A/N: Hey! I'm a tumblr-based fanfictioner, so these are all from my tumblr blog
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"All hands on deck, prepare to set sail!" came a loud cry from the ship's stern. Sailors, chefs, and craftsmen began hurrying about the ship, finding their way to their stations and getting ready to take off.
Captain Killian Jones stood at the stem. He looked down at his jacket and gently stroked his finger over his new badge. He'd just been promoted and granted a ship after aiding immensely in the Ogre Wars, helping put a stop to the dreaded Blackbeard's sacking. His new ship, The Jewel of the Realm, was about to embark on her maiden voyage, patrolling the seas for any threats to their kingdom.
"Thank you, Liam," he whispered, stroking the badge one last time. Then he lifted his head and began walking along the deck, checking to make sure everything was in place.
"Captain Jones!" someone called from the docks.
"Smee? What are you doing out there? We're about to get under way!"
Smee pressed his index fingers together and nodded. "There's been a change..."
Killian raised an eyebrow and titled his head. "Change?" he wondered. Who had determined they were of high enough authority to change his orders? And more importantly, what were they being changed to?
"You're to be escorted to the boathouse. Someone has a job for us..."
Killian scrunched his nose. "Job? We don't take jobs. We take orders from our superiors."
Smee nodded. "Yes, but I'm told this is from one of your superiors... they wouldn't say who, though..."
As if on cue, two of the royal guard approached The Jewel, coming to a halt beside Smee.
"Very well," Killian sighed. To his crew he yelled, "Belay that order. Keep the keel steady and stand by." There were nods of understanding and quiet murmurs as the captain stepped off the boat. "Keep order while I'm gone," he told Smee.
"Yes, sir," Smee responded, climbing aboard the ship as his captain was escorted away.
The guards pressed against Killian's sides, forcing him to keep up with their brisk pace. "Would either of you lovely gentlemen care to tell me where it is exactly we're heading?" he asked politely, forcing a smile.
The two guards remained silent and continued guiding him towards the boathouse which seemed much farther than he remembered. When they finally reached the boathouse, he was led towards a back area that he'd never been in before. He found himself looking around in curiosity but remained silent.
His escorts eventually stopped in front a door hidden behind stacked crates and docked ships, not to mention a long stretch of shadow, as there were no lights nearby to illuminate the area. It would be easy to pass by without noticing. Killian found himself instinctively reaching for his rapier which was sheathed. He gripped the round ball at the tip of the hilt and watched as one of the guards pulled out a key and opened the door.
Killian was thrust inside what was apparently a small office. "You two are being a bit rough," he growled, smoothing out his uniform. The guards ignored him and left, slamming the door behind them and leaving him by himself. Or so he thought.
It was dark, and nothing but a lone candle on a small desk was there to offer light. He closed his eyelids until they were barely slits, searching the darkness. Fear and panic seemed to wrack his body, making him hunch over and take a defensive stance. What if he'd been led here to be killed? What if they knew his secret? He couldn't-
"Hello, Captain," came a low voice from one of the darkened corners of the room.
Killian didn't recognize it and raised an eyebrow. "Shall we skip the pleasantries and get right down to business? What is so important that it couldn't be handled on my ship?" He straightened his back, sticking out his chin indignantly, all the fear flowing out of him. Practicality was filtering his thoughts again. If he had truly been led there only to be killed, they would have at least confiscated his weapons.
The character still did not emerge from the shadows, his face only the tiniest bit visible. "I have a matter of urgency and I only trust you to do it," the man continued.
Killian decided to take that as a compliment, setting a pleased grin on his face. "You're making me go red!" he gushed jokingly. "But do go on! What is it about me that makes me so trustworthy? Is it my stalwart courage? Unwavering loyalty to my kingdom? My ravishing personality? I must know!"
"This is serious, Jones," the voice bellowed irritably.
"Somebody's a little grumpy, now aren't we?" Killian teased. He sighed and folded his arms across his chest, suddenly uninterested in whatever ominous task this person had in store for him. "Well unfortunately for you, I only take jobs and orders from the king and queen. I'm not some regular thug for hire."
"That's good," the man said agreeably. The person stepped out of the shadows, letting the single candle highlight his features. "Because I am your king," David growled in a low, dark voice.
There was a moment of tense silence in which the only thing that could be heard was the crackling of the candle's flame. Then Killian let a wide smiled spread across his face.
"Charming!" he cried joyfully. "It's been far too long!"
David grinned back and they both moved in to embrace each other. "It's good to see you, too, Killian. You've definitely grown a lot since the last time we spoke."
As they backed away, Killian tilted his head to the side. "Why all the fuss with the stiff guards and the darkened room?"
David, whose hands were rested on his hips, shook his head. "In any other situation I would ask you a favor over a drink, but I'm afraid this is a matter that requires a little more discretion."
"What exactly do you mean?" Killian asked with an arched eyebrow, examining his old friend.
David sighed heavily, and suddenly the wrinkles on his face were deep and obvious. It seemed hard for him to frame his words. "There- there's something I need done and no one can know about it. Even you can only know the bare minimum."
"Does Snow know about this?" Killian wondered, his voice tinged with worry. Was something wrong?
A look of panic danced across David's face, but he quickly hid it. "No!" he shouted to cover up the aforementioned distress. He lowered his voice. "She doesn't know. She can't-! She would-" He paused and looked at the floor solemnly. "It wouldn't be good. Let's just leave it at that," he finished quietly.
Killian breathed in through his nose, the air making a whistling sound. "I will admit... I don't like the sound of this, mate..."
David nodded in understanding, holding a hand up to his chin and firmly grasping it, beginning to pace around the desk. "And I know why you wouldn't," he acknowledged. "But this has to be done. Lives are at stake. Lives of people I care deeply about."
Killian was beginning to get frustrated. He couldn't stand all the evasion, all the beating around the bush. What was the issue? "What is it that's so dire only I can do it? Why can't you just tell me?" he nearly cried. And suddenly Liam's words were floating through his head again.
'He's a good man who honors family and trust above all things. He helped us beyond repayment. We owe him our lives. The least we can do is trust him and be there when he asks us to.'
Killian felt another retort rise in his throat, this time at Liam, but he pushed it down, knowing it would be futile to argue with a conscious. "It's just that," he continued calmly, "you're being ominous... could you just... tell me?" he asked, shuffling back and forth on his feet.
David bobbed his head and pressed his hands on the cold mohagony of the desk, his lone cowlick drifting over his eyes. "Of course, I'm sorry," he said. "You deserve an explanation... but I can't give it to you yet. You'll get it in time, though, that I can promise. For now... I need you to deliver something for me. I need you to use The Jewel to bring some very," he paused, "...important," he added at last, "cargo for me."
Killian frowned, almost insulted by all the wasted build-up. "That's it? That's all? I'm to have my first ship's maiden voyage be a glorified delivery?" He hadn't intended to sound so pretentious, but it was difficult.
David seemed displeased. "Believe me, Jones, this is a big deal. It's greater than you, me, and your ship's maiden voyage." His chastising quickly transitioned into begging, though. "Please... Help you kingdom. Help me."
There was a long pause before Killian asked, "Where am I to deliver it?"
Charming released a breath that he seemed to have been holding for awhile. "Your ship will have to stay docked through the night. We'll load the cargo at an unspecified time in secret and leave one of our own to protect it," he explained.
"You don't trust me to protect it?" Killian inquired, looking slightly offended.
David sighed. "It's not you I don't trust. It's your crew. No one can know about it. I cannot stress how important that is."
Killian twiddled his thumbs nervously. "This isn't... illegal merchandise, is it?"
David snickered. "No, nothing like that. But while you're safe from the kingdom's reach, I can promise nothing once you leave our waters. There are people who will be... looking for this cargo. Those people have spies everywhere. There will be dangers lurking everywhere." He pulled out a map and opened it on the desk, urging Killian to come closer and look for himself. "You're to take the cargo to Agrabah-"
"Wait... isn't that in a whole other world?" Killian queried, making David nod.
"That's why we're providing you with two beans and a compass to guide your way. One for the trip there and another for your return. As you already know, they allow for travel between worlds. When you arrive, our agents will unload the cargo and you will be able to leave the next morning. But you must be sure to arrive in exactly three days time," David warned.
"Three days, Agrabah, use the compass, two beans, overnight unload. Got it," Killian clarified with a swift nod.
David pressed the map against Killian's chest. "Good. I have to leave. Please, don't fail me." He took a step closer to the door before pausing. "And don't die. If I were able to trust anyone else, I wouldn't have put this burden on you."
Killian was holding the map in his hands. It suddenly felt heavy, and he saw before him responsibility that he wasn't quite ready for. He couldn't speak, knowing his words would fail him. Instead he nodded, and when he was finally alone, whispered, "Aye."