Killian was in Cora's bed. Well, Jefferson's bed, but Cora had decided it was hers weeks ago, and the hatter was too scared of her to tell her no. Regina had offered, begged, really, for her mother to move in with her, but Cora stayed here. Probably enjoyed seeing Regina coming crawling to her for once. But the hatter had managed to get Cora to promise not to take lovers to her bed while Grace was around, which was why they found themselves going at it at 1 in the afternoon on a Tuesday.
Cora tended to fall asleep after a rough enough shag, which left him to watch over her lightly dozing form. It truly was remarkable how different she seemed when she slept. Peaceful, usually. Her face softened, and she almost looked kind. Almost.
Not enough to make him feel guilty when he pulled her to him, hook to her throat. It had been nearly a month in Storybrooke, and he had nothing to show for it beyond fond memories of their afternoon trysts. She didn't wake, trying to curl into him, so he gripped her arm, tight, and growled in her ear.
"Wake up, Your Majesty. And you might not want to move too much." He felt it when she woke, her body going stiff and straight, a stark contrast from the pliable form she was when she slept.
"Are we back here again, Captain? I'm sure you remember how it ended last time." She began to shift away from him dismissively, but he just tightened his grip.
"Last time, my hook wasn't dipped in the poison of the Dreamshade plant. Quite a nasty little thing. One cut would be all it takes to kill you. Magic or no, I'm relatively sure I could get one scratch on you."
That had her tensing, leaning back against him to get away from the hook. Always nice to know the wicked woman could feel fear.
"Am I really the one you want to use that poison on?"
"Well, I had a rather scalier victim in mind, but I have a feeling you are to blame for his disappearance. You promised me my revenge. If you don't intend to keep that promise, then I'm afraid this alliance really isn't working out for me."
"The Dark One will be back. He has ventured out into a world without magic to find his son. Do you really think he'll be willing to stay away from magic for long?" Baelfire. Was the boy even in this world? Was he even still alive? Rumplestiltskin seemed to think so, though Hook couldn't imagien how he had managed to escape Pan.
"He orchestrated a curse that took away his magic for twenty-eight years. The crocodile knows how to be patient."
"He made that curse. He built in a savior. Rumplestiltskin is fantastic as a strategist, but I believe he will find this world far harder to control, particularly without his powers. He will be back."
"And when he returns? I'm well aware that the two of you have a history."
"You will have your revenge, Hook." She leaned her head back, almost nuzzling against his chest, and then vanished in a puff of smoke. He cursed, swinging his hook where she had been, but missing her entirely. He sprung into a seated position on the bed to see her standing at the end of it."I don't appreciate the threats. Or the lack of faith."
"You'll have to forgive me for doubting you, love. You haven't exactly prioritized my needs in your quest for power."
"Is that so?" Cora flicked her wrist, and when the smoke cleared, there was a dagger in her hand. Could it really be…
"Is that what I think it is?" He practically crawled forward on the bed to get a better look at the blade, at the name Rumplestiltskin carved into it in decorative calligraphy.
"After all this time, why do you still doubt me?" Hook reached out for it, the one weapon that was sure to work on the Dark One. He had hope that his poison would work, but there was no precedent for it, no Dark One killed by any other means than this dagger, the dagger his lover held in her hand. Just as his fingers grazed the weapon, it was gone again in the same puff of smoke it had arrived in. "I have made sure that Rumplestiltskin has no idea you are in town. And I have acquired the precise weapon you need to finally kill your crocodile. I believe you owe me an apology."
"I… apologize. You didn't give any indication—"
"I had more important things to do than inform you of every step of my plan."
Hook stood, pulling his pants back on before beginning to pace. "I just don't understand why you let him go. If you were planning to let me kill him, then him leaving makes that more difficult."
"And his presence in town would have made my tasks more difficult. You've waited three centuries. You can wait another few months. I, on the other hand, had things to do. I acquired a house for us. I took a few strategic hearts, controlled the town with a few minor heroes. I got my daughter back. Do you have any idea how much harder that would have been with Rumple looking over my shoulder the whole time?"
That made some sense. It had been somewhat amusing to see her whisper words into a heart and have the bloody cricket spread them to the town, about how they could only get back to a state of normalcy by reinstating the monarchy. Hook would never truly support kings and queens, not after what happened to his brother, but the townspeople seemed eager enough to accept it when their precious conscience told them to.
He dug around in his jacket, pulling out a flask and taking a swig. "I see your point."
"Have you decided not to stab me, then?"
"I think we can put that off for another time. Skip the betrayal thing this time around." She rolled her eyes, finally moving to put her own clothes back on.
"Well, aren't I lucky that the Swan girl isn't here to sway you to her side again?"
"I told you, I was going to bring it to you."
"I am not a fool, Hook. I knew exactly who you were when I began this arrangement. And believe me, I have the perfect torture in place if you even consider betraying me again."
That was a terrifying thought. But so long as she gave him his opportunity, he wouldn't have any need to turn on her again.
"I will keep that in mind."
It took another three months before the dagger appeared in his hand, along with a note listing a location and "I always keep my promises" in Cora's handwriting. Apparently it had taken quite some time for Rumplestiltskin to convince his son that he was worth giving another chance. Hook was hardly a sentimental man, but he had to admit he was happy that Baelfire wasn't in the room when he arrived, finally slaying his crocodile.