Being stuck in hospital and then on bed-rest is giving me plenty of free time, so I've been playing with something new. Canon divergent is not my strong suit. I tend to avoid it at all costs. But I wanted to play around a little with these two. I'm hoping posting here will continue to motivate me to keep writing, even when I want to tear my hair out over it.
"You know, I think you're warming up to me." Hook flicked casually at a clump of dirt that was clinging to his left knee. The giant just sat stoically in the corner, not saying a word.
It had been eight hours since the damned Swan Woman had left him at the top of that beanstalk, chained up like some common criminal.
"How much longer are you planning to sit there watching me?"
"Emma asked for ten hours." It was the first thing the giant had said to Hook, but he classed it as progress anyway.
"Excellent. Just another two hours to fill. What shall we talk about next? Oh… How about female companions? Any interesting encounters there? I had this one woman… well, she was more of a whore, but I'm not one to judge… anyway, she loved having…."
The sound of Anton's groan drowned out the rest of Hook's words. He was starting to regret agreeing to this plan of Emma's, no matter how kind she had been to him.
Mary-Margret watched as Emma pushed her way through the forest, sighing every time they slowed down for refreshments or bathroom breaks. Emma hadn't said much since she'd jumped off that beanstalk. Just that they needed to put enough distance between themselves, and Captain Hook.
"Emma, Honey? Why don't we stop for the night? We need to be well rested to face Cora."
"We should keep going," was Emma's only reply. She didn't even bother looking back, and that hurt Mary-Margret more than it should have. She exchanged a quick glance with Mulan, but the four of them pushed on, following Emma's red, leather jacket further into the forest.
They finally stopped to make camp at a spot Mulan identified as being ideal for both surveillance, and out of the way of the ogres. Emma was exhausted by the time they did, sleep claiming her the moment she closed her eyes.
Her dreams were plagued with arrogant pirates dressed in black leather, and she found herself waking early. Mary-Margret had taken the first watch of the evening, but when Emma glanced around their makeshift camp, it was to see Mulan wide-awake by the fire.
"You should get some rest," Emma told her softly, not wanting to wake the others.
"You need it more," Mulan pointed out.
"Yeah… well… I'm awake now. Might as well make use of it."
Both women were incredibly stubborn, but Mulan could see this was not a fight she was going to win. So she quickly removed her sword belt, and armour, making herself comfortable enough to sleep on the cool ground.
Emma wasn't sure what was worse; sleeping and dreaming about him, or being awake and analysing every moment of their time spent together on top of that beanstalk.
She'd done the right thing in the end.
Hook was a pirate.
One of the most notorious pirates in the land, if his reputation was anything to judge by.
He may not have lied to her since she called his bluff, when he was tied to that tree, but he would have betrayed them all in the end.
That's what pirates do.
Right?
She sighed, standing up slowly from the campsite. She needed to move, needed to do something to clear her head. Walking the perimeter seemed like a good idea.
She just needed to get that damned pirate and his pretty blue eyes out of her head.
"For God sake, Emma, stop lusting after Captain Hook," she whispered to herself, hoping that hearing the words spoken aloud would help her realise just how ridiculous the whole thing was.
"Well Love, that definitely gives us something interesting to talk about."
Before Emma could move a hand clamped down over her mouth, his hooked arm wrapping around her waist tightly as he pulled her back into the forest, further away from where her mother, Mulan and Aurora were sleeping.
"Now, how about you and I have a little chat about you leaving me at the top of that beanstalk?" he whispered, into her ear.
As always, thanks for reading.