to fear death is a choice

“Just one? No, you have to eat some more! It is fun to have a sugar rush.” Gadget placed the box of cookies back in his hands then. “I did and I even baked a new kind of cookie. I am proud of it.”

‘‘Hachwrench, no--’‘ James was too late to push the box back at her, holding it in his hands awkwardly. Of course the chipper blonde had been a girl scout. And he imagined she was the type to be the first to collect all her badges too. ‘’What kind of cookie?’’

After stomping the leftover sand off of his own shoes, Scout reached for the cup, his features distorted with disgust. “That’s because it was my coffee, with cream and sugar, before you put your germ-filled lips all over it. Mobile order.” He tossed the cup into the trash. “At least I don’t have anywhere to be,” he grumbled, side-stepping around the large man to get in line and order another drink.

‘‘My bad.’‘ James did not sound very sorry and took his right order with a murmur of thanks. He turned to walk away, getting three steps in before stopping and mentally cursing at his following actions. James walked back to the counter, jostling Scout and putting out his wallet. ‘‘I’ll get his.’‘ He spoke gruffly to the barista, paying for the other man’s coffee.

Atta sized up the man before her before forcing out a chuckle. “Um, no. We’re voting on who should be the nominee for president. Among other things.”

‘‘Oh.’‘ James paused for a moment, looking the woman up and down. ‘‘I won’t bother then. It’s clearly going to be you, ain’t it Capell. Don’t see nae’one else doing anything around here.’‘

“But you are going to do it anyway.” And Shenzi was right. She was amused that she was and it showed as she watched him get her the right drink this time. “If you think about it then, I am doing you a favor by making your life a little less boring.”, she responded before taking a sip of her drink. “Are you just going to watch me or?”

Of course he was going to do it anyway. It had taken the two a while but eventually Shenzi had started to grow on James. And maybe, just maybe he had a small soft spot for the tearaway. ‘’How exactly do you make my life less boring?’’

“James Hook having someone he can call a brother? I have now heard everything.” Clarissa laughed. “And how exactly did you help him? Was it legal?” She would not be surprised anymore if his answer would be no. At this point in both their lives, it was difficult not to bend the rules even a little. In her case, she would be seen as cruel no matter it is she did so why not give people a reason to believe it, right? Wrong. “Feet of the table!”, she ordered him because she did not want the soles of his shoes to be her view as she drank her morning coffee. “And yet you haven’t done anything to repay me for the amazing company I have blessed you with.”, she joked. “I am still not sorry.”

‘‘You haven’t quite heard it all.’‘ James cracked a small smile, shaking his head in amusement. He had a lot of surprising things up his sleeves. ‘‘Let’s just say it wasn’t not illegal.’‘ The man shrugged. ‘‘I like to think I’ve repaid you enough with my own company, darlin’. Not a lot of people can say I voluntarily speak to them.’‘

“I am pretty sure that an iced latte does not have sprinkles on it. If you think otherwise, though, feel free to drink it because I won’t.” Shenzi then pushed the glass towards him. “But you have all day to stay on your boat and do nothing, right?”

‘‘You’re a pain in my ass, kid.’‘ But he still got up, returning the sprinkled iced latte back to the counter and reordering a new one for her. Cheeky little asshole. ‘’I don’t do nothing all day.’’ James grumbled at his return, setting down the drink in front of her. Seriously, what is wrong with ordering a simple easy black coffee? 

“Obviously, you can’t stay away for too long. I mean I am here after all.” Catching his smile, Clarissa could not help but laugh because a smile on the face of James Hook was a rare thing for her to see. She followed him out the door and took the seat he held out for her in his own, weird way. “He must be an important friend since you left for him and all.” She did not expect him to share anymore unless she asked, and she was thinking about whether or not she would spare him this time. Maybe she will. “Stressful as expected but that’s not very new. I have spent most of the time in the office this past month.” 

‘‘Friend.’‘ James mused for a moment. ‘‘More like a brother. Life gets in the way, y’know?’‘ Life more then often got in the way for James, seemed like karma had decided to stick around permanently, punishing him for wrong choices made in a different life. James crossed his feet at the ankles, his long legs stuck out and coffee balancing precariously on the edge of the table as he reached in his jacket pocket for a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

‘‘Darling, the island would be unbearable without you here. Would have skipped town a long time ago had you not once upon a time dropped that bag of apples on my foot.’‘ James lit a cigarette, pushing his coffee more securely towards the middle of the table. ‘‘Near enough broke it too.’‘

“If it helps, you were blackmailed for a good cause.”, Gadget responded as she took another cookie from the box. “Have you tried one?”

‘‘I’ve had one, I’m not a complete animal you know.’‘ He side eyed her, an eyebrow raising in question. ‘’Don’t tell me, you used to be a girl scout?’‘

“You say those words as if it is the worst thing you have ever tasted, but I am sure that you put worse things in your mouth.” Clarissa traded cups with him then and relaxed a bit upon finally smelling her usual morning drink. “It’s bitter just like you.” That last part, she said as a joke. “A not so good morning to you, Jamie. Where did you run off to this time?”

‘’Clearly nowhere far enough, I came back didn’t I?’‘ He smiled briefly, putting the lid back on the coffee and exiting the shop. James held the door open for Clarissa and kicked a chair out for her, sitting down opposite her at a table outside. ‘’Had to make a short visit, old buddy of mine needed a hand with something.’’ James brushed a strand of his hair behind his ear, leaning back in the chair. 

He had always liked to keep to himself, didn’t speak much about where he came from three years ago. People didn’t know a lot about him and in turn Hook ran a no questions asked attitude. If someone needed something done, fixed or looked into, then James Hook was their guy. 

‘’How are things with you?’‘ He turned the conversation on her, taking a sip from his black coffee.

Clarissa was standing near the counter as well and was looking through her emails as she waited for her morning latte to be ready. When it was and her name was called by the barista, she looked up from her phone just in time to see the man next to her take a sip of what was supposed to be her drink. “That’s my caramel latte actually.”, she pointed out before lifting what she assumed to be his drink. “This is the black coffee. You would have known that if you looked before taking  a sip.”

He made a face, taking a napkin from its stand and wiping his mouth with it. ‘’Caramel latte.’’ James muttered the words in disdain. ‘’What’s wrong with a simple, easy black coffee?’’ He handed the drink to Clarissa, taking his own and opening the lid to check this time he had actually got the right one. ‘’Good morning, Clary.’’

Brown leather boots left a sandy trail as James strode into the little coffee shop. His long hair tied back loosely, still occasionally dripping water down the back of his jacket from his morning swim. "Coffee, black." He ordered at the counter, his attention diverting out of the window whilst it was being made. A cup was placed just besides him and James reached for it without a second thought. The mistake was realised moments after he took a mouthful of coffee that most definitely was not black.