Rio 10
The women surrounded Rio. Each of them trying to give comfort in their own way.
Some of them were angry. You could tell by the set of their jaws.
Mulan decided they should spend the night there because no one thought Rio was in any condition to travel just yet.
In fact they let her cry herself to sleep.
Emma bedded down next to her while Snow and Mulan took turns guarding them for the night.
Aurora didn't even bother with her tent this time.
Instead she stayed near Rio, trying to offer comfort but not really knowing how.
Killian was left tied to the tree for the night.
Snow deliberately built the fire so he was out of reach of it's warmth.
When Emma commented she received a curt
"Maybe we'll get lucky and a bear will eat him" said Snow
Emma gave the man a hard look but didn't make any further comment.
None of them were sure what to do with him.
Most were for leaving him there but they really wanted Rio's input before they made any decision.
She woke the next morning to muted voices and the smell of food.
Someone sat down next to her and she reluctantly sat up.
Someone had shoved blankets around her last night. She'd been too out of it to notice.
"Hungry?" said Emma
She held out a plate of food to Rio. She started to shake her head no but the concern on her sisters face stopped her.
"Yeah sure" she said
Emma handed her the plate and stayed beside her as she ate it.
Emma wanted to say something she could tell. So she just waited until the other woman would just spit it out.
"You okay?" said Emma
Rio nodded sure the woman was really asking if she intended to go ballistic on them again.
She really had no intention of doing so. Her anger had burnt itself out last night, well mostly.
She glanced up and saw Killian still tied to the tree.
He looked like he tried to sleep like that last night.
Just by the way he was holding his body she could tell she hurt him bad.
Of course she'd never really lost it like that before.
There was just the one time but that had been about escaping the company. She noted everyone was eating but him.
"We haven't made a decision on what to do with him yet" said Emma
She stared at Killian for a moment more then turned her attention to the other women.
Some of them were watching her. It made her uncomfortable so she looked elsewhere.
Rio noted the fires position and smirked.
"Seems you have" said Rio
Emma looked confused until she saw the direction of her gaze.
"Yeah well none of are feeling anything close to kind for that man" said Emma
By her tone she knew Emma was feeling the same towards him.
"So the consensus is to let him freeze or starve then?" said Rio
"Or get eaten by a bear" said Emma
It struck Rio as funny so she laughed. The sound seemed to relax Emma
"Who said that?" said Rio
She wiped her eyes and her finger came away black .
Great her mascara was running. She must look like a raccoon.
"Snow" said Emma
Rio chuckled again
"She really is your mother" said Rio
Emma looked uncomfortable for a moment
"Yeah I guess she is" said Emma
"I need a bath" said Rio
Emma smirked
"Yeah you do, I'll propose it to the others. Some of us are feeling a bit ripe ourselves" said Emma
She stood up and walked over to the others leaving Rio to her thoughts.
Rio watched Killian for a few minutes. The man seemed to be asleep.
If she put aside how she once felt for him she could see why he had done what he did.
Right now though the emotions were too fresh. The wound was still bleeding so to speak.
There was still that little part of her that wanted to hurt him the way he hurt her.
If the dried blood on his chin was any indication she'd made a great start.
Now she just had to decide if she wanted to end it like that. Emma came back.
"Everyone agreed with you. So were going to head to the swimming hole.
Mulan suggested groups of two but that would leave someone alone.
Plus none of wants to leave him unattended" said Emma
She glanced at the pirate.
"So we bring him with us. There are plenty of trees we can tie him to there as well or we can just put him on a leash" said Rio
Emma grinned.
"Oh that's mean" said Emma
Rio stood up and absently rolled up the blankets. The others were doing the same.
After they dumped their dishes in the bucket Mulan was using to wash them.
She walked her stuff over to the pack horse and tied it on. Snow went behind her and retied it after she walked away.
"Don't dump that bucket when your done" said Rio
Mulan nodded and looked at the partially filthy water in her bucket. She smirked and watched Rio sit down on a rock.
"So have you decided what to do with him?" said Mulan
Everyone turned to hear her answer.
Mulan was sure she would just want to kill him and she'd even consider volunteering for the honor.
Rio smiled wickedly.
"Yeah he's going with us, we could always use another pack animal" said Rio
Mulan chuckled and went back to scrubbing.
Soon she had water that was a dark gray in color with bits of food floating in it.
Rio smiled at her and picked up the bucket
"Where are you going?" said Snow
"To give the captain his wake up call and breakfast" said Rio
She smirked at Snow and walked towards the sleeping pirate.
Grabbed the bottom edge of the bucket and chucked the contents into his face.
He woke up sputtering and blinking pieces of eggs out of his eyes.
"What the hell!That was cold woman" said Killian
"Good morning hook" said Rio
She smirked when she saw he cringed slightly at the sound of her voice.
"Rio" he said
His voice was wary. As if he expected her to resume the beating.
Mulan and Snow walked towards her.
Snow had found a halter lead and shortened it to fit around the captains neck.
Snow tossed the rope around his neck and was met with a wide eyed look of fear.
He probably thought he was about to get hung.
"Wait don't you don't have to do this. I can help you" he protested
"Relax captain we're not going to hang you, yet" said Rio
He looked less then convinced but stopped protesting.
Mulan secured another rope around his arms and as soon as one arm was released made to tie them behind his back.
He pulled on his arm hard trying to get free of the warrior woman's grasp.
He managed to get the rope out of Snow's hand and was almost free.
Except Rio grabbed the dropped rope and pulled it taught.
He gasped as the slip knot Snow used tightened enough to cut off his air supply.
He tried to pry the rope off his neck but Rio deliberately pulled harder.
He went to his knees when she pushed down on part of the rope while holding tight to the other.
His lips were turning blue and he was clawing at his throat.
He met her eyes and saw something there he didn't like.
He stopped struggling and Mulan quickly secured his arms.
Rio released the tension on the rope and loosened the loop.
He gasped and fell to his knees as much needed oxygen flooded his lungs.
"Don't ever do that again"Rio warned
All he could do was gasp and nod yes.
As soon as Mulan had him secured they marched him towards the fire.
Snow and Aurora gathered the bathing supplies.
Then they trudged up the hill dragging Killian behind them like a dog on a leash.
He was less than pleased when they tied him to another tree.
Aurora noticed he had a view of the bathing area so she held up the potato sack that held the bathing supplies.
Snow put it over his head despite his protests.
The last thing they wanted was for him to get a free show while they cleaned up.
She knew just the sounds of them washing up must be like torture to him.
She tried to ignore his presence and focus on getting the smells from the last twenty four hours off of her.
She didn't even want to think about what made them.
The others seemed to be of the same mind and even Aurora was scrubbing herself down like she had dirt in every pore.
Rio sighed and scrubbed her face. She could always reapply her makeup.
She had some supplies at least what she wouldn't do for more.
Mulan was already drying off and putting on the change of clothes she brought.
Snow and Emma were doing the same. Except Emma seemed confused about what to do about her hair.
Rio submerged and came back up. Aurora was climbing out of the water. Rio was the last one out. She slowly slid on her clothes.
"Are you ladies through yet?" said Killian
He sounded bored and she hoped he was. He was about to get a taste of a lot worse.
She wanted to make him suffer. It had been a long time since she had friends like Shanse and Clara.
He was going to pay for what he did.
She should have never trusted him the first place. She was angry because all her instincts had been screaming at her that he was something more than he appeared.
"Still thinking about it?" said Snow
"Yeah, I'm just not usually such a horrible judge of character" said Rio
Snow put her hand on her shoulder.
"We've all been there" said Snow
Rio humphed. Still didn't make her feel any less stupid.
"Yeah, what is it about a pretty man that just turns us all into idiots?" said Rio
Snow turned to look at the pirate and frowned.
"You still like him?" said Snow
"Personally no but the view is nice" said Rio
Snow chuckled and shook her head
"What it's been awhile" said Rio
Aurora was looking at the pile of supplies and at the bag on Killian's head.
She was obviously having trouble approaching him because she looked afraid of him.
Sighing Rio walked over and snatched the bag off of his head.
"Hello lovely, enjoy your bath?" he teased
She wanted so badly just to throw him in the water but knowing her luck he would probably drown.
Then she'd feel guilty and have to save him.
She grabbed the end of the rope and he eyed her warily. She pulled it tight and he glared.
"Careful love" he warned
"I'm not your love. Now we're going to untie you. If you pull the same shit you did earlier.
Your going to have a bath too and we may or may not pull you out when you start to drown" said Rio
He narrowed his eyes and gave her a look of pure hate.
"Good now we understand each other, on your feet captain we have a long walk ahead of us"said Rio. Mulan untied him and she pulled him to his feet.
"If you want to kill me, get it over with wench" he said
The flash of fury in his eyes was damn sexy. She wondered if he knew his eyes turned gray when he was mad.
"If I wanted you dead I would have never handed the knife to Emma last night, now walk Hook" said Rio
His facial expression changed some but he still looked like he intended to be stubborn.
She took a deliberate step forward letting the rope tighten on his neck.
"I will not be led around like a dog"he said.
He planted his feet and he stubbornly refused to budge.
He was challenging her to either choke him or let him go.
She tightened it further and he still refused to budge.
She could tell it was getting hard for him to breathe. Still he met her eyes calmly with no trace of fear.
"I'm not afraid of you" he stated
She smirked because she knew deep down he was.
Only someone who was afraid would make that kind of statement.
She stepped forward and got right in his face.
"I can change that" said Rio
He smirked at her and she really wanted to smack that expression off his face.
"Doubtful but your welcome to try" he responded.
He sounded so sure of himself and she hated to admit it but he probably was right.
She loosened the rope but left it around his neck.
"Then this is where we part ways, good luck captain try not to get eaten by any bears. It's bad for the bears" said Rio
She walked away from him.
"Oh very funny" he said
Mulan gave her a questioning look then followed. He looked shocked by her casual dismissal.
In fact he looked confused. He's probably never had a woman walk out on him before.
"Wait" he finally said.
Emma and Snow were the last to leave.
"Why should we?" said Emma
He struggled to his feet.
"You can't leave me here" he protested
"Watch us" said Snow
He took a few steps forward following the women down the path.
"At least untie me, c'mon ladies this is really bad form" he complained.
They kept walking and Killian followed them. He fell twice and they ignored him.
When he finally exited the trail, the women were untying the pack horse from the tree.
"Oh come on lovelies don't do this" he said
They started leading the horse away.
"Wait even if you find a portal you'll never be able to guide it to your world" said Killian
Snow turned towards him.
"We're listening better make it good" said Snow
"I know of a compass it will guide you, I'll help you retrieve it on one condition" he said
Snow scoffed and turned back to the others.
"What's the condition?" said Emma
"Take me with you, when you go" said Killian
Rio laughed and turned back to the road.
"Oh come on you bested me already, and I can count on one hand the people who have done that" said Killian
"Was that supposed to be funny?" said Emma
"Come on ladies have a heart I'm unarmed and tied to boot.
At least leave me my things I don't stand a chance out here, please show a little mercy" he said
Rio stopped walking and turned.
"Where is the compass?" said Rio
He chuckled
"Oh not so fast love do we have a deal?" said Killian
Snow looked at Rio who was refusing to look at Killian. Oh why couldn't that man be easy to ignore.
"Fine but your earning your passage" said Rio
"Fair enough beautiful" he agreed.
She pulled his hook out of the bag and shoved it in her purse.
Mulan moved to tie his hands in the front. Then Rio tossed the satchel at him.
It hit him in the face before he caught it.
"Do try and keep up pirate" said Rio.
She turned and started walking again.
Putting him behind her and purposely ignoring the newest member of their party.
She was still pissed at him and truly wanted nothing to do with him.
Unfortunately he was probably right.
They had no way of navigating to their world and would need any help they could get.
It was either that or start picking out property for a nice log cabin.
The drawback of course was that they had to make a deal with the devil to do so.
"Your not seriously thinking of taking him with you are you?" said Mulan
Rio turned to look at the woman. Killian was far enough away that he couldn't possibly hear what they were saying.
"No, too much possibility for collateral damage" said Rio
"Collateral damage?" said Aurora
"I'll explain later" said Rio
"Discussing me were you?" said Killian
"As a matter of fact yes" said Rio
He smiled, until Aurora piped in with ironically what Rio had been thinking about.
"Rio was just saying how you don't really look like a pirate, and I think she's right" said Aurora
His grin faltered and Rio just had to rub it in.
"Yes he's a bit ah what was the word you used Mulan " said Rio
"Clean, not vermin infested at all" said Mulan
He rocked back on his heels and gave her an appraising look.
Mulan kept her visage completely calm. Rio privately vowed to never play poker with the woman.
"Oh I see" he said
He sounded a bit insulted.
"And just how many pirates have you seen?" said Killian
"Do movies count?" said Emma
She met Rio's eyes and grinned. Oh yeah ribbing the pirate new favorite past time.
"What is a movie?" said Aurora
"Oh it's a show with moving pictures and sound. People called actors pretend to be characters in the story."said Snow
"And the really good ones get awards called Oscars for their performances" said Emma
He pursed his lips.
"Har har, very funny" said Killian
"No I don't think that would count" said Aurora
Rio chuckled because the princess had totally missed the point again.
Killian knew he was being teased but seemed to at least be playing along.
"Okay so fiction aside, you have no idea what a pirate is supposed to be like at all"said Killian
Rio just couldn't resist. She had to say it .
"Nope the only pirates we know about have eye-patches, peg legs and say aarg all the time" said Rio
He looked slightly offended and somewhat mortified
"Or they grace the covers of badly written books" said Mulan
Rio froze and stared at Mulan in shock. Oh lord she didn't.
"What badly written books?" said Killian
Mulan reached into her bag and Rio tried to stifle her groan. Oh why couldn't that have been left at home.
She knew she should have just given it to Ruby or something.
She pulled out the novel and Emma moved forward to grab it.
Killian snagged it first and chuckled at the cover art.
"Oh please you have to be kidding me" said Killian
Rio wanted to hide. She was thankful Mulan had pulled it out of her pack.
Instead of him finding it in hers.
He leafed through the first few pages and Rio tried to snag it from his hands.
He deftly held it out of her reach.
"Aht ah love I'll let you read it after me" he said
Rio turned away and tried to hide her rising blush. She walked on ahead and Emma fell into step next to her.
"That was yours wasn't it?" said Emma
She was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"Yeah saw it at the station and needed something to read, damn bodice ripper" said Rio
Emma looked back and laughed at the picture
"Now that is a funny sight" said Snow
"Why is it a funny sight?" said Aurora
"Because that novel is what is commonly called a bodice ripper and it's written mainly for women" said Emma
"And it's about pirates and an actual pirate is reading it, can you say irony" said Rio
"Why is it written for women?" said Aurora
"Because it talks about.." said Emma
"You can read it next" said Rio
Emma chuckled and Aurora gave her a confused look.
They kept walking occasionally Mulan or Snow would interrupt Hook's reading to ask directions.
He pointed them in the right direction without taking his eyes from the page.
Rio privately wondered if he was enjoying himself or just really bored.
"So why didn't you ask Cora to take you to Storybrooke?" said Rio
He lowered the book and smiled wickedly at her.
"Careful love you sound jealous" he said
She glared she was not jealous was she, okay maybe a little.
"Did you two love birds have a falling out?" said Rio
He lowered the book and stared at her for a full three minutes before answering her.
"We were not lovers. Like I said before she was a means to an end.
I am curious however as to what gave you the impression otherwise?" he said.
She wasn't sure why she even said that or why she even wanted to know.
"Never mind" she said
She started to walk away and he stepped in front of her.
"No, say it please" he said
His tone was calm and she could tell it was genuine curiosity.
"All right I saw you leaving Lancelot's er Cora's right before we left, you were adjusting your clothes" said Rio
She had put him on the spot she could tell. He chuckled
"Wow okay, um yeah, wow your observant aren't you?" he said
"You asked" said Rio
"Yes love I did and I suppose I should be honest with you" said Killian
"Why start now" said Rio
"Ooh you wound me" he said
She could tell he was teasing though. So she dead panned
"Don't tempt me" said Rio
He shifted, the grin vanished and Rio tried to walk around him.
"Oh, ho. Okay I deserved that I suppose" said Killian
She tried to walk away.
"You think?" said Rio
"If you wanted to know about my love life all you had to do is ask" said Killian
"Oh no. Don't really want to know what you do on a ship with ten other men, thats just too much sharing for me" said Rio
He rocked back on his heels in shock and she quickly used his surprise to get around him.
"What I do, wait what?" said Killian
Emma and Snow burst into laughter and Mulan just smirked.
They knew what she was implying, Aurora however was clueless.
He stared after her in shock.
Rio was trying to laugh and walk at the same time. Oh lord the look on his face had been so funny.
They entered a clearing and Rio froze in shock. Not sure what she was even seeing.
She tilted her head back and stared.
Was that a plant?
Emma, Snow and Mulan walked up behind her. Snow and Emma were laughing as well.
"You should've see the look on his face when he got what you were saying.
It was so priceless. Whoa, what the hell is that?" said Emma
Snow looked where she was looking then shrugged
"That's a beanstalk" said Snow
Rio and Emma both gave her a shocked look
"For what kind of bean?" said Rio
"The magic kind"said Killian
"Impressive isn't it?" he said
"Oh wait. I've heard of this. Jack and the beanstalk right" said Emma
He snorted
"Whatever story you've heard or think you know it's not even close love" said Killian
He was talking to Emma but his eyes were on Rio. She was ignoring him and trying to see the top.
The damn thing was as big as a skyscraper and just as tall.
"He's right the real story is much darker" said Snow
"Most of the descent stories are" said Rio
"Too true" said Killian
"There was a war up there for those magic beans between humans and the giants.
A horrible bloody war with only one survivor. He has what were looking for" said Killian
"Wait, your intending to climb that?" said Rio
"Yep, have to love the compass is at the top.
Along with the last giant to survive, the worst of the lot of them I hear " said Killian
Rio swallowed nervously there was a real life giant at the top of a giant plant.
This was way too surreal. Oh lord this was the worst vacation ever.
"So let me get this straight.
Evil giants who made magic portal beans are at the top of that.. um yeah er plant and you plan to what?
Just knock on their front door and ask for it?" said Rio
He laughed.
"Only if you've got a death wish love. Besides important fact I've failed to mention.
The giant enchanted it to keep out intruders" said Killian
"So how are we supposed to get up there?" said Emma
She was staring at it like Rio had been a few minutes ago. Probably thinking the same thing.
That the pirate was nuts.
"Luckily Cora gave me a counter spell" said Killian
"How do we know. You aren't using us to get the compass for Cora" said Mulan
"Because you ladies are a lot safer company, mostly" said Killian
"I mean to get to your world and whoever gets me there will have my allegiance. Now if you don't mind" said Killian
He held up his hands and Rio frowned
"Well I can't very well climb with my hands bound" he said
Snow seemed to be considering his words for a few minutes.
Then she reluctantly went forward and untied his hands.
"Thank you my lady" he said to Snow.
She wasn't sure if he meant it or was just being cheeky.
"Now one last thing, Rio do you mind?" he said
She hesitated unsure if she should give that back to him or not.
She didn't trust him in the slightest. He was too slick too sure of his self.
He held out the stump to her and she noticed it was capped with metal
"Just slide it right in and twist sweetheart" he said
He was smirking at her and she suddenly felt foolish.
She reached into her purse and pulled out the wrapped piece of metal.
"Careful love it's quite sharp" he said
Frowning she fitted it in th hole and twisted. It snapped into place with a click.
"Ah thats much better. Now one last thing" he said
He reached for his robe and tugged it off.
He bared his torso for a half second and she could see the bruises she left on his ribs.
He discarded the disguise on the ground and shook off its remnants.
Underneath he was dressed head to toe in black most of it was leather. Now he most definitely looked like a pirate.
She must have been staring again because he was giving her that smirk again
"Like what you see, sweetheart?" he said
"No" she responded
She meant the bruises the rest was damn yummy but he had enough of an ego already.
"Now whose the liar" he quipped back.
She could tell his ego was stung by her remark
"Do they hurt?" said Rio
"Does what, oh. Yeah a little. Is that what you meant?" he said
"I'm sorry" she said
"Don't be, I've had worse" he said
He licked his lips and she found her eyes riveted on his tongue of all things.
He chuckled. She broke her gaze away and walked away from him.
Before she said or did something really stupid. He reached into his bag and pulled out a bracelet.
"Cora made two in fact. She was supposed to accompany me but well..
"So which of you lovelies gets to accompany me, I'll let you ladies work it out. Don't be afraid to really get into it" he said
The girls wandered away from him and Rio followed. She really did not want to go up that beanstalk