I own nothing except my delusions.
She woke early, the pale gray morning light creeping into the room around the curtains. Emma carefully turned her head so she wouldn't wake Killian, who's chin was pressed against the crown of her head, feeling the air from his even breathing in her hair. She saw him still peacefully asleep, all worry gone from his features. Smiling softly, she rested her head back on his arm, deciding to lie with him for a while longer in the early morning. She had gotten used to rising so early, having gotten used to the ship's schedule.
Soon enough, she felt Killian gently begin to stir behind her before pulling her impossibly closer to him.
"Morning," he said, voice hoarse from sleep, knowing she was awake.
Humming, she turned to look at him. "Morning."
She quickly pressed her lips to his before resting her head back on his arm. "Do we have to get up now?"
He rested his head on the top of hers. "No. We can sleep in some if you want to. We don't have to get up now."
"Okay, good," she replied as she relaxed into him, looking forward to getting some more sleep.
She awoke again some hours later in the later morning, Killian gently stroking her stomach with his thumb where his hand rested.
"Did I wake you?" he asked her.
"You didn't," she told him as she turned over to face him.
She snuggled into his chest as he rested his hand on the small of her back.
"Have you been awake long?" she asked him.
"No," he responded. "I woke not long before you did."
She nodded into his shirt, breathing in his scent, content to just lay with him. Nestled so close to him, Emma wondered what it would be like to be with him, to come together with him. It wasn't the first time she had thought about it.
Shaking the thought from her head, she pulled away just enough to look at him. "So any plans for what we are going to do today?"
"Actually, no," he answered, chuckling. "I figured we leave you completely in charge of that."
"You mean the fearsome Captain Hook is going to take orders from someone else?" she asked teasingly.
He chuckled. "Only from you, love. Besides, we are partners after all."
She had always known they were partners, equals, but she still liked hearing it.
"Well, I could use some more practice fighting," she suggested.
"As you wish," he responded.
They got up, Emma moving to the rutsack, retrieving her vest and pants to change out of her dress. She moved behind the room's privacy screen, quickly changing. She reemerged to see Killian in a fresh shirt, applying his kohl. She quickly did her hair, finishing getting ready.
"So is there anywhere we can go to practice?" she asked him as they left the room, their swords hanging from their hips.
He contemplated for a moment. "There are some alleys and streets around here we can use. I think I know exactly the place."
Killian's cutlass clanged on the cobblestones of the courtyard, the tip of Emma's cutlass held to his throat.
"Good form, Swan," he told her, grinning.
Emma flashed a smile as she drew her sword away, picking his up and tossing it to him. She fell into her stance. "Again?"
Instead of answering, Killian ran his blade along hers, testing her. He struck out, Emma countering him.
Emma knew how he fought, just as he knew how she fought. They were evenly matched as they danced around each other, their bodies moving in sync. Emma had won just as many matches she lost against him.
He noticed the mischievous glint in her eye when their swords crossed, bringing their faces close together. He raised one of his brows at her in question.
She leaned forward, kissing him quickly, but just long enough to disarm him.
He leaned towards her, his cutlass forgotten on the ground, reaching out to hold her to him. His voice was low but teasing. "Now that was bad form, love."
"Pirate," she responded cheekily.
He chuckled as she pressed her lips to his. She moved to pull away, only for Killian to chase her lips for a deeper kiss, nipping her lower lip. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him as her arms snaked around his neck. She felt his pulse thrumming beneath his skin, matching her own rapid heartbeat.
She laughed when they broke apart leaning their foreheads against each others.
"Shall we go again?" he asked her in a breathy voice, grinning.
"Yeah," she responded, he voice just as breathless. She grinned. "And don't worry, I'll play fair."
He laughed as he picked up his sword.
They continued their practice until the sun had began to decend. Emma retrieved her sword, slipping it back into its sheath.
Her voice was breathless when she turned back to face him. "Should we begin to head back to the inn?"
"Aye," Killian replied as he sheathed his own sword. He offered his arm. "Shall we?"
She slipped her arm through his. "Let's go."
They walked back, teasing each other about their matches during their practice. Though she was tired, Emma was proud of herself. When she had first sparred with the crew, she was easily the weakest one, her swordsmanship good with the broad sword, but severely lacking in other areas. Now she held her own very well, able to fight any of the crew members, even when facing multiple opponents.
Killian took them back to the table they sat at the previous night, ordering their supper.
"We should probably practice with fighting multiple opponents," he said when they began to eat their food.
"We'll have to wait until we're back on he ship for that," she responded.
He nodded. "I'm sure the men will be willing to help you."
"Hard to believe these are the pirates I used to be so afraid of," she reminisced. "I was always so scared one of them would try to do something, that they would hurt me." She chuckled. "Now, they will take orders from me."
Killian laughed. "Swan, those men would hold a mutiny against me if you asked them to."
She grinned. "I don't think you have to worry about that."
"I would hope not," he chuckled. "If everything goes according to plan, this should be our last night here."
"Good," she replied, her smile stretching.
Emma woke in the early morning light, her head resting on Killian's chest. Seeing he was still asleep, something rare for her to witness, she chose to stay with him and wait for him to wake up.
She sighed into his chest, feeling anxiety churning in her stomach. She didn't know what for. They had gone to bed the previous night feeling fine, not a single worry amongst them. Now, Emma felt anticipation that something was going to happen, like something was waiting for them. Despite her previous choice, she debated waking Killian, even if for her to receive his comfort. She knew though that he would take her seriously.
Before she could come to a decision, Killian stirred beneath her, his blue eyes peeking over at her.
"Hey, beautiful," he said, brushing his lips to her forehead.
She smiled, feeling his scruff scratching against her skin. "Hey."
He looked down at her, knowing something was troubling her. "Emma, what's wrong?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. I just woke up feeling... anxious. Like something is gonna happen."
Killian pulled her even closer to him, his eyes concerned. "Have you any idea what?"
She cuddled closer to him. "I don't know. It's probably nothing, just me wanting to go back to the ship."
He gently squeezed his arms around her. "Maybe, but if you're feeling this way... maybe we should be careful."
"It's probably nothing," Emma said.
"Regardless," he told her, "if something were to happen, I'd rather ere on the side of caution."
She nodded into his chest, choosing not to answer.
She lied with him for a while longer before getting up, deciding to change back into her blue dress. She went behind the privacy screen, quickly changing.
Stuffing her clothing back into the rutsack, she looked over at Killian, who had switched his leather vest for the red silk one she liked so much. She bit back a retort, going to the mirror to fix her hair instead.
"So does the crew know to go back to the ship?" she asked as she began pinning up her blonde hair.
"Yeah, they're actually staying closer by the ship," he told her as he shrugged on his coat. "Curry will have checked it and informed the crew to begin to go back to the ship about now, actually."
She glanced over at him in curiousity. "Will any of the crew's positions change at all?"
Killian knew what she meant. "Not really. I wasn't lying when I said before that Smee was a poor first mate. Curry had been doing his own and Smee's duties for years. I don't really see a reason to change the line up. The only thing that will change is that now that Smee is gone, all loot will be divided into greater portions, since one of the shares has been abolished."
She nodded, turning away from the mirror to grab her sword belt.
He looked at her, his eyes soft. "Ready to go back, Swan?"
Smiling, she looped her arm through his as they moved toward the door. They payed for their room and left the inn, heading back to the docks. Walking beside him, she moved closer, resting her head against his shoulder as they went. She saw Killian's small smile.
Just as they neared the docks, a loud voice sounded behind them. "Well, Hook. I wondered when I'd finally get to meet you."
Emma and Killian turned sharply, both reaching for their swords. They saw the owner of the voice lounging against some barrels, a look of ease about him, but Emma could see the animosity that hid just the surface. The man looked to be around Killian's height, with long dark hair and a beard, his gray eyes rimmed in kohl. He wore a brown leather vest with three small daggers held in a strap draped across his torso, a long scarlet coat, and black tricorn hat. Emma had a feeling she knew who this man was, and judging from Killian's expression, guessed he did too.
"And to whom do I owe the pleasure?" Killian asked lightly, testing him.
The man chuckled, just barely taking a glance at Emma before returning his eyes to Killian. "You don't know? After all of the trouble you gave my men? Granted, Campbell isn't the most agreeable of men, but nevertheless, I've been trying to gain an audience with you for some time now."
"Oh, so that's the name of the swine who insulted my companion," Killian responded, annoyed. "So you're the dreaded Blackbeard then I take it."
The pirate, Blackbeard, grinned. "Aye. So now we can get down to business."
Killian tightened his grip on his cutlass. "I can assure you that considering the methods you have previously used have shown your desperation, I'm not interested."
Emma felt like she was watching a snake uncoil itself as Blackbeard pushed himself off the barrels, sauntering closer to them. She tightened her grip on her own sword.
Blackbeard grinned maliciously. "That's a shame. I've been looking forward to this for quiet some time." He moved his hand, resting it close to his sword. "But, I think you will be very interested in why I've been chasing you."
Killian eyed him warily, keeping his voice careless. "That has been rather annoying I will admit. But I will concede. Is there any particular reason you've felt the need to persue me?"
Blackbeard's grin grew as he drew his sword. "Revenge."
Emma saw Killian shift, preparing for the attack they both knew was coming.
His voice was low, pitched so only she could hear. "Swan, go back to the ship. Stay with the crew. I'll follow as soon as I can."
She flashed him an incredulous look. "Are you serious? You know I'm with you no matter what."
"He's after me," Killian told her quietly. "He's not after you. You can get out of here still. You have to leave me."
"Killian-" she began to protest.
"Please, Emma," he asked her, desperation beginning to seep into his voice. "If he's after me, I don't want you getting caught in the middle."
She gave him a slight nod before moving away, knowing she wasn't going to leave him alone with Blackbeard. She went to the edge of one of the buildings, hiding just behind the corner so she could watch and help Killian when she needed to. She watched Killian draw his sword.
Blackbeard chuckled. "Don't want her to watch you get beaten?"
Killian gave a humorless laugh. "Actually, I don't want to upset her by the sight of your blood spilling."
"Well, according to my crew, she's quiet the spitfire," Blackbeard responded, smirking. "I'm curious as to what else she can be so feisty with. But for our duel, I'll be sticking to my assumptions you don't want her to see you lose."
Before Killian, clearly angered at the comment, could fire back a retort, Blackbeard slashed forward. Killian blocked it before going for a strike of his own. Emma watched them fight, each blow dealt by Blackbeard meant to be a fatal strike. He was clearly a much stronger fighter than the men he'd sent before, more experienced. It was an even fight.
Killian drew first blood, a cut across Blackbeard's bicep. Blackbeard winced before trying to slash out at Killian again, who blocked to hit. Frusterated, he pulled one of he daggers from his vest, moving to plunge in into Killian's chest, only to be stopped when Killian deflected with his hook.
Emma breathed a slight sigh of relief. She glanced around the area, seeing a pully system set up close to where the men were fighting. Quickly deducing that if she were to cut one of the ropes, the contraption would release the weight, falling on Blackbeard. She quietly moved closer, watching the men.
The pirates circled each other, looking for an opportunity to strike. Killian kept his eyes focused on his opponent, until he saw Emma's movement behind Blackbeard. He forced himself not to react.
Once Blackbeard was in the opportune position, Emma used her dagger to sever the rope, the suspension falling and hitting the pirate, causing him to collapse, unconscious.
"Come on," Emma said quickly to Killian, concealing her dagger. "We need to get back."
He sheathed his sword, looking at her in awe and worry. He pulled her close to him, his voice soft. "I told you to leave me. You should be at the ship. Safe."
She smiled at him. "I never listen."
"You're impossible," he responded, giving a gentle smile.
She released a chuckle as her smile widened. "And you love me for it."
They pulled each other closer, wrapping their arms around each other, Emma burying her face into his shoulder.
"That I do," Killian said before glancing over at Blackbeard's unconscious form, breaking their embrace. "We need to get the hell out of here."
Emma looked at the red-clad pirate. "Yeah. He should be out for a while."
They moved away, retreating back to the Jolly Roger, keeping close to each other the entire way.
Teaser: "I know we'll fight this, but I don't want anything happening to you," he said softly into her hair, his voice carrying in the dark.
"Don't worry about me," she told him gently. "He's not targeting me."
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