Author: Mosh
Fandom: Peter Pan
Title: Go
Pairing: Hook/Pan
Rating: PG
Summary: A swift change of heart during a rare moment of charity.
Disclaimer: These characters are property of J.M. Barrie. No money is being made, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: This is angsty and rather dark. Written for the prompt 'spirit'. About 300 words.

Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks!

The boy was grey as he was laid on the soft pine needles scattered on the forest floor, like he had been ripped straight from the pages of a newspaper. All angles and sharp bones, he hunched on the ground, faded and sad.

"Go." Hook stood over him, glaring.

But the boy could not fly now. He could hardly move any more. He had been bottled on the ship for so long, without his friends, his forest, his freedom, that now there was hardly anything left of the Pan Hook once knew. Just a shell. A curled, white sea shell of a boy.

"Pan, go-" The pirate cleared his throat. "You're free to go."

He waited, and waited, and waited; the boy did not move (or could not move). Hook tapped him on the rump with the toe of his leather boot.

"Get up boy... I'm letting you go."

"G-go?" came the whisper, barely audible.

"Yes. You can leave. I have no use for you now."

From the way Pan's shoulders twitched, from the way his small form slowly unfurled from its foetal position, the words were sinking in. He struggled onto all fours, then up, supporting himself on his knees.

That was much better.

"Well?" Hook prompted, impatient.

Pan looked around, at the trees and the shadows. At the forest. He turned his face up with a frown, questioning the reality. Could this be? his eyes silently said.

Then Hook saw it. At first the wasn't entirely sure, so he bent down to get a better look.

Yes, there, in the thin irises gazing at him disbelievingly, was colour. Only faint, but definitely colour... a pale blue, summer sea blue, shining and growing stronger in Pan's eyes as he started to believe, as he realised he was truly free.

Hook was taken, again, as he had been all those moons ago. His breath caught in this throat.

As Pan started to crawl, began to lift himself to his feet, Hook seized him by the shoulders. "Wait." The pirate pulled the boy to him, the black-and-white Pan who had seemed so dead earlier. But not so much now.

"Looks like there's still spirit left in you, boy," the captain growled, bringing Pan soundly to his chest, lifting him up in his arms. "Maybe I won't let you go today, after all."

~Fin~