Author's Note: Welcome to a new multi-chapter fic. Thanks for reading. So, I might have sat and watched the entirety of Republic of Doyle on Netflix after Once ended and although that may have triggered this fic, I definitely took inspiration from a whole load of detective stories. I should mention: the Nero Wolfe Novels by Rex Stout, Fables (though probably the game Wolf Among Us rather than the comics), Powers (comics more than TV show), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Discworld Noir and obviously Raymond Chandler.
This is a bromance fic, an ode to the reluctant brotp that is Captain Charming.
I hope you enjoy this because I did, enough to have too many ideas for just one story ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or its characters. I have used them for my own story. I have also used characters and plot lines from other sources but will give full disclaimer on those at the end so as not to spoil the action. I hope that's OK.
….
Chapter One
Killian Jones opened his eyes to a beautiful view. The average person might find the plain white washed wood of his cabin's ceiling dull but after the seeming irrevocability of his death and events in the Underworld there was no fairer sight. Well, maybe one, but his Swan had Henry for a few days and wasn't quite ready to have the three of them share a roof overnight. Although even after a week together she had been torn about seeing him walk away.
"I just got you back and then I leave you alone a few hours and you end up trapped in another realm."
"Technically Love, I wasn't alone, I was with your parents and Zelena."
That argument had not helped much, but he'd gently pointed out that he had to check on his ship and it would not be healthy for them to be attached at the hip forever.
Stretching his arms and back he surveyed his cabin again in the morning light. Everything seemed in order, if not a bit dusty, no one had come looting Captain Hook's ship after his demise at least. He popped the small mullioned windows to let the stale air out but the effect was negligible. With a sigh he decided to take his breakfast to the open air. Shrugging on his clothes and hook he grabbed a chunk of bread and some small orange citrus fruits that Henry had told him were grown to be easy to peel. For a realm without magic they certainly knew how to create marvels.
He emerged into the sunlight of the morning as it glimmered on cresting waves, a sea breeze blowing off the bay and into his lungs, the slight chill helping encourage him to take a deeper breath. It felt good to remind himself he was still alive. His mood was instantly killed by the flapping of a rectangular paper in a plastic pocket that someone had dared to tape onto the boards of his deck.
Snatching it off the floor he growled at the residue the adhesive left behind. It was times like this he regretted dismissing his entire crew, maybe he could convince Mullins to swab the deck for old times sake? Opening the paper notice he read and then re-read the words, a fire of fury steadily growing in his chest.
"This is outrageous," a voice yelled from the next berth, perfectly voicing his thoughts. Hook shoved the notice of eviction into his jeans pocket and strode to the rail to get a view over the docks.
Nottingham, previously known as the sheriff of, was trying his best to appear menacing to a group of angry sailors waving their own eviction notices in his face.
"What are you trying to pull? The dock fees here have been fixed since the first curse," one of the sailors shouted.
"Then it's probably time they went up don't you think? Inflation, you know." Nottingham replied smugness seeping from every pore.
"This isn't an increase," another fisherman shouted. "This is over double what they were yesterday and anyway Mr Gold stopped collecting fees when Hook arrived." The pirate in question raised his eyebrows at that interesting bit of news. After seeing the last harbour master turned into a carp he'd assumed it was fear of suffering the same fate that had stopped anyone asking him for his payments.
"Well that's the fee now," Nottingham shot back. "And thank you for mentioning the lack of previous payments." He pulled a piece of paper from his inner pocket and held it up like a town crier. "By order of Mr Hyde, Patron of Storybrooke, all financial obligations and outstanding payments must be paid in full immediately. If debtors are unable to fulfil this obligation, property equal to the amount owed will be recl-" Nottingham's carefully prepared speech was drowned out by a surge of angry voices followed rapidly a surge of angry people.
Acting on what had to be bitter experience, Nottingham dodged the fist that shot out towards his nose, backing away down the dock and looking less and less smug by the second. Hook by contrast, felt his smile grow wider and wider, maybe this morning would turn out beautiful after all.
…..
Current Sheriff David Nolan slammed the door on his pick up hard enough that it should have gotten the attention of the men on the dock. It didn't. Dragging in a deep breath and wishing he'd eaten more than a slice of toast for breakfast he marched into the mob.
"Alright, alright," he shouted as he pushed his way to the front. "What is going on?"
"This creep is trying to shake us down," a sailor yelled pointing a sharp finger at Nottingham, who looked offended.
"There's no need for name calling," he said, sounding hurt. "And I'm not shaking anyone down, I'm just delivering the notifications."
"You're not shaking us down? This...this threat says you'll be back to take our boats if we don't pay up by this afternoon," another sailor called out, waving Nottingham's notice in the air.
"You've only given them until this afternoon?" David asked the bailiff. "Are you crazy? What did you think would happen?"
"I didn't have to think. I'm just following orders," he replied.
"Whoever this Mr Hyde is he can stick his notices and your orders up his backside," a furious voice called from the crowd.
"Yeah? Listen carefully. Mr Gold sold all his property in Storybrooke to Mr Hyde so that means he sold Storybrooke to Mr Hyde, including this dock," Nottingham shouted back. "And if Mr Hyde has decided that the dock fee is now double then it is double. If he has decided to take your boats, he will be taking your boats."
"Be reasonable Nottingham," David groaned.
"I am. I'm just doing my job. I collect the money owed. I don't decide who pays and who doesn't. If I did I'd just get replaced by someone else."
"Why help others when you can help yourself. These boats are our livelihoods," an angry fisherman yelled.
"You might not like the job but someone has to do it," Nottingham replied.
"You're a scab is what you are," the incensed fisherman yelled and lunged at Nottingham, elbows flying and knocking into David who had to cycle his arms as he suddenly found himself balancing on the edge of the dock.
A low chuckle sounded from above him and he and looked up to see Hook smirking down at him from the railing of the Jolly Roger's upper deck. He hadn't even realised he had been standing next to the pirate ship and gave its captain an annoyed glare, which deepened as he saw Hook nonchalantly skewer and peel a clementine on his namesake as he calmly watched the mayhem below.
"Enjoying the show?" David yelled.
"Aye mate, though the punch line is rather lacking," the pirate shouted back.
"Why not come down and help?" David asked exasperated.
"Help what? These fine gentlemen are doing a splendid job of running our debt collector off," Hook scoffed. A couple of said fine gentlemen gave Hook a cheer of agreement almost knocking David into the bay again so he moved away from the crowd until the Jolly's hull was behind him.
"I gotta break this up before it escalates," David said loudly, more to himself than Hook.
"Has anyone asked you involve yourself? Sometimes it is better to let people sort out their own business," Hook's voice floated down from above. "Why shoulder the troubles of others who don't need or desire you to?"
"That how you used to run your ship?" David asked irritated.
"Aye, Mate," came the reply.
"Er, help," Nottingham called in a panicked voice from the centre of the group. David threw a look of I told you so in the direction of the pirate captain despite not being able to see him and pushed his way back towards the honourable bailiff of Storybrooke.
….
Hook shook his head as David managed to reach where Nottingham was cowering, the fool still trying to read his pathetic piece of paper. He tossed the leftover skins from the citrus fruit over the side and briefly wondered if he should head down and help the prince. It might score some points with Emma's father that could be collected upon later. But then he'd be ignoring his own sound advice and although he could concede it may be David's responsibility to protect Nottingham's face from harm, it wasn't his.
Nottingham's dogged reliance on his prewritten script was only whipping the group of sailing men into a furious mob. Hook watched with a slow growing concern as the crowd began violently shoving each other to get closer to the bailiff and by consequence his royal protector.
There were a few abortive attempts at shoving Nottingham into the bay, arms and fists flying in a disorganised mass as half the group tried to attack while the other half tried to hold them back. David only just dodged a poorly aimed punch meant for Nottingham and as his aggressor was pulled away Hook saw a worrying flash of metal tucked into the sailor's waistband. Damn it, he was going to be forced to get involved after all, there was no way he would risk standing about watching David get stabbed in front of him. He strode down his gangplank to the dock, his pace just shy of jogging as he kept an eye on the escalating argument.
"Are you Captain Hook?" a voice asked behind him.
Hook turned and saw a young man with a strikingly serious expression on his face waiting at the bottom of the ramp. He was otherwise almost handsome with broad shoulders and a straight back that could only have been cultivated in a military inspection line. His jacket was made with a hard wearing material and simple cut that also gave away his previous profession, his day old stubble and uncombed hair however would have had him on half rations if he'd still been part of a regiment.
"Why would you assume that?" Hook asked blithely, waving his hook between them. The young soldier's serious expression didn't crack and he took a step forward. Hook felt himself subconsciously tensing in preparation for any attempt at attack.
"My princess is missing," the young man stated.
"Your princess?" Hook repeated. He checked where David was, noting he was still in the midst of the argument but everyone's fists were down and he had somehow managed to put some breathing space between the mob and Nottingham. "I'm not sure what you've heard but it's been a long while since I was responsible for a princess's disappearance," he remarked even as he double checked his memory. Yeah, Emma didn't count.
"I want to beg for your assistance," the soldier explained. Hook stared at him.
"Assistance?" he asked unable to hide his surprise.
"To find her," the soldier clarified, his face somehow becoming even more serious.
"How would I do that?" Hook asked.
"You know people, you know this world," the soldier replied earnestly stepping forward again. It took all of Hook's self control not to step back. "We know your stories. You're not some childish hero, I can trust you."
"You think you know my stories?" Hook asked in a quiet dangerous tone. The soldier froze and took a hesitant step away, Hook stepping forward this time, maintaining striking distance.
"Yes," the young soldier replied straightening his shoulders in defiance despite a slight tremor in his voice.
"I find that hard to believe," Hook said, impressed by the young man's bravery.
"The people of this realm like to talk, the people of Untold Story even more so," the soldier said. "I may not know everything but I know enough," and the way he looked at him as he said it made Hook believe him. Bloody hell, now strangers were going to start popping up asking him for help? If only he were still the selfish pirate of his youth.
"I will pay you," the soldier said as if he'd read his thoughts. Hook gave his simple clothes and unkempt features a sceptical look. The soldier dipped his hand into his pocket and turned so only Hook could see his palm and the bright unmistakable yellow shine of gold resting in it. As soon as the pirate's eyes focused on it, it disappeared back inside the pocket. "Do we have a deal?"
"How did you come to lose your princess?" Hook asked neither agreeing or disagreeing yet.
"Being suddenly brought here from Untold Story was disorientating. I know she arrived here as I was... holding onto her but once I regained my senses she was gone. I haven't been able to find her since," the soldier explained.
….
"So, you're all going to go, calmly, to the boat house and discuss the problems and a chosen representative can take your issues to Hyde," David clarified. "Nottingham isn't going to be taking or repossessing anything until that happens," he added thumping the slimmer man hard on the shoulder to emphasise the point.
"Don't count on Mr Hyde being generous," Nottingham muttered.
David tightened his grip and gave Nottingham a rough friendly shake to remind him to shut the hell up.
The assorted fishermen and sailors muttered darkly to themselves but shuffled away to the boat house, only a few giving Nottingham a cold warning glare as they passed. The bailiff held up his hands as if he was nothing but a helpless innocent. David let out a deep breath, glad the latest Untold Story crisis was dealt with for now. Although Nottingham was right, Hyde was unlikely to back down on the increased dock fees or his claims of money already owed. This was an attack on the docks and the people who worked and lived here and worryingly David had no idea how to fix the problem.
He looked up expecting to see Hook still watching from the Jolly Roger as if he was in a box at the theatre, but there was no sign of him on the deck. His gaze found the pirate standing on the dock between his gangway and the dispersing mob and David smiled realising he had been coming to help him after all, a smile which fell as he noticed the serious young man Hook was talking to. The guy wasn't menacing exactly but something about how he stood and held himself made David feel anxious. Nottingham groaned and walked backwards towards one of the boats forcing David to jog after him, needing to make sure he wasn't already going back on his word. Hook looked Ok for now, he was just talking to the stranger, David'd catch up to him in a moment.
...
"Does your princess have a name?" Hook asked. Something about the soldier's story didn't ring true, although the man's overly hard demeanour and emotionless voice was probably colouring Hook's opinion.
"Sapsorrow," he answered.
"How charming, did her parents give her that cross to bear or did she come by it later in life?" Hook asked with more than a little sneer in his tone.
"Her evil sisters gave it to her."
"Ah, that old tale."
"It is the truth," the soldier replied in what Hook guessed was as angry a tone as the man would allow himself to produce.
"I didn't say it wasn't," he said placatingly. "And how, if you don't mind me asking, did a young retired soldier such as yourself find himself a princess?" If the soldier was surprised to have his history outed without him having revealed it he kept it well hidden, his eyes taking on a far off contemplative look for a moment before returning to meet Hook's face.
"I hear you have a princess of your own," he said.
"Hard won I assure you," Hook replied, trying to coax out more clues about the young soldier.
"Then I'm the same," was all the reply he got. Hook leveled a glare at the soldier, not appreciating the dismissive comparison or the blatant attempt at secrecy. The soldier shifted under his scowl.
"Please," he said, actual emotion creeping into his voice. "We came here to finish our story, receive our happy ending, but now I find myself adrift and alone." He looked up and Hook felt his glare weaken as he realised just how young and haunted the soldier looked. What history had he suffered through to produce such melancholy? Whatever sympathy he felt however, it wasn't enough to blindly agree to what was still a fairly dodgy sounding tale, paramount of which was why come to the infamous Captain Hook instead of the heroic royals of the town.
"Hook," David shouted ahead of himself as he walked up to them, behind him Nottingham had abandoned all attempts at work and had sat down on a random packing crate near the shore. Hook watched in interest as the as the soldier pulled himself to his full height as the prince approached, his face hardening back into its flat serious mask. "Who's this?" Charming asked as he reached them and looked the slightly shabby man up and down.
"A nameless soldier from a useless royal war," the soldier replied stiffly. David frowned wondering whether he meant the royal or the war had been useless.
"This is a new friend recently arrived from Untold Story Sheriff," Hook explained, lingering on the word sheriff. David's frown deepened assuming Hook was trying to hint that he should arrest the serious looking young man but Hook kept his focus on the solider nodding his head towards David encouragingly. The young man shook his head.
"I have had my fill of overindulged royals and their self serving actions Captain. I have learned the hard way that unless you are rich and powerful enough to be their enemy you cannot trust them with what is truly important in your life."
"A pirate on the other hand..." Hook scoffed, quickly cutting off the prince before he could open his mouth to complain.
"I was led to believe you would understand," the soldier replied.
"Aye Mate, I do," Hook said tiredly, annoyed at himself for buying the bitter explanation.
When he thought about it, a newcomer to Storybrooke might hear tales of his recent adventures and presume him to be a viable option to the ruling classes, although his close relationship with them must also have been widely known. He distantly remembered Ariel saying something similar to him on a long hike through the forest, right before he disappointed her. Hook cursed himself under his breath.
"What does your missing princess look like?" he asked, pleased to see David take interest at words missing princess.
"She is tall with dark hair and eyes, her features are thin and sharp so her cheeks appear as if carved from marble." Hook waved a hand to show he wasn't impressed by or interested in poetry. "I do not have an image," the soldier ended sadly.
"I'll ask around for you," Hook promised. "But for things to count in this realm there sadly must be some form of officiality." He inclined his head towards David. The young man's eyes flicked disapprovingly between the prince and the pirate. Hook sighed. "It would be foolish to expect him to be kept out completely, now he knows about it," he said.
The young man's expression creased up with annoyance but he must have seen something in Hook's face that put his misgivings at ease as he nodded his agreement.
"This is where I'm lodging," he said, handing Hook a piece of paper. The Captain felt the hard edges of something hidden inside the paper's folds. The young serious face turned towards Nottingham who was nursing his shoulder behind them. "I shall be reachable there at any time. I hope to hear from you soon," having finished speaking he turned sharply on his heel without saying goodbye and marched off.
"I feel offended," David said wryly as he watched him leave.
"You're not used to the sensation?" Hook teased. He recognised Granny's address on the paper he'd been given and slipped the it into his inner pocket, palming the gold coin that had been wrapped in it at the same time.
"So who's this missing princess then?" David asked.
"Sapsorrow."
"Sapsorrow?"
"That is her name apparently, that was her husband or her soldier at any rate," Hook said. "I take it you've never heard of her either?"
"She's not from the Enchanted Forest. So where do you think we should start?" David asked turning towards where he'd left his pick up.
"We?" Hook asked, raising an eyebrow at the prince despite having known he was going to say that. "Did you not hear the very serious young man? He wants me to look into it. You can't trust someone who's nothing but a royal."
David knew Hook was teasing him, throwing his own words from so long ago back in his face, but the words rebounded off the ghosts in his own mind, resonating and growing into a cold lump in his stomach.
"Hyde is demanding Emma and I step down as sheriffs," he said. "What with all the realm jumping and curses and becoming the dark one, he's put out a question of our ability to do the job and a lot of people think he has a point."
"Damn," Hook growled, concern for Emma and David wiping away his jokes. Another reasonable explanation for the soldier seeking him out instead of Emma.
"He's only just made the official complaint," David explained. "Regina and a town committee has to agree, which she'll have to or run the risk of being accused of nepotism. Then they need to set up an election, in which case Emma and I can run again."
"Who'd run against you?" Hook asked, resisting the compulsion to point out that one of the criteria for being a royal was nepotism.
"Someone from Untold Story?" he replied. "Or anyone really, it's sad to say, but we may have lost the faith of a lot of the people." Hook frowned but didn't disagree which was more telling than anything he could have said. David really hadn't expected a royalist speech from a pirate captain anyway.
"So I need to be involved in this," David continued. "You said it, I'm still the sheriff and I can't ignore a missing princess."
"Because of your reputation?" Hook asked carefully.
"No, because it's my responsibility in the town," David answered, though Hook didn't look convinced, still studying the prince.
"Oh this may be connected to your job, but it goes deeper than that," he said.
"What does that mean?" David demanded.
"You wanting to be more than the guy who kissed a sleeping princess. Who'd have thought King Arthur would be such a gossip," Hook said answering the next question without it being asked.
"You guys talked in the Underworld?" the prince asked, feeling both annoyed and embarrassed.
"A bit," Hook admitted. "But I confess I've never seen you that way myself. I know the story of course, but I'd never laid eyes on this Prince Charming until our little trip to the past. My opinion of you is built only upon our dealings together Mate," Hook smiled a teasing smile, suggesting the opinion wasn't completely favourable and David threw him an unimpressed look back.
"I'll choose to take that as a compliment," he replied sternly. Hook chuckled before becoming serious.
"It wasn't Prince Charming or even Prince James I carved into that stone in the Underworld was it? I carved your name here in Storybrooke. David Nolan. That's who you are whatever else people may call you," Hook finished. A rare, but becoming more frequent, moment of camaraderie passed between them. David also chuckled, surprised that he was actually feeling a bit better. Hook just kept surprising him.
"Your stone didn't say Captain Hook," he pointed out, trying to return the sentiment. Hook scratched awkwardly behind his ear.
"I did notice that," he admitted. He had wondered about how nobody's titles made it onto the markers. He guessed whether you live as royalty or a humble pirate, once you're dead everyone ends up the same. He wasn't going to mention that to David, it might undermine the progress he'd just made. They lapsed into silence, each thinking deep thoughts. Hook shook himself back to the real world first.
"If you're coming along, you can drive me then," he announced and started walking towards the town stopping in front of the bailiff still sat on his box. "Oi Nottingham if you even think of touching my ship you'll be wearing your guts for garters." Nottingham just sighed dramatically and pulled his pre-prepared speech out of his jacket again. Hook tossed something shiny at him and he fumbled trying to catch it, eventually trapping it between his wrist and chest. "Give that to Hyde," Hook said leaning forward and prodding the gold coin into Nottingham's chest threateningly. "And he'd better get it, it should cover the Jolly's berth fee for a fair while. So I won't be seeing you again. Will I?" Nottingham nodded and shook his head so Hook released him and continued towards the dock's car park, David striding along next to him.
….
Author's note: As always thank you for reading and please let me know what you think. This is a slightly new tone and theme for me so any and all feed back is whole heartedly appreciated.