Hi! This is my first Once fic, as I just recently got into the series. I absolutely love Hook's character, so here's a little oneshot about the misadventure of Killian going through airport security with his affinity (and need) for certain metal items. It takes place sometime after their wedding, of course ;)

Thanks for reading!

~cosette141

"What is this place?"

Emma rolled her eyes as Killian blinked at the view before him.

"It's an airport," said Emma, raising her brow. "I thought I explained all of this to you already."

"Aye…" he trailed off, apprehension dawning as he looked from the people to the endless chaos. "I still haven't gotten an explanation on how this realm flies vehicles without some sort of magic."

"Okay," said Emma, walking him toward the check in. "For the last time, they're planes, not flying vehicles."

Killian gave her a look that screamed what's the bloody difference?!

"And," he went on, "I still don't understand why you've packed away my hook."

That had taken some cleverness for sure. But Emma had ended up putting it in her suitcase with a bag full of fishing tools in case they were asked about it as they went through security.

Emma stopped on their way to the counter, seeing the slightly vulnerable look in his eyes he always had when he was without said hook for too long. He had his left arm under his jacket, hiding it from sight. Only crushing her heart further, he'd attempted to leave the house with a leather glove over it like he'd done when he'd found her in Manhattan.

"I told you," she said, softer this time, "we have to go through security and we can't have anything metal… or anything even remotely resembling a weapon. We don't want them locking us up into questioning for six hours and miss our flight to our own honeymoon."

Killian actually groaned. "This realm is bloody ridiculous. Why couldn't we have taken our honeymoon in the Enchanted Forest like I'd suggested? There are plenty of beautiful places I've discovered in my years, hooks and swords allowed. You could even bring your gu-."

Emma pulled him to a rough stop, hissing a, "Shh!"

He looked at her with a bewildered look.

"You can't say that word in an airport!"

Something twitched in his jaw, and he settled for, "The projectile weapon you favor, then."

Emma rolled her eyes, and put a hand to his back to gently shove him forward. "Look. This is why we're doing this; because you've hardly seen my realm." Before he could speak, she said, "And going to New York doesn't count."

Killian sighed. "As you wish."

"Don't be so negative," she chided him with a sigh. "I'm taking you to one of the most beautiful countries on Earth."

"And what is this beautiful place?"

Emma smiled, a glint in her eye. "It's a surprise. And not only are you going to love it… I've actually never been, so I can't wait either."

Killian's brows rose. "Then how do you know it's worthy of all this?"

"Pictures, of course," she said. And with a small smile, she added, "And I thought it would be an adventure we could both take for the first time… together."

That earned her a real smile.

It quickly faded, however, by the time they got to security.

"You don't have any metal on you, do you? No jewelry, right?" asked Emma as they stood in line.

With another irritated sigh, he said, "Because it's such a mighty weapon?"

Emma laughed. "No, it's because of the metal detectors. It's just a thing they do," she said when his brows furrowed in confusion again.

"No, it's all in the bag," he said, gesturing to Emma's carry on.

Emma gave him a little once over, noting the lack of bling. "I can hardly recognize you without it."

They were called forward, and Emma stepped through the metal detector, and was given the go ahead from the TSA agent. Killian was next, walking through with an apprehensive look, his journey silent.

"Sir," said the agent, holding a hand toward Killian's chest when he tried to walk past. Looking a bit bored, the guard gestured to Killian's left arm. "Please remove your hand from your jacket."

Killian blinked, flicking his eyes over the agent's shoulder, seeing Emma's brows furrow, but also her nod.

He obliged, tensing, removing his arm from under his jacket, dropping it at his side. His jacket sleeve was longer than the length of his left arm, so it hid his brace.

The agent sighed shortly, now annoyed. "Sir," he repeated with irritation, "I need to see both hands, and I'd appreciate you not wasting my time."

Killian ground his teeth, body tensing with what Old Hook would have killed for, and with a jerk, he lifted his left sleeve with his right hand, displaying his forearm and the empty brace.

The man's brows shot to his hairline. As Killian glared at him, the man spluttered, "Oh—Jesus, I'm… I didn't mean to…" Curiosity won the man over. "What exactly happened to you?"

A shadow crept over Killian's eyes.

Emma saw it, quickly stepping in.

"He, um—" she began, but Killian answered the question.

"I had a run in with a crocodile," he said slowly.

The man's brows raised even higher. "I… jeez. Uh, you're all set. Sorry about that…"

"Best be," muttered Killian under his breath, shoving his arm back under his jacket as he moved past, feeling Emma take his right arm and pull him forward.

"You okay?" asked Emma, worried eyes searching his.

"Aye, love, fine," he said, though his eyes still glared back toward the agent.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly, and it made his eyes meet hers.

"What for, love?" he asked, the guard temporarily forgotten.

"This…" she said, gesturing to the security behind him. "My magic can't take us to a place I've never been, and it's just so much quicker to fly than go by boat or something... but even then boats and cruiseliners have security too and they probably wouldn't let you on if you had your hook and I just really wanted you to see Ireland because that's like the practical birthplace of pirates in this realm and I just thought—"

He pressed his finger to her lips gently, brows raising at her words, effectively cutting them off. "Birthplace of what?"

"Pirates," whispered Emma, lips still obstructed by his finger. He removed it, and she shrugged shyly. "I thought you might like to see what piracy looked like in this realm to help you feel a little more at hom-"

He cut off her words with a kiss. When he pulled away, she was looking at him in surprise.

"You did this for me?" he asked in a whisper.

Emma nodded, brows still crinkled together. "Yeah, but I didn't mean for you to feel so uncomfortable on the way."

Killian just smiled, something soft in his eyes. "Don't worry about me, love," he said with a wink. "The cost of travel in your realm is a small price to pay."

Emma finally smiled, seeing the genuinity in his face. She intertwined her fingers in with his, throwing her carry on over her other shoulder as they kept through the airport.

"So," said Killian, "that's where your pirates sail? This Ireland?"

Emma laughed a little. "I mean, that's what Google tells me." At his blank stare, she rolled her eyes. "The magic box." He nodded in understanding, and she went on, "But I don't think there are any pirates left these days, or at least not many. We're really just going to see their ships and stuff, probably in a museum."

"What's a museum?"

Emma rubbed her face with her free hand. "This is going to be a long trip."

"Love?"

"Hm?" she asked.

"If we find one of their ships, may I take us home?"

"Killian."