Killian
The fear didn't really strike Killian until they started walking away. He could only glean bits of their conversation from where he was standing. Were they serious? Surely they weren't... he thought to himself battling the pit of doubt eating away at him
But what if they were?
"Swan, Wait!" He called after the retreating producer stopping her in her tracks. He watched her turn to face him
Admitting defeat was something Killian Jones absolutely detested, but that being said he also knew when it was proper to do so.
"Congratulations, you've bested me. I can count the amount of people who have done that with one hand," Killian professed walking over to meet the severe looking women.
The blonde's emerald eyes narrowed in suspicion. She crossed her arms before speaking "Is that supposed to be funny?"
"I thought it was," Humor had always been one of his strong suits. "I'll do it, but any music used in the show this season comes from the bands signed to my label, and one of the dates has to include a live performance from one of them."
It was interesting watching Regina and Emma interact with each other. Neither of the women spoke a single word, but they seemed to be having a rather intense conversation with just their facial expressions.
"Tick tock ladies," He warned tapping his toe impatiently.
Regina the more prickly of the two was first to speak "You've got yourself a deal, now get back to set, one handed wonder. You have a true love to meet." Her attention then turned to Emma "And you, since you seem to be the limey prick whisperer… it'll be you're job to watch him until we get the contract amended."
With that, she left and stomped off leaving a trail of terrified staff in her wake.
"She's charming" he noted. Glancing in Emma's direction.
Admittedly he was somewhat excited that he'd get to spend more time with Emma. While he'd only spoken a few words with her, he couldn't deny that there was something about her he liked.
He offered her his arm, "C'mon love, shall we?"
Emma
Their shoulders bumped as she brushed past him completely disregarding his offer. It might have come off as a bit rude, but then again her job wasn't exactly going to make her any friends. Especially this poor son of a bitch, might as well nip that at the bud.
With heavy steps that bordered on stomping as she tore her way through the crowd. Not that it was difficult to make it through the people they parted as though she were a leper.
Killian of course trailed behind the determined young woman continually trying to make conversation which Emma unsuccessfully tried to deflect with her silence.
Could he not help himself? She thought trying to ignore his half-hearted flirtations.
"Y'know most men would find your silence off putting, but I love a challenge," He informed her. She could practically hear the smile in his voice.
Emma rolled her eyes at him well if silence won't work… "Save the flirting for the contestants Don Juan, you're supposed to trick them into falling for the whole 'charming' act" maybe reminding him of his position here would.
"Ah! She speaks! And I wasn't flirting, Love, I was merely making conversation. It seems as though we are going to be spending a lot of time together, so we might as well be friends."
"I'm not here to make friends and neither are you" was her curt reply.
"I never said you were, and what harm could there be in having one, it's okay to open up to someone Emma. I think this whole experience would be much more bearable if you did."
"Because you're clearly used to women opening themselves to you," She quipped.
His tone sounded somewhere offended and amused "What? The playboy thing? Is that really what's really bothering you? Well I guess it's alright if you don't want to tell me… you're something of an open book. I could probably piece it together."
Emma poised herself to reply, that was until she saw him, Neal, Her Ex.
It felt like she had had the wind knocked out of her. I've gotta get out of here she thought. God knows she sure as hell didn't have it inside her to deal with him now. When it came time for fight of flight to kick in… she chose flight. In a knee-jerk reaction she whirled around and attempted to head in the opposite direction.
Unfortunately Killian was a little bit closer that Emma had initially anticipated. Her face crashed into Killlian's graciously exposed chest hard enough to be knocked off balance. She felt his arms encircle her waist in an attempt to keep her from falling. Her fingers gripped at the lapels of his ridiculously expensive suit jacket in her own feeble attempt to steady herself.
Her wide eyes met his amused blue ones.
"It's about bloody time!" he teased with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows
Emma opened her mouth to protest, but was interrupted the voice of the exact man she was desperately trying to avoid.
"Emma?" Neal asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Eyes pinched shut, Emma cursed under her breath before turning her head to look at him. He looked just as scruffy and adorable as she remembered which only made it more difficult for Emma.
"Neal," she more so stated than greeted as she tried push herself out of Killian's hold which did not budge.
Her gaze turned back to his which had been colored by the faintest hint of disappointment.
"Don't give me that look," she chided nodding her head in the direction of the awaiting bachelorettes "Go meet your princess, Tiger."
"I thought you were under strict orders from the evil queen to be keeping an eye on little old me? Make sure I don't get into any more trouble?" Killian asked clearly reluctant to leave her.
"Oh, don't think I'm taking my eyes off you for a second," She warned teasingly as he carefully set her upright.
Realizing how close she was to Killian, Emma released her grip on his jacket and stepped away from him only to have one of her hands caught by the charming Brit.
He brushed a feather light kiss on her pallid skin atop her hand.
"I would despair if you did," he teased adding a playful wink at the end of his flirtation before heading off in the opposite direction.
Her attention then turned back to Neal
"Hi," she greeted awkwardly as she crammed all of her feelings toward him into that deep dark corner of her heart that she hid all possibly damaging emotions.
"Where the Hell have you been, Em?" He asked frustration clear in his tone. "I tried calling you," he added.
Emma shifted uncomfortably, and avoided his eyes. "Yeah umm…" she started, her mind scrambling for something that would even remotely make sense as to why she hadn't answered him. However, all she came up with was this: "I was busy, and, um, I didn't have my phone."
Not buying into her weak argument Neal replied with an annoyed "Emma, you Shower with your phone."
"I had stuff I had to deal with," the blonde offered feebly, trying to avoid the explaining the drama she had caused last season. Desperate to change the subject, Emma decided to ask Neal a question about himself, "So, are you and Tamara back together?" She asked desperate for a change of subject "I saw her on set"
"Yeah we are," He answered his words quickly taking a defensive undertone.
"How 'bout that," She commented, her voice becoming sing-songy and playful "working with your giiiiirrrrrrlllfrien-"
"Fiancée," he interrupted.
"Wait, What?" Clarification, was needed for Emma to believe she had heard him right. He didn't just say-
"She's my fiancée now" he stated again gauging her reaction "Emma, I tried to call y—"
"No y-y yeah it's totally fine" Hands waving to dismiss his statement as if she were swatting at an unwanted pest. She most definitely didn't want to know this. She could feel the sickness bubbling deep inside of her stomach.
"Look, I just wanted to say… that whatever you and I had in Mexico, We should just forget about it and keep our distance from each other. I think that would be better. Right?"
Ouch Emma could feel herself flinch at his statement. "Right yeah I umm I," tears threatened her emerald eyes. She looked to the ground and tried to collect her thoughts. She would be damned if she'd let a man make her cry. Looking back up her eyes met Killian's across the lot. He gave her a quizzical look as if to ask 'are you alright?' Emma turned her attention back to Neal "I un-"
"Swan! Get over here! We're loading the girls from Limo 3 onto the carriage," One of the other employees called.
Relief washed over her when she heard the call.
"Welp, that's me, gotta go," She informed before practically sprinting to where she was needed. She met Cindy at the Limousine counting off the ladies as Emma loaded them into the carriage. As she was doing so, Zelena caught her arm.
"Forgive for being direct, Emma, but is there perhaps something that you could tell me that you could tell me that would help me leave a lasting impression?" The red head asked eyes hopeful.
"He's a very umm sexual person… I say if you want to make an impression, then just go for it. Y'know? Do something with some shock value!"
Killian
Bloody Hell, Killian was growing tired of these meet and greets. He couldn't see himself growing to fancy any of these women. It was simply awful.
His mood quickly lifted as he watched Emma jog out from behind the carriage and stand beside him.
"Are you alright, Love, you seemed to be in some distress earlier." He asked remembering the sullen expression she had worn when speaking with that other man.
"Don't worry about it," She replied distractedly adjusting her earpiece, "It's got nothing to do with you."
Killian opened his mouth to argue, but was quickly interrupted by the cameraman's call
"Rolling!"
The final carriage rolled forward catching Killian's attention. He watched the shapely high heeled leg poked itself out of the carriage's open door with simple rol of the ankle as if to beckon him forward.
He watched as the rest of the Woman emerge from the carriage she had long red hair that fell past her shoulder in gorgeous waves, and a slow seductive walk that momentarily mesmerized the poor bachelor.
"Hello," She crooned "I'm Zelena" Killian took her hand, and welcomed her to the competition much like he had with all of the others
He had expected that be the end of their interaction… but she had other plans.
Her long thin fingers curled around his collar before heaving him forward and crashing her lips against his own. The only word he could use to describe her kiss was enthusiastic. Her lips slid and moved against his trying to get him to comply. He felt her hand slide down his back to grip his behind which she gave a hearty squeeze.
Zelena pulled away just enough so that their foreheads were still touching "and it is a pleasure to meet you," she whispered before giving hid bum one final firm slap before trotting on.
Killian licked his lips trying to get the feeling of Zelena's kiss off of them. How is it possible for a woman to taste bitter? He thought to himself.
