~Deal with the Devil~

Killian never thought he'd see that man again. Certainly not for a favor. And certainly not for a woman. Normally, he'd never have allowed room for love in his life, not since Milah. He was starting to wonder if his mild temperament had anything to do with the fates. He'd been acting more like himself before his loss of Milah, and after that conversation he'd overheard, it was a logical deduction.

A fate had altered him.

A small pouch full of coin could open many a mouth, as it had done moments before with a guard at the gate to the dungeon. He knew from rumor that his crocodile was here, in Misthaven, and the lack of concern and discussion about the man throughout the castle told him a possible reason as to why. They weren't scared or threatened because they knew exactly where he was. The dungeon was as likely a place as any, and his gamble paid off. Though not as well as he'd have liked.

The dungeon was empty, but the guard he paid had heard about guards being posted at the old mine - he always wondered why, and for extra coin, was happy to share his theories as well as directions.

It only took a little acting to get past the guards at the mine. How else would he know? The Queen must have sent him. And with that, he waltzed right in.

The halls of that mine were dark, lit only by torch, leading to an odd cage with spiked bars across the entrance. This was the right cell, he was sure of it. He could barely make out the figure lying on the cot in the corner, but he knew it was him. He felt the pocket containing the elixir he had procured. It was originally meant to serve as a fall-back plan as he knew not the location of Excalibur, nor was he in possession of the sword. He didn't know if this potion would even work on a creature such as this.

He was in the middle of deciding if he should use it when that shrill voice echoed off the walls.

"Do I smell… a pirate?" In a flash, that crocodile skin was pressed up against the bars, his awful teeth grinning wildly. "Brave, now, are we? Now that I'm locked up!" He shouted, then laughed maniacally.

"I need something from you, crocodile."

"Oh, he comes limping back for a favor? Well, it's going to cost you."

"What did you have in mind?"

As he spoke in a hushed tone, each word went higher or lower on the scale. Almost like music. "You first, thief. I want to hear what it is that is so important that you would come and see little old me all the way down here."

"Protection. From someone more powerful than you. And some way to defeat them."

The mad man laughed again. "Oh dear, more powerful than me? Who is it, a God?" Hook only responded with a look that could kill. "Oh yes, that will cost you."

"Name it."

"My freedom, of course."

Killian chuckled. "I'll do you one better. I can grant you an audience with your son."

"Bae? He's here? TELL ME WHERE HE IS!" He barked out those last five words, nearly spitting on Killian, who firmly held his ground just out of reach.

"Give me the protection, and I'll bring Baelfire down. When your chat is over, I expect the rest to be paid in full. Or I'll kill him."

Rumplestiltskin laughed. "You, kill the only child of Milah, your Twue Love? Why?" Crocodile eyes narrowed on that last word.

"He's responsible for causing someone I care about a great deal of pain. By not killing him, I've already done you a favor."

"Tisk, tisk, tisk. Forgotten Milah already? And how much she loved you, what would she say if she knew you cared for another?"

"She'd say, 'about bloody time'. Do we have an accord?"