Note: I had this originally under a different pen name (TheKillerKing). But I didn't like not having all of my writing together. So I deleted it and reuploaded to this account. Keep in mind, this my first multi-pairing fict. I wanted to write a pre-poly hookup, no pun intended. It might be a series or a multi chapter fic, if people actually want to read more of this. Yes it's established HookedQueen but what can I say, I'm into it.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, universes or situations. They belong to Disney, ABC etc, etc. I claim no rights to copyrighted material and this story is purely for entertainment purposes.
It was the sound of booze-laden laughter that drew her in like a moth to a flame. It was the sound of… freedom without a care in the realm. These pirates lived in a world so alien from her own. It was a world where one made their own rules live by their own code; where one could be anything they want, and where even a princess and a knight could live without being closed in by a gilded cage. Anyone would have been taken in by it. And for Princess Emma, one step followed the next without much thought. She was lead on by desire and instinct. Emma wasn't much of a thinker. That, she left to her brother, the golden heir. The only thing that Emma knew was that she knew nothing of this world outside her parents' kingdom. It was apparent from the second she stepped foot on this airship. And the Captains — well, Captain Jones and her Majesty the Pirate Queen made that clear every chance they got.
And yet, Emma was intrigued, caught by their ineffable allure.
Before she could come to her senses and second guess herself, the Princess was by the door of their common room. And there she found them, Regina and Killian, both dark-haired pirates playing cards, drinking, and she supposed enjoying the other's company. One drinking rum, his true blue eyes shining with a dark humor. And the other sipping on wine, her burnt honey eyes twinkling with something equally dark but not remotely humorous. One, a pirate with a gloved mechanical hand and a devilish grin. The other a queen without a kingdom, with the kind of gaze that could penetrate one's soul.
"Oi! Princess!"
Shit. She had been staring. And now she was caught.
Killian turned around in his chair to peer at her with a smile. His gaze didn't roll over her body, trying to imagine what she'd look like without any clothes. He studied her face. He watched her eyes. It was almost as if he was trying to read her; read her expressions, guess to what kind of person she was beyond her family name and station.
Emma hated it. She hated the honesty of it. It made her uncomfortable. She didn't like that he tried to see past her walls.
"Just the lass we've been waiting for," he continued. "Are you familiar with the game Wicked Grace, Swan?" he asked.
"Your Highness," Regina corrected.
Killian scoffed. "She's doesn't like that."
"I really don't," Emma insisted. "Swan is fine."
"See, she doesn't mind it," the Captain said. "I might even wager that our Princess likes it."
Regina's chuckle rolled over her skin and raise little goosebumps along her arms. Her voice had the quality of silk, soft but rich. It gave Emma chills. She didn't know anyone else that had that kind of mastery over their voice the way she did. It made the Princess wonder about the Pirate Queen. Was she truly royalty? She carried herself like any other royal Emma knew. She had this regal quality to her. It was something Emma's mother had. But her father lacked. And her brother, Leo had in leagues. Many rulers with the epithet, "the Great" had that quality. And so did Regina.
"Well, your Highness is that true?" she asked.
"You mean do I like being called Swan?"
Regina smiled. "No, dear, I mean are you ours?" When Emma's eyes went wide with shock, the Pirate Queen laughed. "An easier question, then. Have you ever played Wicked Grace?"
The Princess nodded, quickly. "I've played it once or twice, yes, your Majesty"
"Excellent. We could always use a third." Regina signaled to Killian who pushed out a chair for her. "Come and play with us, your Highness."
The temperature rose in the room and Emma's cheeks redden as she croaked out a reply. "I-I-I haven't got any coin."
Thus was the life of the Royal Spare. She had nothing to call her own. Not the coin in her purse. Not even her life. Nothing was her own. And Emma was reminded of that every day of her life since she was old enough to understand her place in this world.
"There are other things we could play for," the Pirate Queen suggested. An apt choice of words, considering she had done so with a… "suggestive" tone.
Emma's eyebrow raised, quizzically but she still took the seat that was offered to her. Albeit against her better judgment. However, stepping onto this ship had been against her better judgment as well. It was only out of a potentially misplaced sense of duty and honor to her mother and the Ice Queen that put her on this boat in the first place.
"Such as?" the Princess asked.
"What do you have?" was Regina's response.
It was with a shrug that Emma answered, "Just my wits and the clothes on my back, your Majesty."
"We've got wits in spades," Killian interjected. "So we'll play for your clothes, Swan."
"I'm not gambling away my clothes." There were some lines Emma just didn't cross. Gambling was foolish. Gambling away the only thing she actually owns? Reckless. Beyond reckless. Emma wouldn't do it.
What would her mother say?
The Pirate Queen's lips pursed into what was only could be called a mockery of pouting. "Don't. Don't do that, your Highness. We'll give them back once we've finished our game."
And then Killian leaned forward, resting his weight on his elbows, and raised an eyebrow at Emma. "So tell us, big scary Knight, and Princess of Misthaven, you think you can handle that?"
There was something about that challenge that didn't sit right with Emma. Her mother would remind her that a lady never allows her emotions to get the best of her. She was to be always graceful and poised. And under no circumstances was she give to what her mother had referred to as her 'darkness.' The more she thought about her mother's words, the more Emma wanted to say to hell with the rules, and duty, and honor. And so she did just that with a cocky smirk, the Princess didn't shy away from this.
"I can handle anything you can throw at me, Captain Jones."
"We don't doubt that, dear," Regina said, looking at her as if it was the first time she truly saw her.
"Terms?" Emma deflected.
Killian glanced at Regina when was still watching Emma. "You win a hand and we'll remove a piece of clothing. We win and you'll do that for us."
It was important to be clear with these types of things, so the Princess asked, "And whoever is the first to get naked loses?"
"If one of us got naked then I think everyone comes out a winner, Swan," Killian replied, chuckling at his own joke.
"So what will it be, dear?" Regina asked, bringing her glass to her wine-colored lips. "Do you accept?"
Emma didn't waver when met the raven-haired pirate queen. "Deal the cards." However, when the Pirate Queen reached for the deck, the Princess grabbed her by the wrist to stop her. "Wait," Emma said. "I'll deal."
Regina held up her hands in surrender. And the Princess just shook her head at the Pirate Queen. She didn't know what Regina was playing at but Emma just wanted to focus on the card game. And she watched both of them as she shuffled the deck. It had been a year maybe two since she last played the game. Her duties as a princess of Misthaven and Knight-Commander kept her away from such things. But it was like riding a horse it seemed. One-handed, two, Emma remembered all of the tricks; the riffle, the Agrabah shuffle, all of it came naturally to her like she had played the game just yesterday. She could see Regina's eyes sparkle because she had played them and gotten away with it. The Pirate Queen was impressed with her subtle deception. Killian, however, looked as if he'd been cheated.
"I thought you said you've only played this once," he sneered.
"Or twice," Emma added as she started to deal. "So we'll play by Sinner's Rules. Serpents over Angels. Crowns are high. And deuces are wild."
Captain Jones leaned over to Regina. He whispered loud enough for Emma to hear. "I think we might be in trouble, my Queen."
The Pirate Queen smirked. "I'm not worried."
Emma cleared her throat and squeaked out, "Ready?"
"For you, dear? Always."
And that was that. They played cards. They laughed. They drank. They shared stories of past adventures, of loves lost, and of battles won. It was light, carefree. And Emma had almost forgotten how to do this; to let go. A lifetime reminded of her royal duty and 5 years as the Ice Queen's mistress had left her heart as frozen as Arendelle. But here, playing cards with two pirates who lived free, just for the briefest of moments, Emma felt free, too.
Unfortunately, like all good things, this game had to come to an end. She had had enough rebellion for one night.
"Full hand, Five Crowns," Emma announced before she turned to Killian with a smug smirk.
The Pirate Captain was sitting there in nothing but his skivvies and a cheeky but nervous smile. He had forth a valiant effort. But Captain Killian Jones was probably the worst card player she had ever come across. The kind of card player that could gamble away his life savings with a smile on his face. Regina, on the other hand, played her cards close to her chest. Emma almost couldn't get a read on her. But the Pirate Queen had her own tells, as anyone else did. She simply hid them better than most. Which was why she was still mostly clothed, save for gloves, which Emma had won, only to prove that she could.
"And that means," the Princess continued. "I'll be taking your underthings, Captain Jones."
"About that — It's a little brisk in here," Killian replied, giving them a counter offer. "So how about I just give you a peek at the good stuff, Swan?"
The Pirate Queen shook her head. "You can't cheat her, Captain. She won."
"Maybe we could give her something else, then," was Killian's counteroffer.
That had Regina interested. "What did you have in mind?"
"I think you know."
The two dark-haired pirates locked eyes, neither saying a word but somehow still speaking volumes. And Emma felt as though she was somehow caught up in the middle of it. She didn't like the way they were looking at her. No, — that wasn't it. Emma liked it. Perhaps maybe too much. She just wanted to know what they were planning and she fit into it all. "I suppose the only question now is will our brave young princess go for it?"
"Only one way to find out, my Queen."
That was all the warning Emma had before Regina was sauntering over to her, eyes dark and dangerous. But it wasn't the threat of a hidden blade that Emma feared, it was that hungry look in her eyes, the warmth her body gave off when she got in close, saddling the Princess in her chair. Regina cupped her face, the pads of her thumbs brushed Emma's cheeks. The Princess gasped, her breath hitching in her throat. She wanted to give in. But she pulled away instead. "What are you doing?"
The Pirate Queen leaned in again but didn't close that last bit of distance between them. "I'll give you three guesses, your Highness."
Emma's eyes narrow and she curses herself for the breathy quality her voice has taken. "I don't put on shows."
Regina whispered against her lips, "Neither do I."
"Then what is this?"
"You, collecting your winnings, Princess."
Her lips ghosted over Emma's. And the Princess almost gave in. But a sense of duty and loyalty stopped her. She couldn't do this. Her parents wouldn't be pleased. Her brother wouldn't be pleased. But more importantly, the Ice Queen wouldn't be pleased. So once again, she pulled away and this time slipped out from under the Pirate Queen.
Emma stood, straightening herself out, as she cleared her throat. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Captain Jones." She nodded to Regina. "Your Majesty."
She couldn't get to the door fast enough. She wanted to do was go back to her quarters, shake this night off, and forget it ever happened. She wanted to go home. She wanted off of the Jolly Roger, far away from pirates and hidden treasure. Emma needs her Ice Queen. But it was Regina's voice that halted her movement.
"She doesn't appreciate you, your Ice Queen," Regina began; every word cutting into her heart like a knife. "She'll never appreciate you. And if you think she loves you, your Highness, that she'll ever love you… How long are you going to be her loyal pet before you realize you're meant to run free?"
That struck a chord with Emma, her tone dripping with venom when she fired back, "I am no one's fucking pet!"
"Prove it," Regina challenged.
Under normal circumstances, she would have left. Just make a point. Even if it meant dealing with the fallout later.
She did leave at first actually because she didn't need to prove anything to Regina or anyone else. Emma marched right out of the common room but stopped just outside of the door.
She was going to regret — well, all of this. But she'd regret not doing this even more, despite the very real and very deadly consequences this could wreak. So she marched back in there just as Killian was about to say something sarcastic. However, the Princess didn't give him a chance, passing Regina to grab the Pirate Captain and pull him into a fiery kiss.
Emma could feel his hesitation; he hadn't expected this but here they were and Killian had about less than a second to respond or pull away. He chose to respond in kind and attempt to deepen the kiss. However, Emma, feeling a pang of guilt and shame, pulled away so quickly she stumbled. If it wasn't for Regina catching her by the wrist, the Princess might have fallen. Or worse — left.
"Don't go," Regina purred, as Killian settled behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Not when things are just getting interesting, Princess."
"Yes, Swan," Killian added, as he kissed along Regina's neck. "Come play with us."
Emma's throat went dry at those words. To say that she wasn't considering it would have been a lie. The offer was more than tempting. It was the very embodiment of seduction. Emma wanted this. She wanted them. But she couldn't do this, could she? She weighed out the pros and cons, weighing out the merits of logic and reasons versus giving into her desires.
And then she mumbled something that sounded a lot like "fuck it," before she closed in on the pirates, kissing Regina just as she had kissed Killian as if she was going to drink the famed Queen of the Pirates down. And when she pulled away, Emma met the other woman's gaze, sea green eyes blazing, chest heaving as she tried to control her breathing.
"Then lets play."