proposition

On the edge of the forest, four men stood, beside their metal spaceship, amongst the trees and earthy environment of the island they had landed on.

They had been waiting for some time for their female companion . . who, unknowingly to them, had been kidnapped by the ruler of that island.

As a result of this, the four men were left to teetering on the edge of the dark forest for the young girl to reunite with them. They wished to give her a chance. A long chance.

But as time passed . . . an hour, to be exact . . . the hearts of the four men began to wear thin with the feeling that something must  have happened.

"Where is  she?"
The blonde one questioned, having been pacing nearly the entire time of waiting.

"I know she's a girl and all, but this is a long while."
The short one muttered.

The masked one stood away from the others, folding his arms tightly against his chest, as he leaned against the time-traveling ship.
"I fear something has happened to Miss Demens."

"No kidding," The scarred one whispered, haughtily.
"I could have told you that. Kid's probably gotten herself eaten or something."

The rest of the men stood in silence, as this realization played at their minds.

After a few minutes, the blonde one lunged towards the trees,
"I'm going to look for her."

"Master, get your (censored) back here. Why should we bother? Kid ain't worth it. I don't know why we're even here."

"She did the same for us."
The masked one spoke, turning his eyes slowly at the scarred one.

But the scarred one only scoffed at this.
"C'mon.  You don't actually think she cares for us,  do ya? We're the scum of the earth; kid like her's bred to hate us."

But the masked one had suddenly gotten up close to the scarred one's face, slightly standing over him.
"She came back for us."

"And she's my wife."
The short one added, briefly lifting his gaze up at them as he pulled weeds from the earth, sitting beside a cluster of small trees.

The Master turned from within the trees, looking back at his companions, but more directly at the scarred one and masked one.
"We're going to look for her. That's settled."

The scarred one glared at him, darkly.
"You're not in charge of me. . ."

"I would advise you to listen to him."
The masked one threatened.

"Down, Bane."
The Master commanded.

Bane only moved his widened, alert eyes at him, filled with cold emptiness.

"Sorry to disappoint you,"
The scarred one said, rolling his eyes.
"But it's all an act."

"It isn't up to you to decide her fate."
Bane snapped, darkly, as he abruptly grabbed a handful of the scarred one's jacket and squeezed his grip.

The scarred one glared down at this, then at Bane, with cold dead eyes.

"But she's my wife."

He cut his eyes down at the short one, with a slight smirk tracing atop his scarred mouth.
"You really are a sick little imp, aren't ya?"

"Shut up, Moriarty."
The Master snapped at the seated villain, then took a step towards the scarred one, looking right at the back of his head.
"It's not an act. That girl, for an unknown reason, generally cares for us.  And she's on our side, for the time being. . . we need to use her. Loyalty like that can't be wasted."

The scarred one only frowned, furrowing his eyebrows.
". . . Don't tell me you idiots have gone soft. . ."

Bane's grip tightened, and soon he was holding one side of the scarred one's body up with one hand.

The scarred one gestured uncomfortably down at this, then at Bane, and his face straightened.
He proceeded to lick at his scars.

"Not soft."
The Master spoke, edging even closer.

"Smart."

The scarred one then sighed, making an unimpressed expression.
He looked back at Bane and twitched an eyebrow.

The masked man slowly proceeded to loosen his grip and let him go.

The scarred one therein straightened his clothes and tightened his tie.
"Well,"  he huffed.
"If we are gonna look for the kid, where do we start?"

The Master put his hands to his hips, in thought.

"I don't know. . something tells me we should try to track down where she landed here, and start from there."

"Oh, I don't think that'll do you any good."

The party jolted and swung their bodies around.
To a cunning, handsome young man, who's darkened eyes twinkled and pale lips formed a smile.
His short, shaggy brown hair quivered in the wind.

"We Lost Boys are good at covering our tracks."

"WHAT THE (censored)?!"
The Master exclaimed, whipping out his gun, the same time the scarred one and Bane pulled out their's.
All except James Moriarty, who had stood up and stared at the intruder.

But the young boy was not deterred by the threat.
Instead, he lifted his head, proudly.

"Well, my my . . . the villains themselves. The Master . . Moriarty . . The Joker . . and Bane . . in the flesh."

He took a small step forward.

"I've heard so many rumors about you four. . it is an honor, really, to finally meet you. I was told of your impressive exploits, and, well. . I must confess. . you've all rather become my idols."

Under normal circumstances, the men would be flattered.

"Who the (censored) are you?" 
Moriarty croaked.

The boy's eyes darted to the Irishman.

His smile grew wider.
"Peter Pan. ."
A glamorous bow followed.
". . At your service."

"Ohhhh,  so you're Pan."
said the Master, sarcasm forcefully spilling from his voice.
"That makes all the difference. Unfortunately, boy, it doesn't change the pressing matter of why  you're here."

"Well, forgive me, but you are  trespassing on my  island. I only thought I would check you all out for myself, since you're all just standing there, mucking about."

But the Joker only cackled.
"YOUR ISLAND! hahahahaha!! Where I  come from, kid, preschoolers don't own islands!"

Pan seemed unamused and drooped his head down.
"I'm older than I look."

The Master mockingly pouted his mouth, tilting his head with exaggerated sadness.
"Whaaattt. . are you really 12?"

"Try centuries."
Pan snapped, pacing authoritatively, gradually getting braver around the four.

The Timelord cut his eyes at the others, rather uncertain of the boy.

Pan looked back at them.
"That aside, I warmly welcome you to the island of Neverland. If you wish, I can take you to my . . current  associate . . Captain James Hook. And we could perhaps settle a truce regarding his attack on your ship earlier this evening?"

"We don't do truces."
Moriarty cut in with droll.
"Not our thing."

Pan's grin deepened, cleverly.
"I understand. . still, I'm sure we can all work something  out . . villain to villain."

The men were all rather taken back at this.

The Joker nudged his head forward, eyes widened with surprise.

"Come again?"
"Villain?"
"You?"
"Impossible."

"Aye, mates."
His grin widened.
"I'm a natural born fiend, like the rest of you. And quite proud of it."

"Errrmmm, last time I checked, Peter Pan was no fiend."

"A brat, but not a fiend."

"-Except for this version."

The men were all rather puzzled, causing the Timelord to look back at them, seeking guidance on the matter.
". . Remind me to squeeze all the info out've that girl when we find her again."

They silently agreed, as Pan's brows twitched with curiosity.

But the Joker only shook his head at the teenager, chuckling to himself.
"Ahhh, kid's only wasting our time. Let's just finish him."

"Agreed. ."
The Master and Moriarty said at once, to which Bane nodded.

"Do that and your little queen won't last the night."

The villains all jerked their heads back at him.
Freshly surprised expressions were now glued to their faces.

". . . . what?"

Pan lifted his chin.
"Oh . . sorry . . forgot to mention . . I  have Sarah."

Bane lunged himself at him, but the Joker shot an arm out and stopped him.
"Where?!"

Pan placed a hand on his belt.
"Look at you caring. . that's a little . . forgive the term . . out of character  for you. . she's imprisoned. Back at my camp. Don't worry, we're treating her terribly. And as soon as the others get here, she'll be off your hands. I can promise you that."

The Joker was not impressed.
"Is that what you came out here for? Threaten, warn us, dangle a scrap of meat infront of our faces to excite us? About her? Ha!"

"Shut up, clown."
Moriarty snapped this time.

But the clown continued,
"What a wasted trip. Do what you want with her. You'll be doing us a favor."

The Master casted him a hateful glare.

"Actually, no. I came here, because I know you care about her well-being, her fate, as much as I do . . . and have been yearning for a chance to be rid of her. Well I've come to tell you. ."

His arms spread out, presentably.
"Your hope has arrived."

The men glanced at one another, skeptically.

The Master looked back,
"The (censored) you talkin' about?"

Pan tilted his head,
"What I mean, gentlemen, is I am offering you a chance to join us.  The ones I now work for. They have started a shining  opportunity for all  villains."

"Who?"

"I'm not obliged to say. . . but they have quite  the plan set in motion. And gentlemen, we would be most  honored by your participation. To help create a universe devoid of heroes. Goodness has had it's day in the sun. It's time for evil to rise again."

"Sounds tempting."

"Shoosh."

Peter's smile darkened into one that was much more sinister.
"I know. You're cautious. I also know that the whole reason you took Demens was to get revenge. That's why I'm saying you don't need  her. We  can give you what you want. Right  here, right  now. No more waiting. All you have to do is join."

Within the following silence, the men all glanced at one another, conflicted, hopeful, considering. . .
and Pan's eyes brightened with assurance they would listen. . . . . . .
until the Master suddenly lunged forward, slammed Pan against a tree and pointed his gun directly into the side of the boy's head, cocking it.

"Where is she, you little (censored)!"

Pan's face did not change from his smug expression.

"I take it that's a no. . .?"
He was not surprised.
"Such loyalty."

"TELL ME, RIGHT NOW!"

Moriarty abruptly leapt forward,
"Apologies. But we're not the joining kind."

"You're really doing this for her?"

Suddenly, James came close to his face, growing suspicious.
". . If you've touched her. ."

"Even if  I tried, she wouldn't let me. But believe me. ."
He cut his eyes at him,
"I will try."

Moriarty suddenly developed a crazed look, eyes widening with rage, and his entire body could not keep still.
"Master, step aside. He's mine."

"Get in line, midget."

The Master replied. Despite the two being the same height.

"No, gentlemen."

Pan's eyes moved to the hulking figure approaching, towering over all of them.

Bane stared at him, fists squeezed tight.

"That boy is mine."

Peter looked back at the Master.

"Like I said, do anything  to me, and she'll be killed by the night's end. Be sure of that. You didn't think I'd come here without a back-up plan, did you?"

"What did you do to her?"

"Nothing. Yet. We ambushed her, you could say, and took her back to my camp. Removing her of her little toys. . and right about now, she's sitting in her cell, quite convinced you lot have completely abandoned her."

"I wonder who gave her that  idea??"

Pan grinned, evilly.

"After overhearing your little plan to meet her here, I took the liberty to come in her stead."

"With wasted efforts."

"Clearly. She's got you lot wrapped around her little finger something terrible, doesn't she?"

"That's it, I'm killing 'im."

Joker announced.

"Go right ahead, oh great ones.  Cut me with your knives, beat me with your fists. Shoot some sparkly blue energy at me."

He laughed, forcefully.

"HONORED.  Me, honored? Fat chance! You really think you're special, don't you? You have no  idea how insignificant you are. There are gods and demons and living calamities on our side. What do you have? Next to them, you're all just men. With no power, what-so-ever, to offer against us. I actually feel rather sorry for Sarah. Of all the villains she had to be stuck with, it had to be you.  She may have the spirit, but paired with you. . it's not a question of whether or not she loses. It's when.  You're outmatched."

"My god, do you ever  stop talking?"

Pan ignored him.
"Go ahead. Joke. The others already know what you've done. How you helped Sarah save that last world. Who you've sided with. They only see you as traitors now."

"What?!"  James exclaimed.

The Joker's shoulders sagged.

"Letttttttt's talk about this."

Pan looked at them all.

"They have it in for you, just as much as for your queen. So prepare yourselves. All chances of redemption have passed. You proved your betrayal by choosing that little urchin over your own kind. Don't expect any more chances. Don't expect for us to make ANYTHING pleasant for you! From now on, we're coming."

"Just SHOOT him!"

The Joker barked.

"With pleasure."

The Master hissed, about to do so, as he jammed the gun painfully against the teenager's head.

With Pan managing to upset everyone, soon, they all lunged in for the kill.

When suddenly, a green puff of mist appeared before them and they were left grabbing for the air.

Upon halting and coming into realization, they stared confusedly at what used to be the boy's position.

Pan was gone.

Chuckling to himself at how clever he was, Pan walked back through the forest, returning to camp.

He was more than eager to take the rest of the night off and revel in his victory, especially after a long hard week of preparing for the Queen's arrival.

He was almost there, when the distant sound of shouting and panic, paired with the ringing alarms, was heard in the distant background, and he stopped dead in his tracks.

The alarms never had to be used.

Seconds later, before he could hear any more, the trees ahead of him rustled violently and he shot his head to the noise, right before a small boy of 11 came rushing out, his skin covered in sweat and small cuts.

He stopped, hastily, and bent over in front of Pan, trying desperately to catch his breath.

"Joyce.  What are you doing here??"

Pan questioned, looking down at him.

"You're supposed to be back at camp."

"But - - but -- - but Pan! The others - - sent me!"

Pan scrunched up his face in confusion.

Joyce pointed his finger towards the camp, with widened eyes.

"Sarah has escaped!"

Pan's mouth at once fell, his expression growing with alarm, and without further interrogation, he lunged forward, back toward the camp.

"NO!!"

No, indeed.

For little did the boy know. . Sarah is well beyond his future reach.