AN: A very hastily written chapter before the finale tonight! It's based off of the speculation for the Killian/David sword fight, and got a little fluffy since I'm a sucker for Captain Charming.
Thanks for reading!
The spell breaks around them and there's a beat of confusion before they all come to, glancing around in a daze.
Her eyes land on him, and her throat closes. He lays completely still on the stone floor, and her eyes search desperately for the rise of his chest- coming up empty. She scrambles down beside him, tears stinging, her cry of "Killian" dying on her lips. She shakes him, grasps at his chest, the fingers of one hand desperately seeking a pulse while the other holds tight to his arm.
Her father's voice sounds miles away as it slews a string of curses she's never heard him use. David finally chokes out an, "Emma," before falling silent, the word laced with guilt and grief. But she can't respond to him, can't tear herself away from the man on the ground before her. She hadn't known him two minutes ago, but now she remembers. She knows him, she loves him, she can't lose him, oh, God, not him-
The world turns blurry through the tears she can't hold back. She flings swears at him, cursing him and his ridiculous bravery, the fact that he always has to be the idiot who tries to save her, that he'd said he was a survivor, and how dare he break his promise. The words not, you, too rip from her throat in a harsh sob.
She feels pressure on her shoulder and shoves her mother's hand away, never taking her eyes off of him. Her panic is wild and desperate, making her fingertips glow with her magic, causing sparks to bounce off the walls of the tower. She presses both hands to his jaw, tracing the scar along his cheekbone and feeling as though the earth has fallen away under her.
"Come back to me," she whispers achingly, sweeping her gaze over the peaceful expression that looks back at her. His eyes are mostly closed, and she wishes just once more to see the familiar shade of blue. With trembling hands, she places one palm against his chest, right where his heart no longer beats.
She loves him and she'd never told him. And now it was too late, now they'd run out of time, and she'd lost him again-
Tears run down her face, landing on the leather of his jacket, one hitting his cheek. She leans her forehead against his, and for the last time, presses a kiss to his temple. There's a rush of wind, and she feels it beneath her palm;
A beat.
/
Smiles of relief interrupt the kiss he gives her, pulling her down to his lips, her name an exhale of his breath. After he's standing upright, that smirk is back in place, and it's as if he hadn't just died right in front of them.
But she feels the way he's unsteady on his feet, leaning on her for a moment, and she understands. She squeezes his hand, whispering against his neck that it had scared the hell out of her, too.
He kisses her once more before appraising the others in the room. He grins jovially at her father, who looks as shaky as if he'd just come back from the dead, himself. Killian claps David on the shoulder, quipping that surely he owes him one after running him through with a sword. David tenses for a moment, then pulls the pirate into a hug that surprises them all.
"We'll call it even, then." Killian says gruffly after being released, hand still clasped on the Prince's shoulder. He gives Killian a nod of understanding, something passing between the men.
(If Emma didn't know any better, she'd say those were tears trapped in both of their eyes).