Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time, except for my own original characters.
The voices within the loud tavern weren't any help as Killian tried his best to drown them out. He and his men went to this tavern in hopes of coming up with a plan to get the item he desired. Earlier that day he had met up with another pirate, Captain Garrick Barrington, to discuss their old business arrangement. The deal was that if Garrick succeeded in finding the map, then Killian would pay him in heaps of gold. The map was of much greater value to Killian than any piece of gold, for the map leads to something he has been searching for since he embarked to Neverland. The problem was that since the bargain was made, Garrick had become greedy and asked for more gold. That was not the original pact so Killian refused; of course angering Garrick who then threatened to sell the map to a customer willing to pay the higher price.
I could always just steal it. he thought to himself. Stealing was second nature to him and he'd become quite good at it over the years. However, that would be a treacherous mission because knowing Garrick; he'd hide it away under heavy guarding. But Killian needed that map. There was no way in hell that he was going to leave without it. I must get my revenge.
BAM!
Everyone's head in the tavern turned toward the entrance where the door had just been kicked open. Through the door, stepped in Captain Garrick himself and his men.
Killian smirked at fate. Looks like I won't be needing to go to them.
"I thought I would find you here." announced Garrick with a smug look.
It only took a second for all of Killian's men to whip out their weapons at the opposing side. Fear struck the rest of the customers in the tavern and so they quickly dashed out through the door, leaving only the pirates inside.
"Tell your men to lower their weapons, I'm not here to fight." commanded Garrick.
He gave the signal to his men not to do anything and returned to look back at the brunette standing proudly by the now shut door. "Why are you here mate? Have you come to your senses and accepted our previous terms?"
This earned a laugh from Garrick, "Of course not! Do you take me for a fool? Anyone can see that this map means a lot to you, so I decided to give you one last chance since we did make an agreement after all. I want to see what else you're willing to give up for it."
"I have nothing else to offer you mate."
"Oh, but you do."
Killian arched an eyebrow. What else could this scallywag possibly want?
"Bring her in!"
He froze; his fingers unconsciously twitching at his sides. Killian stared with wide eyes as his assumption was confirmed. Two men holding a petite body in their arms walked through. They handed her to Garrick and all Killian could do was watch.
Clarissa had a black bag covering her face; she could not see anything but darkness around her. She was scared. Where was she? Who had kidnapped her this time?
"I sent my men to search your ship to see if you were possibly holding out on me, and then they found this." With a quick flick of his wrist, he pulled the black bag over Clarissa's head, finally allowing her to see.
Her hazel eyes squinted at the sudden light, but then her vision became accustomed to the room. She was in a tavern surrounded my pirates! She met a pair of familiar blue eyes across the room and tried to take a step toward him, but a strong grip held her back. She recognized him as the pirate Killian was arguing with in town.
"Let me go!" she screamed while struggling to leave his grasp.
Ignoring her plea, Garrick continued. "I didn't know you had taken another woman aboard your ship. Younger, yet still very beautiful. One of the most beautiful women I've ever seen."
Another woman? There was someone before me?
"What do you want?" Killian countered, anger in his eyes.
"Isn't it obvious? I want the treasure you have and this woman. Many trips at sea have made me a very lonely man and I think having this beautiful companion is what I need."
"Why her? You can have any other woman."
"Because she's yours."
His eye twitched at the bastard's greedy comment. The room was silent as Killian thought over what to do in his head. He didn't think he would ever be in this predicament. The answer was obvious though, right? He needed that map.
"So what do you say, huh Hook?" asked Garrick tightening his grip on the blonde, making her wince. He reached with his other hand into his vest and pulled out a rolled up document. "The treasure and the woman for the map you deeply desire?"
Clarissa stared into Killian eyes desperately, hoping to see any signs of what his decision will be. There is no way he is going to save me; especially after the way things ended back at the pub. To him, I'm nothing more than a servant. I am going to be traded. I am to become another prisoner of pirates and by the looks of it, things will be much worse.
Just as Clarissa was about to lose all hope, Killian spoke up. "I don't like being told what to do."
A sliver knife was thrown across the room and with impeccable aim, Killian hit his target. Garrick shouted in pain as the knife stabbed him in the shoulder causing him to let go of Clarissa. She didn't have time to even register the event in her mind because soon yells of rage were heard and the pirates drew out their weapons. She cried out as she tried to duck her way out of the battlefield. Both crews attacked one another as the sound of blades clashing filled the tavern.
Killian walked toward the fallen Captain on the ground, "How dare you break the terms of our agreement and then think you can change it to your benefit and take what is mine! You are dealing with the Captain Hook. The most notorious pirate there is." He took out his sword and held it under his chin. "Now give me the map."
"Never!"
Garrick drew out his own sword and took a strike at Killian who barely dodged it. The two began to swing at each other, arms extended with twisting wrists. Using his hook as an advantage, Killian blocked an attack and was able to jab Garrick in the jaw with his elbow. He stumbled back as blood trickled down his chin.
Garrick wiped the blood and smiled, "You better go help that woman of yours."
Turning around, Killian saw Clarissa cornered by two men. Shit. He ran to her, giving Garrick a moment to try and escape. Killian came behind the men and quickly pierced one through the torso. The other man swung at him, but with quick footing he was able to dodge and kick the man down to the floor, who got knocked out cold.
"Fight!" he yelled he at Clarissa.
She blinked at him, "What? But –"
"Grab a sword and fight back, like you did in the alley! Don't be afraid!"
He swiftly turned around going after the map, leaving Clarissa to fend for her herself. She scanned the floor and grabbed one of the fallen men's blade since she left hers on the ship. She gripped it like how she remembered her father teaching her; adrenaline pumping through her veins. This is life or death. It's time to put what I learned to the test. More men approached her and she swung the sword as best as she could. A sharp clank was made every time it made contact with another weapon.
Killian raced through the crowds of combat and found Garrick making his way to the door. "Not so fast you scoundrel!"
He charged forward with his sword, but Garrick countered his attack just in time. Their bodies moved together, circling around, weapons slicing the air. Killian took charge as he took large swings, forcing Garrick to step backwards. With a blow to his chest, Garrick fell back, but in the process knocked down an oil filled lantern. The fire within the lantern spread onto the flammable wooden walls of the tavern. Soon most of the room was caught on fire, smoke filling the air, making it hard for the men to breathe.
"Retreat, back to the ship now! This place is going down!" yelled Garrick to his men, getting back to his feet. "Sorry Hook, I guess we'll leave this for another day."
Although Killian tried to reach for him, Garrick was taken away and pushed through the door by the wave of men trying to escape the burning building. That bastard got away! He didn't let his anger distract him for too long because a piece of wood from the ceiling crashed onto the floor; signaling they didn't have much time left before the building would collapse.
"Get out of the building now!" Killian barked at his men, worrying for their safety.
Through all that havoc, he was somehow able to see Clarissa struggling to make her way to the exit. The creaking of the ceiling made Clarissa even more nervous as she coughed her way through the smoke. It's getting hard to breathe in here. I can barely see.
"Let's go!"
To her surprise, Killian appeared in front of her and took hold of her hand. She let him guide her through the room toward the only way out. She kept her eyes on the floor in order to make them stop tearing up from the smoke.
"Wait!" For a moment, she let go of his hand and turned around.
"What are you doing? Get back here!" Killian shouted while holding out his hand.
Clarissa grabbed what she saw on the floor and quickly tucked it inside her dress. She could feel the heat of the fire get closer as she retook Killian's hand. They raced out of the burning building, but kept running all the way back to the docks. Hand in hand they finally made it aboard the ship, the last to arrive. Clarissa let go of his hand and collapsed on the floor, gasping for air. She's never had to run so fast before in her life.
The men had already hastily prepared for the ship to disembark from the docks. Probably because they didn't want to be pestered by a mob of angry citizens about how they destroyed part of their town. The wind picked up the sails and they were off, back into open waters.
"Here," Killian reached for her, "let me give you a hand there 'lass."
Clarissa's breathing returned to normal as she grabbed his arms while he lifted her up. "Thank you."
"You alright?"
She nodded with a smile, "I strangely feel good. I've never been apart of anything so scary, yet exciting before. For once in my life, I felt…alive."
He chuckled, "That's a good answer. You truly have an adventurous spirit."
"Thank you for saving me by the way." She said kindly, but before he could reply, she spoke up again. "But why did you?"
"I don't leave any members of my crew behind."
Killian gazed at her with a sincere smile, a very rare occasion, and Clarissa felt her heart flutter. She smiled back, happy that he recognized her as part of the crew and not a servant like he said before. Maybe I will like it here after all.
"Miss Clarissa!" Mr. Smee interrupted the two, breaking their gaze. "I'm happy no serious harm came upon you."
Clarissa looked at the man in the red cap, relived as well. "I'm glad you're safe too Mr. Smee."
He then turned to Killian, "What are we gonna do about the map Captain?"
The whole crew surrounded the trio, listening to the conversation. Killian glanced at the disappointed expressions on his crew's faces and sighed knowing he had failed not only himself, but them as well.
"Well mateys, we can always–" he started, but was interrupted by a much softer voice.
"Excuse me," With all eyes on her, Clarissa took out the item she had gotten when she and the Captain were evading the fire. "But is this what you're looking for?"
The rolled up document in her hand caused the jaw of every man on the ship to drop. It only took a few seconds for them to register the map in her hands, before the men started to cheer at the top of their lungs. When Clarissa spotted the map on the burning floor of the tavern, she knew she had to risk it and go back to snatch it. Garrick must've dropped it as he ran out. Since Killian sacrificed his deal for her, it was the least she could do. She didn't want the crew to be disappointed with him because of her.
Killian, the most surprised of all, looked at her in amusement. "That's what you went back for? Why?"
"I saw the opportunity and I took it. That Captain Garrick didn't deserve it."
"Just who are you Clarissa? A Lady or a Pirate?" he joked.
She winked at him, probably getting the bravery from the adrenaline that hasn't died down yet. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Killian watched as she turned around and joined the crew in cheering. "Perhaps I would."
