Title: How Do These Hearts Unfold?
Fandom: Once Upon A Time
Pairing: MadHook (Killian/Jefferson)
Genre: 5times, humor, timeline.
Summary: Jefferson felt like he lived many different lives in many different realms. As he changed in every point in his lifetime, there was this man who did the same, going in the opposite direction.
Disclamer: I don't own OUAT, I only miss Sebastian Stan and Jefferson and dream about a Jefferson/Killian meeting.
Notes:
- 5times when Jefferson met Hook.
- It was meant to be 5ficlets but I was inspired…
- Based on "How Do These Hearts Unfold" by Raised by Swans.
How Do These Hearts Unfold?
02. They were pirates and were devoured by ambition.
The Land of Oz was one of these worlds he rather not to be in. Jefferson wasn't sure Rumple knew how tiresome it was to jump in a world full of people who knew about the Hatter and could kill him – or worst – if it meant putting their hand on his magic Hat. Perhaps he couldn't care less – such a responsible tutor, after all.
Jefferson didn't grow up lazy – well, he happened to appreciate doing nothing in the castle for days but Rumple loved to bother him in these peaceful moments – but running for his life wasn't his favorite way to spend the day.
This particular day wasn't an exception by far. The worst part of this story was that it shouldn't have happened… No, the worst part was probably that he knew Rumple planed a new act for him once returned to the castle. Something sneaky and mean Jefferson – didn't care – had to be a part of. When could he enjoy himself with all his homework?
Speaking of homework, he should have listened more carefully last time his tutor told him about ropes and how important it was to get rid of those. In exceptional circumstances, he could have enjoyed some bondage games but right now he couldn't wait to jump in his Hat and go home. The person to blame for this unfortunate situation was unknown. He hated when people attacked him from behind. It was not gentlemanly. Especially when he was on a business trip.
The Hat. He didn't feel the weight of it in the top of his head. A rush of panic shook him.
"Hatter. It's been a while. You are not an easy man to find."
Jefferson noted the accent. He looked up. A pirate. He was pretty sure he never irritated any pirate in his entire life – he respected them, in contrary. It was a stupid thing to do – they always acted so revengeful, it was boring! – and he was not a man to do stupid things… Well, maybe once a month. The man had the Hat on his left hand. When he put it on his head, Jefferson saw it was more like his left hook. Nope. Definitely unknown. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" He said it with the greatest respect but the pirate still slapped him with the back of his hand. Jefferson used to see only good parts of his adventures. Right now, he felt grateful the pirate didn't use his hook. However… a slap? Seriously? What about a punch? It was insulting, he was not that fragile. "I didn't quite catch your name. Can you repeat it, please?" That was a punch, thank you. He felt manlier now.
Jefferson stretched his jaw and licked his lips. Blood. Nothing new here. He went through far worst. As long as nobody tried to cook him, he would be fine… The man might he be a cannibalistic one? He hoped not.
The pirate looked down at him and Jefferson raised one eyebrow. A moment after, he sighed. He was about to suggest to stop this savagery and drink a cup of tea. Everything was far better with tea, even torture. They could do this later. His thoughts were broke off by the man's laugh. What was so funny? Did he actually say all of this out loud?
"Why don't you tell me how to use your precious Hat so I can hop for a better world?"
"It's not hopping moron, It's called—" He stopped in the middle of his sentence. He never did that but the moment was quite tense. The quaint speaking, the self-esteem that overflowed from his entire body and his inability to say realm jumping— now he recalled the pirate. The pirate.
Hypocritical child!
"Jones?" Suddenly he remembered how to untie himself. He would do that and punch the man right in the face in a moment. Just wait.
"Your brain still works. Good. Now tell me." Jones leaned down and his cold hook prickled the skin of Jefferson's chin. He gulped. "How can I get it to work?"
Jefferson couldn't help but laugh at the irony, "You can't." He didn't even know he was waiting for this moment until now. "You can't!" Jones raised one eyebrow – now that he really looked, Jones did weird things with his face – and his hook scratched the skin more. Jefferson hissed but his smirk didn't disappear. "Where do you want to go anyway? I thought Neverland was the most marvelous land I would ever see."
The pirate groaned. "It is none of your business, Hatter." Jefferson betted it was something about his missing hand. Pirates were like this, they ran after what they lost. He did it himself. He wanted more than old parts of himself, though.
However, the man obviously wasn't well informed. "You call me Hatter. You know what I do, then. You know that whatever you want to do with my Hat, it is my business." He loved being wanted, made his life more exciting. Except he had a mission, he wasn't in Oz for his own pleasure.
"I want you to bring me to your master."
The idea danced in Jefferson's mind. He almost snickered at the realization of who that could be.
"My master?" and the words sounded so ludicrous in his own mouth he guffawed anyway. The hook, though, – so close of his Adam's apple – reminded him of the seriousness of his situation. "Well, I guess a meeting can be arranged." He didn't know why on earth Rumple decided, one day, to offend a pirate. And he didn't care; the old man could definitely deal with his problems himself.
Finally, the hook wasn't threatening anymore. "What a loyal man." The irony didn't make Jefferson laugh. He could teach him a few things about what a good sense of humor should be. Jones huffed as the Hatter remained deadpan and looked for a knife to cut the ropes. Jefferson already got rid of them so he didn't wait to stand himself.
"Quit insulting me. You want to commit a suicide. Who am I to rob you of your free will?" The two men shared glances. Jones handed him the magic object. Jefferson snatched it from his grip and checked his precious Hat. Still a perfect shape. Wonderful. "Rumple is not my master. We are partners."
Jones snorted. "Don't give me reasons to kill you." Jefferson stopped dusting off the Hat and looked at the pirate. Did he really think it was that easy to kill him? A wry smile appeared on Jones' face. "Fear not, old friend, I won't kill you. Unless you double cross me, of course."
Jefferson went tight-lipped at the threat. Sure he would double cross the pirate. The Hat wouldn't accept two jumpers as only one step in this world in the first place. The Hat's rule. Although he thought about sharing this knowledge, he didn't. It would be useless… or painful. This kind of information never pleased his customers. He answered "We are not friends." instead and showed him a smile expressing his animosity.
Jones shrugged. "Fine by me." Jefferson nodded. Something buzzed inside of him, though. It was an old mosquito bite he didn't know was on his chest. He scratched it but it was worst. He turned his back and took a breath before he walked to his goal. He was about to move forward but was hookedup by his coat. He hated when people did that. "Where do you think you're going?"
"In case it wasn't obvious, I am not in this land to meet an old friend. I'm actually here for business." He made an ample gesture and his Hat rolled on his shoulders and went right on his head. Jones did his thing with his eyebrows – not impressed. Jefferson started walking again but the hook stayed in his collar and pulled. "Stop. Doing. This!" He hissed between his teeth.
"Well, you are a hostage, can you at least act like one? We're going to the Crocodile. Now." What a cunt.
Jefferson sighed loudly and extricated himself from the grip. "You need me to get the Hat to work, right? And I will. Once I have what I came for." He waited for Jones to mean he agreed with the condition. The man only gave him a wary look. It would do.
They walked a long time in the Black Forest of the Winkie Country – and it felt like an eternity. Fortunately, the Castle of the Wicked Witch of the West was near. Frankenstein told him she wasn't in it for the day; he hoped the man didn't lie because that would be— "What do you look for? There is nothing here but… threes and dust." Jones made this trip very, very long. Jefferson liked to travel alone for one reason. He remembered what it was.
He sighed, very annoyed. "Trust me you don't need to know."
"Come on! Share your quest with me." Jefferson walked faster. "We could be a team. Isn't it what you wanted the last time you see me?" Jones patted his shoulder. He was all smiling and friendly and it was unnerving.
"I travel alone. I like it this way."
"What is the point in having adventures if you have no one to share them with?"
Jefferson liked to be alone in his adventures. What was the point in having a mosquito around him in every land? As he wasn't the one with the hook, he merely said in reply "You are the one to talk."
Jones' face went darker. "It's nothing like an adventure. More like… an unfinished business."
The bitterness in his voice was predictable but yet intriguing. Jefferson looked at him. He wasn't the boy he knew once. No light in his eyes, only hatred. What a shame. Jones has been for a long time what he wished to reach in his sleep, before his father's death. Freedom and pride. He found it in this life of piracy. He stole trinkets and was paid for his job. He was banished from lands because of that. No one ever arrested him because of the Dark One. Freedom had a price. He was told that magic came with a price too.
For now, he was a king in his own kingdom.
Jefferson didn't sound empathetic when he shrugged, "You should take a fresh start because what you want to accomplish… It won't happen." He actually didn't care. Maybe Jones snapped or something because a rock was suddenly attacking the Hatter's head. He thought about the Hat which fell on the dirty ground. Well, if it stayed where it was until the pirate's mood lighted, it would be lovely.
Jefferson's cheek was grazed by the stone as he was kept against the rock. "You are exactly like this time in Neverland, huh? Still a petulant child." Jones' breath tickled as he kept him there with the weight of his body. Jefferson decided it was wiser not to move. He knew this kind of beast. He was a predator too. "Look at you, you don't know what life is, what being in pain means…" his voice was deep in his ear – it made Jefferson uncomfortable – but turned in a light breath when he added "what losing someone means…" Then something changed in the way he held him. He whispered "Yet." He stepped away and groaned. Jefferson took the Hat on the floor and dusted it off, as a bad habit. The pirate stayed silent as he watched him.
"I never had anyone to lose." Where this came from, he didn't know himself. He looked up and saw something in Jones' eyes. It was something he never saw there – not that he knew the man very well but… It was so real. It was disturbing, it was new and— No one ever looked at him like— that.
What was that?
Jefferson cleared his throat and regained his composure. "I'm going to stole two precious objects. I'm going to take them from a witch. It will be dangerous. Witches, you know. Oz is full of those." They were like pirates, never forgot a face, a bet, a debt. Maybe she knew he was coming but he liked the challenge. This time, he wasn't alone. He could find something to do with this insistent mosquito.
Jones huffed. "Let me tell you this: when you dealt with sea witches, everything else is like kitten."
"She is more like a…" he thought hard, trying to find a good comparative but she was the scariest thing he ever faced. "Cerberus."
"Sounds beautiful and deadly to me. Like my girls." The pirate winked. Women must find the way he did this kind of things attractive. It had to be tiresome to do those all the time.
Jefferson sighed, again, because explaining things from other worlds was really a waste of his time "A big… angry… beast with… huh" he indicated his jaw with whirl of the wrist "sharp teeth."
His companion gave him a skeptical look. "You still don't know how to tell your stories, huh?" The Hatter only made a dismissive gesture, and then he tilted. He didn't remember telling any stories to him.
"When did I—"
A howl interrupted him.
He felt his eyes opened like never before. His face must show how much he was afraid because Jones seemed unsure. "What was that?"
"Teeth. Definitely teeth. Sharpteeth." He thought fast. The howl wasn't that near… maybe the wolf wasn't after them… As long as there was no Winged Monkey around too, they would be fine.
"Aren't you a traveler? Stop trembling, you're embarrassing yourself."
"Can you stop being manly and stupid for a short minute only, please? You have no idea where you are, do you?"
"I'm here because I needed to find you so you would bring me to Rumplestiltskin. If you are that scared, maybe we could finally hop in your hat and—"
"Stop saying hop!"
A howl again. Nearer. It wasn't good. Something. Fast. "How did you get in the Land of Oz anyway?"
"Now you want to share secrets about worlds travel?"
"My Hat can't get us in the Castle, there is a protective spell or something, but maybe your way to travel can."
"Sorry lad. It's not going to happen. I don't trust you enough. Not today."
Good, the man was not as stupid as he thought he was. It could be helpful once the pirate would be in Oz by himself. Jefferson almost felt guilty.Almost. "Fair enough." He twirled the Hat once, twice, and pushed his whole arm in the purple fog. Jones watched him in awe. Jefferson searched in the inside of his Hat and then pulled. An ark and a quiver. Magic was still around them when he heard something cracked in his back. His Hat on top of his head and the quiver around him, he pulled an arrow from it and fired. Just a squirrel fell from a tree. At least, he didn't lose his skill. His father urged him every year to take part of the hunting season.
"Do you try to impress me?" Jones asked with a laugh.
Jefferson looked at him in disbelief. "Why would I do that?" Because, really, why would he want that?
The pirate raised his eyebrows and showed a fake serious face. "Do you?"
"No!" He didn't have time to play games. He wanted to find these damn shoes.
Jones shrugged and smirked. "Fine." They looked at each other for an awkward moment until another howl made Jefferson shiver.
"We can't stay here. The faster we will get to the Castle the faster we will be out of this place." He didn't wait for his companion to walk beside him for shooting off.
"You don't like this land, huh?"
"Nobody like this place, moron: witches ruled the land." Jones knew nothing, it was appalling.
"You know, it is not because we met before you can talk to me the way you do. You still are a hostage." Jefferson rolled his eyes but had the politeness not to sigh this time. "You are not afraid of me." There was an ingenuous curiosity in this statement. It seemed like the man was really that self-confident. The Hatter didn't intend to answer but he insisted. "What scares you that much in this forest?"
Jefferson stopped and made a face. "Can we skip the, uh, talking and do more of the – you know – walking?" He made motions with his hands so the stupid man who was following him could understand the words. "Chop chop." he added. Maybe he played with his life but he hated to have this kind of obstacle in his way.
The road made a fork, one way to the castle, another to the Winkie River. Jones already headed to the first as Jefferson stepped on the other way. The hook found its way to the collar of the Hatter's coat once again. This time, Jefferson was too disabused for complaining.
Jones didn't pull, though. "The castle is in the other direction." Even if he said this, he sounded intrigued by his choice and didn't try to tell the Hatter he was wrong.
Jefferson raised his left hand and showed him his fingers as he enumerated "Werewolves, bees, Winkies" he dropped his arm and let an annoyed frown showed up "are in this very same direction. We don't want to go there."
"Do we?"
"Trust me."
"That's a lot to ask, mate."
"Don't call me that, we are not friends."
A smirk. "My point exactly… mate." Jones loved to get on his nerves. Jefferson would love to try himself if he didn't fear to get chewed by sharp teeth. Or if there was any chance they could actually befriend.
He didn't need to think to this part. "Someone told me about tunnels under the castle."
"Can we trust this someone you speak of?" Once again, even if he said so, he walked by his side on this road.
Frankenstein was an eternal skeptic. While Jefferson usually scorned those, the man was deserving of believing in something as wonderful as magic. The man wasn't his favorite customer but he could be trusted.
That, and Rumple told him the witch had this irrational weak spot for the rather unorthodox wizard. "Well, if he lied, the wicked witch is waiting for us so we can drink a cup of tea. Oops. Forget I said that. The tea party— tea part."
"Tea, huh? Could you be any less manly than that?"
"Yes, I actually can because tea is the best thing I ever tasted. Nothing to do with being manly." Jones did his thing with the eyebrow but remained silent. A good thing, if you asked Jefferson. "Anyway, it's almost tea time."
"I'm sure this goal will help you to walk faster…"
"Tea makes everything better and this day was particularly awful."
Jefferson left the road and went into the forest. He skillfully slid on the steep incline. There was a mouth of a cave down there. He invited his companion to follow him. Jones joined him with the same grace. They shared a smug look before they headed for the cave. It was pretty dark inside. They walked a moment without knowing where to go. Jefferson stumbled on a rock and hissed as his knees hit the stony ground. He swore at Jones' laugh. He heard the sound of leather and right after, Jones blew on Fairy Dust. It dissipated on the wall. Soon, the entire cavern was glowing. The smug smile on Jones' face got on his nerves. He didn't show it.
"I'm surprised you don't fly."
The pirate's smile disappeared. He groaned as he kept walking. They saw a crack ahead and they tried to go through in the same time. Jefferson sighed. They tried again and bumped into each other, again. "You are impossible." said Jones. Jefferson would shrug if he could. He forced his way in and they fell on the ground together. The darkness was palpable because the fairy dust didn't work in it. It was a curious thing and Jefferson knew it would mean nothing good. He was about to share his thoughts when the wall glowed. He glared at Jones with a dry look. The man raised one eyebrow. "What?" Jefferson opened his mouth but no word came out. He heard something… above… Jones did too because they looked up, slowly, in one single move. He sounded surprised and maybe scared "Bats…" He should be scared at least. They weren't bats. They were huge monsters with no heart. They were animals with fangs and claws. They were huge and hostile and… Jefferson and Jones were standing right in their nest.
Jefferson swallowed and whispered "Far worse than that. Winged Monkeys." The sound of his voice woke them up. "Run." and for the first time, Jones didn't argue. They rushed another crack deeper in the chamber as the monkey woke up and started to notice the intruders. They dangerously went closer. The adventurers got stuck in the fissure.
"Stop being childish and step back!" Jones hissed.
"Why don't you do that yourself?" snapped Jefferson back. How did he end up here? Oh, yes, Rumple. This man was very good when it came to get him in troubles.
A wild howl and something gripped Jefferson by the collar of his coat. His blood rushed in his heart in a pound as it left his face. Jones stepped in the crack. Jefferson found himself on the ground with an angry pennaceous primate which roared at his face. The beast had a very bad breath. It reminded him of the last time someone tried to cook him. The memory wasn't his favorite. He coughed a couple of time and thought about his last words, a person who is going to miss him... Nothing and no one came to his mind. It was kind of sad, actually…
The baboon was about to eat his head when a sword killed it. Jefferson extricated himself from the weight and quickly stood up. He looked at Jones. The pirate seemed as surprised as him. More grunts above them. Jefferson picked up his Hat but didn't take the time to dust it off. They nodded at each other and rushed to the crack again. This time, Jefferson let Jones go first. They ran a moment in the tunnels. The winged monkeys were behind them, he could hear the sound of their claws gripping the stone.
Jones was out of breath when he asked, as a rhetorical question "These tunnels never end?" and by some miracle, they found a golden door after a last bend. Jefferson opened it and they went out of the cavern. The Winged Monkeys were fast and came very quickly to them but they closed the door. They must have hit the door pretty hard because it almost gave away. Jefferson and Jones heard some bemoans in the other side.
Jefferson took a deep breath and leaned against the golden door in relief. "I hate Winged Monkeys."
"Well, we won't trust your sources next time."
The Hatter looked up and stared at the man who saved his life. There wouldn't be a next time for them. He could admit he felt guilty at some point. He still didn't thank him for this rescue. The idea of other adventures with a companion was appealing, though. It shouldn't be. Rumple wouldn't agree with him having a pet – a murderous one on top of that.
"What now?" There was something in Jones' voice. He was enjoying the events, the adrenaline and the feeling of having a partner too.
Jefferson cleared his throat, stood straight and looked at the room they were in. Exactly what he looked for. "Now I take what I came for."
They were in a blue room with mirrors. They were like eyes on the entire countries, showing every little move. That was how the witch could see her enemies coming. Jefferson was glad she wasn't in her castle she would have kill them way before they reached the cave otherwise. In the middle of the room was a table with a crystal ball on it. When Jefferson took it and put it his bag, the mirrors didn't show anything anymore. "That's it?" Jones asked. Jefferson didn't answer and headed to another room. Rumple wanted the enchanted slippers. He didn't like those. Only for one passenger. Too many turbulences. The Seven-league boots were the same kind of wild stuff. The Hat was far more enjoyable.
The Hatter looked everywhere in the room but the shoes were nowhere. Rumple won't be happy. "What are you looking for? I can actually help you with that." Jones was getting impatient and Jefferson was focused on his search so he gave in.
"Magic slippers. Red. Don't remember how people called it. They just glow with a red light. It's ugly and boring."
"There is a wardrobe in one of the bedrooms." Jefferson looked up in disbelief. "What? I visited the place, you weren't fun anymore! And I found the jewelry."
"Good for you." Jefferson returned to his searches. And do you actually think a precious object like this could be left in a wardrobe? With useless and stupid girly things? Really?" He looked up again when he didn't hear any answer. It was weird. He went in the corridors. A hook came outside a room with red shoes suspending to it. The Pirate showed them as a trophy.
"Are they red and ugly and glowing?" Jefferson glared. "You know what they usually are too? In wardrobes." Jones threw the shoes at him. "We make a good team, don't you think?" His smile was beaming, like when he was a boy.
Jefferson smirked and tried to hide it. "Stop talking."
"Now that we have your ball and your shoes, can we hop in this Hat of yours?"
Jefferson's blood turned cold in his veins. An unsettling silence took over and when he opened his mouth to talk, he heard the words getting stuck in it. "I… I can't." His shoulders tensed. He watched his companion with apprehension.
Jones stared back. You could see surprise and anxiety on his face. "What do you mean… you can't?" He asked the question but they both knew what the Hatter was talking about.
Jefferson tried again. "The Hat, it… You— I'm sorry." The oxygen left his lungs. He didn't know why the words were so rough, why the air was so dense he couldn't even swallow them. They were stuck in his throat.
"You are… sorry?" His voice was so loud all the sudden. His eyes were filled with dismay by the meaning of the words he just heard.
Jefferson looked down. "The Hat's rules." was the only argument he could say. It wasn't an argument, it was the way of things, he knew from the start that Jones would be trapped in the end. "One in… one out." He knew. He didn't care.
The pirate took him by the coat and pulled. His hook was close to Jefferson's mouth. "I saved your life!"
He sighed a weak "I know." and tried to swallow it again. He knew, yes, and he didn't care.
Did he?
Jones yelled at him in despair, trying to figure out where things went wrong. They didn't go wrong. They weren't right from the beginning. "And you lead me right in hell anyway?"
Yes. It didn't matter.
Jones looked at him like if it was the first time. Jefferson didn't show it but he felt miserable. After a long moment, the pirate let him go and stepped away from him. If there still was this light he wanted to catch when he was a boy, there was nothing left but a shadow now. It gave him the need to run far, far away from himself and never find his humanity again. He didn't even know he had this kind of compassion in him. What did people have the ability to feel this way for another human being for? It didn't make sense. Everybody was so… selfish.
"The man you are now… I hate him. I should kill you now but" Jones breathed in and took another step back. "I know you from another time." Jefferson considered the words which did and didn't make sense in the same time. The Hat could travel between time and space. He would like to never see him again, never feel this guilt in his chest again. Ever. "You can be sure, though… the next time we will meet, I will show you no mercy."
Jefferson thought quickly. They shared a look. Then, he threw the slippers to his feet. The pirate raised one eyebrow. No trust in his eyes, only hatred. Jefferson could do that. He was used to this kind of feeling, it wasn't so unnerving anymore. So he smirked as he always did, with self-confidence and self-satisfaction. He thought about tea and everything was alright again. He didn't have the shoes but he didn't care at all. Rumple would never know.
"You can travel with those."
"What makes you think I can't travel by myself?"
"You seem pretty upset for a man who can go wherever he wants to go."
The Hatter made a curtsey to the pirate and reached for a window. He twirled his Hat, let it fall and jumped.
He returned to Rumple's Castle and he acted as Rumple wanted him to. He gave him the crystal ball and said the slippers were already gone. He played with the queen. She was gorgeous but – stupid – in love. He did what Rumple wanted him to do. He always did that. It was their deal. He felt unsafe about the lie he told him and hoped his tutor would never find out. Or he would kill him, for sure.
Jefferson stepped in the workshop because he was looking for a spell which could help him in his next work. The Crocodile taught him a lot of things. He could go in and out the workshop, even if Rumple didn't like that.
Rumple was spinning straw into gold, as he always did when he was bored. "You did a good job with the queen, as always. Thank you for the crystal ball by the way. It is a shame the slippers are lost. I will find another way."
"About that…" Jefferson bit his lip. He regretted to start the conversation but it was too late now, right? "I met someone in the Land of Oz."
"Hum?"
"A pirate. You may know him… Killian Jones?" The spinning wheel stopped. "Does it ring a bell?" It started again, faster. Usually, his tutor wasn't affect by threats of names. What kind of story was the one involving Jones?
Rumple faked ignorance. "Never heard this name before."
"Ah." Jefferson was playing a dangerous game and he didn't even know why. "Well, he sure knew you."
Rumple stopped and turned around. He left his seat and walked closer, suspicious. "Why are we having this conversation?" His smile was a fake one, as always, and Jefferson knew it was a warning.
He made a nonchalant shrug. "I think the Witch might like him, that's all."
"Elphaba loves stubborn things."
Jefferson started to think he did too.
"I don't."
"Good to know"
Jefferson left the workshop. It was tea time. Everything was better with tea. Regrets didn't exist with tea. He had nothing to regret, though. Jones would live after all.