Author's note: Here we go, the shopping ch!
Btw, for any of you who read my other story, Scattered, I know it hasn't been updated in a while but don't worry I haven't abandoned it. Just been having a huge case of writers block.
"Here we are." Emma spoke up for the first time in almost an hour as they pulled up in front of a large building.
"We aren't in Storybrooke anymore, are we?" Hook said as he observed the structure before him.
"No." She replied. "It's not like we could shop there, so I drove us to a mall just outside of Storybrooke."
"But there are people here too. Aren't you afraid to be seen with me?" He teased.
"It's not like we know anyone here." Emma pointed out. "Nobody can leave Storybrooke."
"Except you, I see?"
"Yep. Because I wasn't cursed."
"Ah." Hook said.
They exited the car and walked towards the mall's entrance. People turned and stared on their way in, but that hardly bothered Emma. She just blazed ahead, ignoring everyone.
Hook felt like he should say something."Listen, Swan. About earlier…" He started, but Emma cut him off.
"It's fine." She smiled, but to Hook it was obviously forced. "Let's just get this over with."
And without another word, she pushed through the entrance, Hook quickening his pace to catch up to her. Emma strode through a doorway with the word Nordstrom printed in bright letters.
"What the bloody hell is this place?" Hook looked around in distaste at the numerous racks of colorful clothing.
"This is called a store." Emma replied as she weaved her way through the crowd. "Where people buy clothes."
"Back in my land, we had our clothing specially made."
"We have that here too, but it's pretty expensive. So most people just buy their clothes ready made." She stopped at the men's section and immediately headed for a table covered with jeans.
"How will you know if it fits?"
"You look for the correct size." Emma murmured distractedly as she began sifting through a rack of blazers.
"What?"
She stared at him for a long moment, her brow furrowing in concentration. "I think you might be a 32."
"A what?"
"Never mind. Here." She piled a bunch of hangers into his arm and pointed towards a door. "Go try those on."
Hook obeyed and disappeared. "Try the black and green shirt and the darkest jeans first." she instructed.
"What are jeans?" He called.
"The dark blue pants." She replied, an amused look crossing her face.
"Ugh." He groused. "These things? They're awful. How do you people wear them?"
"Quit complaining. Let's see it when you're done."
Hook came out, dressed exactly how she'd said. "I look ridiculous. These pants you call jeans. So rough."
"No. You look normal." Emma stood up and grabbed a blazer. "Put this on over."
He groaned, but did so anyway.
"Nice." She approved. "Navy blue. Goes with your eyes." A soft smile appeared, a stark contrast from the hunched, angry woman earlier.
Hook opened his mouth to let out one of his usual clever remarks, something about how she found him attractive, but for some odd reason, thought better of it and retreated back into the dressing room.
"These are too big." He called.
"Well, try a smaller size." Emma responded.
"And which would that be?"
She suppressed a groan in frustration, reminding herself that they didn't have sizes in the Enchanted Forest. "The ones with the lower number."
"Maybe this would be easier if you came in here and helped me." He poked his head out, a saucy grin plastered on his face.
"Ha. You're a big boy. You can do it yourself." She said, earning a chuckle from other nearby shoppers.
"Boyfriend or husband?" A woman asked.
"Neither. Friend." Emma replied. She was momentarily surprised that part of her had wanted to say boyfriend.
"You sure?" The woman winked. "Sure seems like you two have a lot of chemistry."
"I'm sure."
"Well then." The woman said. "You know if he's single?" She joked.
"He's not." Emma lied, briefly stunned at her spontaneous lie, as well as her sudden feeling of possesiveness. "Sorry."
Moments later, Hook came out, a belt in his hands, a confused expression on his face. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
Emma stood up again and walked over, taking the belt in his hands. "Here." She began threading it around his waist, and Hook jumped back in surprise.
"My my, love. If you'd wanted a little bit of Hook, you could've just asked. More than happy to give it to you." He whispered in her ear, his rough cheek rubbing against hers. "I see your tough act is just an act." He smirked.
"Always with the innuendos, aren't you?" She commented, her face burning where he'd touched her. "Just teaching you how to put a belt on, since you're too stupid to figure it out yourself."
"Me? Stupid?" Hook placed a hand on his chest, mock offended. "Never." He struck a pose in his new outfit. "So what do you think?" He asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"Nice." She nodded appreciatively. "I have good taste."
"Excuse me?" He cocked his head. "I believe it wasn't for me, the clothes wouldn't look half as good."
In response, she threw another stack of shirts at him.
"More?" He whined. "You have got to be kidding. I've tried on half the clothing in this place. Can we go now?"
"Fine." Emma rolled her eyes. Men. "Wear that blazer and those pants out." She said. "And bring out the rest of the clothes."
As Hook disappeared into the dressing room again, Emma stared at his retreating form, surprised to realize that she was almost sorry to see the leather pants go.
"Hook?" Emma turned around, expecting him to be right behind her, but he was twenty feet away, staring intently at a mannequin. "What're you doing?" She called.
"How the bloody hell are they standing so still?" Hook asked in amazement.
"They're mannequins."
"What?"
"Think of them as…fake people. To model the clothes. Come on. We still have many stores to hit and a long drive back." She urged.
"Fake people?" Hook wrinkled his nose. "How barbaric." Just then, he spotted a female mannequin, clad in a tiny bikini. "Why hello there." He raised his eyebrows. "Aren't you precious?"
Emma started laughing loudly despite herself. "Hook!"
But he wasn't done yet. Snaking an arm around the mannequin, he winked. "You're looking fine today."
"Enough!" People were beginning to stop what they were doing and stare. "Come on!" Emma marched back and grabbed his arm, dragging him away.
"Sorry!" Hook called after his shoulder at the fake woman. "My woman's getting a little agitated. What can I say? I'm one of a kind!"
"What did I say about drawing attention to yourself?" She hissed as they got in line.
"You've got to admit that was pretty funny, lass."
"Well…yes." Emma admitted. "But still. And I am not your woman!"
They stopped in the shoe department next, where Hook tried on dozens upon dozens of shoes before settling on a few that he deemed "not entirely horrible."
"Why are these clothes so loose?" Hook grumbled, pulling at his new outfit as they exited the store, arms ladled with shopping bags.
"They're not." Emma protested. "What did you expect, skintight?"
"That would be preferable, yes." Hook replied. "You see, that's what the ladies find so enticing about Hook."
"Oh, trust me." Emma quipped. "I'm sure you're still turning heads."
And in fact she was right. As they walked through the mall, women stopped what they were doing and turned to look appreciatively at Hook. Several even whistled loudly, causing Hook to look over and wink.
"Why, hello ladies." He called.
A flare of annoyance rose as she watched women nudge each other and point to the flirty pirate, who waved at them with his good hand. He was her pirate. Then, she shook her head. Since when did she think of him as hers?
"Oh, for heaven's sake." Emma hissed as she grabbed his hand and marched away. "The last thing you want to be doing is drawing attention to yourself."
"Why not?" Hook argued. "You said so yourself. I look normal now."
In response, Emma held up his left arm. "Hook."
"Yes?"
"No." She shook his arm vigorously. "Hook. Normal people don't have hooks on their arms. What do you think is gonna happen when people see this? They're gonna think you're nuts and call the cops. And then what?"
"I can defend myself." Hook protested.
"Mmhmm. Yeah. One guy with a hook versus a dozen with guns? Keep dreaming." Emma responded dryly. "We need to find a way to disguise the hook. Or maybe you'll have to take it off..."
"No!" Hook said, looking visibly affronted.
"We have to." Emma said petulantly.
"I can't. I refuse."
"It's just a hook." She said. "A substitute for your hand."
"I-it's a part of who I am. Been that way for so long. I can't part with it." He insisted. "Reminds me of who I am and what I stand for."
She stared at him for a long moment, taking in the suddenly vulnerable expression on his face. "Okay."
"That's it? No argument?" He was momentarily stunned, having expected their usual back and forth.
"Nope." She said simply. "I get it." Almost subconsciously, she reached up and touched the swan necklace around her neck.
"Thank you, Swan." He said sincerely.
Emma nodded. "But you have to keep it hidden. No exceptions."
"Understood."
"Good."
As they walked through the mall, Hook noticed that his hand was still entwined in hers. And that it felt weirdly right.
Author's note: Soooo did anyone pick up on the similarities between Hook's hook and Emma's swan necklace?