Uma grabbed his hair and tugged at him “How about now?”
He moved his head and smiled more, looking at her through his lashes. Harry wasn’t sure when he had fallen into her spell, but he was trapped in it.
“It almost seems like you don’t like me to be adorable.” Uma pointed amused.
“I enjoy this aspect of you too.” He took a breath “You’re perfect.”
“Don’t you want me to be adorable with you?” Uma asked maliciously.
Harry denied. Although perhaps in the future or other circumstances he would have asked for it. At least for a while. Only for curiosity. But at that moment? No, he wasn’t interested.
“Be ruthless,” Harry asked.
Uma laughed against his lips.
“Only if you deserve it.”
And that was a promise.