Ship Wreck

Chapter 3- Game On

"Regina?"

Emma blinked dumbly for a moment as she stared at the fiery eyed woman. Both of her arms were being restrained, but Emma could see her fists clenching and unclenching helplessly. The silence continued as Emma stared down at Regina, her mind buzzing as she thought over the brunette's presence aboard the ship.

The blonde let the corners of her mouth twitch into an almost smile as she rounded the helm lazily. Angry chocolate eyes analysed her movement, a twinge of fear creeping in the beautiful pools as the captain rested her forearm against the railing, the other moving upwards to prop up Emma's head as she leant against the wood.

"Do any of you believe in jinxes?" She asked softly, knowing full well she had everyone undivided attention. A series of confused looks followed the question, making Emma smirk. "I didn't either until about a minute ago, but here before me is living proof of a jinx."

"Captain?" Red asked from beside her, the same look of confusion on her face.

"Never assume things can't get any worse." Emma chuckled as she looked at Red. "If you do you'll end up like me with an unwanted stowaway."

"I'm not a stowaway!" Regina snapped, drawing back Emma's attention.

"No? Is there a new word for someone who boarded a ship uninvited?" The captain asked mockingly and smirked when she was met by silence from the noble. "Didn't think so."

"I needed to come, I had to make sure you would actually go and find Robin." Regina muttered, her head drooping slightly. Emma sighed, knowing full well that was the reason Regina had stupidly followed her.

"Your concern is almost touching, but I hand-picked this crew with great delicacy and it is perfect. Throwing a Princess into the mix just doesn't work." Emma shrugged, bored of the conversation.

"I'm not a Princess!" Regina snapped once more, visibly upset by the title.

"No? Well that's good then. If you were royalty I would have gone to the effort of giving you a row boat, but since you're not I have no issue which just throwing you overboard." Emma drawled. "Boys!"

"No!" Regina screamed. Emma turned her back on the scene, not needing to see another person thrown off her ship. It was a regular occurrence. To the blonde surprise however, a familiar sound of a punch filled her ears before a low groan and a thump. Another followed making Emma turn back to look at Regina. An eyebrow rose slightly as emerald eyes peered down at the scene before her. Two of her crew members now lay on the floor, one clutching an already bloody nose. Regina stood, breathing heavily between the two, the rest of the crew around her.

An almost painful silence followed the attack as Emma looked down at the scene emotionlessly. Slowly the pirate moved across the deck to the stairs, descending them with ease while everyone waited with baited breath. The blonde didn't have many rules for the ship, but her biggest one was no spilling of blood, no matter what. All eyes were on the captain waltzed across deck, approaching Regina.

She stopped right in front of Regina, who looked terrified. Emma surveyed the damaged pirates on the floor before turning her attention back to the brunette. The captain's eventual reaction made everyone's blood run cold.

She laughed.

Emma laughed, hard, as everyone stared at her in shock. The crew had seen the captain do a number of many dark things to people who displeased her. They had all learned quickly that Emma could easily kill without spilling a single drop of blood.

Finally, Emma's laughter died down and she grinned at Regina, noting her already bruising hand. If Emma had to guess, she would say that was the first time the brunette had ever hit someone.

"Well that was entertaining." She chirped. "You truly are full of surprises. I don't think this day really could get any stranger."

"Don't jinx it." She heard Red tease behind her. Emma nodded with a smile.

"I assume you have some heartfelt speech prepared about your fiancé?" The captain asked with a smirk. Regina scowled for a moment before reluctantly nodding. "Thought as much. Come! You've gained my attention."

Emma quickly spun on her heel and walked towards her cabin so they could talk privately. She heard Regina hurriedly scramble to follow after her.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The captain's quarters where the largest and most beautiful part of the ship. Three giant windows stood on the back wall, slightly pushed out with a small bench along the bottom. The wood all around was the same red of the ship, but had various white and blue fabrics hanging off them. In the centre of the room was a large ornate table with a huge map upon it. Several scrolls hung at the side of the table depicting different kingdoms and oceans Emma had charted. In front of the huge windows was a large bed, the bedding a same shade of white and blue as the decor of the room. Large folding screens were tucked away at each side of the cabin which when pulled together cut off the bed from the main cabin.

Emma had gone to great lengths to create a home like feel to her cabin, styling it the same way her childhood bedroom had looked. She stepped into the cabin lightly, a grin spreading across her face as a large mass rocketed across the room to greet her.

"Bear!" She greeted the dog lovingly. Bear was a striking dog with a huge build. His fur was white and long with piercing blue eyes to match perfectly. His large black nose snuffled at Emma's belt, while his pointed ears were sky high with interest. "It's always about treats with." She huffed.

"You have a white dog?" Regina asked with curiosity, she had never seen a dog like him before.

"A ships no place without one." Emma replied, ruffling his ears before looking back at Regina.

"Robin is essential to the survival of the kingdom." Regina began making Emma roll her eyes.

"Waste no time do you?"

"Without him the neighbouring kingdoms will not be united with our own and the alliance will crumble." Regina pressed on, watching Emma's reaction slowly. The captain hummed in acknowledgement as she sank into the high back chair of the table, the size almost throne like. Bear walked back over to his bed and lay down, his eyes on Regina.

"We need him." Regina concluded, now standing at the other end of the table.

"I'm sure you do." Emma agreed lightly, leaning back in the chair and putting her feet on the table.

"So what is your plan to get him back?" Regina asked hopefully. Emma looked at her for a moment before standing and tugging at her clothes. They were same ones she had worn for the past two days.

"I love plans," she began softly, pulling the leather vest off first and letting it drop to the floor. "They've always been a favourite of mine. It's the one thing that gets everything started. Makes it real."

Emma moved past her bed and to the chest where she kept her clothes. Fetching a new shirt, the blonde turned back to Regina, a smirk growing on her lips as she noticed the flush upon the other woman's cheeks. Emma pulled her old shirt over her head and also let it fall to the floor.

"What do you mean?" Regina asked, her voice incredibly small. Emma almost laughed out loud at how flushed Regina had suddenly become. The captain had no idea what kind of life Regina had led before now, or what kind of people she had had contact with, either emotionally of sexually. But judging by her reaction to Emma's state of undress, she wasn't used to someone being so bold with their body.

Emma's body was one of her greatest tools. Many of her targets where men and women of all kinds, and when she was just starting out she learned she could easily manipulate them with the right use of her body. Red had often described her as almost feline, appearing soft and delicate, lovable and touchable. But in the blink of an eye she could be a killer, strong and dangerous while always holding that graceful poise and composure. Emma took great pride in her abilities, and ensured her greatest tools were always in perfect shape, including her body.

"Your desperation to find Robin will make you sloppy, easily tripped and more importantly…vulnerable." Emma voice was almost a whisper as she slunk back towards Regina.

"I'm not the kind of woman who likes to rush. A perfect plan is a kind of…seduction," Emma put great emphasis on her words, grinning at the reactions they caused in the brunette. "First you look. You spend hours looking, wanting, turning your target over in your mind. And then you move closer, subtly, never any contact but yet you're there, brushing past." Emma gliding past Regina, their shoulders ghosting together as Emma moved around the cabin, eyes never leaving Regina. "And finally you make contact, just to see what happens. And when everything is ready and when everything is right…all the preparation pays off in one sudden intense rushing moment." Emma stood directly behind Regina now, watching the rapid rise and fall of her shoulders as she took in shaky breaths.

Emma let her words sink in, loving how easily flustered Regina became. It was all game, one Emma found very comical. People like Regina no doubt had little to no contact with bold, suggestive talk that was used so casually by Emma. The pirate slipped away from Regina, pulling the shirt on, breaking the tension like it was glass. The game was over.

"To be a good pirate I had learn the true art of my work. To be a great pirate I had to learn to separate theory and practical and see the fine line between the two. I chose to be the best pirate, meaning I had to find a way to truly love each and every aspect of what I do and excel at it." Emma concluded. "I am the greatest captain of the sea. They are my seas."

"And yet you got yourself kidnapped." Regina pointed out bluntly. Emma raised an eyebrow, still amazed how this woman could be so forward so unexpectedly.

"Yes well, the weakness of many pirates is our loins and I so happened to make a bad choice in wench the night I was kidnapped." Emma shrugged, falling back into her chair and grinning at the disgusted look on Regina's face.

"You went to a whore house?!" Regina spoke the words like they were venom. She spread her arms and smiled innocently.

"Whoops."

"Good god that is- is so…" Regina struggled to find her words, her face twisted around until she found the right one. "Like a pirate."

"Indeed." Emma agreed. "Now as much as I love listening to stereotypes," She grinned at Regina's eye roll. "Truly, best part of my day. But you only gained my attention temporarily before I throw off my ship…so make it count."

"I want to stay on your ship and accompany you in searching for Robin." The brunette requested. Emma frowned, wondering why a person like Regina would put themselves in such a dangerous situation. Nobles such as Regina were selfish and impractical, never getting their own hands dirty. And yet here one stood, wanting nothing more than get dirty.

"Hmm," Emma hummed thoughtfully. "That's a shame, I'm sure your presence would be quite something around here but alas, I have no intention of saving your Prince." Emma waited for the expected emotional outbreak of tears, maybe even screaming. She was unprepared for the completely emotionless reaction. The captain frowned when Regina just sighed.

"Stereotypical." Regina simply replied and reached around to the back of her belt. "I assumed you wouldn't follow through on your word." Emma opened her mouth to defend herself, prepared to make a point of that fact she didn't ever give her word, but closed it when Regina hurled a leather pouch at her. Emma easily caught it, her frown still present.

"What is this?" Emma asked, poking the pouch cautiously.

"Your language." Regina replied, crossing her arms. Emma looked at her searchingly for a moment before picking up the bag, noting its weight. She pulled at the little draw string and tipped the content upon the table. A variety of sparkling jewels spilled out across the table and onto the map. Emma's eyes widened at the jewels, recognising the usually diamonds and rubies, several emeralds and sapphires among the mix. However, what caught her attention was the perfectly diamond shaped jewel, it's surface catching the light. It was nicked named the heart of the sky, and only six were in existence. It got it's name from it's variety of colours, all of which matched the evolution of the sky. The tip was clear, almost white before it grew bluer further down, the centre the purest shade of blue Emma had ever seen. It was like someone had plucked it from the sky, the colour identical. Towards the bottom the jewel shifted to an amber yellow, just like the sky at sunset before ending in a midnight blue, the tip pure black. When held in the right light, people claimed you could see stars in the darkness of the jewel.

Emma reached out to pick up the jewel, she was completely speechless. She turned it over slowly in her hands, scared she might drop it. She hadn't realised her mouth was open until a soft laugh from Regina brought the pirate back to reality.

"You stole the heart of the sky, the jewel of the king himself." Emma whispered, an amazed smile on her lips as she stared at Regina. The brunette mimicked Emma's signature shrug, a modest look on her face.

"It was nothing." She smiled.

"Nothing? I've been trying to steal one of these for years, we all have." Emma gaped. "First time I saw one of these I was twelve years old, most beautiful jewel I'd ever seen. I promised my mother I would buy her one just like it one day. Little did I know exactly what I was promising." Emma chuckled. "How did you do it?"

"No suspects a lady like me, especially me." Regina replied simply. "I walked in and I walked out, none of the guards even followed me in, nor did they stop me when I left."

"Hiding in plain sight." Emma mumbled with a grin. "Genius."

"Will those do it?" Regina asked hopefully. Emma let her wait for a moment. She contemplated the offer. If she truly did this she was greatly risking August's life, and the rest of her crew's. Hook did not scare her, she was the reason he was called Hook after all, but she knew whatever was going on was much more than just a kidnapping. Emma studied Regina. "Please, I don't know what will happen if he doesn't come back. I owe him so much." In that moment Emma saw it, the fleeting look Regina no doubt thought she was hiding. Fear. True fear not just for her people but for herself. Emma began to wonder just how important the union between Robin and Regina was, and just who it truly mattered too. The pirate thought back to Regina's mother, wondering if she was the cause of this fear.

The pirate sighed, letting the tender side of her heart make the decision.

"You're lucky you seem to be fluent in my language." Emma eventually said and Regina's face lit up. "Red!" Emma called, knowing her lieutenant was lurking apprehensively on the other side of the door.

The cabin door swung open instantly and Ruby barrelled in, glancing nervously at Regina, a look of surprise passing her face as if she were truly shocked to still see her alive. Emma smirked at the reaction and waited for Red's attention to return to her. The other brunette looked at her captain, and unspoken question on her lips.

"There's been a change of plans." Emma shrugged, answering Ruby's question. "Have the twins take Lady Regina to the guest cabin, while we make plans up here." Emma ordered.

"Yes Captain." Red nodded to her before turning towards the door. "Nut! Geb!" She yelled making Regina wince.

The same two who had been attacked by Regina fell into the cabin, both wrestling with one another to get in first. Regina suddenly looked worried when her eyes fell onto Geb's swollen nose. They stood alert, Nut smirking slightly over beating Geb inside first. They both had the same sandy blonde hair, the style almost the same as both their hair was long and wavy. Nut kept her hair neatly braided down her back, Emma knew when it was down it almost reached the small of her back. Though very long, Geb's did not quite reach past his upper back and was always in a low pony tail beneath a small rounded cap. They both wore similar attire, white tunics and cloth trousers. Geb's was much more open at the front, the neck line almost to the middle of his chest while Nut's had a square neck line stopping much further up. She also wore a half cloak over her shoulder with one arm hole for her right arm. The cloak only reached her stomach and hugged her body. The twins both wore matching sash style belts which were red.

"Regina meet Nut," Emma gestured to Nut who smiled politely at Regina. "And Geb. He is the one who's nose you busted."

"I'm sorry about that." Regina said genuinely. Geb only frowned in reply, confused by her apology.

"Remorse Geb," Emma explained lazily. "It's a nobility thing."

"Oh." He mumbled, clearly annoyed he didn't understand. "It's no bother, I like a woman who can fight." Geb flirted, waggling his eyebrows.

Emma let slip a small chuckle at how quickly Regina's face returned to disgust.

"Take Lady Regina to the guest cabin." Red commanded sternly. Both twins frowned at this and they looked at each other questioningly.

"Guest cabin?" Nut asked slowly.

"The one below deck." Red snapped, jerking her head down.

"Oh gotcha chick." Nut snapped her fingers at Ruby who merely rolled her eyes and walked away to greet Bear who had been waiting patiently to be acknowledged.

"This way milady." Geb bowed, letting Regina go first. Regina glanced back at Emma before walking proudly out of the cabin. Emma watched the trio go, a small smile on her lips. Red waited until they were alone before speaking again.

"The "guest" cabin?" She asked and Emma laughed.

"She'll love it." The captain grinned back.

"So, the plan's changed?" Emma nodded slowly.

"Looks like we're going to be hero's after all. I can hear the songs now."

A/N: I like Nut and Geb, the plans for them made me laugh. Please review and tell me what you think and follow for more! Till next time Kids.