A/N: Hey everybody! Hope this update finds you doing well, and that you're ready for another installment of 'Lost Souls and Reveries." This chapter was very fun to write because there's a bit of intrigue, some new developments in our shifter universe, and of course, more CS cuteness. I can't wait to hear what you all think and I'm so looking forward to your thoughts on this. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoy!
"A real man lives up to his word, even when it damn near kills him."
Killian had heard those words more times than he could count from his elder brother over the course of his life, so much so that he could practically hear them aloud as he headed for the sheriff's station.
The confrontation to come was something that Killian wanted no part of. It was bound to be unpleasant, but nevertheless it had to be done. This morning he promised Emma that he would try to smooth things over with Graham, and he would never break a promise to his mate. Even if he hated the idea of making peace with someone who had challenged his claim to her, Killian would try for Emma's sake. Besides, the show down in the diner had proven to both him and Graham who the stronger shifter was.
Hours later it still amazed Killian that Graham was a shifter at all. There was no way to deny it when seeing him in person, but Killian had picked up no trace of another of his kind in the days since he'd arrived. It worried Killian that he could miss what should have been so obvious, and at first he wondered if his senses had taken some kind of hit. Perhaps the distraction of finding his perfect match had desensitized him to what should be undeniable signs. But he concluded, with the benefit of a few hours spent canvassing Storybrooke, that this was not the case. There was still virtually no scent that would hint at Graham's existence, and Killian couldn't comprehend how that was possible. By the time he arrived at the station, Killian was no closer to an answer, but as he walked through the front door his determination to get to the bottom of this had further solidified.
"Good morning," a petite woman greeted from what appeared to be a deputy's desk. "You must be Killian Jones."
The acknowledgment of who he was surprised Killian until he remembered how small towns like Storybrooke operated. Still, this didn't seem like a deputy greeting the town's newest arrival. It was almost like this tiny woman had known that he would be here today, but that was crazy. He had made no appointment, and after the incident in the diner he was likely unwelcome and unwanted here, but this woman stood staring impassively at him as if his presence was just another item checked off of a very long list.
"I am, yes."
"You're early," She said, motioning towards the clock on the wall. "He didn't think you'd be here so soon."
Killian wanted to ask how Graham could know he would come at all, but at that moment the man himself appeared.
"I think I've got it from here, Tink," Graham said, embodying a much more laid back attitude than he had before. "It probably wouldn't be a bad time to make the lunch run. We've likely outwaited the rush by this point, right?"
"You've got it boss," she said dutifully before offering Killian a polite goodbye and heading out, leaving Killian and Graham alone.
"So… you made good time," Graham said, pulling Killian's attention back again. With the departure of the human buffer, Killian expected animosity to surface, but Graham remained as calm as he was before. "I'm assuming you surveyed the whole town. Find anything?"
"Nothing," Killian said, perplexed by the newfound easiness in the sheriff's demeanor as they walked back through the precinct and to Graham's office. "How did you manage that?"
"Let's just say you're not the only one who doesn't want to be found."
The hair on the back of Killian's neck stood up at the mention of his past though he did his best to appear unaffected. It was too much to hope that Graham wouldn't go looking, but where there would be very little to say about him as far as the human government was concerned, Killian undoubtedly had a reputation amongst the packs. All it would take was one call and Graham would get some iteration of his story, if he hadn't heard it already.
"Appears you have me at a disadvantage. You seem to know more about me than I do about you. Hardly seems fair," Killian mused.
"There's not much to know," Graham said as he motioned for Killian to take a seat before taking his own spot behind the desk. "I don't exactly come with a pedigree like yours."
"No, but you've inserted yourself into a human town and become the sheriff. You don't think that's an interesting choice?"
Killian purposefully infused in his tone how strange it was for a shifter to do something like that. It was one thing to go rogue and live among humans. But to enmesh oneself so deeply in their community and take on the role of protector? Well that was a bizarre choice indeed, one that clearly stemmed from a story worth hearing.
"I didn't insert myself," Graham said evenly. "I was raised nearby by humans so they're what I've always known. I tried the whole 'pack' thing out for a while when I was younger, but it didn't stick, so I came home."
Killian marveled at how forthcoming Graham was being with this information, especially given how anomalous it was. Humans didn't raise shifters – there were fail safes in place to make sure it didn't happen. To keep the secret safe orphaned shifters stayed within the clans. They were adopted by a pack and not allowed to live with people who shouldn't know the truth. Yet Graham spoke of his past like it was nothing, and maybe to him it was. For Killian though, the past was something he wanted to forget and fend off as best he could. It wasn't something he shared lightly, but now that Graham was aware of who he was, his options were limited. Killian could either take the man out in the hopes of preserving his secret (which was frankly not an option), or he could try and make nice and hope he could eventually trust the man.
"Packs are overrated," Killian responded.
"That they are," Graham agreed with a low chuckle. "But it begs the question – why is a rogue wolf who's forsaken the bonds of pack and family laying claim to a human? Just what are you doing with Emma Nolan?"
"She's mine," Killian growled out immediately and the ferocity of his response triggered a defensive stance from Graham for the first time since Killian arrived.
"No, she's not."
Killian could feel his wolf pushing to get out at the provocation. His animal wanted a fight. It wanted to rip apart any shifter who would doubt his claim to Emma or question his motives. If Killian let himself give into those baser instincts his wolf would win too. A physical fight would just prove what their showdown had this morning – Killian was stronger and more dominant than Graham was, plain and simple. But a brawl would also make a mess where Killian couldn't afford to create one. He tried to breathe through his rage instead of caving to it, but it was bloody difficult to do so.
"Look man, you want to stay here, fine. You and I both know I can't successfully fight you off," Graham confessed bitterly. "But I'm not letting you come in here just to mess with her. Emma might just be a human but -,"
"She's not 'just' anything. She's my mate and she's perfect."
The look of shock on Graham's face was unsurprising. He must be thinking the same things Killian considered when he first found Emma. How was it possible? She was a human and Killian was a shifter. True mates that crossed the species simply didn't happen – but it had – and he had the proof both in his heart and on his person.
"You can't know that," Graham replied, convinced it had to be a lie.
"And yet I do."
"You just got here. The full moon is still weeks away. You need it to -,"
"She marked me," Killian said, proud of that fact even though he didn't like that he had to share it with anyone. "My wolf knew from the moment I saw her, but it was confirmed when I got this."
He pulled down the collar of the shirt to reveal part of the insignia Emma had left as a presence on his skin. Meanwhile Graham shook his head, clearly blown away at all of this. The sheriff hadn't expected this twist, but Killian hoped that now that he knew the truth, Graham would stop trying to get Killian to leave her alone.
"Well shit… I guess she is yours."
"As I said," Killian responded with a huff before returning his shirt to normal.
"I would apologize, but I'm not really all that sorry," Graham said with a shrug. "I was only trying to protect her."
"Why?" Killian asked, before clarifying. "Why are you close to her? To her family?"
"Because of David," Graham stated, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Emma's father?" Killian's brow furrowed as he asked the question. What did Emma's father have to do with this? He wracked his brain, thinking of the few tidbits he'd learned from Emma about the man, but all he recalled was that he was a vet like Emma.
"You don't know," Graham said, his eyes giving away that he himself had just made some kind of mental connection.
"Know what?"
"Why did you come here?" Graham asked, completely ignoring Killian's question.
"Honestly? Because Emma asked me to."
"Not the station. I mean Storybrooke. How did you end up here?" Killian didn't follow Graham's insistent tone.
"It was random. I just did."
"Really?" Graham asked, unconvinced. "You had no other reasons?"
Of course you did, the voice in Killian's head which he knew to be his wolf said adamantly. She was here. You knew she was here. She was calling you to her. Calling you home.
"Well I didn't come here on a whim," Graham said, filling in the silence that his question had prompted. "I came to this town specifically out of all the ones around here because of Doc Nolan. Because he saves people, people like us."
"He's a healer?" Killian asked, now completely and utterly flummoxed. "But he's…"
"Human, yeah."
If he hadn't already been sitting Killian would have needed to take a seat. This was so much to wrap his mind around. A human who knew about shifters? That was a threat, one that the council would have a lot to say about if they ever heard. It was part of the reason that Killian was nervous about his relationship with Emma. She was his mate, but there weren't any laws in the shifter world that said how to handle that. It was a huge grey area, but her father knowing about shifters was cut and dry. He should not know, and if anyone found out that he did, he'd be handled somehow, likely in a way that would hurt Emma because it would take away her father forever.
"Why does he do it?"
"I've never asked him," Graham replied with a shrug. "And I don't know if he'd tell me if I did. That's his business, not mine, but there are shifters all around this area who owe their lives to him knowing. David's not a threat, even if he has to hide what he does for us."
"And Emma, does she know?" Killian asked. Part of him hoped that she did. If that were the case then he wouldn't have to worry about the reveal of his true nature. Maybe she'd be open to this. Maybe it wouldn't freak her out to find out the man who wanted to spend his life with her forever was part wolf.
"No, she doesn't. I don't even know if David has told his wife," Graham said honestly. "If Mary Margaret does know she's never said anything to me, and that would be impressive, since she's hardly known for her ability to keep a secret."
The implications of all he had just learned weighed heavily on Killian. On the one hand, Emma's father knew about his kind and he had decided to help them however he could. That was admirable, even if some might consider it reckless or crazy to open himself up to the risks associated with what he was doing. But on the other hand this was a secret, a secret about Emma's family that he now knew and that Emma did not. Killian didn't know if he could handle keeping something from Emma. Right now things between them were new and undefined, but he had every hope of moving things along with Emma and soon. In a perfect world they'd cement their bond as mates by the first full moon in a few weeks, Emma's being human or not, but he couldn't go into that with any kind of secret. What kind of foundation was that to build a life together?
"He has to tell her," Killian said firmly. "If he doesn't I will."
"I figured you might say that," Graham said with another smirk. "But that's between you and him. Unless you want me outing you as a wolf to your future father in law."
Killian grimaced at the thought, assuring Graham that he did not want that. He would figure this out. He just needed a bit of time to endear himself to Emma. Only with the benefit of more time together would Killian learn the best way to move forward, and until he knew how to handle this with the grace and tact it deserved, he'd keep this to himself. Graham agreed to respect that, and Killian decided that despite the fact that he had a dozen more questions, he would only ask one more. He wasn't sure how much time they'd have before Graham's deputy returned, and it wasn't exactly a human-safe line of questioning.
"Why is there no trace of any shifters here?" Killian asked, genuinely curious. "You were right before. I tracked all over the town and there was no trace of anyone, including me. How is that possible?"
"That's my job," Tink said, spooking Killian since so few people had the ability to sneak up on him. She tossed a bag from the diner over to Graham, apparently back from her lunch run.
"Tell me you're a witch or something," Killian pleaded, truly hoping she had some reason to know of their existence instead of being another human caught up in a dangerous situation.
"Tink is a Lynx shifter," Graham explained, as if what he was saying wasn't certifiably insane.
"That's not possible. There are none left."
"Ha! That's what you think," Tink quipped, her human looking eyes altering at her command to include a distinct shade of amber that Killian had never seen before. When she lifted this barrier Killian could finally scent her, and he was amazed. She was telling the truth. Would wonders ever cease? "Just because we don't mark our territory constantly like wolves do, doesn't mean we're gone. Some of us like a little more discretion."
"Lynxes can camouflage their scent naturally. Tink just broadens the scope – keeping Storybrooke and the trails coming in and out invisible to others."
"Well that's… brilliant," Killian admitted. "Thanks for that."
"You're welcome," Tink replied, clearly proud of herself. "But do me a favor and try to stop wandering, okay? You've had me working overtime with all the running and the pacing you're doing. I know it's over Emma but if you could just keep yourself in one area it would really help a lot."
"Uh right," Killian said, startled that she knew so much and a little sheepish at having been tracked this week. "I'll keep that in mind. Any other shifters or surprises I should know about?"
"Nope. That about covers it," Tink said with a smirk before she raised a brow at Graham and nodded towards the door.
"Well all right then," Graham said, standing from his chair. "If there's nothing else, I think Tink and I should eat this and go make our evening rounds. There's a storm coming tonight. Want to beat the bad weather if we can."
Killian took the hint, rising from his seat and saying goodbye to both of them before heading out of the station. He was still shocked by all that he'd learned in there, and his mind tried to make sense of the new discoveries he was faced with as he made his way home. But while he was walking, he came to understand exactly what Graham and Tink were on about before. The winds had shifted and the atmosphere had changed in the time since he'd gone to hash things out. A storm would come, probably not until later tonight, but instinct told Killian it would sweep in quickly and stay a long while. Summer storms were famous for that, and Killian couldn't help but think of the worst summer storm he'd ever seen many years ago…
It was fitting that the world outside was still but charged. The air around them was hot and heavy, weighing on the forest in an almost impressive way, but it wouldn't last. Miles off there was a feint sound of rumbling and the winds up high whistled a little more strongly through the trees. The normally brilliant summer twilight was dull and gray, and the white clouds above grew darker to the west as they headed this way. In another hour this relative state of natural peace would be long forgotten. The storm would be in full force, and that was when they would strike.
"It's not too late you two," Granny pleaded from the corner. "You don't have to do this yet. There's still time."
"To what, run?" Killian asked, the words dripping venom as they spilled from his lips. "No we're done running, and the only way this stops – the only way the world can be free of Brennan is if he's dead."
In every second that had passed since his mother was killed, Killian had harnessed just a little more pain and hurt and hate. It had been almost two years now since his mother had been killed, and the rage he felt towards his father flamed brighter than the sun at the peak of summer. The darkness inside of Killian had grown a little bit day by day, feeding him strength and stamina. This might be about justice, about righting a wrong that was too cruel to even contemplate, but Killian had not taken any kind of high roads to get here. He had channeled every ounce of his ability and feeling and natural alpha-genes and honed himself into a weapon. His body had shifted from boy into man through rigorous training and never letting up. He had managed to fully control his wolf, and learned to communicate with his animal side in a way that should have taken decades to perfect. But his only goal in achieving all of this was to rid this world of the monster that was his father.
"Ruby, dear, try to talk some sense into them," Granny said, calling on Killian's cousin who had been zoned out since Killian and Liam arrived here last night. But when Granny grabbed her hand, it seemed to pull Ruby back, and she looked at Killian with clear eyes as she made a surprising statement.
"I can't. They need to do this. So many lives hang in the balance. Brennan is only getting worse, Granny, and soon it will be too late. The sickness is spreading."
"Sickness?" Liam asked, and though Killian was interested as well, it wouldn't matter what Ruby said. He was here to kill Brennan and that would not change.
"Alpha sickness. It's rare, but sometimes when an alpha forsakes the good of the pack for the wants of his animal it happens. Your father has had it for years, but at some point there will be no human side left. Brennan will be a wolf – and a rabid one at that. When that happens…"
They all knew what would happen if his father reached peak strength and derangement. There were already no lines that Brennan wouldn't cross, but at least the man had strategy. A wolf would be guided by instinct and instinct alone, and with a heart so black it no longer knew what goodness felt like, Brennan would be a force so dark it couldn't be survived.
"So our window is closing," Killian said, his muscles flexing in preparation for the fight ahead. He was ready for this, not caring that the chances of survival weren't great. Honestly it didn't matter to him. If he died then so be it. As long as he rid the world of Brennan once and for all, it would be worth it.
"Yes," Ruby whispered, her sad and resigned look telling Killian she probably knew exactly how he felt. A part of him felt a pang of guilt for worrying her and Granny like this. But he couldn't prioritize that over revenge. He just couldn't.
"Any other things you've seen that could be helpful?" Liam asked, but Killian knew it was a losing battle. Gifted as Ruby might be, she was also cursed, at least that was what Killian's mother used to say. Knowing the future was a burden that must largely be handled alone. It was the only way to keep things as they should be. Telling them too much could actually hurt the future, and Ruby knew that.
"Don't let him bite you," Ruby said firmly. "The sickness is contagious."
"When did it start?" Liam asked, his curiosity and hope shining through in the question even though he tried to hide it. "The sickness. Was he bitten before we left?"
This was a moment of truth for Liam, even if it didn't matter to Killian. There was no way that he could ever forgive his father. Whatever this alpha sickness was, whatever craziness Brennan had been infused with it didn't matter. A real man would have fought it off, or would have taken care of the problem. No one could truly love his wife or his family and hurt them as Brennan had. There was no excuse – nothing that would make it right. So when Ruby gave the final blow, Killian didn't feel any kind of pain.
"No. He wasn't."
Silence descended upon their cabin as the four of them soaked in that knowledge. It was the ugly truth, but in some ways Killian was glad for it. Now he had more to hold onto, more hatred to stow away, and he would need all of it to do this tonight. Absentmindedly his hand reached for the pendant around his neck, and he felt the cool, comforting metal he'd been wearing since they fled from England. The compass was his mother's the only thing of hers Killian had kept after everything, and right now he needed it with him. Though she herself was peaceful and good, Killian knew his mother's spirit would be with him tonight. He only hoped he could avenge her, and that maybe when it was all over he would be able to claw himself out of this darkness he'd created…
The ding of his phone that sounded when a message arrived sucked Killian from the depths of his memory. He was a little more used to the thing now, having given his number to Emma a few mornings ago, and he prayed that it was her reaching out. When he saw that it was he smiled, and when he read her message his smile bloomed into a full-blown grin.
E: Hope you're brushing up on useless information for tonight. The Rabbit Hole is on the corner of Hickory and Main, FYI.
Killian couldn't explain how he knew, but he was certain that this text wasn't actually about telling him where the bar was. This town was so small; it would have been impossible for him to miss it after a week here. No, this was Emma reaching out and confirming that they'd see each other. It was a sign that she was missing him and wanting to be reunited, though probably not as much as him. He sent her back a message of his own, promising to do his best to bring her honor and to see her soon. Once his phone was put away he hurried up, walking as quickly as he could back home so he could get on with this evening at last.
Unfortunately, getting ready ended up being a little more complicated than he expected. It was easy getting home, of course. Killian would actually be surprised if any one could get lost in so small a town, shifter or not, but when he got down to readying himself to see Emma again, the challenge presented itself. Having very little experience in any kind of 'trivia night' Killian wasn't exactly sure what one wore to such an evening. He assumed it was casual, right? They were going to a bar and playing a game, so that would stand to reason, but since he was getting to see Emma, Killian still had this urge to look his best. He wanted his mate to desire him, because he was desperate for more moments when her eyes grew darker and her scent shifted ever so slightly to one of want and need. More than that, Killian also wanted Emma to be proud of him. Despite his wish to be alone with her, the reality was tonight would be filled with other people too including her friends. It was imperative that he make a good impression, and there was only one chance to make a first.
In the end, after showering and trying to set himself to rights, Killian went with what he knew best. Dark colors had always suited him and he didn't have anything else in his wardrobe to even consider. He tried to strike a balance between casual yet upstanding, and then he grabbed his leather jacket despite the heat and the impending rain for one reason, and one reason alone – because Emma liked it.
He had learned that particular fact early on, seeing the way she took him at their first few meetings, but yesterday as he was walking through town, hoping to run into Emma during her lunch break, he'd overheard some women in the town gossiping. At first he was angry that anyone would speak of Emma behind her back, but as he got closer to them (still standing far enough away that no human could have heard from such a distance) he noted that everything they said was complimentary. No one had a bad word to say about his mate; they simply commented on how taken she was both by Killian and by his choice in outerwear.
"I cornered her after their breakfast at the diner today, trying to figure out how far things have gone between them. You should have seen how flustered she got. She was blushing like crazy and mumbling. All I caught was blue eyes and black leather."
Killian chuckled to himself during the brisk walk to the bar, not because he found Emma's reaction to him funny, but because he knew it was unusual for Emma just as it was unusual for him. Never in his life had Killian succumbed to such feelings. He'd never been this distracted or in need of more time with anyone before. The only person he'd ever lay awake and dreamed of was her, but since coming here those dreams he once had had changed. Now, instead of innocently wondering where Emma was and wishing she were safe, his thoughts had progressed further. He still wanted her to be taken care of, but he now felt it was his duty to see her protected. He wanted to be close to her, yearned to touch her, to explore the sweet seductive pull between them, and so he spent the hours when they were apart imagining how it would be when they finally came together.
When he arrived at the Rabbit Hole, Killian was nowhere near under control. On the contrary, his constant thinking of Emma and waiting for the moment he'd get to see her again had him feeling frayed and unmoored. He lacked direction. He didn't know how tonight would be or how he should be as a result. Would Emma want him to be friendly, or would she welcome more from him? He hoped that he could show her his intentions, but he didn't know how, and as he stepped inside the well-used town tavern he debated the merits of a number of different options.
Yet at the moment that Killian found Emma under the lights at the bar, he stopped dead in his tracks. Instantly all debate flew from his mind, and it was replaced by admiration and enthrallment all centered on one Emma Nolan. He was rooted to his spot, looking at her and taking her all in, and what he saw was nothing short of a miracle.
It defied reason how any one person could be so beautiful, but here she was, a marvel and a treasure that a man could look the world over and never see again. Killian's eyes moved down from her beautiful face along the curves of her body, finding her outfit of choice for this evening even more transfixing than her usual fare. Jean shorts and a short top that didn't quite cover all the way down shouldn't look this good, but on Emma it was sublime. She looked young and carefree, laughing at something one of her friends said beside her at the table, but he could feel the charge around her. Her anticipation hung thick in the air, but there were other scents too, scents he did not like at all.
Killian tore his eyes from Emma and looked around for the encroachers. There were other men here, men who were far from Emma but who watched her and her friends with interest. It stoked the protectiveness in Killian and an instant feeling of aggravation. He did not appreciate others looking at his Emma, no matter how impossible it was to ignore her. But those primal thoughts couldn't overcome him. At some level Killian knew that Emma was her own keeper and guardian. She could handle herself – she'd been doing it for years – but he wished that he could fill that role for her. He wanted the world to know that the two of them were tied together, and as if she could feel his presence from the intensity of his yearning from her, she turned at that moment and found him in the crown.
When she spotted him her reaction was immediate and overwhelming. The wave of her happiness that she emitted hit him right in the chest, and Killian could do nothing to resist her. He made his way through the place, ignoring every other person until he was at her side, where he felt he most belonged. They were close, only a matter of inches apart, but he had to touch her, even if he couldn't great her exactly as he might want. His hand came to hold hers lightly, his thumb tracing a soft trail over her hand as he grounded himself in the fact that they were here together.
"You made it," Emma murmured, her voice silky and smooth and utterly irresistible.
"Trust me, love, nothing could have kept me away." His eyes traced the flush that came to her cheeks at his words, and only when a throat cleared from beside Emma did he regain himself. He looked away from Emma, seeing her two friends, Anna and Elsa, in the booth and he offered them a smile. "I hope you don't mind me crashing your game tonight."
"Mind?" Anna asked incredulously. "Honey we are thrilled. We have all sorts of questions about -,"
Anna let out a yelp mid statement and jumped slightly, and Killian knew that under the table one of them had swatted or kicked her to keep her quiet. He couldn't tell based on faces if it were Emma or Elsa, for Emma looked mortified but Elsa looked irritated, like a mother who's child had gotten somewhat out of line.
"Uh, you know trivia questions. Not like digging into your background interrogation questions."
Anna's attempted cover prompted a groan to come from her sister and Emma ducked her head down for a moment, her hand coming over her eyes as she shook her head. Meanwhile Killian had to laugh at this and try to alleviate the tension.
"Well whatever questions pop up, I'll do my best to answer them."
This seemed to appease all parties, and just as he took his seat the festivities began. It became apparent rather quickly that this was a town-wide enjoyment and a usual occurrence for many in attendance, including Emma and her friends. There was a lingo here and inside jokes that Killian was not versed in whatsoever, but he found his ignorance only added to his overall experience. As the night progressed Emma made sure at every turn to keep him in the loop and include him, and soon enough he found he wasn't just enjoying her company, but that of everyone else as well.
"I think you might actually be the perfect addition to our team," Anna said after Killian had correctly guessed an answer for a question about this year's World Cup. "I know pop culture, Elsa knows all things history, and Emma's our science and animal guru, and you can handle the guy stuff."
"Anna, girls can like soccer too," Elsa reminded her. "But real talk, how much do you know about the history of alcohol? Leroy always asks a question about it without fail and -,"
"All right, all right quiet down. I can't ask my questions if you're all talking," their host grumpily announced – lambasting their team as well as all the others who were chatting on their own. He was a small man, but Leroy certainly packed a lot of aggression into one small form. "In 1887 a bartender by the name of Jerry Thomas served the first martini ever. What city did the hotel he worked in reside in?"
Emma and her friend's all looked to him expectantly and Killian was elated that he actually knew the answer. There was no real reason why he would, except for the fact that he'd actually spent time in the city a few years back.
"San Francisco."
"You seem awfully confident about that answer," Emma teased, and Killian didn't miss the way her leg subtly grazed his under the table. It was a gentle touch, but it was enough to have his already present flame of wanting burn brighter.
"That's because I am."
"You're bluffing," Anna quipped, even as she wrote it down and covered the answer with her hand so none of the other parties (some of whom like to cheat a bit) would see.
"Am I?" Killian asked and it was Elsa who spoke up.
"Nope – he knows it. He won't know the next three questions, though I think he'll pull through for us in the last round."
Killian looked to Emma for explanation as Leroy announced that he was in fact right and Emma explained about Elsa and her way of knowing things. It sounded to Killian like she might actually have some kind of gift, though he didn't know the extent of her talents. Regardless he was soon distracted as the game continued on and his subtle flirtation with Emma unfurled as well. In the end Elsa was right. Killian did not know very many more answers, but the final question was one that stumped Emma and her friends, and he, blessedly knew what it was.
"The state bird of Virginia is a Cardinal."
"Write it down, write it down," Elsa urged Anna and a few minutes later, after they'd submitted their answer sheet for the final round, they found out he was right and that the four of them had won the game.
The women of his table immediately broke out into laughter and shows of excitement. Anna and Elsa were beside themselves, their game-long competitiveness paying off in spades, but it was Emma's reaction that blew Killian away. Her excitement at having won was palpable, and Killian swore he'd never felt a similar high before. To see Emma happy was a remarkable gift and he felt the same sense of elation coursing in his own veins though the stakes were so small. This was one game of trivia, but Emma made it seem like the greatest accomplishment. She celebrated with her friends, and then, in a twist he never saw coming, she pulled him close for a kiss right there in front of everyone.
It was pure bliss when their lips came together, but where Killian desired the chance to pursue this further, Emma pulled away all too quickly. It was an instinctual reaction – just a sweet, short show of her affection, but when they came apart she only lingered in that happy thrill with him for a moment. When it dawned on her what she'd just done, the color drained from her face and her excitement immediately deflated, letting worry in in its stead.
"Oh um, I didn't – well I mean I shouldn't – I'll be right back."
Killian tried to reach for her and keep her close but Emma slipped away with a speed he didn't see coming. One moment she was there with him and the next she'd gone running, leaving him not only desperate for more but also needing to make this better. He wasn't sure what exactly was wrong, but he vowed to himself to fix it as he followed her. There were murmurs around them, no doubt discussing the scene that had just happened, but Killian tuned it all out, tracking Emma and finding her out back in small alley way. It struck him as significant that this was where his moment of truth with her would come, especially since they'd been in such a space before but under completely different circumstances.
"Emma, love, are you all right?" he asked, his eyes taking in her stance as his heart went out to her. Her position wasn't defensive per se, it just looked like she was trying to hold herself together. There was anxiety in her brilliant green eyes, and he moved toward her slowly, not wanting to rush her, but also needing to ease that to the best of his ability.
"Yeah I just – I kind of lost my head in there. I didn't plan that or anything. I'm so -,"
Oh no she didn't. Emma thought that right now she was going to apologize to him for that kiss, but he wouldn't allow it. Instead he closed the space between them, pulling her into his arms. He held her for a moment, taking in the heat that returned to her face and the slip of her mask. It revealed that she was just as desirous as he was, and when he knew that this was what she wanted he fused his lips with hers, tasting her again and letting himself have that more he'd craved when they were in the bar.
It took no time at all for Emma's hesitations to fade, and Killian reveled in the way she arched into him and her hands clung to him. She met him beat for beat, her passion even more vibrant and amazing than he'd ever imagined. She was exquisite – a dream made flesh – and Killian was in awe of her. He would give anything in the world to take this further. The take these kisses even further. He let his hands roam her body, feeling her gentle curves and her smooth skin, but before he could get too carried away he retreated, breaking the kiss an waiting until Emma opened her eyes, blinking as her vision adjusted in the after math of such an embrace.
"I know you didn't plan this, Emma. I didn't plan it either. It's sudden and unexpected, but I think you should know that my feelings aren't in any way fleeting."
"Your feelings?" Emma whispered, her eyes glancing back down at his lips before they returned to his eyes, searching for answers he was more than willing to give.
"I want you, Emma," he confessed as his fingers traced along her cheek, before he pushed a lock of her wayward hair behind her ear. "There's something about you that I can't deny and I wouldn't even if I could. I know it's fast, but I also know that this pull between us matters. I know that you matter, more than anything has in so long."
"I feel the same way," Emma said with a smile as her hand rested above his chest. She must feel the unnaturally fast beat of his heart, but in the quiet of the alley he could hear hers matched the same rhythm almost identically. "I just didn't think… I mean you never really made a move so…"
"Been waiting for me, have you?" Killian teased and Emma's laughter was so bright and so bubbly that it filled him with joy all over again. He was floating right now, despite their surroundings and he never wanted this moment to end. "Well now that I know that, I promise, you won't have to wait anymore."
"Good," Emma said before pulling him for another kiss and filling those last fleeting moments out there under the golden lantern light with all the peace and joy and love deserving of two souls who had been searching for each other forever, only to finally find their way home.
Post-Note: So there we have it. Chapter five came bearing some new beats, developments, and confirmations. I know it was kind of information heavy at the beginning – but I don't think many other chapters will be that way from here on out. I foresee more action coming down the pike. That being said there were things that needed to happen, like Killian learning about Graham and Tink and David. Also on the CS front we just needed a kiss already, I mean come on. Five chapters is a slow enough burn for me. Anyway next chapter, which will be here in two weeks, is from Emma's POV again and it will cover the aftermath of this kiss and then ask out for the first date. I hope you'll stick around on this adventure with me and let me know what you thought about this chapter! I love to hear your feedback, and appreciate all your support!