What the hell. I'll make a story out of it. Thanks for the feedback so far!
Disclaimer: Not mine.
oOo
Emma hadn't been the same since her little detour. He could tell by the way she crouched over the campfire, jabbing harshly at the woodpile. She glared into the flames unmercifully, as if she was recalling a foul memory that she couldn't shake off. She seemed angrier than usual, to say the least.
Hook leaned back as he took another swig of rum. The taste was sweet, sickly sweet as it chortled down his throat and hit his nerves all at once. Feeling a burst of confidence, he steeled himself to his feet and made his way to Emma.
She didn't notice his approach. She prodded the wood forward, letting its burning brothers fall over in a loud crack. Hook looked down at her.
"You alright, love?" he asked.
Emma suddenly jerked out of her trance, blinking several times. It took her a couple moments to remember where she was.
"Yeah, of course," she muttered, regaining herself.
Hook nodded wearily. "We'll find him, you know. Both of them."
Emma looked up at him, an unusual glint in her eyes.
"I know."
With that, she went back to her prodding, and Hook took the hint that she wanted to be left alone.
The queen stood on the other side of the camp, practicing some type of spell on a small tree. Snow and Charming were huddled on one of the logs, looking over Pan's map and trying to figure out their next path. Neither one of them seemed to notice their daughter's unusual mood.
Hook sighed, both in exhaustion and boredom.
He hated this place. He hated it when he first came, and he'd hate it until his last. Even when nothing productive was being done, there was still an eeriness present that gave him the creeps. An eeriness that only Pan could unfold, mysterious and unforgiving.
After another swig, he decided to make himself useful and scan the perimeter. While it was true Pan always did have eyes over the island, it wouldn't hurt to know where to retreat after an ambush. The place was unpredictable as the demon that ruled it.
He shouldered around the stiff branches and draping leaves, holding up his elbow for protection. There was a small clearing up ahead, but nothing special. If this was their planned escape route, it didn't look like they'd be getting anywhere obliging.
Hook found his flask again and rested the tip on his lips.
"A little bored, I see, captain."
He finished his drink without any sign that Pan had startled him. The game was old, now.
"One must pass time somehow," Hook reasoned, masking his suspicion of Pan's second visit. "Waiting for the prince to forge a strategy while the girls pine away for their stolen lad."
"I wouldn't say stolen," Pan intervened. "Henry's doing quite well with the Lost Boys. Better than alright, I'd say. You should know, captain. Doing business with me is hardly unpleasant if my rules are followed."
Hook exhaled dryly, watching the boy jaunt around.
"What do you want?" he finally asked.
Pan smirked. "Why, what I always want from you. A deal."
Hook's face darkened. "I can't tell you I'm interested," he told him. "Not unless it involves the lad's hearty return or that of Baelfire's."
Pan's eyebrows flew up. "Captain," he said, incredulously. "I must say, I'm impressed. After everything, I hardly suspected you would be one to play the hero and include Baelfire's freedom. Especially since he's a… rival for a common interest of yours."
Hook stiffened, but didn't let it show.
"I respect Baelfire," he interjected. "It has nothing to do with Emma."
"But it does," Pan urged on. "And you know it does. I don't think you understand what could have happened if you kept him a secret. Who knows how far the two of you would be by now. You could have been lovers. Her one true love. Anything you wanted."
Hook looked grim. "I couldn't do that to her."
Pan instantly sneered. "You have before."
The pirate straightened himself, trying to spar it out with the demon boy a while longer.
"What about you?" Hook challenged. "You were the one that said a kiss hardly meant anything."
Pan considered his answer before smiling wryly.
"A kiss could mean many things."
Hook snickered, adjusting his silver hook with his other hand. "And you'd know that from all the girls you've had on Neverland, aye?" he jeered.
Peter Pan continued grinning. "It's not about quantity," he justified. "It's about power. It's always been about power. Loyalty. I'm sure you would know all about that, captain. How many women have stuck by you- loved you? Worshipped you? How many would have given their life for a drunken, one handed pirate with as little good judgment as a common peasant?"
Hook stared at him, paling. Words to retort were left dangling on his lips.
Pan leaned forward. "Just that one, Killian? Just Baelfire's mother- the Dark One's beloved wife? Just her out of all of them…?"
"Enough," Hook growled.
"You see, maybe its better this way for you," Pan went on. "Maybe its better that Baelfire came along and is now here to rekindle their relationship. In the end, Killian… what do you have to offer Emma Swan? What makes you think you deserve her? What makes you think you have what it takes to tame the fire that is Henry's mother?"
Hook couldn't speak. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, and he couldn't think.
All he knew was that he needed to answer before it was too late.
"I may not have much," he admitted. "But I'm here for her now, and her son. And I'm ready to give my life for them."
Pan snickered. "As valiant as that is, captain… so is all the rest of the squad."
He was right. The damned kid was right, of course.
"You came here for a deal," Hook said, changing the subject. "What was it?"
The boy suddenly appeared closer than before, one quick movement. He paced around the pirate, gazing over him with dark, green eyes. His skin was deathly white in the sunlight, contrasting greatly to the dark circles under his eyes.
"I want you to talk to Emma," he explained, sharply. "I want you to convince her to accept my offer."
Hook frowned. "What business have you with her?"
"You'd be surprised," Pan replied, his back to the pirate as he paced on. "She and I have a lot in common- more than she knows." He turned around, smiling. "She's passionate. I like that about her. She's different. She's exciting. And that always brings something fresh to the game."
Hook looked at him, wearily. It was never good to see Pan so excited about anyone, especially if it involved the woman he truly cared about. It wasn't safe. It was going to make their situation a whole lot worse, if it wasn't already.
"And you made a deal with her?" Hook asked suspiciously.
"Just the other day, in fact," Pan explained. "An offer. A simple offer in exchange for her son and passage off the island."
Hook gaped, incredulously. "But why?"
"I have my reasons," Pan merely retorted. "Think of it as generosity."
The pirate wished he had the ability to know how the kid's mind worked. It was like an endless labyrinth, going every which way and turning only when someone least expected it. Pan was always scheming, always formatting things to his liking.
"What did you offer her?" Hook demanded.
Pan smiled wider now, making the pirate swell with dread.
"The same thing she gave you, captain," he said. "The same thing you were so proud of before. A kiss. A simple compensation on her part, as I've said before."
It took the pirate a moment to piece together his words. Then, out of the bloom- it came together.
Hook nearly doubled over in laughter at the ridiculousness of it. As if Emma would ever…!
He chortled. "She's a little old for you, isn't she, mate?"
Pan didn't seem the least bit fazed by the pirate's laughter. He continued smiling.
"You and I both know I'm not as young as I look."
Hook stopped laughing, now noticing the serious and chilling tone the young king of Neverland had taken. He felt sick, as if all the rum was threatening to run back up his throat again. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"And you had the nerve to talk about how she could never want someone like me," Hook relayed, leaning forward himself. "What about you, Pan? I may not be the smartest, or the purest of scallywags here… but why in the world would she ever take your offer?"
Pan paused. "Well, she has no choice. None of you do. The only way to get Henry and get off this island is to play by my rules. She knows that. If she wants off, she'll give me what I want."
Hook stood back up, angry now. "The bloody hell is wrong with you!" he snarled. "She's a woman of good nature- a mother. At the very least, I'd hope you possessed some amount of decency."
Pan stepped forward, eyes glinting maliciously. "Be careful when you talk about decency, captain," he murmured. "These are dangerous waters you tread on. Would you like me to relay some of your own moments- moments when you have forgotten decency?" His tone dropped lower. "Don't try and deceive me. It will get you no where."
Hook shut up instantly, but still was red with rage.
"And I can have Emma Swan if I want," Pan chortled, grinning again. "So fiery, that one. Does it make you nervous, captain, that someone else could be so intimate with the woman you love? Someone like me? Does it anger you to believe I could make her grow rather fond of me-?"
Hook snarled and leapt out to slash the boy, but he disappeared.
Then, he appeared directly behind him.
"She'll never want you," Hook declared.
Pan's eyes flashed, intently.
"It doesn't matter," he whispered. "Because she will take my offer. Especially when she has you to encourage her, along with the benefits I have listed from the other day."
Hook stood there, glowering. "And why am I going to encourage her?"
"Because if you do…" Pan began to walk away, beaming. "I'll throw in another person aboard your ship to Storybrooke. Baelfire. If you convince her, and she finishes her side of the bargain, I'll let her take Henry's beloved father as well, unharmed. The man she really loves."
Hook winced, visibly.
"So now I suppose the real test is this," Pan leered, smirking. "You may have told them about Baelfire's existence, but will you really do all you can to get him aboard your ship home? What would Emma say if she did her part alone, and she knew that you had the opportunity to reunite her with Henry's father?"
Then, the teenager strutted away, beginning to fade into the leaves.
"Make the right choice, captain," he murmured. "I look forward to seeing your decision."
A gentle pop, and he was gone.
Hook stood there in silence, among the trees and forest creatures that were all still. The only thing he could hear was his screaming thoughts, and trembling breaths.
oOo
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