"Watch ou--!" the scream was stuck in the man's throat as he saw the blade pierce through the clothing that his friend wore, right into his chest. Wounding the man who had made such a big difference in his life when he had been younger and even when he had grown older...
A blind fury overcame him as he moved forward, eyes turnign dark and a snarl appearing upon his face. Within seconds, he had managed to grasp the sword he had dropped some time ago from the ground, darting at the man that had attacked Killian as his friend fell to the ground, wounded.
Jefferson had never been the fighter. He had been the Traveler. The Explorer. But not a fighter... However, when the need would rise for it, he knew exactly how to fight. When people he cared for got hurt; he knew how to reach back into his mind to all the moments him and Pan had fought together, all the techniques the other had taught him from the beginning on. And now that he saw his friend wounded upon the ground; the rabbit-hearted man turned to a lion, a lion who would protect at all cost.
A switch was flipped over, and he would show all techniques he knew, everything that a young; carefree boy had once taught him. A young boy that had such a smile; it brightened his day everytime he saw him. It still did.
It took several more moments before he finally found the opening he needed, a bloodthirsty look upon his face as his sword slashed through the air and slit the throat of the man that had harmed Killian.
And only then, Jefferson slowly let the sword slip from his fingers, it clashing to the ground as his legs trembled beneath him. He willed himself to turn away from the dying man; rushing to Killian's side and falling to his knees beside him, quickly inspecting the damage that had been made. Though he stopped once he felt the other's hand upon his own.
It was a whisper he had not wanted to hear. But the moment he saw the wound, he knew the other was right. It was too late... He could not fix this. He could not patch him up so he would survive until the nearest Healer... "P-Peter..." he finally stammered, raising his eyes to meet Killian's-- No. Peter Pan's. Cause he had proved time and time again to Jefferson he had still been Peter. Underneath it all. "It's... It's okay.. Right.. C-cause you're Peter... You're the Pan.." Jefferson uttered, holding a hand to the bleeding wound to try and lessen it.
"You're eternal..." he murmured with a nervous laugh as the pirate squeezed his hand once, chest heaving. What would happen if Peter would die now...? He couldn't imagine a life without the other... "Peter.. Peter please don't go.." he whispered, glancing up at the other. And oh how he knew the other wished to stay. More than anything. "Pleas--"
"I wish I could Hatter..." he heard the other finally murmur, a faint smile playing across his lips, though it was tinted with sadness. "Y-you taught me so many things.. So much, Peter..! Remember.. R-remember the chocofruits..? T-the face I pulled when I first ate one...? And Tiger Lily..! Tink! S-so many adventures..! S-so many... History.." he stumbled over his words; swallowing. His face fell, he had to let go of that all now...
"You'll forget.. Won't you..? Even if you come back.. You'll have forgotten all about me..!" the man cried out desperately, fear clutching at his heart. He never wanted to be forgotten ever again. Twenty eight long years had been enough for him. "No... I could never forget my Hatter..." mumbled the man, tightening his grip on Jefferson's hand. "B-but who.. Who says you'll have any control over that?" the Hatter uttered pain etched on his face as he saw the state his friend was in. Oh all the things he would give to make sure Peter would have been able to avoid that hit...
"I taught you well.. m'proud, you know..."
The words were so sudden that Jefferson couldn't help but stare at Peter in shock, silence ringing between them for a second before he gave a shaky laugh and found that once he started, he could not stop. "S-shut up..." he finally forced out, the laughter slowly forming into sobs as he held the other, tears starting to trickle down his cheeks. "Shut up..." he whimpered, the laughter having faded completely when he felt the other's eyes upon him. "You cant' go... You can't.. Y-you can't b-because.. Because I lov--"
The man was silenced when a hook grasped his tattered scarf and not a second later lips were crushed against his own, making his eyes widen. One second, two. And finally he reacted, turning his head a bit and deepening the kiss. Ignoring the bitter metallic taste, indulging completely in the moment. Cause right then, if only for a little while... He could pretend all was a lie. And Peter would jump to his feet and wink, and call out ' fooled you!' like a mischievous little kid. Just for a moment...
And then the magic was broken as they pulled apart, gasping for breath. "Always.. wanted to do that..!" Peter struggled out and Jefferson understood then that with each breath he drew, it could be his last... "F..Funny.. I.. I had the same thought.." the male murmured, licking his lips once before glancing up at the other's face, taking in every little feature that made Peter... Well, Peter.
"I'll miss you... More then i'll ever admit to others..." Jefferson finally confessed softly, bottomlip trembling before he bit it harshly until he was certain he was breaking skin. Then he stopped and swallowed. He was the one that had to let go... "Peter..." he stammered, swallowing once more.
"... you always made me proud, Hatter... The most proud... You.. Had many.. adventures... You took... Many paths... Became a loving father... I couldn't.. Be more proud of you..." he choked out, making the brown-haired male give a soft whimper, accompanied by a strangled chuckle.
"I'm suppose t-to be the one... Here.. t-to.." he fell quiet, hanging his head and nodding once. "You will always and forever be the Pan... Youth.. Neverland... I'll never forget you... I'll always, always remember you.. Even when i'm a wrinkly old man.. I promise..." he mumbled, leaning down and placing a kiss to the other's lips. "It's... It's okay... I.. I'll let you go.. Y-you can.. I won't..." he stammered, forehead resting against Peter's.
But he needn't speak out the dreaded words... Peter understood. And it was then that the softest of a sigh slipped over the man's lips, chest rising no more.