Finally some Emma/Hook interaction. I hope you all enjoy it!
IMOGEN POV
Imogen fought to keep her eyes locked with Emma's, "I am not lying." Her voice squeaked slightly. Imogen wrung her clammy hands in her lap. She didn't understand, lying had always been a speciality of hers. She had gotten out of many sticky situations with that skill and now she couldn't even keep her voice steady with one little sentence.
Emma laughed raising her eyebrows, "Do you want to try that again?"
"Nope," Imogen answered. Last ditch effort, she thought swiftly standing. She sprinted out of the diner, momentarily forgetting that she wasn't wearing flats. She could hear Emma's steps getting closer. Imogen cursed under her breath and ran across the street.
"Imogen, wait" Emma called. "Please, I need to know if Cora's here." Emma's hand grasped Imogen's arm as she caught up. Imogen was pulled to a stop as she reached the pavement.
"He was alone when I saw him. Who is Cora?" Imogen asked confused. She had never heard of anyone by the name of Cora before.
"She is Regina's mother. Hook was working with her back in the enchanted forest." Emma hurriedly explained.
"I don't understand. Why does it matter if Regina's mother is here? What does she want?" Imogen let all her questions run out of her mouth at once. It was a terrible habit that had come back the moment she saw Killian.
"To get to Regina and Henry, probably. If she is here the whole town is in trouble." Emma exasperated.
"Ok. I get it. Cora equals bad news." Imogen placed a cautious hand on Emma's forearm in an attempt to calm her. "I wish I could help, Emma, but Hook doesn't like me much. He isn't going to tell me anything. I'm sorry."
"You can help. You know where he is and you are his sister. He will want you safe," Emma reasoned.
Imogen snorted as she tried to contain a laugh, "Emma, dear. No offense but you do not know Hook. This is the man who disowned me and then threw me off our ship. He doesn't care about me."
Emma recoiled slightly, her gaze flickering between each of Imogen's eyes. Probably searching for a hint of a lie.
"Fine," she sighed. "Will you help me get to him?"
Imogen smirked, her blue eyes deepening in colour at the plans formulating in her head. "What do you need me to do?"
KILLIAN POV
A couple of days had passed since Hook had watched the scene unfold outside Granny's, in that time he had gathered maps of Storybrooke, information about Rumplestiltskin and managed to remain undiscovered.
He was now studying those very maps in his study. He only had one shot at this. He lined his divider up to measure.
The door to his study was thrown open. "What the..." he started throwing a deadly glare in the direction of the intruder.
Imogen stood in the doorway. "I should have known it would be you. You never did listen to me." He spat at his younger sibling. Hook rounded the desk, placing himself in between his sister and his plans.
"Now, Killy it's not proper to antagonise me in front of a guest." Imogen smirked and stepped into the room revealing none other than Emma Swan behind her. Killian only just caught his jaw before it dropped.
"Well, if it isn't, Swan. What can I do for you, princess?" He winked and took in her appearance. Emma was dressed in her tight pants, black calf-high boots and a gray woollen coat. She stood with her hands firmly on her hips.
Emma scowled at the princess comment, and stepped forward holding his gaze sternly, "Where is Cora?"
"What makes you think I would know?" He smirked and stepped forward, closing the space between them.
His gaze was brought away by the loud clicking of his sister's ridiculous shoes. He must have been more focussed on his work than he realised, because he couldn't fathom how he hadn't heard it earlier. Seeing Imogen in a dress, and one that wasn't black at that, and heels in the study was a strange sight. He couldn't remember ever seeing her wear anything but pants. Especially, on the ship. The last time she had been in here she had been head to toe in black and leather, a sword at her belt. Now, she looked like their mother.
Hook forced away the memories of his family, and the happiness that threatened at seeing his sister normal and innocent. The way it should have been.
Imogen laughed, looking between him and Emma, "Well, while this seems like such fun. I must go. Third wheel and all."
Emma opened her mouth to object to the third wheel comment, but Imogen cut her off, "Good luck, Em." Imogen rolled the maps up and placing them in a bag.
"What are you doing? Put those back." He warned.
Hook started towards her but something cold and metallic gripped his wrist.
Swan had handcuffed him to his own desk.
"My dear delusional brother that is not going to happen. You will answer Emma's questions and you will help us find Cora. Only then can we discuss the return of your precious plans." Imogen patted Killian's cheek patronizingly and then left the study.
"Again, Swan. This trick of yours is getting rather old," he teased.
"Hmm," she smiled. "Yet you continue to fall for it". Emma mused, smugly.
"Perhaps, I could return the favour, lass" he quipped.
"Cut the crap, Hook, and answer the question," Emma sighed. Killian didn't miss the slight twitch of her mouth fighting a smile, though.
"I have no idea where Cora is. Can't say she shares that much with me."
"But she is in Storybrooke?" Emma paced the study with heavy footfalls, her arms folded across her chest. A defensive tactic. Hook watched her carefully, trying to gage her mood. She didn't seem desperate for the information. But she did seem to be worried.
"Aye, that she is," he admitted. There was no reason to lie about that fact. Emma knew he wouldn't have been able to come to Storybrooke without Cora. The witch would have killed him first.
Emma came to a halt in front of him, her hand placed near the holster of her gun. "What's she planning?"
Killian laughed at her attempt to be threatening. "Look at you, acting all threatening and such," he said, cheekily.
He enjoyed their banter too much to lose any opportunity. "Too bad I can't be of any service. We have gone our separate ways".
Emma rolled her eyes, "Really, I don't have time for this," she waved her hand through the air in his general direction, with a disgusted look. "You must have some idea what she is planning".
Hook picked at the lock of the handcuff while she talked.
"Aye, of course, lass. But whether I will relay my information to you is another matter" Hook stepped forward. The handcuffs falling to the floor. "Especially since you have lost your leverage, darling".
Emma looked from him to the handcuffs and back again. She pulled her gun out, "I am the one with the gun".
Hook chuckled, "You and I both know you are not going to use that".
"Imogen!" Emma called out, angling her head back to yell at the upper deck. Only silence, answered her call.
"It seems my sister has done what she does best, left you high and dry," Hook said amused. He smiled widely, masking the menace behind his words.
"Seriously, what the hell happened between you two?" Emma's brow creased together as she raised her voice. "I am trying to save my family, and you don't even care about yours!"
"You don't know what you are talking about, Swan. All my life I have done everything I could for that girl. I have protected and cared for her since she found me. I ran away from a normal life, so she would be safe. When Milah died, Imogen couldn't handle whom I became. She wanted me to forget it. To move on. Then she left me. The last person holding a piece of my heart went to live with the lost boys. She gave up on me. I never stopped caring about her. She is my baby sister, the only family I have left."
Hook let it all come out. The pain of his sister leaving and the admission that he still cared about her.
He was still Killian. Despite what he tried to persuade others, despite what he wanted to convince himself. He was at his core still the carefree pirate who loves and cares with his whole being.
Hook took a deep breath, wrangling in his anger, "Cora is trying to break Regina, so she has no choice but to forgive her and join her".
Emma blinked, astonished. "I...uh... thank you". Hook watched as she headed for the door.
She stopped, "Hook?" She asked uncertainly, turning back to him.
"Yes, Swan?" He sighed, meeting her eyes.
She gave him a small wistful smile, "She didn't give up on you".
Hook turned his back on the door. He wanted to tell Emma that he knew that was the truth but Killian had to remain pushed down. Milah's death would never be avenged, otherwise. Anyone close to him would be in danger.
"Goodbye Swan".
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