"Swan, nice to see you." He choked out.
"Mmm, and you too." She stood, placing her hands on her hips, purposely shoving her bosom up and out.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, sliding his coat from his arms and tossing it on the end of the bed. He rolled up the sleeves of his deep blue button down and settled into his desk chair, leaning back and looking over at here.
She sashayed over to the desk and propped herself up next to the chair. "Come on, you're not interested?"
"I didn't say that. Of course I'm interested in you, Swan. However, I'm a bit busy at the moment." He grabbed a battered paperback from the top drawer and waved it at Emma.
She raised an eyebrow and waved a hand in front of her, her black dress appearing over her body. "Since when do you read?"
"Since Henry found a book with me in it."
She plucked the book from his hands and chuckled at the title. "Peter Pan?" She handed it back to him.
"Aye. A bit dark for a children's book. Are parents TRYING to give their children night terrors?" He opened the book and glanced down at the page.
"I'll let myself out then." She sounded offended, but he didn't look up.
He heard the puff of smoke and waited a few moments before risking a glance around the room. He knew what she'd been doing and that was exactly the reaction he'd been hoping for. Now that she was going to try, he thought a little payback was in order.
Emma hadn't been a tease on purpose, he supposed. A lot had been going on since their first kiss in Neverland. She'd been constantly distracted by this villain and that curse. The only time he'd ever felt like anything was going to happen between the two of them was their single date. It had gone perfectly, and they were in a lovely romantic bubble until they reached her apartment and realized that he couldn't come inside and continue the romance. They could have gone to the Jolly, but they'd both known that her parents were waiting for her to come home.
She wanted him now. Somehow something in her brain had changed and now she thought that it was an appropriate time to actually be together. He wanted to think that maybe it was just because of their past, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she had an ulterior motive. Maybe she wanted to be with him because he was one of the heroes now and it would make people accept her? It had worked with Robin Hood and Regina, after all. People still feared her, but most understood that she would not hurt them.
However, he wouldn't be Hook if he didn't try to milk it a little. She'd spent years tormenting him and he intended to make her ache with want, just as he had.
He shook his head and flipped the pages until he found where he left off, desperate to rid the thoughts of Emma's possible betrayal from his head.
Killian woke with a start and winced as the crick in his neck became instantly worse. He'd fallen asleep in his desk chair, book in hand. He could count on one hand the number of times that had happened in the last hundred years. Funny.
The morning passed slowly and he finished the book. He headed into town about noon to find Henry and return it to him.
As expected, the boy was at Granny's in the first booth, nose buried in a book. Killian slid in across from him and pulled out "Peter Pan."
"So, Captain Hook is a villain til the very end?" Killian asked.
Henry marked his place and put his own book down.
"In that, yes. But it's only because they couldn't see your future. Did you like it?"
"It was different. Hard to see Pan painted as a hero." He said and handed the book back to Henry.
They chatted for a few minutes before Henry stood. "Sorry, I've got to go. Mom wants to spend some 'quality time' together." He rolled his eyes. "I'll stop by tomorrow. If you thought Peter Pan was weird, there's another movie you'll think is even better." The boy downed the last sip of his Hot Chocolate and headed out the door, almost bumping into Robin Hood on the way. The two avoided eye contact and ducked their heads as they passed.
Killian raised an eyebrow at Robin as he walked over. After plopping down in Henry's recently vacated seat, the thief sighed.
"What the hell happened?" Killian asked.
"Ah, so Henry was home last night." Robin said.
"Aye. You said you were going back to your camp for the night."
"Yeah, and I didn't. I went to Regina's. We thought the boy was asleep." Robin turned an unflattering shade of red and glanced down at the table.
"And he wasn't?" Killian cocked his head, working hard to hide his smile.
"No. He caught Regina and I in the hallway." His face was now more purple than red.
Killian howled with laughter, unable to control himself. This caught Ruby's attention and she went over to them, perching on the end of the pirate's side of the booth. He retold the story and soon she was doubled over with laughter as well.
"It's not funny." Robin mumbled. "And you can't tell Regina I told you. She's very private."
"We won't say anything." Ruby giggled. "So, what are you boys into tonight?"
"Dinner with Regina and Henry." Robin sighed, covering his face with his hands and sighing.
Killian leaned across the table and patted Robin's shoulder before turning to Ruby. "Not a thing. Apparently my new bunkmate has plans, so I'm wide open."
Ruby grinned. "I'm off at ten. Come to the Rabbit Hole again. It was a lot of fun last time. Even if it was to make Emma jealous. I'm trying to get someone else to notice me, and dancing with a tall, dark, and handsome man such as yourself just might catch his attention. You owe me." She hopped up and headed back to the bar. "I'll see you there!" She called over her shoulder.
Robin chuckled and picked up a menu. "Have fun."
Killian fidgeted with the collar of his blood red button down shirt. For some reason it just wouldn't set right. Frowning, he alternated the height of the actually buttoned buttons.
He'd finally gotten the shirt just right when his phone buzzed.
Emma: Hot date tonight?
Killian: You've got to stop with the listening in, Swan.
Emma: Didn't answer my question.
Killian: If you were listening, you'd know that it's just one friend helping another.
Emma: Sounds like fun.
Killian: What does?
Emma: Going out. Dancing. Especially the way Ruby does it.
He grinned at that. It actually worked. She had been jealous.
Killian: Aye. Should be a nice evening. Well, I'm heading out. Have a nice night, Swan.
He turned off the phone and tossed it onto the bed before grabbing his jacket and heading out. Ruby greeted him outside the red vinyl door with a warm hug.
"Thank you for doing this." She said, taking his hand and leading him inside. "If all goes well, it won't take long."
She led him directly onto the dance floor and he pulled her close, whispering in her ear. "Who is your target?"
Ruby nodded across the room at the bar. "Dr. Whale."
'Really? Him?' Killian thought, but said nothing. Instead, he once again lost himself in the music. After about an hour, Dr. Whale crooked a finger and Ruby and she leaned in to kiss the pirate's cheek.
"You're amazing, Killian." She squeezed his hand and sprinted across the dance floor, deftly dodging the other patrons.
He smiled after her and scouted out an empty table, sliding onto one of the stools. An overly perky waitress took his order and had his rum in less than a minute. She winked at him as he took a sip.
Huh. He'd forgotten what that was like.
"Drinking alone?" He heard from behind him. He looked up to see Emma settle onto the stool across from him. "That's no fun. What happened to your date?"
He raised an eyebrow over his drink as he took her in. Her icy blond hair was down, and instead of her black dress and trench, she wore skinny jeans and a black tank top. The black heels were still there. The waitress, who was still watching him, sidled up to the table as soon as he beckoned her. Emma ordered a vodka and cranberry and the waitress grudgingly headed to the bar, glaring daggers at her.
"I told you it wasn't a date. I was helping Ruby catch the eye of a suitor and it worked. She's currently attempting to get him to dance with her." He took another sip and gave Emma a careful smile. "So, why are you here?"
"I told you it sounded like fun. So I decided to come and see if it was." The waitress plopped the drink down in front of her and kept walking. "So far? Not so much." She took a sip and grimaced.
"Well, then. Let me change your mind." He stood and extended a hand. She smiled and took it, and they headed to the dance floor.
For the second time, Killian seemed more experienced in something than she did. He pulled her close, placed his hand and hook on her hips, and swayed them to the heavy beat of the song.
They kept it up for what seemed like hours before Emma told him that she had to go. As much as it disappointed him, he gathered his coat, paid the tab, and walked her to the door. "Goodnight, Swan." He said, turning and heading back to the Jolly.
Emma stalked through the forest, the darkness not giving her even the slightest of pauses. She reached the edge of the camp and scanned the faces sitting around the campfire. With a wave of her hand, all but one figure froze.
Arthur stood and looked around angrily. "What's the meaning of this?" He yelled into the darkness.
"Relax." She said, stepping into the light. "We need to have a little chat."
A/N: Working a double this evening, so wrote an extra long chapter. I'll be able to post again in the morning if I'm motivated! So please, read and review, my darlings!