OS 7 : I never believed in magic (I was wrong) (CaptainSwanFire).
Author's note : Soulmate!AU, S2B, canon divergence. Takes place in the same universe and continuity as I wish I never met you.
- Défi de l'enfer de Dante : Défi des âmes-sœurs : Âmes-sœurs 2 : Vous avez une horloge qui fait un compte à rebours jusqu'à ce que vous rencontriez votre âme sœur.
- UA Challenge 10 : UA!Âme Sœur.
- Fusion : Fusionner 2 défis.
Killian Jones was born with two soulmarks.
These soulmarks, despite the fact that he had two of them, which was quite unusual, but not impossible, were only and truly... banal.
Who are you ? Was written on his arms.
Twice.
Yeah, it was not like it was something he risked to hear every time he met someone… oh wait a minute !
That may be the reason one he still didn't find them, as far as he knew.
(That, and the fact that his timeline was totally fucked up.
Not that he could know that, of course.)
§§§§
He had two counters on his arms, and they… didn't really fit well, to be honest.
Well, if the first one was a normal timer, since he was supposed to meet one of them when he would be eight years old, concerning the other one…
It would not be before something like two hundred years.
What the fuck ?
How was he supposed to live during such a long time ?
He only understood it when he arrived in Neverland and figured out how time was working (or not working, to be more precise) there.
§§§§
She didn't have any marks.
The truth is that she should have one, even two, but something stopped it.
The Dark Curse stopped it, hell, it was not even sure that the marks appeared on her arms during the short time where she stayed in the Enchanted Forest after she was born, the only thing sure about that was that some minutes after she was put in the magical wardrobe, two marks that could have stayed definitely disappeared from her arms.
She didn't even know that she supposed to have at least one.
Too bad that there was no soulmates in the land without magic…
§§§§
None of them knew what had really happened during this night.
How could they, it was not like any of them could have realized what was exactly happening.
Well, Baelfire could have known, and he felt it, indeed, but he was trying to get his mother home, he only talked to her at this moment, and there was so many people in this tavern, how could he know who precisely it was, and even during the following days, he didn't think about this soulmate he apparently met, since his mother was not coming back.
Maybe he had felt something.
But it hadn't been enough.
Not this time at least.
§§§§
"Who are you ?"
His mark burnt him again, but he didn't allow himself to hope.
It would be sick and twisted, especially after he learned his identity, wouldn't it ?
(And yet…
Yet, it was true.)
§§§§
When Baelfire looked at his counter just before leaving Neverland, he realized that he was supposed to wait five years before meeting his other soulmate.
Well considering his luck about the other one, he would probably never meet this person, right ?
When the counters both disappeared from his arms, he wasn't even surprised.
§§§§
Emma Swan didn't know how it felt, to have a soulmate, or a soulmark.
She didn't believe in magic, never did, and she didn't believe in soulmates either, and well, she did love Neal, it's true, and maybe he could have been her soulmate if that kind of thing existed, or she dared to hope.
But then, Neal… Neal had betrayed her, had abandoned her like she was nothing.
Soulmate or not, she didn't care.
She hated him.
§§§§
She had two soulmates.
Two soulmarks, two names written on her arms, of people she didn't know, she never met, and it didn't make any sense.
Baelfire and Killian Jones.
(A part of her was both relieved and disappointed that it was not Neal.)
But, even before she could figure this out, she fell into a portal with her mother, and suddenly, that soulmate thing wasn't that important anymore.
§§§§
"Who are you ?"
It had been since almost two centuries that he was asked this damn question.
He had stopped hoping for anything since a long, very long time.
§§§§
"Who are you ? Emma finally asked to the man who was not really a victim or an innocent, well, absolutely not at all.
- Killian Jones, he answered, and the Savior totally froze."
It was him.
His name, she had his name on her arm, and she knew what it meant.
This man was her soulmate, well, one of them.
And she didn't know how to deal with that.
By the way, she finally realized, one of her soulmates was Captain freaking Hook, and hell, wasn't it already enough that her parents were prince Charming and princess Snow White, she was supposed to fall in love with a fictional character (not that fictional in fact…) now ?
Still…
That was weird.
Just like the rest of her life was since she arrived in Storybrooke, and to be fair, that was not the strangest thing she had lived…
(How would it be when she would meet her other soulmate ? She asked herself.
She didn't know yet, for sure.)
She could have told him, immediately, tell him who she was for him, who they were to each other, but he was supposed to already know that, didn't he so why…
Then, she had seen the sentence, no the sentences on his arms.
Who are you ?
Oh…
Yeah, that explained everything.
So yes, she could have said something, but she didn't, because she was Emma Swan, she had walls around her, she didn't trust people easily, and he was a pirate, he was working for Cora who according to her mother was worst than Regina and…
And Neal had broke her heart once, didn't he, and a part of her was sure that the story would repeat itself again, and she just didn't want to get hurt.
So she just shut up about it and continued hiding her marks like she did since the precise moment where they had appeared on her body.
No one had to know it after all.
Then, when she let him to that giant, she left him without looking back, Neal had done that to her years ago after all, why would she care about a man she barely knew ? She tried to convince herself, no matter how everything in her screamed to her not to do that.
It was not like it would change anything in her life.
(She had been wrong, so wrong.)
§§§§
He had left her in a cage too.
A part of him didn't want to, but she had left him, she had refused to trust him, and he did want to go to Storybrooke more than anything else in the world, to have his revenge, even if he did want her to get out of it too.
It was not like she would ever be important for him one day.
(He had been so wrong too.)
§§§§
It was not supposed to happen, it was not supposed to be this way, it was not supposed… to be him.
Neal was not supposed to be Baelfire.
And most of all…
Neal was not supposed to be her soulmate.
Both of her marks had disappeared the second the three of them had left Storybrooke (land without magic, it made sense at least) but she hadn't forgotten the names written on her body, and now she was just figuring out that…
That. He. Was. Her. Soulmate.
And she didn't want it to be true.
Yeah, he was her soulmate, so what ?
He had lied to her about his identity (she could forgive him for that, except if he did know that she was from the Enchanted Forest, that she was the Savior, and that he told her nothing about that. Did he know ? She asked herself. Did he know back then, who she was ? Did he know she was his soulmate ? Gods, it only made things even worst.), he had sent her to jail, he had abandoned her, betrayed her, he had broke her heart.
How was she supposed to forgive him exactly, and hell, how was she even supposed to fall in love with him again ?
Just because somebody, somewhere, because magic had decided that they were meant for each other ?
That didn't make any fucking sense !
§§§§
She was still so angry.
Oh, he had apologized to her, obviously, but it didn't change anything, it didn't erase what he had done to her, and she was burning with rage, not only against him, but against August, against Rumplestiltskin, against fate itself.
Could have things be different, if they had met each other in other circumstances ?
She knew that to have an answer to this question would do nothing to her, but break her heart again, and she did want to let him go, he didn't want to see his father again, she didn't want to see him either, but…
But it was Rumplestiltskin they were talking about, and she knew the man now, she knew how stubborn he could be, he had waited for something like two centuries to get back to his son, she knew he would not abandon without fighting and she was not ready to confront him, not today, and Henry…
Henry deserved the truth.
And he was not the only one.
And she knew now that, even if she didn't want to see him again for now, well…
It seemed that fate always found its way, she had learned, this reunion had proved it clearly.
(It didn't mean she liked it, not at all.)
"Why did you listen to August exactly ?
Why did you abandon me ?
Another question burned in her : Did you know, did you know who I was to you, did you know we were soulmates ?
- I am sorry, he said again. I… I made a mistake, and I know… I know you will probably never forgive me for that. I was an idiot, I was scared that my father could find me, August told me about your fate, that you had to become the Savior, and that I was in the way, and I believed him but… I shouldn't have listened to him."
He didn't know.
He didn't know she was pregnant at that time, he didn't know she was his soulmate.
(If he already knew… she didn't know what she would do to him.)
And then…
She just couldn't not tell him.
"I was not the only who suffered from this, she confessed, remembering how awful it had felt back then, the pain, physical and emotional, and that moment where…
I can't be a mother !
He frowned.
- What do you mean ?
There she was…
That was the moment she had tried to escape from since a long, long time.
- I was pregnant… She whispered, and Neal's eyes opened wide with shock and surprise. And I… I just couldn't be a mother, I was alone because you weren't here, so I did what my parents did to me, what yours did to you. I abandoned him.
- Do you know… do you know where he is now ?
- His name is Henry, he found me when I lived in Boston. And guess what ? He was adopted by the Evil Queen. Yeah, that's crazy, I know, I guess he was supposed to end in Storybrooke too, just like… everybody else. Don't worry, he is fine, she… she raised him well, and she is trying to change now, well she was and then her mother came back, and.. it's complicated.
- I won't say anything, he grimaced, my father is the Dark One after all, and despite the mess of the situation, Emma couldn't help but smile.
Hell, she was going to have such a headache, Henry's family tree was becoming so complex now.
- He came with us you know, she added. Henry… with Cora in town and… (And Hook, she almost added, finally deciding to shut up.) Well, I didn't want him to stay there.
- You let him with my father ?
- Yes… Your father who is… his grand-father. This story is such a mess…
- I guess I will have to face him then…
- Henry ? Or your father ?
- Both.
- Oh… He thinks you're dead… Henry I mean, I… he asked me who you were and… I told him you died.
Neal paled and sighed.
- I guess that… that it was not enough, what I sent to you, he finally dared to say.
This time, it was Emma's turn to frown.
- What do you mean ?
- Well… when I left you and went to Canada, I… I sent you the car's key, and the money I got when I sold the watches.
Emma blinked two or three times and then completely froze.
That… that was not possible, right ?
- Wait, you… You what ?
- I sent you the car's key and the money not a long time after I learned that you were in prison, he repeated… Why, you… you didn't got it ?
- NO ! She exclaimed. I mean… I got the key, but it was… it was the only thing…
He seemed sincere, he was sincere, she knew it, her superpower didn't lie to her, she knew he was telling her the truth, and he really seemed confused so…
- How on hell did I never…"
And then she knew, and her face darkened.
"August…
It was him, it had to be him, he was the only one who knew it after all, so… he had kept the money with him ?
(Maybe that was one of the reasons why he had turned back into wood after her arrival to Storybrooke…
Selfless, brave and true…
He wasn't these kind of things at this time, was he ?)
- Emma ?
- Don't worry, I… I think I will have to talk to a certain wooden man as far as I am back in Storybrooke…
- I see, he answered, terribly pale now that he knew everything.
- That's… that's not all, she added reluctantly.
- What else do you want to tell me ?
- Tell me… what do you know about soulmates ? I know you told me once that you didn't believe in them but now that I know that magic exists, I guess that's not true too.
- Indeed. He sighed. Soulmates are much more common in the Enchanted Forest and all the fairy tale lands in general since… they have magic, but that's all I know about that.
- Do you have a soulmate ?
- Yes… actually, I have got two.
Emma felt her heart stop at those words.
Could it be…
Could they share the same soulmate ?
Was it even possible ?
- And… do you know who they are ? She asked, not knowing if it was fear or hope which was invading her now.
He laughed, sadly.
- I have no idea. I had counters on my arms when I was still in the Enchanted Forest, but they… they disappeared when I arrived in this world, apparently, I met one of them when I was a child but I don't remember it, it was… a long time ago.
Oh…
Well that was interesting.
- What about you ? He asked her. I mean, you went to Storybrooke, I guess you have one too, and that you saw you mark, if you have one.
- Yes, but… I have another question, I want to be sure about something… When did you first counter stop exactly ?
- I… I think I was eight years old, it was not a long time before my mother left us, so I didn't really pay attention to it.
Oh…
Oh…
If it was not a proof, she didn't know what it was, and again, she didn't know how to deal with this.
- Why did you want to know that ?
- Neal… I am your soulmate… She said with tears in her eyes, and hell, she did pass this entire conversation with the strong desire to cry, didn't she ?
Apparently, she was not the only one…
He started.
It seemed like he couldn't breath anymore.
There was something like surprise, shock and joy in his eyes, and Emma wished so much that things could have been different that it hurt.
- You… wait, you… What ?
- I have your name written on one of my arms… Your real name I mean…
He smiled sadly.
- Maybe I knew it, deep down, back then, but… I couldn't be sure. I guess it changes nothing.
- Not for now… She said, and maybe a part of him dared to hope that everything was not broken between them. And there is… something else, the last thing I have to say about that, well, I hope…
She took a deep breath.
- I have another soulmate, and I think we share the same soulmate, if that kind of thing is possible, and I already met him, and you met him as well, a long time ago, even though you don't remember it, and well that's going to be complicated as hell…
He frowned, not really knowing who she was talking about.
- Emma, I don't get it, I am not immortal, and the only reason why I am still alive after all this time is because I went to Neverland during a long, long time, and not a lot of people did this, not people I met when I was a child, so who could it…
And then, he remembered Emma's previous question, and he just knew what she meant.
Oh…
OH !
And his eyes opened wide with horror.
- No ! Oh no Emma, no, no, no, no, NO ! That's… that's not possible !
I don't want this to be real would have been more accurate.
Maybe that a part of her was happy to see him react this way, to see him be so hurt by this idea, maybe that unconsciously, she wanted to hurt him the way he hurt her all these years ago because she knew what kind of things the pirate did to his family.
He did abandon her after all, didn't he ?
So yeah, the darkest part of her felt right as she said those words, even if it was wrong.
It didn't stop her from feeling sorry for him.
- Neal… I have his name of my arm. Killian Jones. And I think… I think he is the person for who your first counter stopped all these centuries ago.
- That's… that's insane, and that doesn't make any sense, how can you be so sure that…
- What is the first sentence that you told him ?
- Emma, I was eight years old, how could I remember…
- I am not talking about this encounter, you didn't tell him anything as far as I know, but about the other one, the second one… in Neverland.
- I asked him… Who are you ?
- That's what you said ?
- Yes, why ?
- Because that's what I told him the first time I saw him… Because that's what you told him first… Because our words are his soulmarks. Both of them. Because he is our soulmate and I don't know how to deal with that.
He looked at her, and yeah, he was crying, and so was she, and she wasn't even surprised.
- I don't know how to deal with that either, he admitted."
Well, at least, they were both lost together in this, weren't they ?
§§§§
He was their soulmate, and he had tried to kill Rumplestiltskin, to kill Baelfire's father, to kill Henry's grand-father !
It was a chance Emma had stopped him in time before he did anything.
How on hell could they deal with that ?
How could they deal with their soulmate being their enemy ?
§§§§
She didn't know how to tell him.
Neal even didn't want to tell him, and she couldn't blame him for that.
The man who loved his mother once and who wanted to kill his father was his soulmate, she was surprised he had actually let them get him back to Storybrooke.
(A part of her hoped that Rumplestiltskin would never know what was going on.
Hell, Regina herself did, and apparently, she found that really funny.
She didn't.)
A part of her didn't want to tell him either, and yet…
Yet, here she was.
Because, as foolish as it was, she wanted to make it work.
Or at least try too…
In Storybrooke's prison, here he was too, since they came back from New York, and it was still hard for her to deal with Neal being here, but… she had made it somehow.
Maybe she could make it again.
"Swan ! What are you doing here ? He asked her with an annoyed tone, and she looked at him with both a cold and sad look.
- We never talked about soulmates together, didn't we ?
- No, indeed… Why ? Did you find yours not a long time ago ? If that's the case, congratulations then ! He said with an ironic tone. But I don't know why I wouldcare.
She smiled at him sadly.
- Yeah, somehow, I did it… I found them.
- Oh, so you have two soulmates, just like me, I guess that's great for you, I still don't know who mines are personally.
- It was not Milah, she said with conviction.
He sadly smiled too.
- I suppose I will never know, he admitted.
- Well, I do… I know.
- What…
- What is the first thing I told you ? She asked him.
- You asked me who I was, why are you…"
And then he understood what she meant and he froze, his eyes opening wide with surprise and disbelief.
Without waiting for his reaction, she showed him her arm where "Killian Jones" was written.
"Wait… it's… it's you ! Why didn't you tell me ?
- Because it was not the right time, I thought you would know, but you didn't, and then I didn't know how to tell you, and I didn't trust you, you were a pirate, you were working with Cora, and I already got my heart broken once and I didn't know how to deal with having a soulmate.
- And now ?
- Now, I still can't deal with having a soulmate at all, or having you as a soulmate, but I want to make it work, and I figured out who my other soulmate was and I think I found the missing piece…
- Wait you… you what ?
- I have another soulmate, you have another soulmate, and I am sure as Hell that we have the same, and tell me, what did Baelfire tell you when he arrived on the Jolly Roger ?
- He asked me who I was… Wait you don't mean…
She smiled to him with an amused and tired air and she sighed.
- It seems like fate has a twisted sense of humor… Yes, Baelfire, Neal is my soulmate and he is your soulmate too, and it doesn't make any sense.Because it looks like somebody or something chose that the three of us… we were meant for each other, the savior, the pirate, and the lost boy… What a trio we make, don't we ?
He didn't answer still frozen by shock.
- I don't know how to deal with that…
- Don't worry about that… And trust me captain, none of us knows how to deal with it… I just hope we will find a way to figure this out."
Maybe that it was just naive from her to hope for that, but as she left the room, she was almost sure that yeah, they would find a way to deal with all of this.
(And in the end, they did.
They made it work.)