Apologies for being MIA for a month. I remember thinking, "I'll get this posted before the first episode." Obviously that didn't work (oh, school work, why must you treat me so?). But anyway OUAT CAME BACK! *PTERODACTYL SCREECH* I'm such an Arthurian legend dork. Disappointed that Kai went POOF, and seriously, Percival, not cool. Your thoughts? I'm a little annoyed that they've all lost their memories (again) but I do like the way they go back and forth between to Camelot and it's like a puzzle trying to piece everything together.

Anywho, this is a request I got some time ago, to use this prompt: "I'm sure you and your ego have any number of admirers but I was just trying to warn you that your backpack has fallen open and it's right under that," Emma retorted while pointing up to the leaking pipe. The 'flirt' fell off Killian's face. And here it is! I do have one more request pending for a sequel to the previous chapter, and I'm on it, I promise!

32. Civil

It wasn't that Emma didn't want to be there. She was saving her family, saving Henry, embracing magic and vanquishing evil and everything else that Saviors were supposed to do. It was just...well...

She completely, utterly, and with every fiber of her being did not want to be there. And it wasn't because she had just climbed a beanstalk to a ridiculous height and was now biding her time by sitting against the wall in a giant's castle. Emma had learned long ago that the destination was not always what could make or break a journey; frequently, it was the company.

And her companion was most definitely breaking it.

His devilish smirk, the mischievous gleam in his eyes; the bad boy charm was nothing new to her, and not something she was impressed by. At all. The accent wasn't even doing anything for her. Even the way he was seated on the floor - back against the wall, ankles crossed, looking completely comfortable - bothered her. How could he ignore that annoying dripping?

She had kept her eye on him all day, but at the moment she wasn't sure what he was doing; her attention was on finding the source of the drip. Eventually, her eyes found their way to leaking pipe, above Hook and slightly to the left.

She debated for a moment, because, all things considered, she didn't have to say anything. But he was who she was stuck with, and the least she could do was attempt to be civil.

"Hey," she said.

From his position seated on the floor, he turned his head to look at her, and grinned. Already she was regretting her decision. "Well," he smirked, "look who's finally decided to be vocal again. Haven't heard a peep from you since the beanstalk." He laced his fingers behind his head. "I was beginning to think you didn't like me."

He didn't seem too concerned about it. "Wouldn't want that," she replied with an eye roll. "Anyway, I wanted to let you know that-" She caught the look on his face and interrupted herself. "What?"

He shrugged, but his eyes hinted that he was thinking something that hadn't occurred to her. "Just interested in hearing what you have to say." She was dubious; his eyebrows were raised, less inquisitive than provocative. He picked up on her doubt. "I'm quite serious, you know. As I said, you spoke very little after our conversation on the beanstalk. I'll admit, I've yet to figure you out, Swan."

"That bother you?" she asked, hoping that just maybe it would.

Unfortunately, it didn't appear to. "I don't mean to brag," he scoffed, seeming to be doing just that, "but I do generally have ease when conversing with women."

Emma blinked a few times, gathering her patience. "I'm sure you and your ego have any number of admirers, but I was just trying to warn you that your backpack has fallen open and it's right under that," Emma retorted, pointing up to the leaking pipe.

The flirt fell off Killian's face.

Apparently, there was a perk to being civil.

Hope you enjoyed! I know I've been slow with updates lately but feel free to leave requests/prompts anyway!