Chapter 1: Shut Up and Dance
So This idea has been bouncing around in my head for a little while and I finally got up the nerve to write it!
Chapter 1 is mostly just some cs fluff with a bit of smuff near the end… Chapter 2 will be up soon and it's basically pure smut.
Also, I felt like a little throwback to the song fics I used to love so much so here's a little homage to that…
Summary: AU. Emma, Mary Margaret and Ruby take a road trip.
"I told you we should have left earlier."
Emma sighed, putting the car in park as she looked on at the bumper to bumper traffic that stretched out for miles ahead of her.
"Yes, Mary Margret, I know. But, like I said, I couldn't get out of work this morning."
"You're self-employed."
Okay, so that was technically true but that didn't mean she could control when her perps were going to come out of hiding. And when she got the tip that the latest jackass was meeting his ex-partner for breakfast at the local pub… well she couldn't NOT go after him.
There was not point explaining all this again. Emma let her head fall back against the headrest. Well they wouldn't be moving for a while, she decided, turning off the engine, might as well save on some gas.
"Cool it, you two," came Ruby's voice from the backseat. "I'm not gonna sit here and listen to your little sibling rivalry for the next five hours. I could have stayed in Storybrooke for that! This is supposed to be fun." Yep, nothing as fun as a five hour road trip to New York stuck in crappy rush hour traffic.
"She's right, Emma, I'm sorry. You know how I get in cars…" That was for damn sure. As sweet and kind as Mary Margaret was, she had one hell of a road-rage problem. There was a reason Emma volunteered to drive, but now her little yellow bug was feeling more cramped than ever.
"That's the spirit!" Ruby cheered behind them. She nudged Emma on the shoulder. "Come on! It's a girls' weekend! Drinking, dancing, random hookups with inappropriate guys! Cheer up!" Emma rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. She was looking forward to some time away from chasing deadbeats around the city. And she had missed her sister and her best friend since she'd moved to Boston last year for work. It may have only been an hour away but she rarely found the time to head home to visit lately. Life kept getting in the way. That's what she told herself anyway.
"Okay, you're right. I'm sorry too." She reached over and squeezed Mary Margaret's hand. "This will be fun. I mean… if we ever move again." A collective sigh filled the car.
"Maybe we should turn the radio on?" Mary Margaret suggested. "That could help pass the time."
"I want to know what he's listening to!" Ruby laughed.
"What? Who?" Emma frowned, looking at her friend in the rear-view mirror.
"Him!" Ruby pointed out Emma's window and the three turned to find a black van had pulled up beside them. There were four guys sitting in it. A handsome blonde in a plaid shirt, and a scruffy looking brunette with curly hair sat in the back, watching the driver and the passenger's interaction. The driver, a man with gorgeous blue eyes and a mass of curly dark hair was shouting at the other man who was… well if Emma was being honest, probably the hottest guy she'd ever seen. He had the same blue eyes as the driver but his hair was straighter, wild and messy, sticking up in every direction, his fantastic jawline was covered by a few day's shadow. Damn, Emma had a weakness for a good jawline.
Said passenger, however, was currently dancing his heart out in the front seat of the car, singing at the top of his lungs to a song they couldn't hear. The driver looked furious, but Mr. Jawline kept up his spirited dance, smacking the driver's hand away whenever he tried to touch the radio dial. Emma, Ruby and Mary Margaret couldn't help themselves from laughing at his exuberance.
"Wait, hold on!" Ruby unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward, turning on the radio. She shifted through the stations, watching him for a second before changing it again until finally, she stopped, finding the song that matched his dancing.
Oh don't you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me
I said you're holding back
She said shut up and dance with me!
"Oh I love this song!" Mary Margaret exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Emma laughed, the three of them singing along. She had to admit it was catchy and watching the show to her left, well that was just a bonus.
Then Ruby got an idea. "Put your window down!"
"What? Why?"
"Oh just do it!"
Emma conceded, cranking the manual lever. Ruby turned the volume up higher, singing at the top of her lungs, signaling for the others to follow her lead. Her plan obviously worked as all four heads in the van eventually turned to face them, the music carrying on into their car.
The guys in the back seat cracked up and started cheering while the driver just looked embarrassed. But Mr. Jawline… oh, he definitely liked an audience. He rolled down his window, the music from his car joining theirs and turned so he was facing them as he continued his animated dancing. Geez, he was really into this song.
Emma's breath caught in her throat as he locked eyes with her, a smile spreading across his face the like of which she'd never seen before. It was mischievous, and a little bit dangerous, but somehow, it made his whole face look youthful and sincere. She could feel her cheeks heating as he continued, singing to her now. Only to her. She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, trying to pretend she was focusing on the road ahead of her but she couldn't stop her eyes drifting back over to watch him. And there he was, every time, still staring right at her, his grin growing each time she looked back.
Finally, she couldn't help it and she returned his smile mirthfully and rolled her eyes. She gripped the steering wheel dramatically as she threw her head back and belted out the last chorus with everything she had. The smile that broke across his face was definitely worth it. She held his gaze, breathing ragged, as the song slowly faded out, both of them still smiling at each other like idiots.
A horn honked loudly behind her. Emma jumped, scrambling to turn her car back on when she saw that the lane had cleared up in front of her. She stomped on the gas, nearly stalling the car as she drove away, leaving the boys, and Mr. Jawline behind.
"Emma!" Ruby shouted at her.
"What?" Emma answered, actively avoiding looking in her rear-view.
"Don't you 'what' me! You know exactly what! You and that guy… you were totally into him!"
"No I wasn't!" Oops, she might answered that way too quickly.
"I'm gonna have to side with Ruby on this one." Mary Margaret added. "Emma, the way he was looking at you. I've only ever seen it in movies… it was…"
"It doesn't matter," Emma cut her off. He's gone now. It's not like I'm ever going to see him again. Besides, it was just some guy."
"Emma…" her sister pressed.
"Guys, really. Forget it. It doesn't matter."
"Yes it matters!" Ruby argued. "Emma you haven't been into someone since… well, you know. And that guy – OH MY GOD!"
Emma nearly lost control of the car at her friend's outburst.
"Jesus, Ruby! Are you trying to kill us?"
"Emma! Look!" Ruby was pointing out the passenger side window this time, her other hand covering her mouth.
Turning to look out the window, Emma felt her heart jump into her throat as she saw the black van driving alongside them. They were driving slower, to match the speed of the lane the yellow bug was stuck in. Cars started honking at the van, people shouting at them to speed up and take advantage of the empty road but they didn't move.
The driver looked beyond stressed out.
"What the hell are they doing?" Emma shouted, looking back and forth between the van and the road.
The driver frowned, trying to see the road, as Mr. Jawline reached across him. He caught her eye and held her gaze for a moment before smacking a piece of paper against the window. A phone number and a name were scrawled across it in sharpie: Killian Jones. Emma stared at him, shocked by both his determination and his recklessness. The idiot was going to get himself killed!
Mary Margaret whirled around in her seat. "Oh, my God! Emma!"
"I'm taking down his number for you!" Ruby announced, typing it into her phone.
"There's no point, Ruby."
"Oh, live a little! It's not gonna kill you to call the guy!"
She gave the scruffy guy in the back a thumbs up and he patted the driver on the shoulder and the van finally pulled ahead. Several cars followed along after it, riding its ass.
"Need I remind you that we're going to New York?" Emma pointed out.
"For exactly this reason!" Ruby countered. "And okay, so you don't call him this weekend. Then you call him when we get home. He probably lives near Boston since we're only about 20 minutes out and –"
"And by then he'll have found someone else to keep him busy for the night," Emma finished.
"Emma…" Mary Margaret said. She could feel the pity in her voice.
"Can we please just drop it, guys? I'm not gonna call him okay."
Ruby opened her mouth to say something but Mary Margaret shot her a look, shaking her head sadly. Ruby grumbled but kept quiet.
The rest of the way up, they talked about everything but the abrupt musical performance. Ruby had never been to New York so she listed off all of the things she wanted to do… most of which were bars she wanted to hit up. So, when they finally arrived at their hotel, they agreed to let Ruby decide where they would go on their first night.
"Emma! You are not wearing a sweater out to clubr, I don't care how ironic you think you're being!"
"What? I'm comfy. I want to be comfy. Besides I didn't bring any 'clubbing' clothes." Ruby looked as though she wanted to smack her.
"To New York. You didn't bring any clubbing clothes to New York? What did you think we'd be doing?" Ruby exclaimed.
"I dunno, seeing the sights? Maybe going to a pub for a drink? I—" Ruby held up a hand.
"No, I can't even listen to this. Okay, you'll just have to borrow something of mine."
"Ruby…"
"Emma! Even Mary Margaret got dressed up for the occasion!" she pointed to her friend who was wearing a cute, short dress under a denim jacket. Emma rolled her eyes and groaned. She'd had this fight with Ruby before. She didn't know why she was bothering.
"Fine. But no dresses." Ruby stared her down for a moment but finally agreed to the compromise.
"Deal. Besides you look hot in those jeans anyway. Now take off that damn monstrosity before I'm tempted to burn it."
"Hey!" Emma shouted indignantly as Ruby headed to her suitcase and started rifling through it.
"Now!"
Emma said something rude under her breath and pulled off her knit, fisherman's sweater.
"Aha! This!" Ruby emerged from her enormous case, handing her what looked like a perfectly innocent, lose-fitted, white t-shirt…. Until she turned it around.
"Ruby! I can't wear this!" Emma protested.
"Why not?"
"Um, because it doesn't have a back?" She held it out in front of her. Instead of a back, there was a deep V that ended in a knot at the small of her back.
"So what? Try it on."
Emma gaped. The way she'd said it left no room for argument. Grudgingly, she shrugged the shirt on and turned to look in the mirror. While it looked perfectly lovely from the front, her entire back was exposed.
"No way. I can't even wear a bra with it!"
"No, you can't," Ruby agreed before unhooking the clasp of Emma's strapless bra. She stared at Ruby in horror as it fell to the ground. "Much better," Ruby smiled. "You look hot, Em!"
"She's right, you know. You do look amazing," Mary Margret chimed in.
Emma glared at both her friends. She was never going to win this one.
"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "But I'm wearing a coat," she declared, grabbing her camel-coloured leather jacket off the bed and throwing it on.
"Spoilsport," Ruby said, sticking out her tongue.
"Yeah, yeah. Are we ready?"
Ruby nodded and the three girls headed out on the town. Ruby had heard about a bar that was supposed to be the new up and coming place and was dying to check it out so off they headed. Emma didn't mind. Anything would be a nice change from Granny's which is where they had spent most of their early adult life going out.
They were a few blocks away when Ruby stopped them suddenly.
"Wait," she ordered. "Let's go here instead."
"What?" Mary Margret asked. "But you were so excited to go to 'Bourbon'! Why the change of heart?"
Ruby shrugged, looking up at the big neon sign that read 'The Rabbit Hole'. The place looked pretty run-down, a definite dive bar. It was the kind of place Emma assumed she would usually find her perps in.
"I don't know," Ruby answered cryptically. "Just a feeling. Besides, you guys said tonight was my choice…"
Emma sighed, hustling them forward. "All right. Let's go, then."
The bar was surprisingly nice inside. The walls were exposed brick, a few structural pillars spread about the room, and the tables and counters were made of what looked like solid oak. There were a few pool tables in the far corner but most of the patrons were crowded around the stage where a live band was playing. Emma couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen the lead singer before but she couldn't place him…
"I see a table!" Mary Margaret shouted over the music pointing to a corner farther away from the stage.
"Nice one! You guys go grab it quick! I'll get the first round," Ruby offered and the sisters pushed their way over.
They managed – by some miracle – to snag the table before anyone else did and Emma grabbed the seat with her back to the stage. She'd gotten in the habit of positioning herself so she could watch the door and it was a hard habit to break.
God, it was crowded in here. She was dying of heat in her leather jacket but she was too nervous to take it off and be so… exposed.
"Oh, come on. It won't kill you," Mary Margaret told her, taking off her own jacket.
Emma hesitated but she felt like she would start sweating at any moment so she finally relented, hanging her own jacket on the back of her chair.
Ruby joined them quickly, three pints in hand. She'd never had much trouble getting fast service at bars.
"So I talked to the bartender. He says it's so busy tonight because of this band that's playing. Apparently they're some big deal and about to hit their big break so we've got the hipster crowd who wants to say they knew them first," she laughed.
"I can't see them, but they sound good!" Mary Margaret commented. "What are they called?"
"Prince of Pan, I think. Hey, let's have a toast! To girls weekend. It's been way too long and I miss you ladies," Ruby said, her tone bittersweet.
Emma and Mary Margaret smiled at her sadly.
"It has," Emma agreed. "To the next one being much sooner!"
"Here, here!" Mary Margret agreed and they all clinked their glasses.
"All right, remember the rules, Ladies. No boys in the hotel room!" Ruby warned. "You go back to their place."
Mary Margret nearly chocked on her beer as Emma chuckled into hers.
There was a sudden break in the music then, a voice addressing everyone. Whoever he was had a lovely British accent.
"Hey, guys," he said. "Thanks for coming out tonight!" The crowd cheered.
"Oh, I wish we could see them," Mary Margret lamented.
"Now, normally, we don't do covers, and I happen to hate this song in particular…" Someone else with a microphone cleared their throat impatiently. The speaker sighed. "But my little brother here is a romantic and he claims that this is in the pursuit of true love and well, what can I say? I guess being a hopeless romantic is a family trait. So please, forgive us for this next one…"
"What was that about –" Emma started, going to take another sip of her drink but she froze, glass halfway to her lips as she heard the familiar opening chords. No way. That wasn't possible. It had to just be a coincidence.
Oh don't you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me
I said you're holding back
She said shut up and dance with me
Emma, who had been staring pointedly at the table when a voice – a different one than the one that had been singing earlier – had started to sing, chanced a glance up at her friends who were staring at her with matching awestruck expressions. They shared a glance before scrambling up from their seats, dragging Emma with them so they could get a better look at the stage.
There he was. Front and center. Mr. Jawline… or Killian Jones, she guessed. He looked just as heart-stoppingly handsome as he had the last time she saw him. His hair looked like he'd tried to tame it but it had fallen victim to having his fingers run through it one too many times, pieces of his bangs falling into his eyes. His gorgeous blue eyes which were now lined with black. It shouldn't have been so sexy but it was; and paired with his black V-neck shirt that exposed just the tiniest, most tantalizing bit of chest hair… Emma felt a knot in her stomach tighten, her heart beating against her ribcage.
He was scanning the crowd as he sang into the mic, looking for something… and then he found it. His eyes met hers and that smile was back, lighting up his whole face as it stretched from ear to ear. It was just like in the cars – only with less dancing – his eyes never leaving hers as he sang the next bit. She felt like he was searching her, asking for something she didn't know if she could give.
Emma's heart was racing. She felt frozen in place, her mind urging her to run. Run far away like she always did. This kind of instant attraction was never a good thing but this… it felt like more than just attraction, and that was even more dangerous.
As if he could sense her retreating, he hopped off the stage. Oh god, he was coming towards her. The crowd parted for him like the red sea and Emma panicked. She searched for a way out, ready to take off but Ruby and Mary Margret held her fast.
"Just this once, Emma. Give him a chance," her sister whispered in her ear. And then she was gone. She and everyone else around her as Killian approached her. He stopped, a few feet away, not pushing her, not forcing her into anything. The way he was looking at her, it was so… hopeful, like she could break him with her decision. She could tell he wanted to come closer but he was waiting for some kind of sign.
Maybe Ruby and her sister were right. What could it hurt? It only had to be one night if that's all she wanted. And she couldn't pretend that being serenaded by a beautiful man with a voice to match wasn't… flattering.
She looked up, just in time to see him do a little dance, reminiscent of his moves in the car. His eyebrow quirked up suggestively and Emma laughed a bit, brushing her hair behind her ear. His unsure look was replaced with a blinding smile as he closed the distance between them. Taking her hand, he placed it on his chest as he sang the next chorus.
Emma couldn't stop smiling. She tried to hide her face behind her hand but he wouldn't let her, trapping both her hands on his chest and following her gaze wherever it went. The musical interlude came up and Killian lowered the mic, speaking only to her.
"I need to know your name, love," he begged. Of course he had to have a beautiful accent too.
"Emma," she smiled, "Emma Swan."
"What do you say, Swan? Just one dance?" There was that hopeful look again and Emma found herself nodding before she'd even had a chance to think about it.
"Okay."
Killian beamed, lifting the mic, he turned back to the stage.
"Take it away, Liam!" he shouted and the lead singer picked up where he'd left off. The onlookers, deciding the dramatic display was over, crowded back around them, resuming their dancing.
Killian stepped forward, setting the mic down on a table next to the pillar that stood directly behind her, before pulling her close so that she was flush against his body. His breathing hitched and she shivered as his hand traced its way down her naked spine from her shoulder to the waistline of her jeans. He started to move their bodies to the beat of the music, not leaving any space between them as Emma slid her hands up his chest to wrap around his neck. She could feel every one of his solid muscles as they moved against her. Her hips were firmly pinned against his but she really couldn't care less as her eyes lowered to look at his mouth which was so close she could feel his breath, ragged and mixing with her own.
"It's about bloody time," he said, barely above a whisper as his hands trailed the expanse of her back. She looked up to find his eyes dark and heavy lidded.
"Shut up and kiss me," Emma ordered. He smirked slightly.
"Those aren't the lyrics, lo –"
Emma pulled him down, cutting off his snarky remark with a demanding kiss. It only took him a second to respond, his lips parting as he pulled her bottom lip between his own, sucking it gently as he breathed her in. Emma moaned under his ministrations. Jesus, the man could kiss! He took advantage of her moan to slide his tongue into her mouth, gliding it slowly along hers before returning his attention to her bottom lip. She pressed herself even tighter against him, moulding her body to his. He pulled back with a shaky gasp but Emma followed. Grabbing him by the front of his shirt, she caught his bottom lip between hers and toyed with it the same way he had, before taking it between her teeth and pulling back slowly. It was his turn to moan as he pounced on her, one hand tightening on her lower back, the other fisting in the hair at the nape of her neck as he pushed her back against the pillar, his mouth devouring hers, hips grinding against her own.
He pulled back finally, resting his forehead against hers as their chests heaved together.
"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked, voice raspy and wanting.
Emma fought to catch her breath. "Don't you have a show to finish?"
Killian rolled his hips against hers, the tell-tale sign of his arousal brushing against her thigh and Emma whimpered softly at the feeling. Killian chuckled. "Fuck the show."
Emma threw her head back as he ducked to trail his lips along her jaw to the pulse point behind her ear. God, yes. Fuck the show. Fuck her. Please! She needed to get out of here and she didn't care who was watching them.
"Bathroom?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Come with me."
He took her hand and pulled her along the side of the bar, trying to stay out of sight of the other band members that were continuing the set as he led her backstage. He took her down a short hallway before stopping in front of a door with 'dressing room' marked on it.
Before he could open it, she turned him around and shoved him up against the wood, stepping between his legs and raising up on her toes so she could slant her mouth over his, finally running her hands through that gorgeous hair. He groaned deep in his throat as she yanked his head to the side so that she could mouth at his collar bone.
"I swear to God, Swan, if we don't get inside right now, I'm going to have you right here in this hallway."
Fuck that sounded hot in his accent. Trailed her lips up so that she could tongue at his earlobe.
"Then you better open the fucking door," she warned him, dragging her teeth along the shell of his ear, "Because I'm not going to stop you."
He let out a desperate sound, clawing frantically for the doorknob. "I think," He gasped, "that we will require a bit more privacy for what I have in mind," he finished, finally finding the knob and pushing the door open. The two stumbled in, slamming it shut behind them.
"Woah. Go, Emma," Ruby said, thoroughly impressed. Mary Margret was still staring in shock at the pillar her sister had just been pressed up against.
"What are the chances? That we'd walk into the same bar he was playing in…" she mused. Ruby smirked.
"It wasn't a coincidence," she admitted smugly.
"What do you mean?" her friend asked, confused. Ruby's smile turned mischievous.
"I saw their van parked out front."