Tuesday 12th February
The morning air was crisp and fresh as it blew on Emma's face. She had decided that it was a nice enough morning to walk to the station for a change. Henry was still in bed, he'd started walking to the bus stop by himself – early mornings were unfortunately a new entailment of her job in the sheriff's station. Ever since the arrival of Cora and Hook, the former of whom had not been seen at all, the town had been on high alert. Therefore, it was necessary that the saviour arrive extra early at the station. Her father general took the afternoon/night shift, something she was incredibly grateful for.
Emma had only just reached into her pocket to locate her keys when a note taped to the door caught her attention. It was written on a page from some kind of book, the red sharpie easily discernible against the small black type font of the page.
Swan,
I've stolen something important.
You'll have to find me if you want it back.
Yours sincerely,
The pirate you can't get out of your head.
The blonde scoffed at his signature and moved her keys down to unlock the door. This was probably just some game to distract her from some diabolical plan. She put the keys into the lock and twisted, the audible click assuring her that the door would open as soon as she turned the handle. Emma grasped for the handle but rather than finding the cool metal of a handle, her hand was greeted by air. She looked down to confirm her assumption, dreading the obvious answer.
Son of a bitch, she thought, he stole the freaking handle.
Bastard knew how to ensure she paid attention to him, but he would regret it. The saviour turned on her heel, crossing her arms and surveying the area. There was no sign of him so she looked back to the piece of paper. It seemed odd that he would write it on a page from a book so she pulled it down for closer inspection. Reading the printed words was useless; it looked to be an exert from one of the old Shakespearean texts. She fiddled with the paper for a moment, looking around again just to ensure he wasn't across the street gloating, or perhaps on a rooftop.
Turning the page over again, Emma smirked.
A black stamp printed the bottom corner of the page: Storybrooke Library, return if found.
It might have just been a coincidence but the saviour didn't figure the pirate would just randomly get a book from the library. He could have easily used normal paper or parchment – which she was sure he had stocked on his ship.
As she stuffed the piece of paper into her jean pocket, she sprinted across to the library. It definitely wasn't an accident that he'd chosen to take a page out of a book from the library; he likely wanted her to go there. The double doors creaked slightly as they opened and Belle's head popped up from behind the front desk.
"Oh, Emma, I was just about to call you. There's been a break in and this was left on the counter… I think it's for you," the brunette said, cocking her head as she handed the other woman the parchment. Nodding in thanks, she grabbed the piece of paper and read.
Glad to see you picked up on my hint, I always knew you were an intelligent lass. Now let us see if you can divulge my next location. I like the view from the window seat that you so often occupy.
It didn't take her longer than a moment to figure that one out. There was only one place that she always took the window seat, one place where she chose the seat specifically because of the view overlooking a small insignificant garden. How he could know about that without having stalked her was impossible to discern.
Emma tucked the note into her pocket alongside the other one and faced Belle.
"Thanks, I'll be right on it. Sorry about this, I'm sure Gold will help you clean up," the blonde said, smiling lightly and walking away. The brunette watched her go, curious as to why the woman suddenly looked eager.
Granny's wasn't full by any standards as Emma entered, immediately searching all the booths for a head of dark shaggy hair. Ruby looked up from the bar she was cleaning and smiled as she saw who had caused the bell above the door to tinkle.
"Morning Emma, I thought you would be at the station by now?" the dark-haired woman asked thoughtfully, setting aside the cloth she had been using and walking up to her friend. The blonde smirked, shaking her head.
"I was meant to be but Hook's decided to pull a stunt. He took the door handle and now I'm trying to find him – say, you haven't received any strange notes this morning?" she asked, looking around again to ensure she hadn't missed a note plastered to a wall, or chair or perhaps even the ceiling fan.
Ruby shook her head, obviously amused.
"He's like a four-year-old trying to get your attention. Do you want some coffee?"
Emma nodded reverently, "Yes, I will definitely need caffeine if I'm going to deal with this idiot."
Ruby walked back behind the counter and the blonde sat down in the booth she always occupied, the one next to the window overlooking the small insignificant garden. She looked around for a third time, trying to figure out his next clue; this is not fun, she reminded herself, this is you trying to get to work and you just happen to have to go on a freaking scavenger hunt. And while she kept telling herself that, she couldn't help the small smile playing around the edges of her lips. Ruby returned with the hot beverage and deposited it onto the table.
"So what made you come here?" the waitress asked brightly.
"Well... I think he might be trying to send me on a scavenger hunt -"
"Which you are obviously enjoying," Ruby cut in, red lips parting to grin. Emma shook her head, letting the statement roll off her shoulder.
"No, but unfortunately I don't have a choice but to follow the freaking clues," she said, looking out the window down at the garden.
"I think there's more to it. I really don't see why you don't just shag him and get it over with, I mean he's attractive is he not?" the other woman replied in a tone that made it sound like the most obvious fact in the world. Her customer rolled her eyes and continued to look at the garden.
"It's not that simple, I can't just - that sneaky bastard!" Emma suddenly said, standing up and running outside. Alarmed, Ruby followed her outside to where she stood in front of the tiny garden. The blonde bent down and gingerly picked up a piece of paper wedged between two flowers. It was folded over and Ruby quickly moved to stand behind her friend so she too could read it.
I'm glad you found this, I might've had to keep the door handle forever - or at least until you found me. And before you think to search my ship, I assure you I'm not there (unless of course you want to make yourself at home there, which in that case; by all means go ahead). Either way, I think you deserve your next clue: it is my hope that you find this before the next hour as the sound may well hurt the both of us.
As they finished reading the note, Emma turned around to Ruby, holding the piece of paper out like evidence.
"See? It's so completely stupid! He's wasting my time," she said indignantly. Her friend snatched the note, reading it again and chuckling.
"I think he's just clueless as to how to get a woman's attention and this is his attempt. And he definitely fancies you," the dark-haired woman said. She handed the note back, watching as the other woman placed it in her pocket where two other notes were peeking out.
"Doesn't matter, Hook's the bad guy. Remember?"
"A bad guy who's going to keep your door handle if you don't get going," Ruby replied. Emma nodded resignedly and thought about his clue. "Well, shouldn't you get going?"
"Where? I don't really know why... oh I think I do know. The clock tower... I'll see you around Rubz!" The blonde said, turning and sprinting back towards the library that housed the stairs to the top of the building. She passed through the doors, nodding at Belle in greeting as she entered. Eventually, the saviour reached the top of the clock tower and could easily see that it was five minutes to nine. She had five minutes before her ear drums were blasted into oblivion.
Rapidly looking around, Emma tried to think of where he would hide the next note. It seemed there were endless crevices he could hide a note in this confine space. It was three minutes to one. Starting to think he would have to run down and come back in five minutes, the blonde picked up a piece of white in her peripheral vision. She spun around, running over to the spot and snatching the piece of paper from where it rested in between two wooden beams.
It was one minute to one. She sprinted towards the stairs, taking them three at a time. Just as she reached the landing the bell chimed, signalling it was nine o'clock in the morning. Emma took a moment to catch her breath before sitting down on the step and taking the note from her pocket. Where to now? She asked inwardly, reading his neat script carefully.
I was lying before.
It became apparent what about when she heard the feint sound of a canon being fired in the distance. He was on his ship, the lying son of a bitch. She picked herself up from the stairwell and walked calmly out of the library, once again smiling at the librarian as she left. The second the door closed behind her she started running in the direction of the marina. Dark grey smoke billowed from where a small fire had started on one of the boats opposite Killian's ship.
Emma jogged down the marina, staring in horror at the boat now collapsing into the dreary Maine waves. She turned to the man standing on his boat, clearly pleased with his work. The ship had been un-invisibled when Gold found out about his presence. Killian smiled from the deck, watching her reaction.
"What the hell?" she yelled, "was anyone on that boat? What if there was? You idiot!"
She stormed aboard the floating vessel and stared accusingly at the pirate. He raised an eyebrow incredulously, "Do you really think I would destroy a vessel that was inhabited by someone? That's harsh, love." Emma took in a deep breath to calm herself and continued, still agravated but more or less reasonable.
"Why would you send off a canon? Why?" she asked, unable to fathom his motivation. He shrugged non-committally and smiled winningly.
"I wasn't sure if you picked up on the hint and I am an impatient man," he replied. Emma growled and took another step towards him.
"I don't care. Where's the door handle you self-obsessed ass whole?"
Killian raised his hook to his chest in mock hurt, "I'm wounded, darling. I just wanted to ensure I had your full attention." The smirk that was starting to play around his lips told her this wasn't the end of her scavenger hunt. He confirmed this a moment later.
"I don't actually possess your beloved handle. I threw it overboard so you can't go to work for the next few days." The revelation caused the saviour's mouth to open in shock. He what?
"I'm sorry, what?" He stepped closer to her, looking down greedily into her eyes.
"Be my valentine, love," Killian said, using his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her shoulder. His icy blue eyes delved into her own and begged her to accept the request. Blinking multiple times, Emma abruptly shoved him backwards.
"When pigs fly!" she said. The pirate smiled; he knew she wouldn't give in that easily - it was what he had counted on. He sighed, folding his arms delicately and waiting for her next movements. Realising she would have to arrest him for destruction of property, Emma pulled out her handcuffs. The man opposite her grinned suggestively.
"Is bondage a fetish of yours?" he asked, motioning to the metal objects in her hands. She smiled sweetly, clasping it onto his wrist and manoeuvring him swiftly to attach the other. He chuckled, looking up to the sky.
"You're under arrest for destruction of property."
"Am I?"
"You have the right to remain silent."
"I've never been one to go quietly."
"Anything you say or do will be used against you in a court of law."
"I think that jacket complements the colour of your eyes perfectly."
"You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you by the state."
"What the bloody hell is an attorney? And for your information I happen to possess multiple bucketloads of gold coins."
"Understand?"
He turned around to face her, hands still restrained behind his back.
"I'm not giving up, you know."
Emma huffed, moving beside him to grasp his arm as she directed him off the boat.
8888
"You'll have to let me go sooner or later," the pirate cooed from his position on the chair. He was bound to a dining chair in Emma's apartment, her office and additional cells unable to be reached because of the idiot's prank. She was making herself a cup of coffee, preparing for the onslaught of calls sure to come to her mobile. The saviour had already called her parents to inform them and had gotten Leroy to do something to the lines so that calls to the station were diverted to her phone.
"Shut up," she replied, grinding her teeth and leaning on the bench top. Killian looked over his shoulder so he could smirk at her. "Do you even know whose boat that was?" she asked, walking to the table and picking up the papers she had printed. Using her laptop, the blonde had found the proper paperwork for destruction of property and was currently alternating between filling them out and remaining caffeinated.
"I wasn't really considering the consequences, love. I was too consumed by the thought of seeing you," Killian replied suavely, a mocking edge to his tone. She gave him a sarcastic smile, putting the papers down again and walking to pour herself the freshly brewed coffee.
"Say, can you still arrest me if there's no evidence of the crime and there's no owner to the boat?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in speculation. Her eyebrows shot up in surprised; had he just asked about the law. The sheriff was supposed to know this stuff, and yet Emma didn't. Hell, the only reason she knew the Miranda Rights was that she'd watched too many crime shows in her life.
"I… um, I…" As she stumbled to find an answer, the pirate smiled.
"I believe that a sheriff should know this stuff, darling."
"How do you even know it?" Emma queried, taking another long sip of her beverage. Killian shrugged nonchalantly.
"I did some reading on the laws here – I can't be caught up in it if I'm trying to woo myself a swan."
Brown liquid sprayed into the sink as the blonde spat her drink out in surprise. He'd read up on the law? He intended to woo her? He actually researched for this?
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked, not sure which question to articulate. Her reaction made him grin wider and turn around to face away again. Emma walked briskly to stand in front of him, kneeling down in front of him and putting her elbows on her knees.
"You actually researched the law just to try and get my attention?" she asked softly, looking earnestly into his eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered as his gaze traversed her face, finally landing on her lips. Killian's smirk reappeared, the charming façade at full force.
"Of course I did."
Emma stood up and placed her hands on both sides of the back of the chair, leaning closer and assuming a flattered expression. "Really?" she asked sweetly, moving her face close to his so that their noses were nearly touching. The pirate was floored by her sudden change in demeanour and leant his head forward, licking his lips lightly and nodding.
She leant forward a little more, making sure their eyes were locked and their noses touching before she spoke again.
"I'm surprised you can read." Her tone was suddenly less sultry, a definitive 'fool you' resounding out as she used one of her hands to hit him across the back of the head and step back. He cursed under his breath, slightly turned on, and looked up at her through his eyelashes.
"It's cruel to tease a man, Emma," he said. The saviour's expression was amused and she smiled sardonically at him, patting him on the shoulder as if to convey the words 'nice try.' At the sound of her phone ringing, she turned around and moved back to the kitchen, thoroughly satisfied with having played the infamous pirate captain.
She reached her phone and picked it up, only to drop it when someone spun her around abruptly. Killian's icy blue eyes interrupted her thoughts and she was unprepared for the closeness with which he stood.
"How did you –"
"I'm a pirate, love. I've had infants tie me up more soundly than that," he whispered, leaning down to speak in her ear. She shivered as his hot breath reacted against the shell of her ear, trying to maintain her sense in the storm of his presence.
Slightly insulted and desperate to get away from him, Emma tried to move back but realised she was trapped against the bench. He smiled when her lips formed a thin line of defiance.
"Hook, don't –"
Before she could complete the sentence and order him away, Killian stepped quickly forward and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss ended all too soon though, the pirate pulling away and winking before running for the door. The aftereffects of the exchange didn't take long to dissipate along with his company.
Emma turned around, yelling after him as the door closed.
"I'm still not your bloody valentine, pirate!"
A/N Sorry it's late, I was a tad busy and I got into a writer's block about halfway through. I'm pretty sure I know where I'm headed for the next day though.