Looks Can Be Deceiving
Chapter Three: Who's Up For A Little Light Bondage And Some Role Playing?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Continuous whoopwhoopwhoooooops because I am on an effing roll! Thank you to random Guest #2 who recommended a better summary for this fic. Traffic hits are cool and reviews are delicious and I will devour any that come my way. Though everything I've written has mostly been for my own amusement. I pretty much just type up the first thing that enters my brain and post it. Hope you enjoy!
Infiltrating the slaver camp proved to be much easier a task than Emma expected. She ordered Ping and Mills to provide a distraction while she retrieved Rose. Getting to the captured brunette's cage was a little trickier. Emma was more of a barrel head first into a fight kind of girl but their situation called for finesse. Well, until they could get August and Sir Kay free to even up the odds. Since she couldn't imagine either Ping or Mills having experience picking locks, Emma volunteered herself to spring Rose free. Ping about had an aneurysm at that, his usually blank expression turning into a slight frown and a twitching eye. Emma didn't know how the warrior could be so uptight. She understood he was a soldier, trained in the art of war in whatever land he hailed from, but he seriously needed to take a page out of Mills' book.
The thought of Mills was distracting to the point of idiocy for Emma. The brunette seemed to always be amused, playful, and super flirtatious. Her attitude was refreshingly carefree. For the past two days she found herself liking Mills more and more. And the not so subtle flirting on Mills' part? Emma was pretty sure it meant the brunette liked her back. There was also an intriguing mystery behind Mills. The woman hadn't offered another name to go along with Mills. She also never spoke of her past or how she started traveling with Ping and Rose. Any question posed to her by August, Sir Kay, or even Emma herself was easily evaded. It left Emma wanting to know more about her, wanting to discover all of the secrets Mills harbored.
She shook away the distracting thought of Mills. Focusing her attention on the picking the lock to Rose's cage. She heard a strange muffled screeching noise and crinkled her brow. Looking up to find Rose glaring venomously at her. The expression on her face and her body language practically screaming what the gag around her mouth smothered. Something akin to 'stay back you fiend' from what Emma could gather.
Oh, yeah. She probably should've let the woman she was attempting to rescue know she was attempting to rescue her. "Hey, just cool the theatrics. I'm trying to rescue you."
As Rose continued to gesture frantically at her and glare Emma momentarily wondered what an overly serious warrior type like Ping saw in her. He didn't seem the type to be into someone so stubborn and difficult. Hell, Emma wasn't sure the guy even had a type. He was always so serious, she wasn't sure she'd even seen him legitly smile once in the two days they'd known each other. And she hadn't caught his eye straying in the direction of any attractive persons. Male or female. If she were him she would definitely be checking out Mills every chance she got.
Emma had to snap herself back to reality before she started fantasizing about the mysterious brunette again. That would surely end with them getting caught. Well, if Rose's exaggerated gesturing and muffled yelling didn't get them caught first. Seriously, what was with this woman. "Listen, you seriously need to cool it before you draw unwanted attention. Ping and-"
At the mention of her fiancé's name Rose's entire face lit up. It was almost cute.
"Mills are preparing an escape route as we speak."
Well, it was almost cute right up until Emma mentioned Mills. The captured woman was practically rolling her eyes, her arms crossing over her chest in a show of protest. She raised her chin, nose upturned haughtily, and shot Emma a dubious glare.
Emma ignored the reaction in lieu of popping open the lock and moving to release the prissy brunette from her cuffs. The second she took a hold of the heavy metal shackles around Rose's wrists, the other woman started flailing and yelling at Emma through her gag again. The reaction caused Emma to groan in exasperation. Seriously?
She took a brief survey of the camp to make sure none of the slavers had spotted her. Took inventory of where her companions were positioned. She found August in a cage similar to Rose's with a broody looking Sir Kay. The second their gazes locked, August grinned toothily. When they came up with the plan for him and the knight to get captured, they gave August the task of causing a distraction. One that would draw the attention of their captors long enough for them to get the job done. The distraction August chose to execute?
Emma watched on with a satisfied smirk as August punched an unsuspecting Sir Kay square in the jaw. She'd wanted to do that ever since he shoved her into a bow in front of the queen. Her gaze shifted to where Ping and Mills were supposed to be hidden, laying in wait until August's distraction allowed them to enter the camp unseen. She watched Ping spring into action, taking down an unsuspecting guard before rushing stealthily into the camp. Heading for a random tent in the center. Mills, however, was nowhere to be seen.
With the slavers thoroughly distracted, Emma set about removing the shackles from a struggling Rose. She didn't have time to ponder why Ping hadn't headed for Rose's cage or where Mills had disappeared to. She had an annoying ass damsel to save. Removing the shackles would've been much easier if the brunette hadn't been making it so difficult. Removing the gag, while much less taxing, proved to be a horrible decision. As soon as the thing was off, Emma realized why the other woman had been gagged in the first place.
"I demand you bring me Ping this instant! I refuse to go anywhere with a strange woman who reeks," She sniffed the air snootily. "Of ale or dresses," Rose eyed her outfit as though her eyes were being set on fire by the sight of it. "Like she's never been to a proper seamstress in her life! What kind of-"
Frantic, Emma covered the brunette's mouth with her hand. And Miss Priss sure as hell did not like that. A split second after Emma's hand was placed on her person Rose bit the offending appendage in retaliation.
"Ow!" Emma drew her hand back with a yelp of pain and surprise. "What the fuck! That fucking hurts! I'm trying you save you, you crazy-"
Emma didn't get to finish the statement. Nope. She was cut off by over a dozen slavers turning in her direction. Their barbaric faces contorted in anger. She glared at a suddenly silent Rose before turning to face the slavers with a wide grin. "Hey guys, uh... this isn't what it looks like?"
Ping entered the tent to find Regina rifling through a pile of sacks. "The distraction is in place. We have only minutes more before anyone wanders this way."
"Someone already wandered this way." Regina canted her head toward the unconscious slaver to her left.
Ping eyed the man dubiously. "What did you-"
"Don't worry yourself over it, dear." The brunette intoned, a hint of a growl to her voice. She stopped searching through the sacks to gesture about the area. "Put yourself to better use and help me find what we came for."
With a hard glare and a set jaw, the warrior headed for a trunk near the back of the large tent. "What if it isn't here? Then Aurora would have risked her life for nothing."
"It's here." She went back to looking through the sacks. "Aurora's capture was her own doing. If she learned to keep that mouth of hers shut for once, it could have been avoided and we wouldn't have had to employ the help of the people hunting me."
Ping opened his mouth to respond, not liking the way she was speaking about Aurora. It was true that she had brought capture upon herself. It was also true that her verbal outburst tended to yield more grief than good. But seeking aid from the Champion? That decision was entirely Regina's. His response died on his tongue when he realized what he was hearing. Or what he was not hearing. It was completely silent outside of the tent. Too silent.
He faintly caught Emma's muffled voice. It was the loud bellow of "get her" that had Ping jumping to his feet and drawing his sword. Ready to enter the fray.
He was nearly at the exit when Regina stopped him. Grabbing his harm and hissing. "What do you think you're doing?"
"They've been caught." Ping yanked his arm free. "Aurora may be in danger."
"We need to find it first!"
Ping frowned and settled the brunette with a look.
They glared at one another for what felt like hours in a battle of wills before Regina relented. "You're going to make me help them aren't you."
"I'm not leaving Aurora."
The amused grin suddenly spreading over red painted lips didn't match the harsh glint in her eyes. "You would give up the chance to save your land for her?"
The warrior's brows furrowed with indecision before he answered solemnly. "I swore an oath."
They stared one another down once more. Regina's features twisting into a snarl. "It would do you well to remember, Mulan, your oath to her Prince isn't the only oath you are honor bound to keep."
"I gave you my word, Your Highness. I will see you to the end of your journey. But," Mulan pursed her lips, the furrow at her brows deepening. "If you ask me to choose between you and her..." Heart racing and cheeks tinting pink. "My promise to you will be the first I have ever broken."
Regina nodded, understanding the implication behind the words. She'd known about the mutual affection Aurora and Mulan held for one another since the beginning. Knew that, though it had yet to be acted upon or addressed, it would always trump whatever card Regina played. Even though Mulan was a warrior bound by her word, her honor, she was also a woman that would never fail to follow her heart. She understood it but it didn't stop the vicious voice in her head that liked to remind her this warrior woman's feelings for the prissy princess had her at a disadvantage. "If that is the way it must be."
Emma was doing her best to protect Rose from the charging slavers. The annoying brunette was totally not helping by screeching in Emma's ear and criticizing her fighting technique. They were vastly outnumbered. And with someone to protect Emma wasn't sure she was going to make it out of the fight in one piece. At the very least, her eardrums would explode from Rose's incessant screeching.
Thinking maybe the brunette could use a little positivity to placate her, Emma threw a wince of a grin over her shoulder at the other woman. A very unconvincing grin that Rose saw right past if the brunette's response was any indication. "We're going to die aren't we."
Emma's grin quickly dissipated into a frown. She really, really, REALLY didn't like Rose.
Before Emma could proceed with the sarcastic outburst she'd been holding back in the presence of the brunette, Ping and Mills leapt onto the scene. Ping immediately slashing through the enemy left and right. The warrior's skills were quite impressive. He almost seemed to glide through the slavers, each movement fluid and precise with a grace that almost seemed beautiful. Very different from Emma's charging strikes and clumsy blocks. While Ping disabled nearly a third of the enemy numbers all on his own, Mills vanished in a puff of purple smoke. Earning an indignant huff from Rose and causing Emma's eyes to widen in complete and utter shock. She had no idea Mills had magic. She briefly wondered why the two even needed her at all. They seemed to be doing a fine job against the slavers all on their own.
The stray thought was forgotten the moment a slaver charged at her, her instincts kicking in just in time to block his heavy blow. She forced a once again screeching Rose behind her as she fought her opponent off. Relieving him of his sword and knocking him out with a well placed strike of her blade. Her gaze shifted about the camp once again. Taking in the positions of her companions. Ping was still slashing his way toward them, August and Sir Kay looked to be freed, and Mills was throwing fireballs. Fireballs. Throwing fireballs and using some kind of invisible force to toss her enemies in all directions.
The second the battle was over, Rose ran directly into Ping's arms. The two of them embracing for all of ten seconds before suddenly pulling apart. Springing away from one another as if burned and looking altogether uncomfortable that the embrace had even occurred in the first place. All the while Mills watched on, exceedingly amused by their awkward post victory moment.
"You!" Sir Kay's booming growl ruined the victorious mood. His dark eyes glaring as he pointing accusingly at Mills. "I know who you are!"
Regina could feel the familiar panic building inside of her. Was it possible the knight recognized the magic she'd learned from her mother? Had she accidentally dropped the glamour on her appearance during the fight? If he knew who she was, if he knew her true identity, her plans would be ruined. Her persona of Mills rendered completely useless. The Champion would know she was the princess and would attempt to take her back to the Dark Kingdom for whatever bounty her father had offered.
Regina fought down the panic cloying in her stomach and held onto her cool gaze of amusement. Mills hardly ever displayed an emotion besides unending mirth. "And who am I?"
"You're her!" The accusation sent a crippling feeling beneath Regina's chest. " You're that Mills!"
"Um..." Emma arched a brow, gaze shuffling uncomprehendingly between Sir Kay and Mills. "Am I missing something here, guys?"
"You," Sir Kay turned his attention upon the blonde, the fire in his eyes blazing. "You've put us in league with a witch and not just any bloody witch," He spat the word out as though it tasted horribly. "A thief known throughout the lands for stealing magic!"
"So..." Emma settled her cool green eyed gaze upon Mills. "That's how you can do magic? You steal it?"
"Oh no, dear." Regina almost laughed at the blonde's simpleton ways. "This," She conjured a moderately size fireball. Focusing on the heat and the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. "Is all me."
"The witch steals magical items, charmed trinkets, enchantments." Sir Kay snarled impatiently at the King's supposed Champion. From the moment he saw the blonde, he knew she was a useless street rat with only dreams of gold to fill her empty head. When his Queen gave him the task of accompanying the Champion and her idiot friend, he accepted out of duty. If it were up to him, this girl would be tossed back to the streets she came from and a more worthy Champion would be named.
"Speaking of." Regina crouched down next to the unconscious slaver at her feet. Yanking a necklace with a skeleton shaped key from around his neck. She dangled the key in front of her face, staring intently at it as sparks of purple crackled around the item. A wide smile spread across her ruby pained lips when the key glowed a faint purple. "This will come in handy."