Chapter 4 - Meanwhile in the Dungeon part 2 (aka: another love letter to Killian-whump)
When the smoke cleared Liam saw they were back in the caverns. Deeper perhaps. The sound of water assaulted him, the calming effect of the sound gone centuries ago leaving behind only knowing fear of what that water could mean. Oblivion.
The water held his attention for only a moment before a cry of pain from Killian echoed across the chamber. Hades was dragging Killian toward the water by a fist full of hair. Chains held Killian bound and, with a flick of Hades' fingers, the chains tightened and pulled taught. Killian groaned as they hauled him off the ground inch by inch, crushing broken ribs and open wounds alike.
Liam surged forward towards Hades but he didn't make it far. His arm wrenched behind him as the shackle on his wrist made itself known to him via a sharp pain at his shoulder. "Leave him alone, you bastard!" Liam cried, straining against the shackle, heedless of the tearing in his joint. That didn't matter. None of it did. None of it, save for Killian.
"And why would I do that?" Hades asked with what appeared to be genuine amusement on his face.
"Liam, please-" Killian begged, seeing the look of angry determination in Liam's eyes. His voice was barely audible and Liam strained to hear. "Stay out of this," Killian pleaded breathlessly, his voice shaking. "You don't have to-"
"I don't," Liam agreed. "But this is all I can do to protect you."
"No," Killian whispered, "For once in your damn life- Let me protect you."
"You know I can't do that, Killian," Liam practically growled in frustration. "You know I've never been able to do that." Liam turned to Hades who watched them intently, as though watching a particularly amusing jester making a fool of himself.
The path forward was clear, and the fear faded in the familiarity of this. It had been centuries, but distracting a captain from harming his little brother was a well-honed skill. "You brought me here to hurt Killian," Liam reminded Hades, "and having me as a spectator isn't going to do that."
"Are you so certain of that?" Hades taunted. He pulled the hook from the end of Killian's brace. Killian closed his eyes, waiting for the accustomed pain that had always followed; none came. "I wonder how many people you've stabbed with this?" Hades asked Killian conversationally. "In the course of three hundred years of piracy, it has to be a lot, right? Dozens?" Killian looked away without answering. "Hundreds?" Hades suggested.
Hades turned suddenly, burying the hook into Liam instead. Pain flared in his chest, so suddenly that he couldn't bite back the cry of agony. The sick feeling of cold metal slicing so easily into hot flesh was nearly enough to make him forget where he was, who was-
Liam was distracted from his own pain by another sound, this time an anguished cry torn from Killian's throat. "No! No no no! Leave him alone!"
Liam tried to smile reassuringly through the tearing of muscle. He wasn't sure if he succeeded. "It's alright, Killian," he insisted anyway, although his voice was tight with pain. He could hear it, doubtless Killian could too.
His every instinct screamed at him to retreat, to pull away from Hades, to scuttle the far end of the shackle around his wrist and put as much distance between himself and the monster as possible. But Liam had known men like Hades all his life. Cruelty and a short attention span combined; there was no reasoning with such men. Only distracting them. And he couldn't let Hades hurt Killian. Not any more than he already had.
"I can see why you like the hook," Hades commented conversationally, sparing a glance back at Killian. "You can really just-" Hades grasped the base of the hook, twisting back and forth with a grin of malice, "just get to the heart of someone this way." Liam clenched his jaw, a hiss of pain the only sound he allowed past his lips despite the agony.
The metal in his chest was frighteningly cold, even after the few moments that Liam's hot blood had been pouring from the gaping wound around it. It was like he could feel the icy tip of the hook - Killian's hook - rooting around between his ribs and threatening to shatter his heart. The look in Killian's eyes wasn't any better than the pain in Liam's chest, and he had to look away, couldn't bear to see that much guilt and agony in his little brother's pitiful gaze.
Liam wasn't sure when he had closed his eyes but when he opened them again, Hades had released his grip on the hook, leaving it protruding grotesquely from his body as he returned his attention to Killian. He was saying something under his breath to Killian and his little brother's face contorted in fear.
"No… don't-" Killian whimpered.
Anger rose then and Liam spat towards Hades to get his attention. Liam had only a few seconds to prepare himself before Hades was on him again, ripping the hook free of his chest, the tearing of muscle and flesh as the tip of the hook caught and sliced maliciously on its exit. He tried to brace himself, to not make a sound, but he couldn't choke back his anguished cry.
He wasn't sure how long he drifted, lost in a haze of agony, when Killian's voice pulled him back to reality. Only, that couldn't be right. Killian didn't beg. Ever. He'd learned centuries ago, as Liam had, that begging didn't help. Was far more likely to make things worse. But here they were and there was a note of desperation in Killian's voice that Liam had never heard there before.
"Please! Just let him go," Killian begged, "I'm the one you wanted. Just let Liam go."
"Did you know he didn't beg once before you came down here?" Hades asked Liam tauntingly. "I'm rather pleased with the effect that hurting you is having on him. I was altogether prepared to send you back to the surface if necessary." Hades glanced over at Killian and Liam could just barely see the vindictive smile on his face. "But as it is, I'm not sure I'm going to have to lay another finger on Killian at all. I get so much better results hurting his brother."
Liam wasn't certain when he had fallen to his knees but he found he deeply disliked looking up at Hades. He moved slowly, breathing in short shallow breaths that still sent fresh darts of pain radiating from the open wounds as his chest rose and fell. He locked his shaky knees and met Hades gaze with what he hoped was more his brother's look of defiant anger then the fear and pain that was at the forefront of his mind at the moment. He didn't look at Killian. He couldn't.
"I'm going to enjoy watching him break," Hades whispered when Liam regained his footing. "Just as you did." He raked the hook slowly across Liam's chest, scoring a deep line of red. Liam didn't make a sound, but his back arched in silent agony as Hades decorated his skin with lines of red. The hook caught on the edge of the deeper wound it had made when Hades had ripped it free, and Liam gave a strangled cry as the hook tore at already gouged flesh. Blood dripped down his chest, staining his skin, his clothes, the ground as it pooled beneath him but Liam did not fall to his knees again. He wouldn't make Killian watch him fall. Not so long as he could find the strength to stand.
"No," Killian whispered again. "You've made your point. You want me to beg? I'll beg. Please, don't hurt him anymore."
"Only if you do something for me, Captain." Liam looked up but Hades had already made his way closer to Killian leaning close so that Liam couldn't catch the words that passed between them.
"If you don't want me to break him, you do it first," Hades whispered in Killian's ear.
"What?" Killian hissed.
Hades leaned closer still, "I have a theory that you can break your brother in far less time than I can. And you wouldn't even have to make such a mess."
"Don't, Killian-" Liam called, "whatever he's telling you, whatever he wants-" Hades rolled his eyes and moved back to Liam. The hook flew, a flash of silver and then pain exploding along his left jaw and cheek. The crunch of bone under his eye nearly made him sick. He crumpled to his hands and knees, shaking his head in a futile attempt to clear the points of light dancing behind his eyes. When he could see again Hades was at Killian's side once more.
"Do it, Hook," Hades whispered. "Show me how to break your brother and perhaps I'll give you a reprieve." Hades backed away and watched Killian carefully. Liam was still dazed from the blow but struggled to his knees regardless, steeling himself against the next.
There was silence for a moment and Hades thought he might refuse, but then Killian took a breath and spoke.
"I wish you'd left instead of father," Killian said finally, "He'd have been able to take care of me."
Liam rocked backwards as though struck. "Killian… I tried. You don't… you don't mean that?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Killian spat back. "Look at where we are, brother! Look at what's become of me!" Killian's head fell forward in exhaustion. A look of glee crossed Hades face as Liam sank the rest of the way to the floor, a look of horror and guilt plain on his face.
"Well, that was fun," Hades said, tossing the bloody hook from one hand to the other. "I'll give you boys some time to…" he chuckled, "discuss this. After all you are not the only ones I mean to strip of hope today."
He left Killian's side and advanced on Liam, "Don't try to interfere. If you interfere, your brother falls to the river. Well, faster than he otherwise would." Hades vanished and for a moment all was quiet.
"Thought he'd never leave," Killian murmured.
"What the devil was that about?" Liam asked, pulling himself painfully to his feet again. "I'm glad as you that he's gone but-" he lifted his shackled arm and tugged at it again. "He'll be back, Killian, and if he thinks he's broken you it's only a matter of time before he drops you into the river."
"Right pocket," Killian murmured. Liam stepped forward and instantly the chains slackened, sending Killian a few inches closer to the water. Killian groaned at the movement, his head still hanging limp with exhaustion. "Your right pocket," Killian clarified, finally looking up. There was a spark of amusement in his good eye and Liam felt relief loosening the knot in his stomach. Not so broken as Hades had thought.
He fished into his right pocket and pulled out a set of lockpicks that he was certain had not been there when he left the bar. "How-"
"Still have a trick or two left in me," Killian replied, "Hurry-"
Liam set to work on the shackle, and within a few moments it hit the ground. He took another step towards Killian to free him as well but the chains groaned again, dipping Killian even closer to the water. Liam froze, horrified and the chains grew taught again. He was close enough to see how Killian trembled, to hear the raspy breaths that he forced past constricted lungs. To be so close to Killian while he was in pain and to be unable to go to him was a worse torment than anything Hades had come up with before. But it seemed that Hades' order to not interfere carried a magical imperative. Every step closer to Killian was a step closer to his oblivion.
"Killian-" Liam's heart clenched as he realized that Killian had never intended them both to escape together.
"I know," Killian affirmed his unspoken fear, "You must go, Liam. There's a woman from above. She's here, somewhere, looking for me- Emma Swan. You must find her."
"No. Killian, please," Liam begged, "don't ask me to leave. Ask anything else, anything else. I can't just leave you to suffer alone." Liam had been prepared to refuse to leave, to insist that he would sit right here until Hades returned, if necessary, to demand that they leave this cavern together or not at all. He hadn't been prepared for Killian to offer him a plan- A seed of suspicion nagged at the back of his mind. Was this, too, a trick? Killian's way of forcing his brother to leave this damned place without him?
"Please, brother-"
"How can you even know that this woman is here?" Liam asked.
"She's here," Killian insisted, "I can feel it. Trust me. Find Swan."
Trust me?
It was not Killian he didn't trust. What if Killian fell? What if Killian ended his existence, alone and anguished, because Liam wasn't fast enough? The fear was near paralyzing and Liam wanted desperately to refuse. He knew he would never forgive himself if Killian were lost because he'd left his side. But if there were a chance… any chance at all to save him and he didn't take it...
"If you truly believe she can save you…" Liam watched Killian carefully and saw Killian's small nod of assent. "I hope she can, because I can't, not this time." The first step away is the hardest, he told himself, fighting against the paralyzing fear. Just go, just hurry. But he paused and turned back before leaving the cavern. "I love you, Killian," he called, "I will come back for you."
He was gone before Killian could respond, knowing if he heard his brother's reply, he might never leave.
Liam's maps were accurate, as far as Emma could tell, though when she mentioned this out loud it prompted a full throated laugh from Milah. ("Of course they're accurate!") But it was slow going. Half the passageways seemed to lead to dead ends, some looped back on themselves, some were marked with unpleasant looking symbols that Emma could only assume were traps of some variety. She wasn't sure of their nature and had no intention of finding out. Every turn had to be carefully confirmed on three different charts to ensure they didn't take a fatal wrong turn.
Their progress was agonizingly slow and it was all Emma could do not to tear the maps to pieces and just charge down the nearest corridor. Finally they reached a fork in the road that the map was not clear on and Milah glanced over at Emma.
"Split up?" Emma asked.
"Liam would tell me that was a terrible idea-"
"Got a better one?"
Milah took another look at the map, wishing she had paid more attention when Liam had taught her to read these notations, rather than admiring the way his brow furrowed as he made them. Finally she pointed at the map.
"If it's the right way it will split again into three passages a little further down," she said. "We each go 30 paces down one passage and then return here. If one of us sees the correct branching pattern we go that way. If we still can't tell after 30 paces we still meet back here and pick one together."
"Be careful," Emma warned, and Milah grinned at her.
"Me? You're the one with a beating heart to protect."
Emma started down her passage but hadn't made it more than 20 paces before she heard footsteps from ahead. Ducking into a shadowed alcove she listened carefully, someone was in a hurry-
The sound of running grew nearer and Emma watched the approaching figure from the shadows as he passed under the lamp, trying to decide if she should reveal herself. Under the light of the lamp she saw blood soaked the man's shirt and his face was starting to bruise under one eye, the wounds looked fresh and the bruises would surely color brilliantly over the next few hours. Taking a chance that someone in such a state was more likely to help than hinder she stepped out of the shadows.
"Who the hell are you?" she asked abruptly. The man nearly ran into her and Emma took a step back.
"This may sound like a strange question, but are you Emma Swan?" Emma's eyebrows lifted and he hurried on. "Please, tell me you are, we don't have much time."
"Yes… I'm Emma," she said hesitantly. "Who are you?"
"My name is Liam Jones. My brother needs your help."
"You know where Killian is-" she started before suspicion rose again in her mind. It could be another of Hades traps, meant to lead her away from Killian. If it was Liam, Milah would know, "Follow me-" Emma ordered and Liam hesitated.
"There's no time- Emma, please-"
"If you really are Killian's brother then you'll understand I can't risk letting an enemy lead me away from him right now."
Liam nodded and Emma indicated the direction she'd come from, "After you-"
When they reached the place where she was to meet Milah, she had not yet returned.
"Wait here," Emma told the man, and hurried down the passage Milah had taken. She ran into the woman not much farther down and Milah started but Emma cut her off.
"There's a man back at the rendezvous point, he says his name is Liam and he knows where Killian is. I had to be sure-"
Milah nodded and hurried back toward the fork. When she saw the man ahead she put on a burst of speed that left Emma in the dust.
"Where the hell have you been?!" she cried, "Unless you've moved on, you stupid man, you're not allowed to leave me alone down here! Do you have any idea how worried I w- You're bleeding. Liam, why are you bleeding?"
"You know I would never leave you alone down here unless it was for Killian," Liam replied gently. "Hades dragged me down to the dungeons to see him. Not that I resisted. I know where he is but we don't have much time."
"So we can get to him?" Emma broke in. "Where is he?"
"Hades' dungeon, the demon has him suspended over the River of Lost Souls. If we don't hurry-" Liam cut himself off, unwilling to even imagine... "We have to get back now. I know Milah can fight. Can you?"
"I can hold my own," Emma replied and Milah smirked.
"Would Killian ever fall for someone who couldn't kick his butt?" Her attempt to lighten the mood didn't remove the scowl from Liam's face in the slightest and it was that more than anything else that terrified her. His face was a mask of worry and Milah shuddered. Whatever Hades had done to Killian, it was bad to have Liam in such a state.
With Liam's guidance they no longer had to check the map every few paces, Liam sprinted through the tunnels, despite his injuries with Milah and Emma close on his heels.
When they entered the cavern Emma couldn't help the cry that escaped her.
"Killian!" He didn't so much as raise his head at her voice and her blood ran cold.
"There's some magic," Liam warned, "whenever I moved closer to him it sped his descent into the cursed waters. Perhaps the magic will not prevent you from reaching him in time. I'll wait outside, to distract Hades should he return."
Milah shook her head, "Not alone you won't. You go on, Emma. If Hades returns, two of us will be able to distract him longer than one. Besides, of the three of us, I am the most expendable."
"No one is expendable here," Emma retorted. "You both be careful."
"Don't look down," Milah warned and Emma nodded turning back towards Killian.
Don't look down. Yeah, right… The river swirled beneath her, nothing more than a thin walkway between herself and the grasping souls below. She could swear some of them were reaching for her-
The sound of clanking chains recaptured her attention and she realized with horror that Killian was slowly moving toward the water.
Screw this-
She ran, sprinting across the rest of the distance and grabbing Killian just as he dipped below the platform. He cried out as she pulled him along the grating and as much as the sound pained her, at least it meant he was still here.
"Emma?" his voice was barely a whisper and his head fell onto her shoulder.
"Oh, Killian-" she held him tight, clinging to him harder than she probably should have to reassure herself he was still here. "You're going to be okay, I've got you."
"I told you to let me go. You shouldn't be here, nobody should."
"I never listen," she tried to smile but she could feel the hot tears in her eyes threatening to fall. He looked... terrible. She'd never seen him this utterly exhausted, or this covered in blood and bruises, and she held him tighter. But then the smallest of smiles appeared on his face.
"You're impossible," he chuckled.
"And you love me for it."
He nodded, his head falling back to her shoulder, "Aye, love, I do."
"We have to get out of here, Killian, before Hades returns." Killian grimaced and tried to suppress an involuntary shudder, but nodded and allowed Emma to help him to his feet. The path back across the bridge was even more terrifying than it had been on the way in. Killian was by no means steady on his feet and he couldn't seem to put any weight on his left leg without it nearly collapsing under him. She tucked herself under his shoulder on that side, but however tightly Emma clung to his arm he swayed precariously with each step.
When they reached halfway across there was a widening of the path and Emma paused. "We can stop here a moment," she offered and Killian sagged against her. She ached to use her magic to heal him but if anything would call Hades back to this place, it was probably light magic. She looked the remaining distance to be crossed and back to Killian; he'd gone a little green and looked as though he were moments from passing out right where he stood.
If he fell was she strong enough to pull him back up without magic?
It wasn't a risk she was willing to take.
"LIAM!" Emma called, Liam rushed into the cavern at a sprint, meeting her halfway across the bridge without even looking down.
"I told you I would come back for you, didn't I?" Liam asked, sinking next to his brother. Killian gave him a pained smile.
"I never doubted."
Liam glanced over the bridge and apparently came to the same conclusion that Emma had. "Killian-"
"I'll make it," Killian insisted wearily, "I just need a moment-"
"Killian, I am going to carry you over the rest of this bridge and you're not going to argue with me about it. We've come too far now to lose you because you're a proud git."
The pained smile returned to Killian's face and he nodded, "Aye, Captain."
"This is going to hurt like hell-" Liam warned, "but it's better than hitting the water." Liam moved closer, "Ready, brother?""
Killian nodded and in a swift movement Liam draped Killian over his shoulders and straightened. Killian went dead pale and choked back a cry at the pressure on his ribs, clutching his fingers spasmodically against Liam's back, but Liam was already moving. Step by step, sure-footed and never once looking down at the river, ignoring the pain that flared in his own wounds. Emma followed and when Liam put Killian back on his feet on the other side of the bridge she was there at his side again to steady him.
"Thank you," Emma told Liam and he looked at her, confused. For a moment she thought he'd tell her the obvious, that he didn't do it for her, but in the end he just nodded, leading the way from the cavern.
Milah was still at her post when they left the cavern, eyes watching nervously for signs of Hades. Her vigil broke when she saw Killian though, her jaw dropping in a soundless cry. She shook her head and pasted the falsest smile Emma had ever seen on her face before coming up to them.
"You look like absolute hell, Captain! I have Hello Kitty band aids to assist in this predicament!"
"I think…" Killian murmured, "I think Cerberus rattled my head harder than I thought-"
Milah's smile fell, but before she could say anything more Liam was taking charge again and she moved aside, confused and hurt by his lack of reaction to her.
"We should make haste," Liam said, "Hades will not remain absent for long."
Emma nodded her agreement, "But first, I have something for you." She pulled Killian's hook from her pocket, meticulously cleaned of blood and slipped it back into its brace.
"That's right!" Milah said, "Liam, you totally owe me twenty bucks!"
Liam smiled but Killian didn't so much as glance at her, in fact, he grimaced and seemed to be actively avoiding looking at her. Her heart sank. She'd known he'd moved on, been happy for him… really, but- She shook her head. Now was not the time for her own silly emotions. Not when Liam was bleeding, Killian was barely being held upright, and Hades could return at any moment.
"Let's get you back to my bar," Liam suggested. "It's not perfect but it will be safer than staying in Hades' prison, waiting for him to return."
"Your... bar? Really?" Killian asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his lip.
"You'd be surprised," Milah said quietly. "He makes a fairly decent mimosa." By this time she didn't really expect a response from Killian but Liam certainly noticed, giving his brother a confused look.
"Yes really," Liam retorted finally, "I run a bar here. It's not a perfect place to recuperate but at least it's familiar ground."
"To the bar then," Killian replied, "I will follow you brother, as always."
The journey back out of the caverns was surprisingly uneventful, though that didn't stop Liam from nearly jumping out of his skin each time there was a distant sound that could perhaps be a growl. Killian's steps were slow and pained but they'd agreed they could not risk Emma's magic so close to Hades' lair. So they moved slowly but steadily through the caverns, hoping that whatever had distracted Hades for so long continued to do so for just a little while longer.
Milah lagged behind the group, watching Killian with heartbroken eyes that gave Liam a flash of an abrupt and strange emotion when it came to his brother.
Anger.
He reminded himself that Killian had been through a lot, but the unfamiliar feeling settled low in the pit of his stomach and refused to budge.
All his life he'd put his brother first, looked out for him. And since Milah had come to the underworld she'd filled that void. Someone to protect, someone to care for. But now with them in the same room he felt an unfamiliar tug between the two that he'd never experienced before. Every half choked sound from Killian made him desperate to go to him, filled him with a rage towards Hades that was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. But each glance back at Milah, with her eyes downcast and confused made him ache to go to her. To assure her that this was not about her, that certainly Killian hadn't meant to hurt her, he wouldn't-
Liam did neither. Now was not the time for that. He had to get them both to safety, before he could spare a thought for Killian's broken body or Milah's broken heart.
It wasn't until Emma had helped Killian sink down onto a couch in the back room of the bar that Liam finally relaxed just a little. Emma raised her hands to heal Killian's injuries but Killian shook his head, reaching for her hand and kissing it gently.
"It could lead Hades here," he insisted. "I won't lead Hades right to you-"
"Killian, you can't stay like this," Emma said. "You need-"
"I need very little right now," he interrupted. "If Hades finds us anyway and you need me to fight that's one thing but to bring the fight to you before you're ready, for the sake of a few cuts and bruises?"
The disbelieving look on Emma's face likely mirrored Liam's own, he was sure, but then he noticed Milah out of the corner of his eye. She'd remained hovering in the doorway behind Killian, apparently afraid to let him out of her sight, but nervous to come any closer. He gave Emma and Killian some privacy and went to her hoping Emma could talk some sense into his little brother given the chance.
"Are you alright?" he asked, and Milah jumped, his question dragging her back to the present. The false smile slipped back on her face and she nodded. "Of course I am! Killian is safe and fine and it really doesn't matter that he looked right through me like I wasn't even there." her words were shrill and too fast and Liam winced. "I mean, really," she continued, "it's been centuries-"
He cut her off with an arm around her shoulders and a tight squeeze. She looked up, surprised by the sudden warmth. Physical contact was something they did not do. An unspoken agreement, centuries in the making, that they broke only on a few days a year. Killian's and Baelfire's birthdays, the anniversaries of their own deaths; the days where things were just… harder. And even then it was never like this, just a hand on a shoulder perhaps.
"Milah, he's been through a lot. He just needs some time to get his sea legs under him again. He's here, that's the important thing; and I'll talk to him. I still stand by my bet that if he was Captain Hook, he was doing it all for you."
She realized she must have let the panic into her voice but couldn't regret it, leaning into him for support, wanting nothing more than for him to be wrong. He leaned against her, too, taking her shifting for permission. "You just made that in the hopes of cancelling out the 'Killian is Captain Hook' bet," she grumbled.
"Of course I was trying to cancel out the Killian is Captain Hook bet," Liam retorted, "After that Lost Boy we ran into, you had me convinced on that one."
"I'm reasonably certain I'd know my captain anywhere, even if he's only whispered about in stories and rumors."
"If you still want to punch me you can," he said with a smile, offering her another subject which she gladly seized upon. She pulled away, the room suddenly feeling oddly colder without his arms around her, and punched his shoulder half-heartedly.
Her blow had been teasing but unfortunately placed and he flinched back, a grimace crossing his features for a fraction of a second.
"Shellfish! Liam, you're still bleeding!"
"It's not like I need the blood for anything," Liam said, failing miserably to lighten the mood. "It's really…" Liam trailed off, "I got blood on your shirt. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry."
"Do you really think a pirate can't get blood out of every piece of clothing she has?" Milah rolled her eyes. "Are you actually apologizing to me for bleeding? Or for hugging me while bleeding?" she demanded. "Because the bleeding is not okay. Absolutely unacceptable. Don't do it again. I should punch you again for not telling me! Or anyone! Get Emma to heal it. Or at the very least let me clean it or bandage it or something."
"I'm fine," Liam said again. "Killian got the worst of it. Let her heal him first." He glanced back at the other room where Emma was apparently still trying to convince Killian that magic was worth the risk to heal his wounds. "Besides, mine are not as bad as they look."
A flush of guilt surged through her, she'd been so stuck in her own head, so caught up in her fear for Killian, that she'd somehow forgotten. Now that she was paying attention it looked bad. Really, really bad.
"Why did he do this?" she whispered, her fingers darting at the torn shreds of his shirt, carefully avoiding the torn flesh beneath.
"I was just another way to hurt Killian," Liam admitted, "I knew it going down there, but I know what Hades is capable of. I couldn't leave him there alone. I really should have told you before leaving the bar," he sighed, "If you hadn't found Emma, gotten her mostly there on your own. Things could have ended much differently."
"You scared me, Liam," Milah admitted, "When you weren't here I-"
"I didn't mean to leave you alone, I promise. Let me make it up to you with drinks? I know you've never heard me use this phrase before but here it goes: On the house."
"It was never the bar or the liquor I was interested in," she chastised, "I wanted to punch your face in because you're bleeding and you're my best friend and you made me worry and I was terrified you were even more dead and it's safer to worry about you than it is him."
"I'm not going anywhere," Liam assured her, "I'm very difficult to get rid of. That one time I died notwithstanding. I worry about you too. I don't ban you from the bar for fighting because of the broken furniture. You're my best friend too, y'know."
"I know," Milah sighed, "You're impossible to get rid of. You've never let me succeed in pushing you away. Thank you." He was quiet a moment and his smile fell, "Why did you keep insisting you were expendable when we were rescuing Killian? Do you really think that?"
"Goodness, how long has this been bothering you?" She laughed lightly and shrugged. "You and he are brothers and she's alive. It wasn't self-deprecation, Liam, it was taking into account that she still has a life to get back to and you're…well, you. And you're out of your fool mind if you think I'd let anything happen to you."
"It's been bothering me since you said it. Did you expect me to let it pass? Yeah, she has a life to get back to. I get that. But here's the thing. It's you and me down here. That's how it has been for centuries. For longer than I ever knew Killian. I intend to help Killian move on before Hades has the chance to take him back, and I suspect Emma doesn't mean for him to stay in the Underworld either. And when Killian is gone, you will be all I have, same as always. Who is going to make my afterlife bearable if anything happens to you?"
"And what about you? You have been the only thing that's kept me sane in this miserable hellhole, that's kept me from– You know me better than anyone, sins and all, yet you still like me. If anything had happened to either of you, dying wouldn't have hurt half as much. It was probably selfish, but at least with you, I get to be." She hurried on before he could argue, "Anyway, When you talk to him could you not tell him I threatened to break both his legs if he doesn't take it easy? I doubt that would go over well with green-eyes under the circumstances."
Liam found it suddenly hard to speak for the lump in his throat and nodded instead, glancing back over at Killian. Emma still hadn't managed to convince him that magic was worth the risk and was trying to clean him up without hurting him too badly, not particularly successfully if the look on his face was any indication.
Rolling his eyes at Killian's stubbornness he gave Milah's shoulder a last squeeze and went over to them.
"Enough of this, Killian," Liam said sternly, "If Hades comes, so be it. We will deal with it. But this place is hardly the last place Hades will look for me anyway, just let her help you."
Emma waited for Killian's nod, and within a few moments he straightened, the pain in his ribs and leg abating as his injuries began to heal.
"Better?" Emma asked.
"Thank you, love, devilishly handsome once more." There were a few moments of tension as they all wondered if Hades would appear in their midst, but he did not and Emma turned to Liam.
"I can fix you up too," she offered, "if you like-" he nodded and Emma healed him as well. He hadn't realized how much pain he was in until it faded, sheer relief from pain flooding him and leaving him suddenly exhausted.
"Thank you, Emma, that's much better," Liam said, dropping onto the couch next to Killian. "Not exactly the reunion I envisioned," he commented wearily, "I rather expected we would run into each other at the docks sooner or later and we could swap old stories, maybe get you to settle a few bets." His face grew serious and he glanced over at Milah. "I understand you are relieved to see your recent love, Killian, but you have barely looked at your first. Don't misunderstand me, Milah was glad when we heard rumors you had fallen in love again, but…" he hesitated. "It is a cruel fate to feel forgotten."
Killian looked dumbstruck for a moment and when he finally spoke it was barely a whisper. "You- You can see her too?"
Emma pressed his hand gently, realizing what had happened in a moment. "Killian, Milah is here. She and Liam both helped me to get to you."
"She's here," he repeated, not taking his eyes from Emma, and then finally, as though the words finally made sense to him he looked at Milah. "You're here?"
"Where else would I be, my captain?"
"I thought-" Killian started his mind spinning, "You said something about cat-greeting bandages and I thought I'd hit my head harder than I realized."
Milah laughed in relief, "One of the perks of assisting children cross the street is I have an assortment of colorful bandages at my disposal."
Emma squeezed his hand again, "I'm going to step out and give you two a chance to catch up, alright?"
"Step out?" he replied, voice nervous. As much as he wanted to speak to Milah the idea of Emma being on her own down here made his stomach clench painfully. "Emma, you needn't. I'd… I'd rather you stayed."
"I won't be far, just outside. Your brother was about to be a gentleman and offer me a drink, weren't you?" Emma commented lightly, glancing over at Liam. He took his cue from Emma, nodding.
"I could use one myself," Liam affirmed, standing and following Emma back out into the bar. Emma sank down onto one of the stools and he cocked his head towards the back of the bar questioningly.
She shook her head. As much as the idea of a drink appealed to her right now, she thought it was probably best she keep her wits about her down here.
Liam nodded, watching her carefully from his spot leaning against the wall with his arms folded.
"So," he said finally after several long minutes of silence. "You're alive." Emma raised her eyebrows questioningly and he continued. "You're alive and Killian is not."
Emma sighed, "I think I'm going to need that drink after all."
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Back to the grindstone. (Did we utilize a grindstone... no? missed opportunities abound) Well at least they made it out of the dungeon, I'm sure everything will be smooth sailing from here right! ... Leave us a note, it's awfully lonely here in the underworld :P