The air was heavily permeated with a thick odour of sweat, rum, gunpowder and melted wax.
The Toothless Sword was fuller than usual with men pushed against the walls, their weapons hanging off their belts and holsters as they shoved through the crowd. Some were wooing their selected wenches for the night while several already pounding away into them with abandon in plain sight. In one corner, a man was playing old tunes on an even older piano, in the centre a brawl was rising over an argument of whose ship sailed faster while in another corner, a game of cards was proceeding smoothly until a player's bluff was called and a gunshot resonated in the air.
The crowd barely flinched.
The tavern boys rushed out to pick up yet another corpse and tossed it out into the streets, dusting their hands afterwards as if they'd just tossed a sack of flour in their kitchen.
Out of all the pirates that were jam packed into this cauldron of filth, only one carried some semblance of dignity despite her obvious trade.
Emma Swan, first mate to Captain Killian Jones on his ship, the Black Stache sat with her legs crossed, an elbow tossed over the back of her chair, her fingers lightly holding rum filled mug by its rim. Her other hand tapped impatiently against the liquor stained table as she sipped her drink. Her eyes steady in their watchful gaze over the crew members of her vessel and their devolution into neanderthals.
The men seemed determined to drink themselves stupid, grinning like fools as the held each other and sang along with their equally, if not more intoxicated captain.
Their ever refined leader sang in a slurred voice, his favorite 'girl' feeding him with rum as she sat on his lap, giggling away in that false cackle.
Scowling, she resisted the urge to pull her tanto blade out from her thigh high boots and throw it over his head just to wipe that look off his face.
The trip to Port Royal was announced several weeks ago without any discussion with her. A highly unusual act considering the Captain had always referred to her in any decisions he made, including what to wear before he ransacked a merchant ship.
This dismissal partially contributed into her present desire to injure him.
He'd just emerged onto the deck, and made his declaration with his usual arrogant half smirk. He looked over to his first mate, winked at her in what he presumed was reassuring when he saw the disbelief in her eyes. Not a minute later, he began barking orders at everyone to set sails for Singapore and retreated into his cabin.
She'd been trying to pull him aside ever since to question his sudden decision. But he evaded her like a plague.
"All in good time, love," he finally drawled, his tone suggestive, as it always was when he spoke to members of the opposite sex. "Besides, we needed to replenish our supplies. We're running low on gun powder, cannonballs, water and food and we're going to need a lot of those."
The fact that he prioritized weapons didn't go unnoticed.
When they finally stepped onto the land, not a second was wasted before he led his men to his favorite brothel house disguised as a tavern.
"ONE MORE ROUND!" She heard her captain roar over the songs before silently admitting defeat. In the state that he was in, she'd be lucky if she didn't end up carrying him to his room. She wasn't going to get any answers. Not tonight at least.
Sighing, she sat up, ready to leave her crew to themselves when a blur of red curls and puffed ruffles perched itself into her lap.
"Emma!" The girl, no more than nineteen screamed as she threw her arms around the blonde, "thought you could just come here without me knowing did you?"
Emma exhaled, ignoring the beer breath coming from the girl. The girl's name was Chloe. Emma had made the mistake of bedding her months back. Now, whenever the Wanted Swan so much as placed a toe on the shores of the tiny island, the greyhound disguised as a human quickly found her.
"Chloe," she tersely greeted, trying to squirm away but the smaller girl only pulled her close.
"Awww," she pouted in exaggeration, "no 'hello' kisses?" She puckered her full, heavily coated red lips and reached for Emma's face.
The blonde quickly grabbed at her jaw, her eyebrows narrowing menacingly as she held her still. "Watch yourself girl, I am in no mood for your games."
Chloe's pout seemed earnest now.
"Someone's in a foul mood," she grumbled. But then, that familiar twinkle in her eyes gleamed with an unwelcome mischief. Her fingers trailed underneath Emma's large, maroon, shirt, tracing at her collarbone as she leaned in. "Perhaps I can help you… relax?"
Emma was very close to tossing her across the table when she saw two large, familiar rings decorating an even more familiar hand fall on Chloe's shoulder.
"Chloe, darling," Killian's honey drenched voice flowed through the girl, "how lovely you look this fine night. In fact, you look," he eyed her like a lion who'd just spotted a gazelle, "absolutely ravishing."
Emma felt the girl tense on top of her. From the close proximity, she could see a natural blush colouring her cheeks underneath all that white powder. Yes, Killian Jones was a hard man to resist. Especially for a young girl like her who didn't receive a large selection of handsome clients.
"T-thank you, Captain Jones," she muttered, her arms clinging tighter around Emma.
"I've missed you sweetheart," he continued, "but my men have missed you even more so," he sighed dramatically before throwing his gaze over his shoulder. He regarded his men who were now looking at Emma with a knowing leer. Her scowl immediately encouraged them to look away. "Won't you go over and entertain them for a bit? I have business to discuss with my Swan."
I am not your Swan, Emma screamed internally. Killian's smirk just grew, as if he'd heard her private thoughts.
Emma felt the girl's resistance but despite the airhead she was half the time, she still knew better than to cross the infamous Hook. After all, stories of how he'd gutted men for less weren't just gossip. The man had left enough trail of blood in the sea, as if carving a path that warned anyone who'd thought to test his temper.
"Of course, Captain," she mumbled, her tone mixed with fear and apprehension. Still, she was brave enough to turn her preferred company. "I'll see you later."
Her words held the threat of a promise.
She placed a kiss on Emma's cheek, happy with the brief intimacy before she hopped off and headed towards the others.
Emma growled under her breath. "That girl needs to go settle her interests elsewhere before I skin her alive."
Killian smirked at her and breathed a soft laugh, "yes, I'm sure you'd have the heart to do that," he teased as he pulled a chair next to her. "She's a sweet girl. Enthusiastic but an unskilled flirt, unfortunately."
"Perhaps she could master her skills elsewhere," Emma retorted. Still, her muscles eased in gratitude towards her captain for removing the unwanted attention.
While her preference for bedding women was known to all, she still had certain standards. Princesses, duchesses, women of grace and elegance were the sort she enjoyed, especially when she was able to reduce them to a pile of hot liquid demanding her skilled tongue and fingers. They were a challenge. But she had to admit, her conquests never took more than three days to be fully persuaded.
A short silence passed between them, but it was a comfortable one. The noise of the tavern continued around them until Killian finally spoke.
"I suppose you must be wondering about my haste in reaching here."
Emma's shoulders tensed. She took another gulp from her mug and kept her features calmed. "Yes, Captain, I am."
Killian's face lit up with amusement and annoyed Emma instantly. He had a tendency to look at her the way an older brother did before he pulled his younger siblings into some grand trick, which somehow always managed to get everyone scrapped and bruised.
"I've recently come across some news that the Governor of Agnone has arranged a marriage for his daughter to a Mr. Leopold Roi, I'm sure you know of him."
Emma squinted as she tried to recall. "Yes," she nodded, "he expanded his wealth quickly over the past two years. There were rumors circulating that the English Queen has aided his expansion of trades since he was granted far too many royalties. What does that matter to us?"
Killian's face burst, as if he'd just been granted the key to the fountain of youth. "There're also rumors," he paused, "that he's aided by Gold."
Emma's face paled. The clamor in the inn instantly died in her ears, rage boiling underneath her skin until she gripped on her mug so hard she thought the handle might break off.
"How sure are you that there's any real credibility to this rumor."
Killian's face hardened. All humor immediately faded from his features and his lips pressed into a hard line. Emma knew that face well. Kills her childhood friend was suddenly gone and his place, was Hook. The terrorizer of oceans and a man driven by an insatiable blood lust and desire for revenge.
"Does it matter?" He asked, a dark scowl mutilating his face. "This the first we'd heard of him in years. We HAVE to see where the trail leads."
Emma's gaze shot up at him. This is why she never allowed herself to run wild as he often did. She needed be his conscious every once in a while, reminding him of what happens when they charge headfirst into a situation without assessing anything with evidence.
"The last time we chased after him, we nearly DIED," she spoke venomously. "Need I remind you how you adorned the name 'Hook' to begin with, Captain?"
Very few times did Emma ever spoke of his rank with disdain and it never fared well. But, it was also a cold slap Killian needed to remember to use his fertile brain when it came to Gold.
"I am more sure of this source than I was of the other one," Killian defended. He noticed Emma's stern gaze and relaxed his muscles, allowing the boy in him to speak instead of Hook. "Emma, this is the first time we've come across his name again in six years. Are you willing to wait another six before we can finally leave this life? Don't you have someone waiting for you?"
There it was. Her Achilles heel. Emma paused, her gaze distant, fixed in the past, guilt filling her eyes as she stared at the rim of her mug.
Killian knew it was a cheap shot, and he felt partially at fault. But, he also knew it was also the push she needed to get onboard with him. He needed both his first mate and his friend to be there every step of the way or else there were next to no chances of success.
This wasn't just about revenge for her. This was about getting both their lives back.
Another tune filled the air, a violin now adding to the ambience and the two realized that it was a female voice singing now.
Emma pondered over questioning Killian who his source was. But after their last incident, the Captain kept such information very close to his chest. Even from her. It was the one offense she didn't take since she knew full well that it put him in the greater jeopardy.
Emma downed the remaining rum in a single draught, slamming it on the table as she exhaled deeply. The alcohol burned through her chest, dropping down to her organs until it settled in her stomach, eliciting a nice whirred sensation.
She shut her eyes thinking it was a stupid thing to do, yet exciting at the same time. She drooped over for several minutes until she regained her breath.
To hell with it, she eased. She could at least get drunk this one night. Her last rite of sorts before she carried out the final acts of the Wanted Swan.
"Make the plans, Captain," she stated evenly. "I'll see to it we're ready."
She stood up from her seat, one hand on the handle of the sabre that hung around her waist, bowing to Killian slightly curtly before she stalked off. She loosely wobbled her way up the stairs, and pushed a drunkard out of her way, barely even noticing that she'd thrown him off the rail. She frowned and wondered why people would build walls that moved until she finally managed to find the room she'd been given.
A cool breeze fell on her lips and she was grateful for the change of scents at least. She was mildly curious why her room was so airy when she shut the door behind her. Squeezing her eyes tight, she leaned her forehead against the door and searched for the necklace that hid between her breasts. Her charm of sorts. The clumsily shaped, silver circle was just about bigger than the size of her thumb. It was warm from being pressed against her flesh and she traced over the ineptly stamped, small engraving of a swan. Her second most precious gift in the world.
Sighing, she began to undress herself when she heard a light giggle.
She managed to pry apart her eyes far enough to see the naked body of a woman sprawled out on her bed, with her knees bent at the edge of the frame and her feet touching the ground.
"I didn't think you'd be so eager, mistress," Chloe drawled.
Even in the dim candlelight, Emma could see her creamy flesh inviting her attention. Her ample breasts were swollen, the nipples hard in tight peaks of aroused hunger, throbbing, begging for her touch. If her desire wasn't obvious, she could see her damp pussy and swollen clit, cum dripping between her folds at the mere thought of being taken by the great Pirate Swan.
Jesus, she mumbled to herself. The sudden awareness of the girl's arousal immediately bombarded her senses, making her take notice of her scent as well.
She bit her lower lip and contemplated the several paths that laid open before her. The wiser choice would be to force the girl out of her bed. But then another path that quite literally bared itself open to her was just far too appealing, especially the foreseen months ahead.
Chloe licked her lips in anticipation, recognizing the dilated pupils in the pirate's eyes. She traced her fingers down her thin stomach and began lightly playing with her clit, whimpering at the first touch.
"Please, mistress," she begged raggedly, her need amplifying when she saw Emma's eyes widen at her own ministrations, "I'm so wet and ready for you…."
Fuck it, Emma decided. She quickly knelt in front of the gift that laid open for her and swatted the hand away, earning a surprised squeak from the younger girl.
"Who told you, you could touch?"
Chloe grinned, far too eager for her own good and it only made Emma feel disgusted. Without any warning, she dug her tongue into the girl's folds, sucking and lapping greedily as she ripped her first orgasm from the whore.
"Oh… oh god…" the redhead could barely breathe,"Emma… that feels… so… good… right THERE!" Slender thighs almost trapped Emma's head as she climaxed far too quickly for the blonde's tastes. She growled against her cunt, her tongue flicking at the swollen bud, while her hands roughly forced apart the girl's legs. She suddenly pulled away, gasping for much needed air.
She heard Chloe's whimper of disapproval from the loss of contact.
In her drunken haze, she stood up and wiped the girl's juices off her jaw. Her own primal need was quickly mounting in the presence of someone so easily submitting to her.
She was barely able to pull herself on top of the girl, undoing her buttons haphazardly when Chloe noticed the body hovering over her.
Her glee was unhidden when she anxiously pulled at Emma's belt, eager to please the false idol she worshipped so dearly. When thin, long fingers entered her core, Emma bucked uncontrollably into the girl beneath her.
I might die from this, she thought, her mind briefly going back to Killian's words as she bit into the girl's shoulder. The girl gasped in a delicious hiss, prompting her to pull at Emma's neck, muttering away promises of undying love as she pumped into her mistress, hard and deep.
So if I had to go, she dropped her entire weight on the smaller body beneath her, Chloe's mindless adoration of her muffled under her shoulder. Emma grabbed onto the sheets, her vision glazing over as she felt herself drawing close.
I'd like to have one last fuck before I did.