There always has to be a bloody crisis.
Killian sighed to himself as he walked through the forest with his new companion, Flynn Rider.
With the way the younger man spoke his name earlier, Killian knew it wasn't his real one.
They've been walking through the forest, only having slowed down a few moments ago from tiredness. Their destination was a tower, however that was all the explanation Flynn gave.
"Catch your breath, mate," said Killian, brows creasing at the obvious fear in the man's eyes, which only felt like a reflection of Killian's own feelings for Emma. "You'll be of no help to her if you run yourself into the ground."
Flynn hesitated, but then with a tired huff, stopped, leaning a hand against a tree trunk to catch his breath. "Where… is that…" panted Flynn, "...damn horse… when I need him?" he muttered breathlessly. Killian only raised a brow in confusion as Flynn picked up his head. "We're… more than halfway to the tower," said Flynn, straightening a little.
"Your love," said Killian. "This Rapunzel. She's royalty?"
"No," said Flynn. "But damn if she wouldn't pass for a princess." He smiled faintly, then looked at Killian. "Yours; Emma," he said. "She a pirate, too?"
Killian cracked a smile. "Heart and soul of a pirate, aye, for sure. However, my wife is a princess," he said, unsure if he was more proud that Emma was pirate material, a true princess, or his wife.
Hell, he was in love with all three.
Flynn's eyes widened. "Seriously?! A princess and a renegade," he said, shaking his head. "What a love story."
"Aye," agreed Killian, never tired of their particular story.
Seeming to have caught his breath enough to continue, and Killian was grateful for the rest himself, Flynn continued on, Killian at his side, resuming their pace.
At Flynn's obvious nervousness returning, his fear for Rapunzel, Killian asked, "On the subject of love stories. What's yours?"
Flynn ducked under a branch, a faint smile at his lips. "We met a few days ago," he said. "I stumbled upon her tower, thought it was abandoned so I went inside, and… she knocked me out with a frying pan and tied me to a chair." He laughed, the memory almost cutting through his fear.
Killian grinned. "Quite the lass."
Flynn couldn't help a grin, too. "What about you?" he asked. "How does a pirate meet a princess, let alone get her to fall in love with him?"
"How she fell in love with me, I've no bloody idea," said Killian honestly. "But I do believe she had my heart the moment we met." He smiled, remembering the moment fondly. "She held a knife to my throat and tied me to a tree, threatening to leave me to my death at the hands of a bloodthirsty ogre."
Flynn's brows shot up. Blinked. Then—
"Nice."
"Aye."
They continued at their half-walk, half-jog pace for a few more moments in silence, until— "There it is," said Flynn, picking up his pace, and Killian followed.
Flynn bent to walk through some thick bushes, and Killian followed, revealing a hidden oasis with a tall tower at its center.
"Rapunzel!" called Flynn, running to the side of the tower. "Rapunzel, let down your hair!"
"Hair?" asked Killian in puzzlement.
"Long story," said Flynn. Then— "Pun not intended."
Killian shook off the questions.
Whatever Flynn had been waiting for wasn't happening, and he called, "Rapunzel!" again. "Something's wrong," said Flynn, starting to climb up the side of the tower.
"Oh," came a sinister voice from behind them, "I'd say."
Both Killian and Flynn spun around, Killian brandishing his sword.
Standing behind them was a woman with midnight hair and sharp eyes, reminding Killian of a vulture, and he wondered why his mind always seemed to supply animal-comparisons to all of the villains he's met in his life.
"You," snarled the woman at Flynn, "have ruined everything!"
"What have you done with Rapunzel?!" demanded Flynn.
"Rapunzel, my eternal youth, has escaped me," growled the woman. "You and the blonde witch you sent to save her will pay," she said angrily.
"Blonde witch?" echoed Flynn in confusion. "I didn't—"
Blonde witch.
Somehow, Killian knew it was Emma.
It made the hint of a smile quirk his lips. If he couldn't be more proud of his wife.
"Rapunzel isn't here," said Killian to Flynn under his breath. "It must be Emma she's with."
"Emma?" echoed Flynn. "Your wife saved Rapunzel?" he said, far louder than Killian had whispered.
And Killian did not like the look in the woman's eyes when she heard it.
Like she had an idea, and it wasn't good.
"Let's go, Rider," said Killian sharply.
But the woman snapped her fingers, and suddenly two burly men walked around from behind the tower. One of them grabbed Flynn, wrapping his arm around Flynn's throat, making the ex-thief struggle, gasping.
Killian jerked toward him, only for the second to step into his path. Killian swung his sword toward him, only to stop short at the cold metal suddenly pressed to his throat from behind.
Killian froze.
"Move," hissed the woman, tightening the knife against Killian's throat, making him grimace, "and I'll kill you."
Killian felt furious irritation roll his eyes, but he stayed put, and concluded that a knife to his throat was only enjoyable when it was Emma holding the blade.
"It seems," hissed the woman, "that even though the foolish girls have escaped me, I now have something of theirs."
Killian shut his eyes.
Bloody hell.
"I'll use you two to lure them to me," she said dangerously. "Then Rapunzel will be mine, and the rest of you," she drawled icily, "will be dead."