Chapter 9

Never smile at a crocodile.

I've said it so many times

I would change my ways

No, never mind

God knows I've tried

The dark of the room tormented Hook's head, non-stop. He had tried to plan his revenge once again but his thoughts leaded him in a completely different way. It had been many years since he had become a pirate, far more a lost boy from Neverland without parents. He had forgotten but it was all clear now, his right hand touched the cold floor as if it was trying to grasp to something, images in his head appeared from nowhere like quick flashes.

-'Have you ever seen one, face to face?' Nibs had asked his voice as sharp as that of a child, doubting his leader had really seen a mermaid as close as he said.

'Aye! Course I have.' He had answered, his chest sticking out with pride. He didn't delay to point out how great he was, -not that it had changed or anything-. He remembered thinking how grand was to be the eldest of the lost boys, and yet he would never grow up; how glorious was that? Always being the one that was admired by the little ones around him, doing whatever he wanted without someone telling him what was right or wrong.-

The boy who wouldn't grow up.

And now, after all those years he had grown up, doing things he swore he would never do, leaving Neverland and his little boys, always for one and only reason: revenge. Yes, he had always sought for it. Not just against Rumpelstiltskin, but many others. His hand became a fist; all those feelings that had disappeared with Emma's arrival had come back, he wasn't going to stay there, arms crossed waiting for his captor to let him go. He knew what he was risking, not seeing Emma again was one of them but God knew he needed to do it. It was everything he had become to know, it was what kept him alive and he couldn't let it go just like that. He was going to have what he had come for. He was aware he didn't have a plan, after all those years and he didn't have a plan. Did not matter though, he would get him regardless the way.

He scowled and untied the rope of his feet, he had enough practice to do it with his right hand and not a hook in his left – That Gold had taken it from him- after a few minutes he got up with an evident flinch. Another flash of images went through his head.

-'Well then?' One of the twins had asked after Hook had gone to investigate this ship that had arrived to the Indian Camp.

'Tell us, tell us!' The other twin had insisted.

'I will just tell you something, never smile at a crocodile!' He had laughed, giving a pirouette in the air flying back to the camp where the ship had anchored. Oh what an adventure that was, saving Tiger Lily. - He shook off all those memories and gave a few steps before smirking.

'Aye, never smile at a crocodile.' He repeated to himself, the smirk deepening. He reached down slowly and took the gun he had taken from Emma, she would really piss off. He put it in his belt and gave a few more steps reaching the door. 'And Captain Hook never breaks a promise.' He whispered, the doorknob turned and the door opened. He felt ready for everything, he feared it was only an impulse but it didn't matter anymore, he was already in the crocodile's mouth.

'I do not know if I am offended by not being that overlooked, I'd have thought I'd need much more security guarding me.' He said surprised Rumpelstiltskin wasn't anywhere to be seen, he knew it couldn't be that easy; a spell maybe or fairy dust from a bad one or… He gave a few steps before bumping up against someone. The gun falling a few meters away from him, he had implied the beast was the one that blundered against him, so as soon as he recovered he ran after the gun holding it up high. His head tilted when he saw the lass in front of him, that wasn't what he expected he recognized her after a few seconds.

'After all those years.' Hook said, putting down the gun.

'Wha- What are you doing here?' Belle inquired.

'Well, I'm not here to kill you love, nor to rescue you that's for sure.' He wasn't very interested in her, she could notice that. 'So! Where is him, let me say he is indeed a coward if he sent you to get reed of me or whatever.' He wasn't steady, looking all around, graving things and putting them not in their place, throwing one or two.

'Excuse me?' Belle said confused, he was getting to her nerves.

'RUMPLESTILSKIN!' Hook shouted, he seemed out of his mind. 'Where the bloody hell is him?' He hadn't acted this way in years, but his patience was depleting. He didn't think straight anymore, his head was a big mess of present and past memories all of them making him more furious. Belle tried to look at him but it was impossible he didn't stop moving and his eyes gave her goose bumps, they looked full of anger and sadness. He looked physically ill, sweating and trembling, shiners under those ocean blue eyes and bruises all over his body.

'Please, let me help you.' Belle said with the calmest voice she could use.

'I don't need your help; I want that coward to face me.' He said sharp. 'Where is he,' The gun in his right arm lifted and pointed to Belle, she was trembling now too. 'don't you dare try hiding him because I'll find him not matter if that is the last thing I do, goddamn!' He could feel the cold sweat travel from her upper forehead to the tip of his nose. There was no way back.

'I'm already in the crocodile's mouth.' He reminded to himself.

'Sorry?' Belle asked backing away from him. 'I'll help you, everything is gonna be fine alright? Now, I'll get nearer you' She gave one step, looking he hadn't done anything she gave two more 'I will need the gun…' He didn't let him finish.

'Not a chance! Tell me where is he, now!' He shouted. Her eyes begged him to stop but he was too busy trying to shut up his own thoughts he didn't even realize. A move, a move from her head was what betrayed her. He looked into the direction she was looking at. 'He ain't here then.' A smile left his mouth. 'Well thank you very much love. You aren't as useless as I would have thought.' He winked at her and left.

Every step he gave confused him even more, memories he didn't even used to remember now were all over his head. He was starting to be Captain Hook again, the man who was feared, known in every port, in every sea and ocean; proliferating chaos everywhere. He felt powerful, nothing could stop him now.

Emma had been there for two or three hours already, her patience almost gone. Her eyes revealing her desperation, she needed her son back. She gave a few steps before the sound made her stop. She knew perfectly that sound, a bullet leaving a gun, one shot; then another.

She turned around in all directions, it was near. She lowered her hand making her jacket aside, trying to get her gun but it wasn't there. David's voice called her name but she couldn't hear the rest because it was interrupted by another shot. She ran into that direction where the sound came from.

The scene in front of her made her stop, Mr. Gold and Hook, face to face. She tried to look into Killian's eyes but it was useless, he looked bad even mad. Her spine felt a cold tremble; she had never seen him that way. And she feared him, she feared the man she thought she loved.

A/N: Hi guys! Hope you're having a good time. So what you think about this chapter? I hope you liked it; I really tried to show Hook's past and the problematic he has with it, I kind of wanted to show another Killian Jones, more like the one we are used to, the bad pirate feared by everyone you know, because I think in the end that's pretty much his essence and how Emma has to deal with it. I don't know, I hope you enjoyed it though. Tell me what you think!

xx