Again, thanks to Kaitlyn (SpartanGuard) for the beta. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Repetition
Repetition: Repeat visual elements to create strong unity.
When Belle began to very noisily pack up her stuff, Killian and Emma took that as a hint that the computer lab was closing for the day. Emma groaned in frustration. She was able to figure out some of the tools in the program with Killian's encouragement, but she was nowhere near where she wanted to be, and what she's created still looked like crap. She just couldn't connect with the assignment, and that was the worst part. Emma liked to think of herself as a problem solver; a do-er. She imagined taking this project and kicking its (and, by proxy, Gold's) ass. However, she couldn't think of a single object to focus on, and with not having much to call her own, it was as if Gold was setting her up to fail.
Emma packed her bag in resignation, trying to come with a solution. I suppose I could always come back early in the morning, and wait for Belle to open the lab up, she mused. Despite the fact that she could spend $200 on painting supplies without blinking, Emma balked at the prices that Adobe ran with these days. $20 a month for Photoshop could go to something more productive, like Netflix and onion rings. Besides, Emma would need a laptop that wasn't on it's last leg in order for the program to be any good to her. She stretched and absentmindedly reached for the top of her head and released her pale waves that were held up in a bun. As she shook her hair loose, she felt a pair of eyes staring at her. Her eyes met his, and she caught a fleeting look in his electric stare before he diverted his attention back to his screen. Killian quickly recovered and scratched his ear nervously before asking,"So, Swan. How about a drink?"
Killian stretched as he stood up. Emma tried prying her eyes away from the stretch of skin that was revealed as he did so, subconsciously licking her lips. She shook her head.
"Oh no, Jones. This is not a thing." She gestured between them with her sketchbook and continued to shove it into her bag. "Thanks for the help and all… but I just don't do relationships."
Killian chuckled and shook his head. "Calm down, Swan; it's just coffee. I'm not asking for dinner… unless..." He quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh no, no. Fine, only because you helped me out. But you're buying." Emma smirked, as she slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out, Killian rushing to keep up.
"So, Emma…why painting?" They were seated in the food-friendly area outside of the coffee shop that was located inside the campus library. It had a cozy atmosphere, with an ambient buzz of conversation and soft indie rock. Emma had let her hair down to stave off the chill; she moved her blonde waves to the side before picking up her drink.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Emma teased, her lips pressed against the lip of her hot chocolate with cinnamon.
"Perhaps I would." The statement was loaded with promises of more. Of walls that she worked so hard to build up crumbling to the ground.
"I know what this is… you trying to," Emma shook her head with a sigh, "...bond with me."
Killian smiled. "Try something new, darling. It's called trust." He opened the lid to his own coffee, before taking a flask out from his pocket and pouring a shot of the contents within.
She took a sip of her drink and contemplated him. "I'll answer your question if you answer one of mine."
"Ah, a wager. Okay lass, you're on."
"Who's Milah?" Emma indicated to his tattoo, she spotted peeking out from under his sleeve when he poured his liquor. "From your tattoo?"
Killian's arrogant smile faded, and his expression turned dark. "Someone from long ago."
"Where is she?" Emma pressed on, but Killian shook his head with a sad smile. "Ah, a question for a question, love."
Emma sighed, closing her eyes briefly before opening again. "I grew up in the system."
"Swan, it's okay; you don't have to—"
"No, it's okay. An art major with a rough childhood; what else is new?" Emma shook her head. "I guess painting was one of the more consistent things in my life. I was fostered at a home; the foster mother was a stay-at-home artist." Emma sipped her drink, gathering her thoughts, before continuing. "Anyway, I would skip school sometimes, but she wouldn't mind. Instead, she let me use some of her paints, extra canvas, and old brushes. 'Might as well be productive,' she would say."
Killian smiled. "She sounds nice."
"She was nice…but she was certifiably insane, though, so that didn't last long," Emma scoffed. "She tried to push me out into traffic once, saying that I had magical powers or something." Emma laughed.
"Ah, well…all good things come to an end, I suppose." Killian, rubbing at his wrist subconsciously.
Emma shrugged. "I guess. It's funny, when I'm painting…it does feel sort of magical. As though I just see it in my head and I feel what I want to paint, and it just…I don't know… happens?" Emma blushed, realizing she got carried away. "Well… that's my sad story in a nutshell. I'm sure that warrants more than enough for you to answer my other question."
Her dark-haired companion nodded. "Milah was my first love…" he almost said in a whisper. "I had just transferred here, after having lost my brother while he was overseas in the Navy. Served some time myself, but couldn't go on with it …y'know after..." He shrugged, non-committedly. "She was my advisor." Emma raised an arched eyebrow. Killian scratched the back of his ear in a nervous tick, "I know. It was wrong. On top of that, she was married to Gold." Both eyebrows raised. "I didn't know at the time!" Killian interjected, holding his hand up defensively. "We fell in love, but… we got caught. Instead of having me expelled, Milah decided to end the relationship and transfer to work at a different university out of state. I ended up being Gold's TA indefinitely because that was part of the deal I struck with him," he muttered bitterly.
Emma sat back in her seat. "Well, no wonder you seem to hate being a TA so much."
"It's not like I attempted to hide my contempt, Swan." Killian chuckled darkly, as he took a sip from his cup.
Emma sighed, picking her cup back up, taking a sip and letting the warm chocolate slide down her throat with a sweet burn. Well, this explains why he seems to loathe being a TA, but why stick through with the program? Why even try? Emma mulled over, letting her thoughts distract her.
Quickly finishing the rest of his drink, Killian wrapped his earbuds back around his neck and bent over to pick up his bag. "Well, Swan, what's next?"
"Hmm?" Emma looked at him, startled, "What do you mean 'what's next?'"
"I know for a fact you're not even close to being finished with your project. Besides, who is going to rescue you when Photoshop decides to break on you again? It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to leave you in the lurch." He stood up tall, a dark gray scarf in his hand. Emma glanced around the study area, which was nearly empty, and noted that the sky outside was growing dark.
Emma scoffed, standing up, slinging her bag over one shoulder. "Since when are you a gentleman?"
Killian sauntered up to stand next to Emma, she tilted her chin up to meet his blazing gaze. "I'll have you know, Swan, I am always a gentleman." He gave her a wink, and proceeded to wrap his scarf around her neck.
"Hey!" Emma exclaimed, not expecting the sudden covering of her blonde waves.
"Ah, ah, Swan. It's cold outside. Like I said...gentleman." He snickered. "Besides...it looks better on you."
Emma kept glaring daggers at him, but her hand stilled from removing his scarf from her neck. "I suppose I'll have to finish my project up tomorrow morning when the lab opens up again."
"The project, that's due tomorrow." Killian reminded her, unnecessarily.
"Yes, what other damn project do I have that requires a computer?" Emma grip on the strap of her bag tightened in annoyance.
"Well, you're just in luck Swan, I have a perfectly working Mac at home that you can have access to," Killian offered.
"Then why were you in the computer lab earlier?" Emma asked, confused.
"Sometimes it's more convenient to be there; besides, the company today was more favorable." He quirked his eyebrow with a flirtatious grin, before checking the time on his phone, "We better hurry, lass."
"Hurry? What do you mean?" Emma looked at him inquisitively, hand tightening around the strap of her bag. "I thought you said you had a computer I could use."
"Yes, but the art store is about to close. And I wager that you hadn't thought to pick up any mat board." As his blue eyes locked with hers, Emma felt a bit unnerved. Killian Jones seemed to know her more than she knew herself. She shrugged. "I was going to do it all tomorrow."
"Leaving things to last minute would be very bad form, Swan." He grinned, as he brushed with an errant strand of hair off the scarf around her neck with his finger. Emma turned quickly for the exit, but not before Killian noticed the light blush forming on her cheeks.
They arrived at the Neverland Art Supply store about 20 minutes to closing. It was an unassuming shop from the outside, but once she was inside, it was like time stopped passing. It was a jungle inside, and was incredibly hard for Emma to concentrate on what she was looking for from being distracted by a tempting mess of brushes and paint. The counters were normally ran by bored-looking art students who looked like they could benefit from a shower and some sleep. Instead of providing any actual help, they would rather stay up waxing poetic about their newest masterpieces made from old furniture and whatever they may had plucked from the dumpster that day. The store was owned by a man named Peter Pan, who was elusive and as equally unhelpful as his employees.
Emma prefered to avoid Neverland Art Supply store, but Killian was right: procrastination would be, as he said, "bad form." Besides, Emma Swan was a woman on a mission. The quicker she was out of this dark jungle, the quicker she could get to finishing her project. As she followed her dark-haired guide inside, she noticed that he seemed to be pretty familiar with navigating the crowded and cramped aisles. They made a quick beeline to the back, where a petite blonde sat behind a large counter. Large racks of matboard towered behind her as she sat cross-legged on a stool, casually reading a magazine.
Killian knocked on the counter to grab the blonde's attention. "G'day Tink," he grinned
"Killian! I wasn't expecting you to work today...and who is this you've brought around? You know the rules, Jones." The girl named Tink scolded, but her warm smile meant otherwise. She extended her hand "The name's Tink."
Emma shook her hand and returned the smile, introducing herself. Tink had elvish features; her blonde hair was coiled in a bun on the top of her head, and her gray eyes seemed to scan Emma as if she was reading her, which made the taller blonde feel slightly uncomfortable.
"I'm not working today, Tink. Just picking up some mat board for the lovely Ms. Swan here." Tink raised her eyebrows, unaffected by his charm but noticeably curious about Emma's presence.
"I see," Tink smiled, "And does 'the lovely Ms. Swan' have a preference?" She waved her arm behind her, towards the vertical shelves that held the boards. They came in all sorts of colors—some in two colors—at various sizes and thicknesses.
Emma's neck began to feel warm and uncomfortably familiar at Killian's introduction of her, but she ignored it. "It's for Gold's final project; I think the standard black-on-black would be fine."
"Oh, you must be in Gold's beginning class. I haven't seen you around." Tink leaned against the counter with her elbows. "I've taken the class as well, though with Professor Blue teaching it. She wasn't too much fun, but I can't imagine the horrors that Gold must've put you through this semester. I hear enough about him as it is from this one over here." Tink jerked her head toward Killian, and he merely just rolled his eyes.
"You're a graphic design major, too?" Emma asked, surprised. She didn't know many graphic design majors as...candid as Tink seemed to be. Tink gave a short, mirthless laugh, "No; I switched to sculpture after my class with Blue. I'm better with my hands anyway; I like to tinker." She wiggled her fingers at Emma with a giggle.
"Look Tink, we're kind of on a schedule here, so can you just…" Killian cutted into the conversation, bringing both girls back on track.
"Well, I'm guessing you'll need a 17x21" board if it's for GD101." Tink sighed, putting down her magazine and hopping off her stool. She was quick on her feet as she maneuvered around to grab a board from off the rack and headed towards a backroom to trim it down.
"Thanks Tink!" Killian called after her, as she waved her hand dismissively. He was leaning casually against the counter, and again Emma found herself in the same position of almost staring too long. She rested her forearms against the top of the counter, watching Tink flit about trimming the large black matboard down to a more manageable size.
"So…you work here?" she asked, trying to seem nonchalant.
"Aye," Killian nodded, "A few hours a week, when I'm not slaving away for Gold. Not like Pan is any better, but at least I get whatever matboard is left from Tink's mistakes."
"I heard that!" came a voice from the backroom. Emma shrugged. "I don't know what I expected, you don't seem to be the type to…"
"To what, Swan? Know the difference between oil and acrylic paint?" He smiled, as he shook his head. "Just because I work on a computer most of the time doesn't mean I don't use traditional methods as well."
Emma didn't know how to respond, but at the same time her curiosity piqued. She thought back to Killian's portfolio, and the digital rendering of a seascape that looked so much like a real painting.
"Well, that's convenient. You guys could use some help re-shelving though. I come in for one thing, and leave an hour later with ten other things because I get so distracted." Emma glanced over to one shelf in particular that looked to be stocked dangerously high with clay.
"Mm...I don't know, lass. Seems our shelving system works just fine." He shrugged, waggling his eyebrows. Emma playfully smacked him in the shoulder before smiling to herself.
"Here you go, and don't worry, I measured twice." Tink glided back in with Emma's boards, her eyes bright as she glanced between the two of them. She pressed the boards into Emma's hands. "Don't worry, I'll put it on Killian's tab," she said with a wink. Her blonde bun shook with silent laughter as she headed back to clean up the scraps of board she had left behind. Emma smirked at Killian's affronted look, as they turned to walk out of the labyrinth of art supplies. As she tried avoiding his sapphire stare, Emma's caught her eyes on a set of kolinsky sable brushes that probably cost more than her rent. Her jade eyes lingered a second or two on the soft, auburn bristles before continuing out the door.
A silent chill seeped throughout the parking lot as the winter sun started to fade into a soft twilight. They crossed the lot in comfortable silence, closer companions than when they first ventured into Neverland. Emma braced herself against the cold, subconsciously wrapping Killian's gray scarf tighter around her neck. The smell of salty sea air and sandalwood hit her nose, and she inhaled a bit more deeply than necessary. Her thoughts drifted back to their previous conversation in the library and their time spent in the computer lab. She hadn't realized until this very moment that she had only spent a few (mostly) enjoyable hours with someone who was a practical stranger. And, within these last few hours, she has opened up and felt more comfortable with him than with anyone else in her life. Normally, this is where the still small voice inside of her mind would've been screaming, "Run!" But with Killian Jones, they were whispering, "Stay."
This revelation terrified the girl with mile-high walls and red leather armor. Emma Swan was used to running, in fact she may even be an expert in pushing people away. She had given people chances before, but she had been burned one too many times. It was just easier to be the one to leave first; how her heart was broken was on her own terms and not in careless hands.
It wasn't as though she wasn't attracted to him—not that she would dare admit this out loud. The man didn't need another ego boost, but she wasn't just attracted to him just for his angled jaw and constantly windswept raven locks. She has talked and dated to plenty of other guys, but after Neal, it was just one-night stands just to scratch an itch. There was something familiar with Killian. Perhaps it was the look in his eyes, the same one she had seen in her reflection in the mirror. It was a gaze that has seen grief and loss, but at the same time there was passion and blazing hope. Because despite the world seeming to constantly be out to get her, Emma Swan does not give up. And she had a feeling, neither does Killian Jones.
Emma reached her yellow bug first, her ever-so-helpful teacher's assistant trailing behind a few paces, carrying her boards. Her stomach gave a tell-tale rumble. "Looks like I'm getting dinner with you after all, Jones." She called out, unlocking and getting into car. Killian moved so quickly to the passenger side of her car, she could've sworn he jumped and clicked his heels. Emma couldn't help but smile as her trustworthy bug puttered to life.
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