A/N: what, what, what's all this? a story told from hans' perspective? is crazy. this is dedicated to anotherhelsashipper on tumblr. their headcanon inspired it all. this story will be told in six chapters, each consisting of five parts, each of those being 200 words long. nice and easy. chapter titles inspired by whitehorse's "in like a lamb, out like a lion". prompts from "100 prompts" community on livejournal.
dreamcatcher
chapter one: come to life, the spring
1. defiant
Hans had always been a disappointment. To his mother and father. His brothers. His nation.
But especially himself.
He was certain that it hadn't always been this way; there hadn't always been an empty yearning where his heart was meant to reside, but if he had ever known happiness he couldn't recall it now.
"Hans, what are you doing here?" It was his mother, always so bored, waxing and waning like a candlestick. He wondered why she was in the stables; riding was not a habit of hers.
"My punishment, mother."
"Hmmn, what did you do again? Remind me." She made a show of adjusting her gloves and he knew then she was only asking for her own amusement.
'Only broke a girl's heart. Only tried to steal a queen's throne. All in good fun,' said one of his brothers, 'And you failed even that.'
"Arendelle." It would have been hard to say whether he hated her or himself more at that moment. Then, he came to a decision he hadn't even been aware he had been making, "I'm going back."
"Whatever for?" She snorted, "To embarrass yourself further?"
"To set things right." 'To be set free.'
"Such a disappointment."
2. powder
It was summer when he left and spring when he returned, though from the frost that hung heavy from the mast it might have been a mild winter. Fog surrounded the castle keep and spread out into the fjord like a spider-web seeking to draw the unwary into its waiting maw.
"Prince Hans – " the captain had found him on deck watching their destination approach.
"Hans will suffice."
"Hans, these are dangerous waters."
"What am I paying you for, captain?"
"Dead men don't pay."
"And neither will I if you turn this ship back now." The captain studied him a long time, as though trying to discern his worth. Finally, the sailor broke his gaze.
The ship plunged into the frosty breakwaters, sending up a spray. It settled on the railings and runners like shards of glass glittering in the light. The world seemed still and silent outside of the roaring of the waves until they were nearly upon the port. All at once, the sounds of the quay sprung to life, sweeping them up and welcoming them to Arendelle.
And there, among the sailors and seashells, looking more lovely and furious than he could ever remember, stood its queen.
3. grateful
The mountainside shook and rolled as rock and snow gave way beneath the Troll King's might. Hans found his footing easily, but nearly slipped as a scream ripped through the valley. The voice was familiar enough, if not the pitch. He had never heard her sound so desperate.
"Elsa! Hold on!"
'Where? Where? Where? THERE!' Her cape fluttered uselessly about her, threatening to either choke her out or drag her down into the abyss below. "HANS!"
He grasped desperately for her wrists, shocked when she cried out and then gasped, "I think it's broken!"
Hans scrambled down the loose rocks, dragging a rope with him and ignoring the way the pebbles beneath his feet shattered and gave way in his wake. He wasted no time in securing the queen before ascending the cliff-face to pull her to safety.
"You saved my life!" Elsa gasped.
"Of course I saved your life!" Hans wanted to be indignant after months of serving her loyally, but a familiar doubt stilled his tongue and gave him pause.
"Remind me to thank you later."
"Couldn't you just thank me now?"
She was already on the move, "There isn't time now. We have to save our kingdom."
4. decent
"Would you just come out here already?"
"It feels . . . a little awkward."
"It's a military uniform," Elsa laughed and though he couldn't see her it was easy to imagine the way her eyes crinkled around the edges in mirth, "I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be awkward."
"Stuffy," he tugged the edges of his jacket nervously, stalling his leaving the privacy screen. "The word you're looking for is 'stuffy' not 'awkward'."
"The only awkward one here is you."
"True." Hans steeled himself and closed his eyes, stepping into the room proper. "Well, what do you think?"
She was silent long enough that he finally cracked one eye in concern. Maybe he really did look as ridiculous as he felt?
Elsa was blushing. "You look . . . nice."
"Nice?" If he was smirking it wasn't on purpose.
"Well," she schooled her features, "Arendelle's colors would look good on anyone." Hans didn't stop her when she approached. Rather, he stood stock-still as she moved around him like an appraisal. "I'm glad you accepted my offer."
"Serving as your admiral is a great honor, Your Majesty."
She stopped behind him, her presence like a threat. "I'm glad you're staying."
5. union
Hans couldn't have said exactly when his perspective shifted from that of a Southern Prince to a citizen of Arendelle. There wasn't a particular moment that marked the change, though if hard-pressed he would have said it was when the queen presented him to her court as an admiral in her navy.
Rather, it was in all of the time in-between that he found himself slowly growing more comfortable with his life in the north. Days spent attending to his fleet and training with the men, weeks at sea learning every crevasse and leeway of his new home.
It was a simple life. A good life. And if Hans had known better, he might have said he was happy.
When he wasn't on the waters he retired to his one-bedroom house where he could enjoy his small library and the occasional company of his monarch when time allowed.
He didn't really understand why Elsa bother to visit with him at all beyond perfunctory meetings. He had tried to broach the subject once with disastrous results.
"You don't owe me anything, you know."
The Snow Queen was clearly startled, blue eyes wide, "Of course I don't. If anything, you owe me."
end chapter one.