A Captain's Advice

Chapter 4

AN: Hey guys! This is the sword-fighting drabble. Hope you enjoy it. I was thinking of doing one or two more of these. Maybe one in Camelot of Killian and Henry planning Operation Light Swan and then the final drabble being Henry confronting Dark!Hook in the winter finale. Let me know what you think in the reviews!

Surprisingly it was David who approached him.

Killan had taken a break from researching about Camelot in the library with Belle and was contently drinking an innocent coffee by himself in Granny's when he was interrupted by Prince Charming hopping onto a stool beside him.

"Hook, I need a favour."

Killian smirked and cocked an eyebrow.

Oh the joy and curiosity he felt at hearing such words from David Nolan of all people.

"If you want tips on looking devilishly handsome I'm afraid I cannot assist you, it's just something I was born with."

David rolled his eyes at the sarcastic comment but otherwise ignored it, "It's about Henry."

Killian froze, "What's wrong with him?"

Catching the gleam of fear in the other man's blue eyes, David rushed to explain.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong, I was just supposed to spend time with him today but Mary Margaret needs help with Neal so I was wondering if you could look after him this afternoon?"

Admittedly Killian was taken aback by this request.

David never fully approved of Killian so it surprised him that the honourable hero trusted him to look after his grandson.

Not that Killian was complaining.

"Yeah, okay."

"Really? Because if you've something else to do-"

Shaking his head Killian finished his coffee,

"Nope, just been pointlessly researching Camelot in the library and getting the same bloody results. When do you want me?"

"Say here in about an hour?"

"Sure."

David stood and awkwardly stood there for a moment.

Killian's eyebrows raised further as his girlfriend's father lingered beside him.

"Anything else?"

"Just...thanks for today."

Killian shrugged, "It's nothing."

David smiled and retreated from the restaurant.

Killian dropped some money on the table, proper money, Emma had forced him to trade in his doubloons for scraps of paper Emma called dollars despite his reluctance and he exited Granny's.

He walked back to the library to explain to Belle why he would be absent for the rest of the evening.

"Hey Hook!" Killian looked up from the outdoor table at Granny's and smiled at the eager, grinning, black haired boy.

"Henry!"

"David told me I was spending the afternoon with you, is that still okay?"

"Course it is lad! Anything in particular you want to do? I'm afraid we don't have Netflix aboard the Jolly Rodger but I'm sure there's something else we could do."

Henry sat down across from him,

"That's okay. I was kind of hoping you would help me with something else actually."

Killian tilted his head, "Oh yeah?"

Henry swallowed and took a deep breath,

"I want you to teach me how to sword fight."

Killian blinked in surprise.

"I thought David had been teaching you."

"Yeah but with baby Neal and everything else going on we haven't really been able to practise. Plus you've more than 300 years of experience and are probably more willing to hurt people."

Surprise crept upon Killian's face, "And you want to hurt someone?"

"No! Definitely not. You just have more experience in fighting battles and winning while not being…too worried about hurting the opposition."

Killian grinning teasingly, "Why the sudden interest in wanting to be a professional sword fighter?"

The sound of Henry shuffling his feet reached Killian's ears as the boy replied unconvincingly,

"No reason…"

Killian raised an eyebrow which caused the boy to relent and sigh.

"All of the boys that came from Camelot are already fighting for Arthur. They can fight any battle and beat majority of opponents. I just want to be more than an author who broke his pen."

Scratching his arm and avoiding Killian's gaze, Henry anxiously anticipated his response.

"The girl will like you no matter what Henry, you shouldn't change just to try and impress her."

"Yeah but it's not her I'm worried about. Her father thinks I'm some hero who fought off a thief in order to get his daughter's horse back. As you know I didn't and if he asks me to fight or something like that I want to be able to meet his expectations."

Killian nodded, "I understand."

Finally meeting his gaze, Henry frowned, "You do?"

Killian resisted a laugh, "Henry, I know David is your grandfather but even you know how he feels about me."

"Yeah but he likes you now."

Killian smiled, "After he made numerous threats and swore on countless occasions that your mother would never ever like me he has learned to tolerate me."

"Did you believe him?"

Killian wished he could say no.

That he always knew Emma would fall for him and that they would be together.

But that wasn't the reality.

Several times he thought perhaps it wouldn't work out the way he hoped. She would end up with Neal, he never would see her again after he and the others were forced to return to the Enchanted Forest, that she'd stay in New York after all or maybe Henry wouldn't approve so they couldn't be together.

"I had my doubts, your mother was never very open with her feelings but I knew if I kept trying she'd see that I actually did care about her. Even if I didn't win her heart I knew it wouldn't be because of her father's opinion of me."

"In the book…when you and mum went back in time. You… as Prince Charles talked to David about Emma and he…approved, did that help?"

Killian laughed, "The irony of it amused me but yes it was appreciated. But I would have survived without it."

Killian smiled gently,

"If Violet's father doesn't like you then you can still try and seek his approval but don't drain yourself or change in order to get it."

Henry smiled back, "Thanks Killian"

Standing Killian asked, "So you ready?"

Henry jumped up, "You're still going to train me?"

Killian shrugged, "If you really want to learn then sure I will. You always need to protect yourself lad especially in this town so hopefully this will help."

Henry grinned excitedly, "Let's start then!"

Killian laughed, "Let's get to the Jolly Rodger, I don't think Granny would appreciate if we started duelling outside her diner."

Henry nodded, "Probably a good idea."

As they walked to the docks Killian pretended not to notice that the teenager was practically skipping beside him.

Dropping the wooden sword on the deck between them, Killian smirked at the appalled expression on the boy's face.

"Why can't I fight with a real sword?"

"Henry I taught many a lost boy how to fight on Pan's orders and after may incidences I came to the conclusion that using a wooden one in the beginning is much wiser."

Henry Mills practically pouted, "But I already used these! With Neal and David! I've gotten all I can out of them"

"You asked me to teach you so I'm teaching you. My way."

Henry dipped his head, "Sorry, you're right."

Killian nodded, "It's fine" and picked up his own wooden sword, "Come on then Mr. Mills."

Killian smirked, "Show me what you got."

Henry picked his sword up off the deck and grinned."

"It's on."

The sound of wood banging against the deck rattled throughout the ship for the tenth time.

Henry groaned, and bent down to pick his sword up once more.

"Okay, maybe I'm hopeless."

Killian shook his head.

"You're not hopeless kid, you just need to think of your opponent, how they'll react to your move, how they can deflect it, what their next move will be so you can block it."

"But-"

"Confidence." Killian raised his wooden sword "Confidence is key, just tell yourself you can beat me. Believe it Henry."

Henry inhaled deeply and nodded, raising his sword too.

In an instant their swords were clashing.

"Remember what I said. Always be one step ahead Henry."

Killian saw the boy's eyes flare as he drew his sword back and aimed it at Killian's stomach.

Killian blocked it easily.

In a flash Henry brought the sword back against his hand and tugged the sword out of Killian's grip with his own.

Henry stared at the sword on the ground and the one in his hand.

"But… how?"

Killian smirked, "Better, much better."

Picking up his sword he ignored the boy's shocked face. "Let's continue."

This continued for another two hours before Henry reluctantly agreed to take a break.

Henry won some, Killian won others, likely more but the boy was improving greatly.

Henry jumped at the clash of metal falling onto wood from a height.

The lad turned sharply from where he was looking out at the sea and stared at the floor.

"Wha-really?"

Killian retrieved his sword from the trunk and nodded,

"Only one or two fights to see how you handle it but I think you should handle it well."

Henry grinned and picked up the sword, "Brilliant! You really trust me with this?"

Killian grinned back, "Yeah just don't take my other hand lad."

Killian was cautious and careful with this duel.

Instructing Henry step by step. Showing where on the body would do an opponent the most harm. How one could still deflect you when you think you've won. Techniques to injure but not kill and how to block an opponent.

At times Killian worried it would be too much for the boy but Henry was only too eager to learn more and try new methods.

They duelled slowly.

Killian pausing every once in a while to explain what Henry was doing wrong, compliment him on what he did right and how to improve his tactics.

After a half hour of that, Killian decided it was unfortunately time they cease their training.

"I think that's enough for today lad."

"Are you sure?" The disappointment in his voice was unmistakable and Killian almost regretted his response

"David will be expecting you soon, I'll walk you home."

Placing the swords, both wooden and metal back safely in the weapons trunk, Killian smiled at Henry.

"Ready?"

Henry nodded, "Yeah."

They walked to David's loft, on the way Henry chatted to him about baby Neal, school and Violet.

Apparently Violet had joined Henry's class with a few other teenagers in an effort to include more of the Camelot kids into Stroybrooke's everyday life.

Killian nodded along and spoke small remarks at appropriate times and Henry seemed satisfied with that."

Henry was just finishing telling the tale of Violet's reaction to maths homework when they reached the loft.

"Thanks for today Killian, it was awesome!"

From his enthusiastic tone and grin Killian assumed 'awesome' was a good thing.

"No problem, any time."

Henry's grin widened, "Really?"

Killian nodded, "Yeah sure."

Henry opened the door to the loft, "I might hold you to that, thanks again Killian."

"Sure lad, see you later."

The door closed and Killian retreated downstairs, thinking he might stop by the library on his way home and try and make up for the day of research he lost.

He didn't regret a second of it though, quite the opposite.

He hoped Henry would take up his offer to spend more time with him.

But until then he'll study some books in hopes for any sort of answer to what happened in Camelot and how he could help Emma become herself again.

AN: That's the fourth drabble complete! Please follow, favourite and of course review! It means a lot!

Thanks for reading!

- xTeam Mockingjayx