Summary: Emma meets a mysterious blue-eyed Captain & they share an instant, mutual dislike for each other. But before she knows it, she finds herself pulled into one hell of an adventure with the Captain - much to both of their dismay. CS fanfic.
Disclaimer: All characters (except for the ones I made up) belong to Adam & Eddy's OUAT :)
Bloody hell.
He tried to shrug off the feeling but he found his thoughts straying towards it even more: the way she scanned his eyes carefully as if she was reading his mind; the guarded and cool composure she kept up when she spoke to him. It irritated him greatly and the more he thought about the way she had bested him with her dagger and the smug look on her face, the more he found himself loathing her.
The blonde woman and Killian had an instant mutual dislike, that was for sure. He knew he was being unreasonable as he was the one who had initiated their interaction in the first place. Why in god's name did he have to act like a hero and follow her? He frowned to himself, remembering the way she had ran past him towards the castle. Whatever she was planning to do was not his concern; he was simply here for business and nothing more. He was a navy officer - not a guard.
He remembered how he had drawn his sword anyway, and crept close to her when she stopped under the tree. Something was suspicious in the way the heavily cloaked figure was staring at the castle, and he couldn't find it in himself to leave it up to the castle guards to deal with her and walk away.
When she had taken off her hood and lowered her scarf, he had let out an inaudible gasp at the sight of her long, blonde hair. A woman? He was not expecting that at all.
Relief had washed over him and for a second he dismissed her as no threat, but he stiffened before he put back his sword in its sheath. He of all people should know better than to underestimate women. When she took out her dagger and examined it in the air, it confirmed his thoughts and he found himself inching closer to her once again.
What in the gods name am I doing? He had thought when he drew his sword again. He looked at the woman closely, who, to his surprise, had a melancholic look on her face. Sighing, Killian decided that perhaps she wasn't dangerous after all, and put his sword away.
The woman had sighed too and stood up, looking sadly at the castle, and for some strange reason, Killian found himself drawn to her, despite the nagging voice in the back of his mind yelling at him to go on about his own matters.
She began to move and out of impulse, Killian spoke.
"Going somewhere, lass?"
Startled, the woman whipped her head and looked straight at him. He found himself surprised at his own actions as well and hastily thought of a way to escape this interaction. But she was looking at him now and there was nothing more he can do. He crossed his arms and looked right back at her, a smirk playing at his lips- the usual things act he played whenever he faced a woman.
A rather attractive one too, he added privately, noting her green eyes.
But instead of fluttering her eyelids to the ground and moving away shyly, as most women did in his presence, she crossed her arms in response and looked at him defiantly instead.
"I was under the impression I was alone."
Guarded, Killian thought as his eyes met hers. He could almost hear the walls behind her eyes build themselves. Well guarded.
Challenged by this new observation he made of her, he explained his presence and started towards her, hoping to get a better look at those eyes. But to his astonishment, he had found himself pinned against the tree with a dagger pressed against his throat.
"Who are you? Why are you following me?" she hissed at him. Displeased, he glared at her.
"I was not following-"
He grunted in pain as the dagger pressed harder against his throat. I will not be bested by her, he thought furiously, struggling against her hold.
"Lie," she hissed again, narrowing her eyes toward him.
He narrowed his own eyes. "Trust me, lass, I have no intention of harming you."
They stood like that for a moment, glaring at each other. It was then that Killian noticed something in the way the woman looked at him. Is she... Reading me? He thought incredulously as her eyes swept carefully across his own.
As if to answer his thoughts, she sighed and reluctantly let him go.
"Listen, stranger. I can always tell when someone's lying to me, so don't try any pretty tricks."
Killian stared at her, suddenly feeling eerily uncomfortable by this declaration. For the first time, he felt... Exposed. Vulnerable, almost. And he disliked this feeling deeply.
I do not like her, he decided as he bowed and introduced himself. She continued to look at him with the same dislike and mistrust as he spoke, and before Killian could ask for her own identity, she was pressing him with questions.
"What's wrong with royalty?"
He stiffened, the feeling of dislike for the woman growing in his stomach. She really had to ask this question, didn't she? Unpleasant memories began to resurface at the back of Killian's mind and he wanted nothing more than to get away from her. I should have left her alone when I first saw her, he thought to himself regretfully as he began to walk away.
He must have hit a fine line when he muttered his sentiments about royalty, as the blonde woman had suddenly ran up to him, looking slightly angered. Killian tried to quicken his pace and shrug her off, but she was insistent. The nerve of this stubborn woman.
When he had shot a hasty good-bye at her and knocked on the castle door, she disappeared from sight.
And now here he was, walking alongside his fellow navy officer, trying to rid himself of thoughts of her. No longer my concern, he tried convincing himself, ignoring the unsettling guilt growing inside of him. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so rude to the lass…
"What took you so long, Captain?" The officer beside him snapped back to reality.
"I was... Thwarted. But I am here now so no need to worry, Smee."
Smee gave him a cheeky grin. "A lady, perhaps?"
Killian paused momentarily. Were they seen? He looked at Smee's expression and saw nothing to make past his grin.
He gave a lazy smile and waved as if to dismiss it. "Aye, something of that sort."
Smee shook his head still grinning. "Always the ladies' man, Captain. "
Not all ladies, Killian thought a scowl. He briefly wondered where the woman had disappeared to but quickly shook it from his thoughts.
"Aye, that I am."
They finally came to a halt in front of a wooden door that looked... Too simple for a meeting room. In fact, Killian realized, the castle was not as bold and luxurious as he had expected. Everything about it was simple and clean, and it made Killian curious as to how the King may be like. After all, if there was one thing he learned about royalty, it was that their castle and kingdom reflected their character.
They stood for a moment before Killian finally knocked. He held his breath in anticipation, suddenly feeling slightly anxious. The last time he made business with a king cost him everything...
Smee looked at his captain's worried expression and gave him a gentle pat on the back.
"It will be all right, sir."
Killian nodded curtly and straightened his back.
"Are you ready, Captain?" Smee asked worriedly.
He nodded again and shot him a lopsided grin. "Do you doubt me, Smee?"
Smee didn't have time to reply. The door had finally opened.
And before them stood the King.
NEXT CHAPTER - Emma experiences a flashback/dream & we find out why Killian's at the royal castle :)