Chapter Text
Morgie definitely didn’t know how to lead a dance so Bridget was just going to have to put up with his awkward swaying back and forth, but she didn’t seem to mind. He kept his hand as lightly on her hip as he possibly could, more just brushing the scrunched satin there than anything else, and barely held her fingers against his.
“Morgie,” she started softly after a few moments, “Why didn’t you just tell me?” The weight of her tone left little doubt as to what she meant. Oh boy. Part of Morgie wanted to say that he didn’t owe her anything, but another part of him did feel a little bit bad. It would have been as if Hook and Charming had started going out right in front of him, back when he’d kind of liked them both. He still hadn’t done anything wrong, per se, but he could imagine how Bridget was feeling.
“I didn’t…really know?” he offered. Wait. Was she talking about him or Hook?
“I was…sort of still figuring myself out, and I guess I could have told you, and I am sorry about that,” he said as gently as he could. It was amazing how much easier this stuff was to say when it wasn’t directly to his crush.
“Ella knew,” he added, and a tiny flicker of annoyance went up at his blue haired friend. She totally could have mentioned something to Bridget; didn’t girls talk about that stuff all the time?
“She mentioned stuff, I just didn’t listen,” Bridget sighed. Oh, okay then. Well, it wasn’t like it was all on Morgie then.
“So are you two…together?” she asked next. Crap. They weren’t, technically, and why was she asking? Morgie followed her eyes now and saw Hook smoothly glide by them on the dance floor, Maleficent almost in his arms.
Her slim hand was on the beloved hook - she was the only person Morgie had seen that James ever allowed to touch it - and his hand was not just on her hip but the small of her back as he literally waltzed her around, an open smile on his face. They were just friends, Morgie knew this, so why did this bother him so much?
“Yes,” he lied to Bridget as firmly as he could as he tried to school his face into nonchalance. This song had to end soon.
“I see,” Bridget said, simply, stoically, and Morgie had the sense of a rift opening that would never truly be closed. He couldn’t fix it, though; if the price was losing the chance at being with James he was not willing to pay.
“Who did you come with?” Morgie decided to turn the questioning on her. It’s not like he and Hook were the only two boys around.
“Oh, Charming,” she replied, and an uneasy prickle went down Morgie’s spine for some reason he couldn’t place. She was a princess and he was a prince. That totally made sense. Better than a princess and a pirate or a princess and a sorcerer.
“Just as friends, of course,” Bridget followed up with. “Between you and me, I think he actually likes Ella.”
“So is Ella okay with you going with him?” Morgie asked in confusion. These tangled webs of crushes and relationships were worse than anything the spiders back home could build in the castle cellar.
“Oh, she doesn’t like him like that,” Bridget answered confidently. “She told me it was fine. I could never do that to her, and besides, it really is just as friends.” Morgie caught a glimpse of Charming living up to his name and spinning Fay around in a graceful circle.
Just then, the end of a tentacle slapped Morgie in the back of the head, not hard enough to smart exactly, but enough to feel it. He rolled his eyes discreetly. Yeah, yeah, he knew he shouldn’t be dancing with someone Uliana didn’t like, but it was just going to be one dance.
“Why do you let her be so mean to you?” Bridget asked him, her fingers tightening just slightly on his.
“She’s not mean,” Morgie defended. “She just wants us to watch our reputations.”
“I see,” Bridget said again, thoughtfully. Morgie suddenly remembered something and leaned closer to her for a brief moment.
“Oh! Don’t drink the punch after eight o’clock!” he told her in a low voice as the song finally went into its ending notes.
“Umm…okay,” Bridget replied as she slowly stepped away from Morgie. She understandably looked as if she was about to ask a question, but a golden hook was at Morgie’s waist, tucking him into the side of a red jacket.
“Stolen him for long enough I think there, lass?” Hook said meaningfully to Bridget and pulled a very willing Morgie off the dance floor. The sorcerer could have thrown his arms around the pirate and hugged him. If they weren’t actually together, it was really feeling like they were. Wait, were they, was Morgie missing signals he didn’t know about? He had to figure this out soon.
The faster song that was starting made Morgie want to move, so he did, hanging out on the edge of the dance floor, aware of Hook watching him closely, but some of his self consciousness dissipating as he went. It helped that Mali and Uliana had joined in and there was a sense of simply letting loose and moving however you wanted.
The next song was another slow one, and Morgie was eagerly looking forward to being close to Hook again for it, but another hand grabbed him before James could.
“My turn,” Maleficent announced, and Morgie smiled and went with her, but he was determined the next slow dance would be with Hook. He hadn’t come with him just as a friend, and not only did he not want him to not get the wrong idea, he was kind of missing dancing with him.
The second Morgie and Mali had gained the floor, Morgie looked over at Hook, to see how he was going to spend this dance. He doubted he and Hades would be dancing together. A flash of pink approaching the pirate almost made him stumble on the smooth stone yard. He couldn’t stand the idea of Hook and Bridget holding hands, touching each other at all. He dragged his eyes away from the scene, his heart squeezing.
“It’ll be fine,” Mali said in a soothing voice, and Morgie realized she’d seen the same thing. He focused on her face, finding it oddly calmly in the moment. He grit his teeth, unsure if it was anger or sadness he was feeling.
“Morgie, seriously,” Mali continued, not unkindly, “That silly pirate is more ensnared by you than I would have been able to imagine. What does that little girl wrapped in cotton candy and frosting have on you, hmm?” Morgie recognized what Mali was trying to do, and he did appreciate it but just then a feminine laugh floated by his ear that he’d heard too many times in lab.
That, he thought, a softness, a sweetness, an ability to flirt, to be coy and enticing and - he glared at the back of the pink hair, he couldn’t help it. His stomach clenched to see what he was about to see as she spun and - that wasn’t Hook. That was a handsome blond sophomore, looking thoroughly enchanted by the princess he was dancing with.
Morgie spun Maleficent a bit quicker than he intended so he could peer through the moving bodies to where he’d left James. He was still there, sitting in a chair by a punch table, next to Hades, both looking supremely bored. In a wave of relief and appreciation, Morgie half hugged Mali, feeling foolish even as he did it, his head tucking into her shoulder as they continued to somewhat dance.
“See?” she gloated, her hand resting on his upper back. Now Morgie could relax and try to pay attention to moving his feet and listening to the song, which was another haunting melody with piano and bagpipes that almost sounded familiar.
“This reminds me of home,” he blurted out without thinking.
“Yeah, me too,” Mali replied. “It’s cool how they made it such a mix for all of us.”
“Where are you from?” Morgie asked her, realizing he never had before.
“Up north of here,” she told him, “The moors on the border of Scotland and France. Right in between worlds, sort of.” Morgie drew back to look at her face again at this knowledge.
“That’s not that far from Avalon, is it? We’re kind of neighbors!” The world suddenly seemed a little smaller.
After the song, as Morgie and Mali were on their way back to where they’d left their dates, a pretty redhead in a dark dress that didn’t look like she'd be out of place in Uliana’s gang stepped towards Maleficent and asked for the next dance. Maleficent gave the girl a glare like Morgie had never seen before and simply released a low hiss, not unlike a cat, in response. The girl shrank back, getting the message loud and clear and Morgie had to laugh. Nobody messed with the VK’s.
Hook grabbed Morgie’s hand again as soon the sorcerer got within range, lending more credence to Maleficent’s words, even if Morgie was still having a hard time believing it. Similarly, Hades was drawing Mali to him with an affectionate arm around her back.
“Okay, no more dancing with anyone but me,” James pouted openly but playfully and a thrill went through Morgie at the jealous possessiveness of it, even if it was in fun. Now you know what it feels like, he didn’t dare say. Morgie caught Mali’s ‘told you so’ look as he tested leaning into Hook’s arm. He didn’t think the night could get any better.
He and Hook began wandering around the perimeter of the courtyard, the current song not really striking their fancy and Morgie just happy to be with James, wherever that was and whatever they were doing. He felt like the luckiest guy at the dance.
“C’mon, let’s sneak up there,” James said with a twitch of his nose and a sparkle in his eye. They were passing by one of the stone staircases that led up to a platform on either side of the courtyard. For the night, they had been blocked off by ropes, only gently barring access.
Morgie’s face lit up in a mischievous smile as he nodded and the two happily climbed over the rope and up the stairs, past the alcoves with the potted plants set into the wall. As soon as they’d gained the top step, Morgie paused to look out over the heads and tents of the dance, not even noting that it was about eight o’clock.
The platform was not that high up, and if it weren’t for the thick vines of ivy that mostly obscured the banister and railing, they would be quite visible, but as it was, especially with Morgie’s green shirt, they were pretty hidden. He turned back to Hook, who hadn’t come forward to look at the crowd, he was just quietly watching Morgie.
“There, now we can be alone,” the pirate said, and Morgie’s ears thrilled at the accent wrapped around these words. A little kick of nerves tickled his stomach.
“We’ll be alone later,” Morgie pointed out in amusement, not sure what weight that idea might carry now. Hook glanced from left to right, taking in the stone around them with the vines, then upwards to the sky, his smooth skin appearing to glow in the moonlight. Then back to Morgie, with that soft playful glint.
“This is a little different, no?” His voice was deeper than usual, or maybe it was just the acoustics of the stone around them. Morgie nodded, not wanting to speak and break the magic of the moment. James took his hand and the sorcerer let him, his thumb rubbing up the back of it, as suave as everything he did.
Morgie was falling faster and faster with each passing second. Hook was certainly good at flirting, and being on the receiving end at this close of range could do funny things to a person. Time could stand still right here if it wanted to. Little did Morgie know it could get better.
Hook proceeded to lift Morgie’s hand to his own lowering face, and then heavenly lips were pressing themselves into the spot that the pirate’s thumb had just been. Morgie melted into a puddle. He would have called the move cheesy if he’d been a spectator, silly and even weird if it was someone else.
But it wasn’t, and Hook’s eyes were all over his face as he straightened his posture, not letting go of Morgie’s hand. Morgie wondered if he should reciprocate, would Hook like that, would he think it was dumb, would it be too bold? So instead he licked his lips and squeezed Hook’s hand, feeling the rings press into his skin.
“I like being here alone with you,” Hook crooned, and Morgie smiled softly at him.
“Me, too,” he agreed, glad for the chance of something easy to say, and that his voice didn’t squeak.
“I like holding your hand,” Hook told him.
“Yeah, me too,” Morgie replied, hoping he didn’t sound like a dolt. But Hook still had that enigmatic grin on his face for him, so he must be okay. The moonlight had them wrapped in its glow, the strains of music from the dance below floated up to them, and the ivy leaves rustled slightly in the late autumn breeze.
And Hook was leaning towards Morgie, his face inches away.
The sorcerer had a bare moment to process what he might be doing before his lips were being kissed. It was quick - a brief, firm press, and Morgie hadn’t even had time to close his eyes. He blushed deeply immediately as Hook drew back, petrified he’d gotten it wrong.
Had he kissed him back? Hook’s lips were so soft and Morgie’s were so dry and chapped. Hook looked perfectly in control and Morgie’s breathing was threatening to cut out.
“Was it that bad?” Hook asked, one eyebrow lifting. Bad?! What? Morgie tried to regain the capacity to think actual thoughts.
“No!” he got out, his voice raspy. “No, not at all! I just - that was my first kiss,” he ended on a whisper, his skin warming further. Hook’s smile reappeared, deeper than before.
“Really?” he asked, also in a whisper.
“Yeah,” Morgie nodded.
“Oh. That’s cool. Mine too.”
What. No way. No way pretty, gorgeous, handsome-as-the-day-was-long James Hook hadn’t been kissed or kissed anyone before! Morgie gulped in breath, his lungs remembering how to function. And, given a shot of strength by this new, startling knowledge, he surged forward and planted his lips on James’s now. He pulled back after a mere two and a half seconds but this time he’d better registered the fact that the boy’s lips were quite as soft as they’d always looked.
“Was that bad?” Morgie asked before he could stop himself because James wasn’t doing anything.
“Definitely not,” came the answer in that accent, so serious, so sexy.
The two boys continued to stare at each other in the light of the silver moon for some time, holding hands, standing close enough to kiss again but not going for it. This was the most magical hour of Morgie’s life thus far, to hell with the power that flowed through his veins. In that moment, he would have given all of his abilities up if it meant how he felt right then - the buoyancy, the warmth, the fluttering of his heart - never stopped.
“Will you be my boyfriend?”
The words tumbled out of his mouth without his complete consent. He’d been thinking them, surely, since before he and James had even asked each other to the dance, but he’d known that was way too soon. Hell, even now was probably still was, and he inwardly winced. They were out there though, and he couldn’t take them back.
Hook’s dark eyes glittered at Morgie as the pirate pressed forward that little bit more, making Morgie realize his back was at the stone railing. He couldn’t go anywhere, he was trapped, and he kind of liked it, that Hook had him at his mercy even though Morgie had asked the million dollar question.
James kissed him again then, and it was longer than their previous two. Morgie remembered to close his eyes this time, sinking into the rush and the closeness and the ohmygoddess. His hand found its way onto James’s hip, the thin leather belt under his fingers grounding him somewhat, while the base of a metal hook was being pressed into his back.
“Yes,” Hook said simply when he’d released Morgie’s lips and the sorcerer had almost forgotten what the question was. It came back to him in a hurry as Hook smiled that soft smile at him, and he feared he grew the dopiest grin imaginable on his face.
“Really?” he couldn’t contain the excitement, he was done with remotely trying to play any of this cool. He’d finally been kissed, not once but three times now, by the most beautiful boy that he couldn’t even have imagined into existence if he’d tried.
“Yeah, sexy eyes,” James lilted, “I’m all yours.” Morgie blinked, now feeling that his pupils had gone snaky, but he couldn’t focus at the moment to change them back. He was too keyed up and anyway, Hook liked them.
“Mine,” Morgie rasped, drinking in Hook’s face and eyes and everything.
“Mine,” James returned, his whisper low and hinting of danger along with the way he was looking at Morgie, and it made a tingle run up the sorcerer’s spine.
“Easy, pup,” the pirate’s voice came again, softer, soothing, and Morgie’s hand was being squeezed in a steady rhythm. He swallowed, aware that he had to keep himself grounded, and human, not least for the fact that he wanted to soak in every little bit of this and keep it tucked away in his memory forever. The rhythm of Hook’s pulsing grip was helping.
“What did I do?” he asked, his throat dry, scared of the answer.
“Nothing yet,” James reassured him, “But maybe we should go back down?” If Hook could read him that well, that was both good and bad.
Morgie nodded, not at all wanting this to end but knowing it had to, and the tease of the near future in which everyone knew that he and Hook were boyfriends tempting him already.
He snagged another kiss before they could descend the stairs, the move becoming slightly more familiar and not as terror inducing each time. Still just as wonderful, however, as Hook’s lips connected with his and sent a spark into Morgie’s very core. This really was a magic of its own.
“Chilly?” James asked as they reached the bottom of the steps. Morgie had shivered but he wasn’t sure if it was because his shirt really was too thin for an autumn night away from the heaters or the idea of Hook finally being his was overwhelming. He shrugged.
The next thing he knew, a dark red coat was being placed over his shoulders, and he must have actually been cold because it brought a welcome warmth with it. It was lightweight but sturdy, and best of all it was steeped in James’s scent. Morgie wrapped the jacket around him, his heart swelling with pride that this would leave no doubt as to their status now.
Sure enough, as they rejoined Hades and Maleficent, the god and the dark fairy had matching smirks on their faces for them. Mali’s expression continued to have that ‘told you so’ flavor to it.
“Nice of y’all to grace us with your presence once more,” Uliana picked on them.
“Can’t a guy and his boyfriend have a little privacy if they want?” Hook shot, tone as smarmy as it had ever been. Morgie felt his cheeks go pink at this, at the reality of it happening, at the word being thrown out there so openly. James was standing so close to him, and now reached up to straighten his collar, and Morgie knew he had a hopelessly smitten smile on his own face.
“Oh my gods, you two, just kiss already,” Mali said.
“Oh that’s been done,” Hook announced, “But just for good measure -” He leaned in and stole a kiss from Morgie’s grinning lips right there in front of Mali and Hades, in front of everybody. “Done.” His eyes sparkled with a new brand of mischief, and Morgie kept willingly, wildly spiraling into love.
“You two are literally going to make me throw up.” Hades’s voice was sarcastic but warm.
“Just make sure you don’t get any on my shoes.” Hook threw the sass back at him like only he could do.