I've not been on this website in a really long time but I just needed to write something today that wasn't an essay. I own nothing except the errors and mistakes, etc etc etc. It's been a long time since I've tried writing anything semi-creative at all, so I thought I would edge back in slowly. I've not planned anything out for this little fic - most likely a one shot unless I really can't focus on my work.
Hope all you fellow Oncers are having a good day.
xx
B
"You are insane," Emma said with her trademark brusqueness. He knew her face would be pink from the cold biting wind, but he didn't look away from the rope he was busy untangling. He had no time to waste and the wreckage of a ship he had bought was hardly seaworthy.
"Did you come all the way here just to tell me that? I already knew that. Now, if you don't mind, I have matters to attend to and you have to get out of my way," he said as he nodded at her to move – she had climbed aboard the ship without so much as asking permission. Nobody respected a Captain anymore. He groaned in frustration and stepped around her to reach his knife. The rope was not salvageable – he would have to cut out the knot and replace it entirely.
"Matters to attend to? Don't be vague, Hook, I already know why you're leaving. You're going to steal the Jolly Roger." Not for the first time, he noticed that she played self-righteous well.
"It doesn't count as stealing, it's my ship. I am simply… re-appropriating my property," Hook said with a grin. She pursed her lips like she was physically blocking what she was tempted to say.
"You're being an idiot! What's your plan anyway, if you even have one? Storm the ship with nothing but your hook and a grin?" It seemed the dam had a leak.
"My plans happen to be none of your business, Swan. That was made clear, don't you think?" He said with a purposeful lightness.
She hesitated, and shook her head. "It's not that simple."
"Oh but it is exactly as simple as that!" He huffed, exasperated, "Swan. I have nothing here and there is something that I need and it happens to be aboard my ship. So what would you have me do, eh? Should I stay here and be nothing more than a stray dog begging for scraps, or should I leave and do what I do best? All that you are asking me to do is stay and wait – I've done that for far too long. I've been here. I've been waiting."
Hook stopped preparing the sail to look at her. Her face was hardened – her resolution was clear. This was the end of their prolonged foreplay. Besides, he had had enough of chasing things that weren't his.
"Amongst my many skills, I happen to be a fine gambler. I know I have a losing hand, Swan. Forgive me if I won't stay to watch the inevitable play out."
"Was that meant to be a bad pun?" His resignation shamed her more than his disappointment. He had expected avoidance.
"Hook –
"You know how I feel, Sw - Emma. If you ever need my help, I'll be by your side but I can't be satisfied indefinitely by merely being in your presence. Despite what the leather implies, I don't find pleasure in pain." Hook said, interrupting her.
Her eyes blazed and she quickly retorted, "So it's painful to be around me? You're a coward." She wished she hadn't said it the moment it came out of her mouth. Before she could apologise, he smiled tightly and said, "Maybe so. I'm also a survivalist – just like you. You had better get going Emma. You don't want to keep your lad waiting."
She stepped off the small sailboat wishing that she had the right words to say. He returned to fixing the sail, his jaw set with grim determination. She had made a promise to her son that she had to keep but the boat was not anywhere close to being ready for the type of voyage she knew Hook had planned – she would have time to come back and make this right.
However, like so many times before, Emma was wrong. When she returned later that evening, instead of a boat and a charming pirate she found an empty dock.