A/N: So this one is probably a bit M for language and hints of smut. It's kind of a Black Sails au so if you don't want to go ahead with it then don't, but otherwise please enjoy. It gets super fluffy at the end.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Pirate Queen
"Mistress Emma, there's a sail in the distance."
Emma straightened from her position hunched over the desk checking inventory in order to meet the gaze of the practically bouncing Ruby.
"There are sails in the distance most days Red," she said, slowly raising an eyebrow, "What is it about this sail that has you trying to defy gravity?"
A look flitted across her third in command's face, so brief that Emma almost missed the sly smile.
"Word from the Fort is that it's the Roger."
Mary-Margaret, her second, gasped; knocking ink across the table in her haste to cross the room.
"Are you quite certain Red, is it-"
"Ahem," Emma coughed pointedly, drawing the two women's' attention and garnering somewhat sheepish expressions at the mess. "Even if it is the Roger M, that is no excuse for ruining this week's accounts."
The pixie-cut brunette appeared so deflate ever so slightly, only Ruby's hand in her own preventing her from going back to clean up the slowly spreading puddle of ink.
"Ignore her M," said Ruby, grabbing her by the elbow and steering them closer to the door away Emma, "She's probably just as excited as you are that they're back in port...or maybe not. Remind us Emma, did you kiss him goodbye last time or slap him?"
The now empty inkpot sailed across the room, crashing against the bit of wall where Ruby's head had just been had she not managed to flee out into the bar just in time.
She could see some of the patrons chuckling at their antics, they knew all too well the reputation of Emma Swan, Mistress of the island. Though she appeared slight in frame, the pirates that flocked to her shores knew better than to cross her; fiercely tempered and always with a sword or pistol nearby. At first, when she'd taken over Nassau from Ingrid who had raised Emma after she was found washed up in a basket on the beach, people had been dubious about her position and choice of commanders. It was bad enough for some men to be under the control of one woman, let alone a whole island full of them. Those who doubted quickly learned their place and came to respect her for all that she did, trading their stolen goods under an old pseudonym for a far better price than they'd get anywhere else.
Casually saluting the bargoers, Emma gestured to one of her servers for another bottle before setting about putting the office to rights. The moment the new drink was in reach, she downed a healthy swallow, convincing herself all the while that it wasn't liquid courage. She didn't care. The Roger never strayed far from them for more than a couple of months or so, the Captain and his crew inevitably returning for their renowned hospitality. That was all they came for, the hospitality and the-
A squeal echoed from somewhere outside and Emma peered out to see Mary-Margaret beaming and August feigning sudden deafness as he strode over to her.
"Mistress," he greeted, with the same wicked smile that Ruby had had earlier, "The Roger has just docked and we're in the process of unloading the cargo."
"Well I trust that you don't need me to come and oversee things," she replied with a scowl, "You've done this enough times to know how we operate, get the goods to the warehouse and Regina and I will be down later to appraise it. Now if that's all August, I have work to be getting on with, as do you."
"I just thought-"
"What exactly did you just think Mr Booth?"
"Nothing Mistress," he responded quickly, moving back across the room and out onto the main trail that led to the docks.
With a heavy sigh, Emma squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back against the wall, hoping to block out the raucous noise if not just for a moment.
"Mistress Emma?"
"What!?" She snapped, turning to glare down the person who had dared to bother her.
"Apologies milady," whispered Aurora, one of the serving girls, "I didn't mean to interrupt, but there's a fight broken out on the beach and no-one seems to be stopping it."
Allowing her shoulders to drop momentarily, Emma shot the girl an apologetic smile.
"Thank you Aurora, I'll go and see to it now. Could you go and tell Granny we're going to probably need more stew tonight, another ships come in."
As Aurora nodded and shuffled off, Emma drew herself up to full height and stalked down towards the beach, many of her guests falling in behind her, obviously excited to see just what their host was about to do.
Fighting was one of many things not tolerated on Nassau.
It wasn't difficult to find the incident, the typical circle that had gathered to encompass the brawl and the rowdy shouts of the onlookers, suggesting the best course of action to take down their opponent. Some of them turned as she approached and quickly alerted the rest to the same fact, clearing a path so that she had easy access to the two men at the centre of it all.
"Well gentleman what do we have here?" She said coolly, hands crossed over her chest.
"Mistress," sniveled one of the pair, "This bastard here dared to bestow insult upon meself, I thought it only right that I defend me honour."
"With complete disregard for the rules of this establishment?"
"Well, you see milady-"
"Look, I don't care if he compared your cock to a bloody infants; there are none of these stupid pissing contests on my island, do I make myself clear."
The gathered spectators hooted and hollered at the angry blush that spread across the man's cheeks as he spewed a quick apology as she turned away.
"Bitch," he muttered once her back was fully facing him, and everything went silent.
She pivoted slowly, feeling the crowd close in around the poor bastard who'd made about the biggest mistake he could.
"I'm sorry. What was that?" Her voice was clear, ringing out across the sand, drenched in venom.
"Mistress, I'm so sor-"
"No. That wasn't it," she interrupted his pitiful excuse for an apology, "I heard bitch. Did everyone else get that?"
Dozens of heads nodded in unison, adding on to what was already a sealed fate; but the man did not seem willing to quickly back down.
"You lot are dogs, tell me whore. How many cocks did you have to suck to keep control of this place. You're nothing but a fancy piece of skirt, I bet you spread your legs daily just to-"
"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you mate."
Emma felt her spine straighten and an involuntary shiver ran through the length of her body at the sound of that voice. She refused to turn and acknowledge him, though her entire being seemed to hum at the feeling of his presence by her back.
"Ah and here he is. You're the worst of the lot you are. Piss poor excuse of a man, with her hand shoved so far up your arse she's turned you into a bloody puppet."
"Well I've known to be quite adventurous in bed, but even that may be pushing it a bit far for me."
The laughter echoed around her, but Emma refused to relax, her narrowed gaze still glued to her intended target.
"Of course, you're the expert of bedding this wench. Tell me, is she any better than a common slag."
Without hesistation, Emma strode forward and cold-clocked the man across the jaw, sending him sprawling back into the sand, where she moved to climb over him. Getting a good grip on his hair, she hauled his head up until their eyes were level.
"You couldn't afford me, fucker," she spat and slammed him with her fist once more, putting his lights out.
"Get him out of my sight," she ordered, turning on her heel, only to come toe-to-toe with the one person she wished to avoid.
"Hello love," he whispered with his signature crooked grin, gazing down at her as he always had, as if she were his greatest treasure.
Emma drew back her palm and slapped him across the face.
"Fuck you Jones," she hissed, marching back up the beach and away from the heckling crowd.
~E&K~
"Was it really necessary to hit him?" Ruby asked, glancing away from Mulan for the first time that night to glance at her partner's captain who was seated on the opposite side of the room to them, "He was only trying to help."
"Jones knows better than to try and get involved with my affairs. I can handle this shit without him."
She stabbed at a piece of meat, valiantly trying not to meet his magnetic eyes and stay focussed on the occupants of her own table. Regina was on her right next to the Roger's boson Robin, August was to her left next to Graham and then there was Ruby and Mulan who chimed in,
"Oh he's absolutely aware that you can handle yourself, doesn't shut up about it most of the time. But he can never help himself when it comes to you."
"It's the ex-navy in him," mumbled Robin through a mouthful of pork, "As much as you don't like and as much as he knows that you don't like it, he's a right proper little gentleman at heart and doesn't take well to anyone who bad-mouths you. I remember when we first took on Scarlett and he almost keelhauled the lad for making a comment about your um...chest."
August and Graham snickered while Regina rolled her eyes, and Emma stared Robin down until he felt too uncomfortable to keep looking at her. deep round of laughter drew her unwilling attention, Mary-Margaret's chiming giggle echoing above that of the rest of the crew. She was perched daintily upon the knee of David Nolan, Quarter-Master. The two were practically married, it was part of the reason that they came to the island so often, the couple seemed to plan to one day make it official. At that point, Emma would either lose M to a new life on the ship or gain David as another pair of able hands. She'd had many a heated discussion about it with Jones.
Naturally, he was at the focal point of the laughter, his men all leaning in as he delivered what was probably some manner of swash-buckling tale or other, a past misadventure that they could all look back on in jest.
Many of the staff had seemed to drift into the orbit of his table. He had that effect on people, extremely dynamic, charismatic and all-round enthralling. It made him the best captain on the seas, her greatest earner, a loyal crew who worked seamlessly and caused him (and subsequently her) no trouble at all. The people automatically flocked to bask in his presence; the women in particular.
There was no denying how attractive a man he was. The chiseled jaw, wind-swept dark hair, piercing eyes that smoldered with the kohl he generously applied. Not to mention the damnable body hair that he wore so well on his face and exposed chest. She knew how far down it extended, the tantalising treasure trail as she often referred to it, leading to his-
She snapped herself back into reality, not comprehending that while she had zoned out she'd been tracing him over with her eyes. He seemed somewhat more tanned if that were possible, the colour dipping beneath his collar suggesting he'd been toiling without a shirt. Not that that mattered to her. No, right now, that looked as if it was going to be the discovery of some nameless wench who had sidled up out of nowhere and slunk onto his lap with her corset doing nothing to rein in her chest.
Emma pushed away from the table suddenly, the questions of her friends falling on deaf ears as she strode away up the stairs and into her room.
The door hadn't fully closed but she couldn't find it in herself to be bothered, marching over to her mirror and gazing at her reflection.
"I swear you get more and more beautiful every time I see you."
Of course he'd followed her.
He was framed by the candles outside her door, all sharp lines in dark leather, the menace counter-acted by the gentle caress of his voice and the soft fondness in his eyes.
There was no hesitation as he locked them in before covering the distance between them in three long steps, cupping her face between his hands and kissing her passionately.
Her hand moved of its own volition again the moment he drew back, striking him across the cheek, before seizing him by the lapels and slamming their lips together once more.
She felt his hungry moan as it reverberated through his chest, touching her at her core and making her come alive.
"God I have missed you," he murmured, trailing kisses down the length of her neck, moving them bcakwards until his knees hit the bed and they collapsed with her straddling his hips, "I missed you so much Emma."
"I missed you too," she breathed, teeth sinking into his earlobe, as she struggled with his belt. There was no time for finesse, she simply had to have him.
With the necessary layers of clothes pulled away, they joined together quickly, a heated coupling months in the making as they relentlessly chased the sweet release. She found oblivion first, falling forward onto his chest as he slammed upwards a few more times to reach his own completion. She had wanted to hold out longer this time, maybe make him work for it, but the moment she touched him, it was inevitable.
Slowly, they removed the sweat-drenched articles, moving to lie curled into one another beneath the sheets.
"These months apart from you have been torture," he mumbled into her hair, fingers weaving through the loosened golden strands, made brighter as they caught the glow of the flickering candles, "I hate leaving you on an argument."
"Makes for a great reunion though," she teased, tracing above the tattoo on his hip where she knew him to be ticklish, "I don't even recall what we were fighting about."
"I believe I did something chivalrous, holding open a door for you maybe...you threw a beer mug at me."
He was trying to found put-out, but she could hear the smile in his voice and took it as her cue to nuzzle up below his jaw in the manner which he never could resist.
"You love it," she breathed, ghosting a kiss across his searching lips, deepening it for a moment before pressing their foreheads together.
"It certainly serves to keep me on my toes," he chuckled, gazing up at her with a smile, "To be honest, I'd probably still love you even if you shot at my feet to make me dance."
"Killian-" she sighed, trying to put some distance between them.
"Emma," he replied, sitting up with her and trapping her in his arms.
"Come on, let me go," she whined, making a thoroughly half-hearted attempt at escaping.
"Not a chance Swan. I love you."
"Ugh," she groaned, pushing them both back down, resting her palms on the mattress to hold herself above his stupidly handsome face, "You know I could ruin your reputation by telling everyone you're an absolute sap."
"You could, but you won't because I am your absolute sap and...I could ruin you as well by telling people that you like it."
"I hate you," she breathed, kissing him again to contain his laughter.
"Oh really?" He teased, pushing his hips up and causing her to moan, "Hate me do you?"
"Only sometimes."
She had him over and over again that night, months apart giving them the strength to see each other through until morning, soft words pressed into skin catching one another up on all they had missed in the past months that he was away. He'd only be with her for a week or so at max before he would set sail again, a fact that they always chose to ignore, instead spending their time fighting, flirting and eventually fucking. They never called it making-love, though over time it had become more obvious that what they were doing most of the time wasn't just 'lazy sex,' it made his leaving all the more difficult, which fuelled her reluctance to tell him how she truly felt. There was nobody else for either of them. He never took up the many offers of the women who constantly approached him and everyone who stayed with her knew that she had chosen him and only him. They belonged to one another body and soul, but the words always seemed to fail her.
"What about the other times Swan?" Killian asked as dawn broke through the windows, the brightness painting the scars on his body white and making them stand out for her to trace. She simply hummed in response, not knowing what he was really asking.
"You said you only hate me sometimes. What about the rest of it?"
"Killian," she pleaded, already feeling her tongue grow heavy in her mouth, ashamed of her inability to tell this man what they both already knew.
"Emma please," he begged her, cradling her gently in his arms, "Just say it for me once, I'll never ask again, just the one time."
She knew the self-loathing in his voice, how he hated to try and force it out of her, but she was the also one of very few to know how desperately Killian Jones, the Pirate King of the Seven Seas craved the live of other people. He was much like her in that sense, age old abandonment issues covered by a tough façade, yet he was also different in that he was willing to readily bare himself so openly to her.
"I can't let you break my heart Killian," she said, hand tugging slightly at his hair to ground her.
"I won't Emma, please, you know I won't."
"I can't know that, you can't know that. Our lives Killian, they're dangerous, uncertain."
"Then for once let me make you certain of one thing. I love you Emma Swan, I have since I met you and I will for the rest of my life, however long it may be. So if you can trust in nothing else, trust in that, trust in me, trust that I will always return to your side because it is where I belong."
He stared at her, eyes full of longing, the inextinguishable flame of hope that resided there. Though it slowly dimmed as she shook her head and turned her face away into his neck with shame.
She couldn't say it, not now, she wanted to so desperately, but she couldn't.
He let it go, he would let her get away with anything that she asked, silencing his hurt for the sake of her happiness. The heartache was put aside, no room for it in the short span of time they had left together.
~E&K~
This time she had come down to the docks.
She had no intention of slapping him as he loaded up the Roger with supplies for the next months, all the fight having seemingly left her as he dressed for the final time that morning. Pulling her tightly into his arms for one last embrace out of the eyes of everyone else. Outside of the door, they couldn't afford to show that amount of vulnerable affection. He'd held his lips to her hair throughout, mouthing the words over and over again, as if to imprint them upon her skin, before slinging his coat on and sheathing his sword.
The crew were all mounting the gang-plank; Mulan, David and Robin lingering longer than the others to wish their lovers a fond farewell. They were all in the same position as her, though more able to express themselves than her own walled up personality. Killian was the very last man standing on the docks, stood before her as was customary of all the captains upon their departure.
"Until next time my lady," he said, smirking down at her as was expected of Captain Jones.
"Safe journeying," she responded, ever the polite dignitary.
She watched as he moved further away from her, listened as Mary-Margaret cried softly still speaking to David who was leaning over the guard-rail to echo her affections. Suddenly, something in her mind seemed to give way to an altogether more powerful entity and her voice called out of its own accord.
"Killian!" She yelled, slightly louder than she had wanted to, but it did the job in halting his progress.
As he looked back at her with a question in his eyes, Emma picked up her skirts and ran the short length of space between them, flinging her arms around his neck and kissing him with so much fervor that he was forced to lift her from the ground.
"Emma, I-" he started to speak, but she silenced him with her hand.
"I love you too."
It felt unbelievably simple to say, the words gliding smoothly from her to him without falter or hesitation.
The grin that spread across his face was enough to tell her how much she had made the right decision for once when it came to him.
"Wait for me love," he said, a statement rather than a question, because the answer would never change.
"Always."