A/N: So apparently in this fic I write shorter chapters. I have a somewhat vague idea on where to take this, and in the next chapter things pick up a little on the "action", so this is kinda just a filler. Killian meets Red Jamie for the first time.
A note on locations and names of cities etc, most of them are real but yeah I have no idea how freely pirates roamed the waters around the British Isles. But I claim the freedom of imagination on those parts.
I also forgot to thank my beta reader ultraluckycatnd for the invaluable help she'd been with this.
Enjoy.
Chapter 2:Killian stayed true to his words and stayed for a few more days. To his luck, the new trade ship moored just as the sun was setting. He'd spent his time onboard the Jolly Roger, making sure they had done the needed repairs to his liking. He located a spyglass and tried to see if he could pick up on who the new captain might be.
The ship was large, a fair bit bigger than his own ship. Scanning the bow he saw the name Fraser's Ridge painted on the side. A flicker of a black flag caught his attention. Some of the crew had hauled it down and were now rolling it together; if he wasn't mistaken, the flag had the familiar skull and crossbones on them. "They are bloody pirates," he mumbled.
Killian did a last scan of the deck and bellowed to his first mate, "Smee!"
The round man hurried to his side, his red knit cap clutched in his hands. "Yes sir?"
"I'll be in the Wilted Willow if you need me." He began walking. "Have at least ten men stay back tonight to watch over the ship," he pointed to the larger ship, "and have them keep an eye on them."
"Aye, Aye Capt'n." Smee saluted and tugged his cap over his curly hair again.
Killian disembarked and hurried to the tavern, hoping to run into this new captain who the elusive and conniving Blackbeard also seemed to have an interest in. Was this new captain a foe or an ally?
He spotted Swan the moment he entered the tavern, she was speaking with Claire at the bar. The room was already bustling with patrons who wanted a bite to eat.
Emma spotted him a few moments later and she waved him over. "Killian, this is Claire Fraser."
Killian tipped his head in a polite greeting. "Good afternoon Mrs. Fraser, hope you enjoy the offerings this establishment provides.
"Oh, yes, this is by far the best place in this town to dine," Claire said, the corners of her eyes crinkled in a smile.
"Her husband just got back in port," Emma provided with a grin.
"So I've seen," Killian said warily, rubbing behind his ear, scanning the room behind him. There were quite a few strangers, and as his ears picked up the distinct Scottish accent from the crowd near the end of the tavern he tried to figure out who their captain might be.
"Are you okay?" Emma had moved from behind the counter and placed her hand on his arm. It was always a surprise for Killian how Emma could read him so easily.
"Aye, just curious who the new captain in town is." He gave Emma a brief tight smile, then turned to Claire. "Forgive my rudeness, it's just always interesting when we have new ships passing these parts."
"Oh, I understand," Claire said with a dismissive wave of her hand. Her eyes shifted to his hooked arm and Killian noticed how her eyes blew wide at the revelation.
"I see you've heard of me?" He lifted his hook and tapped it to his fingertips, lifting his eyebrow as he waited for the woman to reveal just how much she might know about him.
Claire had the grace to look a little sheepish as she glanced at Emma. "I had no idea your man was Captain Hook."
"Oh yeah, I might have missed that detail," Emma chuckled nervously, then added, "Does it matter? I mean I really enjoy your friendship." She looked down.
"It changes nothing for me." Claire eased Emma with a pat on her arm. She glanced over her shoulder. "I'm just worried about what my husband will say about this."
"Afraid I'll raid his ship and steal all his whiskey?" Killian barked a laugh that had Emma give him a gentle push to his shoulder.
"Don't be an ass."
"You like my ass," he sassed back with a smirk.
"So full of himself." Emma rolled her eyes. "I apologize for his crude language."
"I live on a ship full of half-drunk Scotsmen, so I'm no prim and proper English lady anymore," Claire said with a chuckle, seemingly unfazed by their banter. Killian took a liking to the woman, but he still had to set eyes on her husband to figure out if this new ship was a friend or foe.
"Oh, here's my husband," Claire said and pushed away from the bar. She strode towards a broad-shouldered man with red hair falling around his face. When he spotted Claire his eyes lit up and he wrapped his arms around the woman, kissing her.
"Well, at the very least he has a woman who loves him," Killian grumbled.
"Oh, they are very in love. And have been married for over 20 years."
"20 years?!" Killian twisted around to look at his lady Swan. "That is a long time," he breathed out, swiping his hand over his mouth in wonder.
"Their story is in fact quite romantic," Emma gushed and watched the couple speak together in an indistinct murmur.
"Our story is romantic, my love." Killian wrapped his arm around her and tugged her to his side, pushing away her hair and skimming his lips over the shell of her ear.
"Hmm," Emma hummed in response and he felt how she leaned more into his body, and he knew she would be more than willing to take this someplace else had she not been at work.
They watched Claire and her husband who had looked towards them a few times as his wife spoke with him. His forehead pinched in deep worry lines as he took in Killian and Emma.
Moments later the couple walked over to them and Killian shifted his stance to stand up a little taller. The bloody Scotsman was at least 5 inches taller than him.
"Jamie, I'd like you to meet my new friend, Emma, and her… eh," Claire looked a little lost between them, "partner?"
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Emma." Jamie took Emma's hand and did a small bow. Killian felt the hairs on his neck bristle at the movement, and something clicked inside him, he'd heard the name Jamie before.
"You're Red Jamie?" Killian exclaimed and had to refrain from pulling out his cutlass. He narrowed his eyes. "Why is Blackbeard pissed at you too?"
"Oh, the infamous Hook has touched ship with the privateer," Jamie said in a calm voice, far too calm for Killian's liking. "I imagine he is looking for something I might have in me possession."
Killian tapped the tip of his hook against his chin. "Aye, The Frenchman's Gold, perhaps?" He never let his eyes waver from the other pirate.
"Somewhere along those lines, I guess." Jamie gave him a wry smile. "I've heard he's still looking for whoever has taken the other half."
Killian rubbed behind his ear giving the other pirate a sly smile. "I can assure you that he hasn't gotten his hand on that part yet."
Jamie tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes. "You have that part?"
"Perhaps."
Both pirates stared at each other and seemed to accept the fact that they both might have a part of a treasure they each had been searching for. Only now there was a third player into the mix, Blackbeard. Killian knew that the large bearded privateer had roamed the Caribbean waters for many years, taking commissions from the English Crown. Among pirates roaming the waters around the British Isles, the legend of the Frenchman's Gold had been one of the biggest treasures to find.
"What is Blackbeard doing back in these parts of the world?" Jamie mused, waving to Ruby and asking for a drink.
"Why would the Crown want the Frenchman's Gold?" Killian asked bemused.
"The same reason ya all have been looking for that damn treasure," Ruby said and slammed two tankards on the bar top.
Both pirates grinned and nodded their thanks to the young woman.
Emma gently touched Killian's arm. "Maybe he's not working for the Crown anymore?"
"What?"
"I picked up some gossip a few weeks ago." She looked up at Killian. "Just as you had set sail to the south."
"Care to share that information?" Jamie mused, raising a curious eyebrow, and lifted his drink to his mouth.
Emma looked between the two men. "Depends on how you'll use it."
"Come now love…"
"Shush." She lifted a finger and waggled it between the two men. "I first want to know if you guys agree or if you're going to use this to chase down the other for their part of the treasure."
Killian groaned into his tankard, his woman was far too wise and cunning for her own good. "Bloody hell, love."
"Is she always like this?" Jamie asked with a chuckle, the redhead seemed amused by Killian's predicament until his own woman, Claire tapped his shoulder.
"Jamie, behave, it's not like you're a ruthless, heartless pirate, we come by lots of treasures in our travels." She smiled up at her husband. The two of them clearly had a way of communicating with no words, as they took a few seconds to just gaze into the other's eyes.
Jamie glared at Killian. "Well, he's not a Scotsman so he doesn't have the right to claim that part of the treasure."
"I've got as much right to claim the treasure as the next pirate," Killian pointed at Red Jamie.
"So you're ready to fight me for it?" Jamie challenged with a carefully lifted eyebrow.
"Aye." Killian slammed his tankard on the bar top, ignoring Emma's hand squeezing his upper arm. "You'll never get your bloody hands on my treasure and neither will that bastard Blackbeard."
"We'll see about that, lad." Jamie emptied his drink and turned to Claire. "Come now Sassenach, we're leaving."
"But I…"
"We're leaving." Jamie tugged his wife's arm around his, and the couple walked out of the tavern.
Killian shook his head bemused. "What a bloody pompous Scot."
"You're stupid." Emma slapped his chest.
"Bloody hell, woman, why?" He rubbed the spot where she'd hit him.
"You just ruined my chance of a new friendship with Claire." She huffed and tugged her hands to her side, glaring up at him. "Why do you always have to piss off anyone crossing your path?"
"Well, the bloody pirate wanted to claim my part of the Frenchman's Gold."
"You know that even with your share of the treasure you'll be set for the rest of your damn life." She poked his chest again, ignoring his grunt she continued. "I don't like you right now."
"Ah, come now love, you don't mean that."
"Oh, you better believe that. I liked Claire. Aside from Ruby, it's not as if I have a lot of friends do I?" She huffed and scurried away from him, busying herself with collecting empty tankards from the nearby tables. Killian wanted to follow her and continue this talk, but openly speaking of him having the biggest treasure this side of the Atlantic might not be the wisest.
"Bloodiest of hells." He groaned and slumped against the bar behind him "Women." He ignored the chuckle from Ruby behind the bar, now regretting that he never got that tidbit of gossip Emma had proclaimed she had on Blackbeard. He was certain she wasn't eager to share it with him right now. It was his luck that he was a patient man for all things regarding his Lady Swan.