A/N: this story is part of the Tumblr event called CSsecretSanta2021, I was secret santa for delightfully-difficult-pirate some of her favorite CaptainSwan tropes is Emma as pirate, and Killian in all his pirate leather garb. I've been liking the idea of her being a pirate ever since I've seen a manip or photoshoot of Emma wearing a long light brown leather duster/jacket wearing a triangular pirate hat (have no idea what they are called). This idea came to mind after talking a bit with delightfully-difficult-pirate, this longer story happened… it ends kinda open so yeah I'm really considering making this a multi chapter fic. Enjoy. Thanks to hookedrenegade for beta reading this.
The Swan Pirate
Emma Swan squinted against the harsh sun from above, the light reflected in the gently lapping waves hitting the hull of the Black Swan. A majestic ship in her best form, only a partly ripped mainsail after battling through last night's horrible storm. The crew was still doing clean up on the deck with the few shattered crates and coils of rope that needed to be set again.
"Captain?" Ruby interrupted with a cheerful note to her voice.
Emma turned her gaze to her second in command, the auburn haired woman with a sassy mouth that could make even the most hardened sailor blush.
"Status?"
"Yeah about that," Ruby said and grimached, then waved her hand aimlessly to the railing of the ship, "we might have found a drifter?"
"A drifter?" Emma stalked over to look into the water, two of her men were hanging from rope ladders and held a piece of driftwood to the side of the hull with a few grappling hooks. On the driftwood was a prone body clad in black, face partly in the water.
"Is he dead?" Emma bellowed down to the men.
"Nah Captain, still breathing," August announced and prodded the body with his grappling hook. The figure groaned and moved a little.
"Well get the poor sod up on deck then," Emma sighed and already fearing what one more mouth to feed would do to their depleting rations.
"We could just kill him," Ruby suggested with a shrug, obviously aware of their current situation.
"Let's figure out who he is at least," Emma said as she stepped back and let her men get the man up on deck.
Once the man was lifted from the water they dumped him on the deck Emma stepped over and jabbed the body with her boot. The man rolled over and coughed up seawater while a string of curses spewed from his mouth. Well to their loss it didn't seem to be some lost noble man they could barter for a ransom.
"Who are you?" Emma demanded in a steely voice letting their new guest know that they shouldn't even try to do anything stupid right now.
"Bloody hell woman, let a man suffer in peace," The man grumbled as he tried to push away her feet.
"I can make you suffer even more if you don't give me your name at this very moment," Emma said firmly and jabbed him again with her boot.
Finally the man rolled to his back and laid himself out on the deck, his black leather duster sogging wet, a red brocade waistcoat hugged his body, the black shirt clinged to his chest. Emma blinked a few times as she inspected the new arrival onboard her ship, the man had his eyes closed as if he didn't care where he'd landed.
"Who… are… you?" At each word she pushed at his shoulder with her boot, her impatience was wearing thin at the infuriating man.
"Ah love that is a bloody good question," The man had the audacity to say as he grimaced at the harsh sunlight hitting his eyes. When his eyes had adjusted to the light he blinked in confusion, "I'm dead right?"
"Yer not dead mate," August said with a chuckle, "but you will be soon if you don't give us your name, our Captain is not one you want to trifle with."
The man looked around at the group standing around him when his eyes landed on Anton, the heavy set cook on the ship he grinned, "you must be the captain?"
Anton gave a nervous chuckle and glanced over at his Captain, Emma gave him a small smile, shaking her head, letting him know that she was taking this with a touch of humor. Then he said, "sorry to disappoint you buddy, I'm the cook on this ship."
"Ah bloody hell, then you're my new best friend, I'm starving." The man said and rubbed his belly with his hand.
"I'm the Captain here," Emma interrupted with an angry growl, she stepped into his line of vision and she watched as his impossible crystal blue eyes took her in.
"Bloody hell, I am dead!"
"Why would you say that?"
"You're an angel right?"
The whole crew of the Black Swan broke down in a roaring laughter as their guest looked around at them dumbfounded.
"Nice try, mate," Emma said and folded her arms over her chest. Her own light brown leather duster crackled at the movement. "I'm the captain on this here ship and you either tell me your name or I tie you back down on that piece of timber you floated in on. The sharks around here are always hungry."
The man rubbed his face with his hand and said, "I'm…" His brow wrinkled and then he rubbed his forehead as if he was thinking, "I'm… I don't bloody know."
"That's rich!" Emma shook her head in wonder, where did this guy even come from, he was clearly not a noble man, he could very well be another pirate, or sailor at least. "you don't know your name?"
The man tried to scramble to his feet and that's when the sunlight reflected off the hook he had instead of his left hand, it had until now been hidden in the folds of his great coat. Everyone stepped back and her whole crew drew their swords or cutlases pointing them at the man.
"Woah there, I'm—" Then it seemed as if he too saw the hook for the first time, "Bloody hell that's a surprise right there." He turned the hook from side to side looking closer at the contraption.
"You really don't know who you are?" Emma asked cautiously. She too had her trusted sword ready. Her mind was trying to piece together who this man could be, and she came up with only one solution, as she'd only ever heard of one man with a hook. "You're Captain Hook?" She could already taste the bile rising in her throat at this very thought, Hook was the elusive pirate captain that always seemed to be one step ahead of her and her crew. She knew more than a fair share of other pirate crews around the realm that hated the man even more than she did.
Emma stepped closer to the man who was now sitting up, she pointed her sword to his neck and gritted out, "you're bloody Captain Hook!"
The man looked up at her blinking in confusion then glanced down at his hooked arm, not daring to move as Emma kept her sword to his throat, "I do say I love the moniker, it fits. So call me Hook then." He grinned up at her as if this solved all their problems.
"Not good enough, I'm not trusting you, I know your reputation mate." Emma said. She looked at August and Graham, the two half brothers who were her most trusted men on the ship. "You two take him below deck and remove that hook from his arm."
"What?" Hook said, his eyes looking at her in confusion, "I have no bloody idea who Hook is, or why you hate the man so much."
"So you're telling me that you don't know you're a bloody pirate. One who I don't exactly fancy being on my ship." Emma stepped closer to him as August and Graham had hauled him to his feet, his hook now hanging from Graham's belt.
"Aye." Hook nodded and blinked confused at her.
"What if I say that I hate you!?"
"Well love that would be a travesty all in itself that such a lovely lass would hate me," He smirked and winked.
Emma squinted her eyes at him. He certainly acted like the rogue pirate she'd heard tales about. But she could still detect the confusion in his eyes, and one thing she did pride herself in was her ability to sense whenever someone lied to her. It had saved her life on many occasions for sure.
She swirled around, waving off her men to do as she ordered, her long leather coat swishing around her. She dismissed the rest of the men loitering around, "get back to your posts!" She stomped up to the helm where she proceeded to make plans for their next part of their plundering. The past few weeks had been nothing but half empty trade ships and one stinking fisherman's boat. In desperation, she chose to go closer to Misthaven in search of more profitable ships to raid. It was always a gamble whenever one would venture closer to Misthaven as the realm was known for their tendencies to hunt down pirates with a ferocity that seldom turned out for the benefit of the pirate crew or captain.
Finally satisfied with the course she'd mapped out she rolled up the sea charts and stored them in the secured boxes at the helm. They would set sail the next morning at daybreak.
"Capt'n." August joined her at the helm and looked over the quiet bay, at what seemed to be a smaller island; they'd found shelter for the storm the previous day. "The men have made the ship ready to sail again at your orders."
"That's great," Emma said, as she picked up her compass and tugged it into the hidden pocket of her coat. "We set sail for Misthaven tomorrow."
If August was surprised by her choice he was not showing his fear of the place, he merely nodded, "very well Captain, I'll let them know."
"Let Anton know that he can slaughter our last goat as we will reach richer waters in the next few days." Emma said she hoped the promise of more bounty and gold in the future would be enough to ease her crew's restlessness.
"What about our unexpected ship guest?"
"Give him the scraps of what's left of the feast." Emma said as she walked down from the helm. She didn't really care how well fed the man was. If he truly was Captain Hook, he was her enemy and that would not give him any bigger favours in terms of food on her ship.
"Aye Capt'n," August said as he followed her down to the deck.
Emma looked around and saw that her men had done a great job at fixing up the damage from the storm. It had been one of the worst she'd ever encountered, and she'd felt something shift inside her as she and her crew had battled the weather and the winds. It felt ominous, like something dark and sinister had been behind it. She couldn't exactly explain how she knew, sometimes she would get these feelings whenever something bad was about to happen. Like with her ability to tell if people lied. It was very curious but she never gave it much thought. It was who she was, and she was a damn great pirate. Despite growing up an orphan she'd found a family at the age of 16 when she crossed paths with Captain Nemo. She had to fight hard to prove herself once Nemo took her aboard his ship. Luckily he was prone to be doing things his own way and never saw it as an issue to have a woman onboard. Five years ago, at the age of 23 she'd taken over the Black Swan when Nemo died in a battle against a larger tradeship. They'd been taken by surprise by the shere number of men aboard the ship.
The feast was a success and the men had a jolly good time, even if their captain had rationed the grog, so they wouldn't wake up with a hangover the next morning. They all needed to have their wits about them once they entered the Misthaven seas.
Walking over to Anton, who was sorting out the leftover food, she leaned back against one of the long tables. Anton looked at his Captain and nodded to the bowl in his hand, "was just fixing some food for our guest."
Emma leaned over and glanced down at the food he'd found, "don't be too kind to the bastard, I still think he's Captain Hook." She was still trying to sort out what they would do with the pirate suddenly falling into their hands. She was certain that the guards at Misthaven would love to get their hands on the feared and notorious Captain Hook. It might even pay a fair bit of reward money. But that would have to be done in a more covert way as they could not just sail into the Royal port of Misthaven and drop off a wanted pirate without being apprehended themselves. She would talk it over with August, Graham and Ruby.
She reached over and took the bowl from Anton, "I'll bring this to him, I need to speak with him either way."
Anton nodded and returned to his task of sorting out the food.
Emma found their ship guest in one of the brigs at the very bottom of the hull, one single lantern hung on the beam above. When he heard her come in he scrambled to a sitting position and glared at her. His blue eyes were glistening with anger, even in the dim light.
"Dinner." Emma slipped the bowl between the bars, then stepped away and tugged her hands behind her back, watching him. She took stock of his appearance, he had dark tousled hair, dark eyebrows that seemed to speak their own language as he began eating. It wasn't glob she served, but it certainly was not the feast her men had gotten and when he picked up a bone with barely any meat on it he glowered, "I guess the crew ate all the meat?"
"Aye they did," Emma smirked and she watched as he broke the bone and sucked out the marrow. Then he used the dry bread to pick up the last of the sauce from the bowl.
"Well for what it's worth, thank you for dinner, Captain?" He raised a curious eyebrow, "ye haven't introduced yourself, love."
"For one, I'm certainly not your love!" Emma scoffed and glared at him, then pointed her finger at him, "second you don't need to know my name. I'm still contemplating what to do with your sorry arse."
Hook bellowed out a hearty laugh at this, and for the life of her she couldn't see what was so funny about his situation.
"Well I'm much obliged that you seem fit to keep me alive," He glanced down at his stumped arm, his sleeve falling over the end. He used the arm to hold the bowl to his chest as he ate, now he pushed the bowl towards the bars again and looked up at her. "So when will I know when you've chosen my fate?"
"We have several days worth of sailing in the next week's time," Emma explained, "I might even let you up on deck by tomorrow night. By then we'll be on the open waters, so I imagine if you did choose to jump overboard you'd die before reaching land." She shrugged and reached down to pull the bowl out between the bars, when his hand suddenly wrapped around her wrist she gasped in surprise, yanking at her arm to free it from his grasp. "Get your hand off of me, you bloody bastard," she hissed and reached for her sword and unsheathed it and stuck it between the bars pointing it at his jugular.
Hook raised his stumped arm in the air as if he claimed surrender, "I merely wanted to thank the lovely Captain." His fingers were warm around her wrist, they'd slipped under the hem of her coat. She blinked in confusion but when he leaned over her hand and placed a lingering kiss upon her hand. "Thank you, love." He looked up at her from beneath his unreal long lashes, and she suddenly noticed that he wore black khol under his eyes, making the blue in them pop even more, even in the dim light.
He is an infuriatingly handsome bastard. The thought slipped through her mind when he finally let go. When she spotted a knowing smirk pass over his lips her mind added, and too cocky for his own damn good.
She stepped back and glared at him, trying to find her Captain's face again, the one that had her crew do her bidding and not caring that she was a woman. Her crew respected her, but now and then they also needed to be reminded that she was a bloody good captain.
"Let's hope you get something to eat tomorrow," Emma said as her final parting words as she rushed out of the room. She could still feel the tingling of his warm mouth on her hand. It shifted and prodded at something inside of her, that part of herself that she tried to keep under lock and key. Rubbing her hand on her hip she tried to remove the feeling of his lips on her skin, but she kept seeing those imposible blue eyes whenever she thought of the infuriating pirate.
"Ahoy, Captain," Ruby bounced over and looked at her Captain and friend. Ruby had been another run-away kid that Emma had started talking with whenever they'd docked the Black Swan in Ruby's home town. When Ruby's grandmother passed away several years ago, Emma had taken her onboard her ship. It had made a few rustling disturbances amongst the crew, but after they saw how well Ruby had adapted to life at sea, they took her in.
"Hi Ruby," Emma was still a little shaken up but she hoped the darkness of the night would cover up the heat she felt creeping up her neck. "Where are you heading?" Then she noticed how her friend's shirt was a little untucked and her long brown hair was mussed in a way that gave Emma an idea what she'd been doing, "How's Graham doing?"
"Oh yeah, well—" Ruby grinned her usual wolfish grin, then she shrugged, "you know think he's doing quite alright."
"I bet," Emma chuckled at her friend's predicament. Everyone on the ship knew that Graham and Ruby were intimate.
"So how did your guest like his meal?" Ruby asked and waggled her eyebrows.
Emma glowered at her friend, "he's an insufferable cocky bastard."
"What are you going to do with the arrogant git?"
"I imagine we'll try to drop him off in Misthaven, figure out what they'll pay for his sorry arse and cash in the ransom money." Emma said with a shrug. She could still kill the bastard, but that wouldn't net her any profit.
"That's a plan," Ruby mused, "we could use the extra coin. The main sail needs to be replaced soon, it won't live through another storm like yesterday."
"Hmm" Emma was still feeling a little shocked by how affected she was by the blue eyed pirate below, she didn't much care for feeling like this.
"Don't let the ruggedly handsome Hook get under your skin like that," Ruby grinned, "you're the captain on this ship, you make the calls here."
"He's not, I'm not—" Emma glared at her friend, not liking how the other woman was looking right through her armour.
"Yeah well, he is a charmer that Hook," Ruby mused and rubbed her chin then grinned, "if I wasn't so attached to my Graham I wouldn't mind letting him pillage and plunder me a bit."
"Ew, don't talk like that. The bastard is one of our biggest competitors on the seven seas. I'll be glad to see him behind bars." Emma grumbled and started to walk away from her friend. She didn't like how this conversation was turning into talk about pillaging and plundering in the not so biblical terms. She certainly wasn't interested in doing that with Hook.
"Yet we haven't really seen him the past years, only heard the tales about the man." Ruby followed Emma to the hatch leading to the Captain's quarters, where they both slept. It was more practical that way, with the only two women on the ship sharing the same space.
"We did run into his ship one time where he overtook that large frigate right in front of our eyes," Emma grumbled and opened the door to their room. "we had to diverge before we could even fire back."
"Never did see his handsome face, though," Ruby said and slumped down on the chair by the table.
"Nah," Emma said in a forced nonchalant voice, as if she hadn't really cared for how he looked. But when she briefly shut her eyes the first thing coming to mind was how his blue eyes had sparkled in the dim lights when he'd kissed her hand.
Both women prepared for bed and slipped under the covers, they had built an extra bed in the room to accommodate their sleeping arrangement. While Emma struggled to find sleep, she tried to keep all thoughts of the blue eyed pirate away. When sleep finally took over, so did her dreams. Dreams that were far too heated for her liking. Blue eyes looking from under long lashes, dark decidedly well mused hair, that her hands itched to comb through. Luscious lips giving small innuendo filled smirks while his tongue dipped out to swipe at his lower lip. His partly unbuttoned shirt that showed far too much chest hair, the rest of his body covered in far too much black leather, and his tight leather breeches showing strong legs and a firm behind. Emma was feeling every effect on the images flashing through her dream and she woke up the next day in an even more pissy mood.
The Dark Swan was sailing at her highest speed, heading directly towards the realm of Misthaven. The crows nest was always guarded with one or two men, each taking turns looking out for a possible next loot.
Emma tried to pay no mind to who was still sitting in the brig at the bottom of the hull. That man was a nuisance to say the least, invading her dreams like that should be reason enough for her to string him up and keelhaul him.
Yet when Anton asked if he should bring Hook a meal of leftovers she shook her head and suggested bringing up the man to give him a bit of fresh air. Anton placed the bowl he'd prepared on a crate and waved for another crew to come help him with their prisoner.
Minutes later Hook emerged with his arms tied to his front, a glower on his face as he looked down at his bonds. When he spotted her standing by the main mast the shit-eating grin that spread over his face had her insides prickle with annoyance.
"Good evening, Captain." He nodded his head in greeting then he spotted the bowl of food, "Awe did ya want to dine with me, I'm touched." He lifted his bound arms to his heart and fluttered his eyelashes while a big grin spread over his face.
"Eat," Emma said shortly and stepped away from the man, she motioned for Anton to stand guard while Hook ate.
She walked swiftly to the front of her ship. The wind had picked up a little so they'd taken in the mainsail, not wanting it to tear apart in the strong wind. Yet the remaining sails made sure the Black Swan was making progress in getting them to Misthaven. Her mind was trying to sort out how they could get Hook delivered to the royal guards without them being discovered as pirates themselves. She fiddled with the forget-me-not flower pendant that hung around her neck. It was her only remains of whomever her parents might be. Once she'd been found as a tiny bundle washed up on shore in a small bassinet, the small pendant had been tied to the cloak she'd been wrapped in. It was her blessing that the family that found her as an infant wasn't greedy and didn't sell the trinket. But when famine started and the family struggled to survive, she'd only been eight and kicked out of their home. Now she was her own master, she made the rules of this ship, of her own life. And she honestly didn't need a cocky pirate to start messing around with her head and emotions.
"Captain," Hook's voice rumbled behind her, she jumped slightly in surprise.
"What the hell?" She swirled around and glared at the man, still in his bonds thank god. She glared back at Anton who stood a few feet behind Hook.
Anton raised his hands in the air. "He just wanted to take a walk, and stretch his legs."
"Right," Emma said and turned her attention to her unwanted ship guest. "What do you want?" She glared at Hook, trying not to notice how the kohl had smudged under his eyes, making him look even more rugged. When he stepped closer she lifted her hand and grabbed for her sword, "don't even think about getting any closer, buddy."
Hook stopped and shrugged, then he turned so he leaned against the railing looking over the deck of the Black Swan, "this is a marvelous ship you have here, love."
"First off, I'm still not your love," Emma was close to losing her patience with this man, "second I know this ship is great, I've captained the Black Swan for five years now." She lifted her chin in defiance daring him to say anything about her being a woman. Ignoring the smirk on his face, she stepped over to the other side of the bow so they stood several feet apart. This was much better, she crossed her arms in front of her glaring at him.
"Thank you for letting me up here to breathe in a little brine and salt water." Hook said as he nodded to the ocean behind him.
"You're welcome." Emma was still trying to figure out who this man was. She was fairly certain he was the notorious pirate Hook, but why wouldn't he admit this himself? "So, Hook?" She asked and when he didn't immediately respond she tried again, "Hook?"
He blinked a few times and reached up his arms to scratch behind his ear, "yeah still not used to the moniker." He shrugged and looked down at the stumped arm, his lips pursed in thought. "I wonder how I lost my hand?"
"I heard a crocodile took it," Emma taunted, not even sure if the tale of how Hook had become well, Hook, was even true, but she did like to see the scowl on his face as he took in this information.
"Bloody hell, that's no pirate's tale to tell," he grumbled.
"So how do you suppose it happened?"
"I imagine more of a daring and bloody plunder going a bit ascrew," He shrugged, then sighed. The dejected look on his face didn't fit with the image of a rogue pirate.
"Well for what it's worth, I do believe that you have no idea who you are." Emma finally said. The look of surprise on his face had her grin as she stepped over to him, daring to move closer. She knew Anton was standing close by, ready to interfere if needed.
Hook blinked a few times, gaping at her, then a grin spread over his face as he said, "would you see that, the good captain of this ship believes a poor lost soul. I had you pegged for being more ruthless."
"I can be ruthless when needed," She nodded to the deck further down, "Go ask any of my men and they will tell you stories that will have small children cry for their momma."
Hook laughed at this, and shook his head, "I'm sure I must have heard about you then," He shrugged, "shame my memory is so bonkers right now, I'm pretty sure I'd never forget a pretty lass like you." He had the audacity to give her a small wink.
"You're so bloody full of yourself ain't ya?"
"I might be, what do I know?" He shrugged.
"Yeah, well I believe you, so let's leave it at that, shall we?"
"Agreed," He reached out his bound hands, as if he wanted her to shake his hand.
When she clasped her hand in his, his smile widened and she felt a shiver of something very unfamiliar shift down her spine. She blinked a few times before she stepped back, releasing him. She could still feel the warm touch of his skin on her hand.
"If you promise to keep your hands, eh hand to yourself, I'll let you walk freely on the ship during the day." Emma finally said after she'd composed her feelings.
"Aye, will do Captain," Hook said and grinned, "for the chance of freedom I can easily behave, or I'll walk to the brig me'self."
Emma motioned for Anton to come forward and when she ordered him to untie their prisoner Anton eyed her cautiously, but finally did as he was told.
Once free, Hook rubbed his stump with his hand and shifted his shoulders a few times, as if trying to ease out a few kinks in his muscles. "Thank you." He bowed deeply while keeping his eyes on her the entire time, his blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight from beneath his long lashes.
"Don't disappoint me now Hook!" Emma stood facing the water next to him, close enough for her to get a whiff of his leather, and salty scent.
"Oh I most certainly never would do that." He rose up and leaned back while crossing his arms over his chest, "I will be at my utmost best behaviour, love."
"Still not—"
"I know I know," He lifted his arms up and said, "I guess it's just one of those things I must have loved to say whenever I'm around a beautiful woman."
Emma glanced to the side at him and rolled her eyes, "you're a crazy person, you know that?"
Hook leaned in closer and she could feel his breath warm her night cold cheek, "I prefer dashing rapscallion." His eyes twinkled in mischief and when another bold wink came she pointed her finger at him.
"I won't fall for your charm."
"Ah you admit that I am charming," He waggled his eyebrows, and he plastered on another infuriating hot smile.
"Seriously?"
"I'm pretty sure we'll get along fairly well, lo—" He stopped when she smacked his arm with the back of her hand. She tried to ignore the fact that all she felt was hard muscle beneath his leather garb. She turned away from him so he wouldn't feed his ego on the fact that she seemed affected by his pirate charm. Something that she certainly wouldn't admit to anyone here.
They stepped back into a casual small talk and while doing so Emma realized that the man really didn't know much about himself, or what had happened in the realm he was in. It was strange to a point of rather annoying really, but she had to admit that she did enjoy talking with him. It was a nice change to talk with someone not being one of her crew members. The next three days would certainly be very interesting with Hook onboard the Black Swan.
The journey to Misthaven had given them one small streak of luck when they encountered a small trade ship that had a haul full of goods they could sell along with several crates of provisions. So the evening before they would enter the Misthaven seas they held another feast celebrating victory. The only one looking a bit gloomy was Hook, because when they attacked the trade ship she'd ordered him bound and thrown in the brig again. She didn't want to risk him jumping ship.
"Cheer up buddy," Emma said and nudged his shoulder as she sat down next to him, he held a mug of grog in his hand, his thumb tapping at the rim. She'd seen the rings adorning his fingers but he'd had no tale to tell about where they came from or what they meant to him. Nothing had come forth in his memory. Emma had tried to pull anything out, but it seemed as if he was stuck not really knowing who he was. Even if Emma and her whole crew called him Hook it didn't ring any bells for him.
"Bloody hell, you 'ave no idea how awful it was for me to sit by on the sideline and not take part in a battle like that." He grimaced, "I imagine I'm a pirate after all. It's in my blood."
"I think you are, and even though you've pissed me off on several occasions over the past, I've seen the fire in you when you talk fighting and I've seen first hand what you can do wielding a sword with only one hand." She'd let him practice sword fighting with a blunt sword fighting against Graham, who was by far their best swordsman. It had been a sight to see for sure, him swirling around with his long leather coat flapping around him, as he veered off almost all of Graham's attacks. Emma stifled a groan at the images of the sweating man she'd seen that day, his unruly hair had been sticking up at odd angles, making him look like he'd done a bit more rough and tumble than a simple sword fight. Why did the man keep getting under her skin like that whenever she thought about him? It would always end up with her imagining what those lips could do aside from sweet talk everyone around him. The way he used his tongue to moisten his lips while they spoke together was mind meltingly hot.
Emma had to keep her eyes away from the tempting pirate at her side. She and Hook had begun talking at every nightfall, before he would be locked up in the brig. She couldn't deny that the man had a certain appeal, in his own charming way, yet she tried with all her might to not give in to what her dreams had been filled with the past few days.
"I seem to be fairly good at wielding a sword," Hook said and took a long drink of his grog, wrinkling his nose, "why have ye not any real rum on this ship?"
"We might," When his eyes lit up she raised her hand, "But that is certainly not something I serve to my prisoner."
"You really are a tough Captain, aren't ya Swan?"
The way he said her last name made her skin prickle with something that she certainly didn't want to explore. She'd glared daggers at Ruby the other day when she'd given away her name to Hook. It had been her hope that he would not know her name once they got to Misthaven so he wouldn't be able to divulge that they were also wanted pirates to the guards.
"I do my best, and I have a great crew to back me up," She looked at the group of men around them. Most of them had been there from the very start of her own journey as captain on this ship. Nemo's old crew had all gotten the option of disembarking or joining her on the ship, setting sail to even greater pirate adventures. To her surprise it had only been a few men that had chosen not to join her.
"Aye ya really do. All good men I see, rough around the edges, as any good pirate crew would be," He rubbed behind his ear and got a faraway look to his eyes.
"You're thinking about your own crew?" She'd come to know him fairly well in the past few days, and whenever they spoke about being a captain and captaining a ship he'd be commenting on his crew, wondering what they did.
"Aye," he rubbed his chin, "wonder what they're doing right now. They might not even be looking for me any more." He shrugged and tapped his temple, "If only the ol' nugget would shift back into it's old way I'd at least know what my ship is called."
"The Jolly Roger!" Emma told him with a smile, she was looking at him closely to see if the name sparked any memory in him. But when he looked up at her in surprise and blinked a few times, she nodded, "yeah that is the name I've heard you call your ship."
"The Jolly Roger?" He took another fortifying drink and looked out over the fairly calm waters. Then he pursed his lips and nodded, "I like that, got a nice ring to it." He turned his eyes to hers and grinned, "so the Black Swan?"
"Yup that will be my ship, as you already know."
"How did it come to be called that?"
"It's a fairly long and complicated story, but let's just say that my past hasn't always been sunshine and roses." She shrugged and took a drink herself, she wasn't keen on sharing too much with the pirate.
"Ye're a bloody pirate, love, nothing is sunshine and roses doing this for a living."
"I know but this is life that I chose for me, and no one is going to mess with that," She glared at him, "not even you."
Hook winked, "I'll try my best, but you've still to tell me what you have in store for me." He shifted in his seat and continued, "I mean if I'm a feared and notorious Captain as you claim, we might even be able to form some sort of alliance?"
"With you?"
"Aye," He smirked and lifted an eyebrow, "it's not unheard of even in the pirate communities around the realms."
"You're mental."
"Now the next problem is to find my good ship, the Jolly Roger?"
"You really think I'll help you find your crew?"
"I've done you nothing wrong have I?"
"No—" She looked away from him as she tried to sort out her thoughts on this man, sure it might even be beneficial to them to form an alliance with the great Captain Hook, " — but why us?"
"You saved my life." He shrugged and leaned over to catch her eyes, when she looked down he tapped her with his blunted arm and said, "come now lass the profit might even exceed to what you'll get for my sorry arse."
"How do you even know what I—" She whirled around in her seat glaring at him, she'd only discussed the matter of giving him over to the guards of Misthaven with August, Graham and Ruby.
"Ah that was a bloody lucky guess," He smirked and leaned in closer, "I can see that I hit it right, didn't I love?"
She pointed her finger at him and grumbled, "stop calling me love!"
"So what do you say, Captain?"
"I will think about it." She was feeling restless and rose from her seat. She didn't like how this man seemed to ease his way right under her heavily guarded heart.
"Thank you," he said as she walked away from him, trying to sort out her own thoughts. She certainly had begun liking the man, even tolerating his teasing demanor and sexual innuendos.
They had finally reached Misthaven Seas, and they had made sure that the crows nest was manned with two men at all times. The men had become fidgety as they sailed with only the smaller sails, not needing to make haste at this moment.
Emma thought long and hard about what to do with Hook. He was a pirate and one of her biggest competitors, his reputation far greater than her own crew had managed to gain over the years.
She rested her elbows on the railing at the bow as she kept a watchful eye on the horizon. They could make due with another plunder very soon, or they would have to find a small port where they could trade some of their loot for food.
"Hello love." Hook's voice interrupted her musing and at this point she'd given up berating him about calling her love.
"Hook," She glanced to the side and saw him lean over the railing like herself, resting on his leather clad arms. She really tried not to inspect the man too much, but today he'd seemed to have forgo the red vest and left him in the thin black shirt that was unbuttoned to a point where it might even be considered obscene. But the man clearly loved to flash his assets and bloody hell he had some assets. Emma rolled her eyes at her own train of thoughts.
"So what's got the lovely Captain Swan in such a thoughtful mood?"
Emma looked down at her clasped hands, and sighed, "well I've been thinking, and speaking with my trusted men about your proposal."
"Aye?"
"We would be interested if certain terms can be upholded?"
"Such as?"
"Whenever there's dispute among the other pirate crews, we stick to the same side of the story." Emma had been part of a few disputes over the years, and it being among pirates the outcome had rarely been pretty.
"Certainly, what else?"
"Whenever we cross paths, we will stop ship and trade, making fair deals with our individual loots. If one crew needs food we help as much as we can." Emma pursed her lips hoping that they would be able to uphold those terms.
"On behalf of my crew I can say that could be an agreement." He turned towards her and said "now we just need to find my crew?"
"Yeah, that will prove to be difficult now wouldn't it." Emma looked at him and realized he was standing far too close for her liking. She stepped back to give herself some space between them.
"Aye it would." He gave her a grim smile, "as you sailed at full speed to this fretful place."
"The bigger tradeships are here!" She pointed out, feeling the anger rise in her again, he was far too insufferable for his own good.
"Aye, and you did get one on our way here." He made a swirling motion with his finger, "so let's head back to where we came from."
Emma pursed her lips and tugged her fists to her hips and glared at him. "You're not Captain on this ship. I call the shots here, buddy. We need at least one more big loot before we'll head back."
Hook rose to his feet as well. He glared at her, his blue eyes boring into her soul and she really didn't like how they sparkled as he took in her form. She'd left her leather duster in her quarters as the weather here was much warmer.
"Certainly Captain," he did a small mock bow sweeping his hands to the side, and as his eyes rose up again she felt them inspect her every curve and angle. She tried to glare at him as his eyes reached hers, but her body seemed to have it's own mind. Feeling the heat wash over her face she stepped back from him.
He smirked and blinked a few times, "what's the matter, love, can't take the heat?"
"Please, I'm sure it's you who couldn't handle it." Emma gave back while she felt her heart beat at a much too fast rate for her liking. The man in front of her was infuriating her, but she couldn't deny that she felt a certain attraction to the cocky bastard.
He took a step towards her and lifted an eyebrow, "are you sure?"
Emma rolled her eyes as her senses were assaulted by his dark kohl rimmed eyes, the salty and leathery smell that wafted towards her at each measured step he took. She suddenly felt like she was losing control and she needed that back, and without giving it much thought she closed the gap between them and fused their lips together in a clumsy and awkward kiss. Yet the mere contact of his warm lips against hers had her whole insides ignite with a new sensation, and yet in a strange way it also felt far too familiar. The simmering passion she'd let brew over the past week towards the infuriatingly handsome pirate was suddenly out on full display.
Hook wrapped his good hand around her nape, tangling his fingers in her hair as he kissed her back with equal measure. He hummed in appreciation as he dipped in his tongue and she opened up to his intrusion.
The kiss could have lasted mere seconds or minutes, Emma had no idea, but she felt awkwardly out of sorts when she finally stepped back. Something felt different, and when she looked into the surprised eyes of Captain Hook she blinked a few times, as she whispered, "that was—"
"A bloody marvelous kiss, love," He touched his lips with reverence as he looked at her from hooded eyes, "and know why I lost my memory."
"What?" Emma screeched and looked at him in alarm, "how did you get that from a kiss?"
"My memory is back," He rubbed sheepishly behind his back, "I was cursed, my memory removed—" He blinked a few times as his eyes widened in more surprise, "it would not return until I kissed—" He dragged his hand over his mouth as he whispered, "bloody hell."
"What?" Emma could feel her pulse spike, as she looked at him in alarm, something must have happened while they kissed.
"You're my—" Then he stopped and shook his head.
"I'm what?" Now she was just getting more and more annoyed by his mumbling, "just bloody say it, will you?"
Hook visibly gulped down and raised his arms in surrender, "Ya won't like this love."
"If you don't tell me right this minute I'll call my men up here and I'll keelhaul you right this second." She jabbed her finger in his chest, ignoring the spikes of heat shooting up her arm at the feel of his hard muscle under his thin shirt.
"Only if you promise not to keelhaul me when I tell you?"
"Alright," Emma said with an exasperated sigh and lifted her hands in the air in agreement.
"I did something rather stupid a few weeks ago—"
"Why am I not surprised," Emma rolled her eyes.
"Now love, do you want the story or not?" When she nodded in agreement and motioned for him to keep speaking he continued, "I was in dire need of some squid ink, I came across the sea witch Ursula, who told me that her father, Poseidon was in possession of such treasure. I sought him out. All he asked was to trap his daughter's singing voice with a magic shell." He waved his hand in the air, "I have no bloody idea why but it seemed easy enough and once I did manage to trap her voice she went mental and spoke a curse over my life."
"What curse?" Emma shifted nervously on her feet, she knew it was never good to anger the gods of the sea, as pirates they all relied on their good favor.
"I was on the Jolly Roger at the time, out in the open waters." He rubbed his face with his hand, "She said that I would not remember my name, and know nothing of my crew, my ship, nothing, until—,"
"Until what?" Emma had a feeling that she wasn't going to like this very much.
"Until I kissed my true love." He pursed his lips in a grim expression as he had the good grace to look at her sheepishly, while he rubbed his neck nervously.
Emma blinked quite a few times as she tried to sort out the words that had spewed from his mouth, true love? "Who—" She took a deep breath, "me?" Her voice wavered at the mere thought that they'd somehow lifted a curse that had been cast upon him, because they were supposed to be true love?
"Aye," He bit his lower lip and closed his eyes, "this is just bloody fantastic."
"No it's not," She stepped up to him and slapped his chest, ignoring that she could feel the springy dark hair that his open shirt revealed. "This is preposterous on so many levels, that we— you and me?" She nearly stomped her foot in defiance, this was not happening to her, to them. She waved her hand between them, "this is mental, you know that right, the thought that we—"
Hook grabbed her wavering hand and stopped it moving between them, her thoughts suddenly blanked out as she felt his warm hand wrap around hers. "Love," He urged gently, "don't get me wrong, this is quite disturbing for me too," He tilted his head to the side and smirked, "while the kiss was quite possibly the best kiss I'd had in many a years."
"Yeah right, as if the great Captain Hook refrained from kissing a new girl at each port he docked at." Emma scoffed, contemplating how she could remove her hand from his grasp.
"I might have had a few bonnie lasses over the years, but nothing compared to this kiss," He lifted his eyebrow with a smirk as he lifted her hand and kissed her fingers.
"What?" Emma yanked her hand from his grasp as she ignored the tingling happening on her skin where his lips had touched her. "You just think I'll buy this story of yours? That you now all of a sudden remember who you are just because you bloody kissed me."
Sure Emma had heard the fairy tales of the true lovers kiss and all that, but her mind could not wrap around the fact that she could share love with a ruthless pirate like Hook. She looked up into his forget-me-not blue eyes. Reaching up and fiddled with the flower pendant at her cleavage she tried to sort out the scrambled thoughts, all of this had made her head a mess.
"I understand that this is freaking you out love," Hook tried to sooth, he reached out and tugged a loose piece of hair behind her ear.
"That is an understatement," Emma grumbled, "what am I supposed to do with that knowledge that we— you know"
"Are true love?"
"Yeah, that," She rubbed her temples trying to ease the tension building there.
"I don't know love, but we've come to know each other fairly well in the past days I've been on this lovely ship, and I suggest we keep getting to know one another, and see where this goes."
"As in a courtship?" Emma gaped at him incredulously.
"In a manner of speaking," He smirked and leaned over and whispered against her cheek, "I'm not opposed to kissing you again Swan, as I said that kiss was by far the best I've ever had."
"Yeah well that might be, but give me some time to sort all of this out," Emma tried, "I just need some time, okay?" She hugged herself and bit her lip nervously. "I'm willing to get to know you, and I make the calls on when things happen, or don't happen!"
Hook raised his hands and did a small bow to her and agreed, "As you wish."
Emma could see the slight disappointment in the man's face, but quite honestly she just needed some time. She was still fiddling with her pendant when she felt Hook reach over and plucked it from her fingers, laying it in his palm. Trying to ignore his closeness and heat from his hand grazing over her cleavage she asked in annoyance, "what?"
"I've seen this symbol before." He mused, he'd flipped the pendant over looking at the back, his thumb caressed the silver pendant with its blue stones.
"Yeah I believe it's a Forget-me-not flower," She shrugged and looked at the small pendant in his large hand. "So what of it?"
"It's the symbol in the Royal crest of the very same Realm we just sailed into." Hook explained and let go of the pendant, it was still warm from him holding it when it settled on her chest.
"Yeah well what's so special about this flower? I bet more jewelers make this sort of pendant all the time." She glanced down at the pendant she'd owned her whole life.
"The tiny crown engravement on its back has never puzzled you?"
Picking up the pendant she shrugged, "sure I've noticed it, but any jeweler could have made this."
"Only the royal jeweler would use the crown engravement like that." Hook explained with a frown as he looked at her closely. He seemed to be deep in thought over something very important, and Emma felt a shiver of something unfamiliar rush down her spine, this was utterly insane and made no sense.
"What are you saying?"
"That this pendant is made in the royal court of Misthaven."
"How do you know?"
"Love—" He drawled and smirked, "I'm a pirate, and yes I've plundered a few of the king's ships over the years, for the most part it was long before the present king was on the throne." He tapped the pendant at her chest, "this symbol, I've seen on many fine jewelry that I've acquired over the years."
"What?" Emma gaped down at the pendant, "I had this from when I was a mere infant, someone found me washed up on the beach in a wicker bassinet." She stopped talking and placed her hand over her mouth, she never spoke of her past to anyone. The only one aboard this ship knowing her full story was Ruby.
"Curious," he tapped his chin as he inspected her closely with his impossible blue eyes. His brows pinched in a deep furrow, as he pondered at this information. "I wonder—"
"What?" She was getting impatient again with his vague ideas.
"It is said that the current King and Queen of Misthaven lost their baby daughter 28 years ago, in a shipwreck."
Hook's words caused a chaos of thought to erupt inside Emma, she suddenly felt quite faint, something she'd never experienced in her life, ever. She blinked several times as she tried to get her spinning world to stand still again. Slumping back against the railing nearby she clutched the pendant in her hand as she looked at Hook through narrowed eyes, trying to see if he was lying to her right now.
"I'm 28," She finally sumissed and gulped down, then opened her hand and looked at the pendant with the blue stones and crown engravement. "How?"
"Well that is definitely gonna change a few things, isn't it?"
"How so?" She was still not fully grasping what this meant to her.
"You're a lost princess, and your true love is a pirate." He made a nonchalant motion with his arms as if that was her only worry.
"Stop with the true love, please," She rubbed at her temple again, things were moving forward way too fast here. "I'm no bloody princess that's for sure."
"That pendant tells a different tale," Hook pointed out.
"What if I don't care?" Emma grumbled, "I might have gotten the pendant from someone else.".
"Your parents might think differently."
"I don't have any parents."
"You won't know unless you go find out." Hook suggested.
"So you want me to sail into the Misthaven royal city and say oh ahoy there I'm your missing princess?" She grimaced and added, "They would never believe me when they see that I'm also a pirate." Emma huffed and leaned her head back and watched the dark skies above, the stars twinkling on the dark canvas. This was so out of her realm of thinking, her being a princess, she scoffed and shook her head, "I would be dead even before I tried to moor my ship in Misthaven."
"We could find a way to get you closer to the castle." Hook shrugged and walked over to lean against the railing next to her. His shoulder almost touched hers and in a weak moment she wished she could just lean into his strong frame. If what he said was true, her life would flip upside down the moment she was known to be the lost princess. As if he could read her body language he lifted his stumped arm and offered her his support. With little effort she slipped into his embrace and rested her head on his shoulder. It seemed to be far too perfect. They matched in height and she seemed to have been the reason for him to have regained his top everything off, she might also be the lost princess of Misthaven.
"You would help me?" She glanced up at him trying not to notice how close his mouth was to hers.
"Aye, I would," Hook assured her and reached up to gently caress her temple and push her wayward hair behind her ear. She shivered and it had nothing to do with the cooler night air. Her life was just about to change. Everything seemed to connect to the pirate next to her.
"Thank you—" She tugged at his collar, "I have no idea what your real name is?"
"Jones. Killian Jones," He winked and placed a small kiss on her temple and whispered, "at your service, Princess."
"Yeah let's go to Misthaven then and see if I can find out if your crazy story about me being a princess is true or not." She sighed and shook her head, "I'm sure it would be quite the adventure we embark on."
"Well love, I'm fairly certain that you and I make quite the team." He whispered against her hair. His strong arm wrapped around her shoulder as they both tried to sort out what had happened this evening. Whatever her next step in life would be, she was now certain that Killian would be at her side. It brought her an odd sense of peace to know that the man she once despised and saw as her adversary, was perhaps now her true love.