A/N: FYI: The character Emma is dressing up as is actually a character I have in a fantasy novel idea that I'm trying to write... that is damn hard, but sort of living my dream through Emma here. (Though I have yet to write something that resembles the movie Killian had the lead role in)
So this is a bit fluffy homey Halloween-time set in Storybrooke, hope you like what I did with this.
Thanks to all who read and comment, give kudos etc.
Big thanks to my beta for the help with this.
Enjoy.
Chapter 11Emma secured the leather belt around her waist and sheathed the fake pimped-out sword into the scabbard. The fire effect done with strings of fabric still poked out at the top but it would have to do.
Moving her hands down over the dark blue leather jerkin, it was smooth under her hand. She also wore matching black leather breeches and knee-high boots, all setting the scene for her character.
"I have your diadem." Her mother's voice sounded from the door to her old bedroom, she'd opted to change here and have Killian pick her up after he'd finished dressing up in his costume back at her house.
"Thank you, I just need the wig." Emma adjusted the hairnet she'd tried to tame her own hair with, it had been a bit of a Google rabbit hole she'd dived into while trying to find the right wig. The black hair was so much different from her blond locks, but once secured on top of her head it gave the desired effect. She smoothed her fingers over the purple streak dyed into the black hair and glanced at her mother. "How does it look?"
"Fantastic." Her mother reached out with the simple silver diadem with a purple fake gemstone at its center and placed it on top of Emma's head.
"Wow, this looks so good, put together," Emma said, beaming in the mirror. "Thank you for helping with the sword."
"It was a pleasure. Kinda felt as if we'd travelled back in time to when I'd be making your costumes for Halloween."
Emma noticed her mother's eyes growing misty, "Oh please stop that. You'll make me cry."
"We love you, darling."
The front door opened, and they heard her father's voice speak.
Her mother smiled, "Think your pirate is here."
Emma's heart skipped a beat, and she took one last look in the mirror making sure everything was in place.
Her mother had slipped away leaving Emma alone to walk down the stairs. It wasn't prom night, but she sure had the same fluttery feeling inside her stomach. As she descended the stairs she could finally take in Killian's costume. "Damn." She mumbled to herself while her eyes blew wide at the sight of Killian. Dressed in a long leather duster, tight leather pants he looked much like a devilishly handsome pirate. He must have heard her as he turned around, and she could see his front.
Emma had to hold on tighter to the bannister so she didn't stumble over her own feet. Along with all the leather, Killian also wore a deep red brocade vest over a black shirt that was unbuttoned down to the top buttons of the vest.
On wobbly legs, she scaled the last steps and inspected him, "Are you wearing eyeliner?"
"Kohl, love." His lips lifted in a smirk that was far too sinful to be on display in the company of her parents.
"You look…"
"I know." His eyes skimmed down her form. "Should I be afraid of the dragon shifter warrior?" He lifted an eyebrow and looked down at her hip. "Is that your fabled and feared choice of weapon?"
Emma nodded, pulling out the plastic sword she'd upgraded, with long strips of yellow, orange and purple fabric, trying to simulate fire. "My magical dragon warrior sword." Emma swung it in the air and smirked, "Still trying to find a suitable name for it."
Killian grinned and bowed. "I'm at your service Princess, please have mercy on this poor soul."
Emma laughed, before slipping the sword into its scabbard again, trying to ignore the chuckle coming from her parents at their antics.
Killian stepped closer, "You look amazing, love." He stroked over the black hair falling over her shoulder. "Though the hair color might take some time to get used to, you look like a warrior princess."
"Hmm." Emma moved even closer and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Shall we, pirate?"
"Aye," Killian replied, as he looked over at her parents. "We'll see you at the party."
Emma gave her parents a smile. "See you later."
"Have fun." Her mother said and gave Emma a quick hug.
"Can't wait to see your costumes," Emma told them as she gently urged Killian to turn around to walk out of the door.
When the door closed behind them he asked, "Who are they going to be?"
"Prince Charming and Snow White." Emma rolled her eyes and when Killian laughed beside her, his fingers weaved with hers as they walked down the street, she explained. "Their love story is a bit crazy and intense and in jest, she's always called my father her prince charming."
"Ah, I see." Killian untangled his hand from her in order to wrap his arm around her shoulders. "So is this thing as big as it used to be?"
"I think it might have developed into a monster of a party, no pun intended." Emma chuckled. "But my mother has been on the Halloween committee for years now, ever since, there's been something new added."
"Sounds like we're going to have quite a party," Killian mused beside her. "Can't wait."
"There's even going to be a band later in the evening."
"Anyone famous?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Nah just some local band that is practicing in someone's garage." Emma shrugged. "I don't even know what they are called."
"Some of the most famous bands started out in a garage, so they could end up being awesome."
"Did your band start like that?"
"Not exactly." He looked down and Emma felt how he tensed up.
"You don't need to…"
"I was at my lowest when Will found me trying to make a few extra pounds in a dingy bar in London."
"He saw your potential."
"Aye, and dragged my sorry arse out of the gutter and introduced me to Graham and Alice, later on, we found Elsa and Anna by chance when Will had seen their sister's YouTube channel where they would sing covers of various artists."
"And the drummer, eh… Kristoff?"
"He's from Norway, I still don't know how Will wrangled him to join us in London, he'd just won Norway's Got Talent and was this prodigy drummer wonder boy."
"It all turned out pretty great for you guys." Emma had done a bit of Google search on his band in the past few weeks and had seen how well things had gone for them, with several awards for some of their latest music.
"Aye, it certainly had."
They reached the large town square that was decked out with hundreds of pumpkins, lights strung up in the trees. Small booths lined the street offering various food options, and some homemade crafts, knitting and wood carvings. Several of the booths also had a wide variety of carnival games to play.
"What do you want to do first?" Emma asked and tugged herself closer to him, leaning closer to give him a small kiss on his jaw.
"I have a few ideas," He said, wiggling his eyebrows. "But that might bring a bit too much of a scandal to this small cozy town."
"Pirate." Emma berated gently and slapped his chest, feeling the heat from his body through the brocade vest. "Are you not cold?" Her fingers slipped to toy with the chest hair peeking out from the open shirt.
"Nope." He grinned down at her and kissed her briefly. "Come on, let's go play a few games."
Emma agreed by taking his hand and pulling him towards the nearest carnival game.
Hours later they sat near the stage, digging into their evening meal of burgers and fries. The local band was setting up their gear, and she spotted several times when Killian would glance at the stage with a longing look in his eyes.
"Been some time since you last were on a stage?" Emma asked knowingly.
"Aye, it is." He took another bite of his food and chewed.
"I bet they'd be happy to let you sing a song or two?" Emma tried gently, not knowing how he'd react.
"I don't want to steal their thunder," Killian mused, shaking his head, and taking a sip of his soda.
"I'm pretty sure they'd be stoked to have you sing with them." Emma looked at the group, she recognized a few of them, all several years younger than her. But she recalled seeing a few of them on their skateboards rolling down Main Street.
Emma slipped out of her seat, "One sec, babe, let me go speak with them."
"Emma you really don't need…"
"I want to." Emma kissed him before walking over to the group.
"Hey, Felix," she called out.
"Eh, hi, Emma." Even in the dim light from the Edison light bulbs above them, she could see the young man blush bright red.
"You know I have a special guest here with me this week." She flipped her thumb over towards Killian.
"Oh yeah, you bet we know, me and the guys spoke about it last night at band practice, that is so dope you're… eh you know…" He trailed off and Emma gave him a knowing smile.
"I was just wondering if you want a chance to sing with him?"
"What?" Felix gaped at her, his eyes blinking in surprise. "Holy shit would he do that?" He looked over Emma's shoulder. "I mean the man is skyrocketing to the stars and the big league in the music world."
"I'm fairly sure he'd love to." Emma smiled and beckoned Felix to follow him.
Felix followed her to the table, his feet shuffling over the cobblestone, his hands twisted in a tight knot.
"Killian, this is Felix, he's the lead singer in their band." She glanced over her shoulder. "Sorry but I forgot what you call yourself these days?"
"The Lost Boys," Felix mumbled and blushed bright red when his eyes landed on Killian. "Hi."
"Hello there, I hear you're the talk of the town with your band there." Killian smiled and turned in his seat, looking up at Emma. "What has Swan here been talking to you about?"
"Eh, she… perhaps… you… if you want to that is…" Felix rambled on.
"Killian, be nice," Emma whispered and pressed a kiss to his temple. "Talk with him about what song you might sing together."
Killian smiled up at her before looking at Felix, "I don't want you to think I want to steal your show, but lovely Swan here thought you might want to have me join you for a couple of numbers."
"That would be super dope man." Felix pushed his hands through his shaggy blonde hair. "Shite, wait til the guys hear this, they'll be stoked, man."
"Let's go speak with them." Killian offered, rising to his feet.
Emma watched as Felix stumbled over his feet but kept up with Killian as they walked to the stage where the rest of the four-man band had finished setting up their equipment.
"Why do you look so smug?" Her mother's voice interrupted her musings.
"Ah, nothing." Emma shrugged.
"Where's Killian?"
"He's prepping with the Lost Boys." Emma pointed to the stage.
"Really?" The shrill voice of her mother was high-pitched in disbelief. "I never thought Killian would want to sing at such a small venue." Her mother sat down with a sigh. "Had I only known I'd tried to have him bring his whole band here?"
"This is perfect, perhaps next year?"
"Hmm. Perhaps."
Emma continued to chat with her mother while waiting for the music to begin. It seemed as if the band had saved their surprise guest singer for the last part of their set. The Lost Boys was fairly good, still a little rough around the edges, but the rock attitude was there.
"We have a special guest with us tonight, he offered to sing a few songs with us. We're so stoked that he would want to sing with us." Felix swept his hand backstage where Killian walked in from. The crowd clapped and cheered and as everyone seemed to know him shouts and whistles followed close behind.
The younger band members looked as if they tried hard to keep their cool facade and shuffled around with their instruments preparing to back up Killian and Felix. They had opted to do a cover of Creed's classic rock ballad "With arms wide open." It blew the crowd away by how easily the two fell in tune with one another.
Emma beamed as she pushed closer to the stage, and when Killian saw her he blew her a kiss while Felix had taken the lead in part of the song. Someone nearby whistled sharply and when Emma glanced over her shoulder, she noticed a few old school friends. She gave them a big smile and waved, she would find them later and catch up.
The song ended and Killian found a drum box and sat down on it and adjusted the microphone so he'd be able to sing too. "The lads here suggested we sing this since it's the big hype on TikTok and seems fitting to sing a sea shanty with the costume I wear and the wonderfully talented Lost Boys here paying tribute to one of my favorite fairy tales of Neverland."
The dull thump of the drum box rolled into a familiar beat that had the younger crowd go nuts. Every kid aged three to eighteen joined in on the song, "The Wellerman."
A huge smile spread over Killian's face as he led the crowd in the song. She sang along with the rest and couldn't be more proud of her boyfriend. This ended up being the best Halloween ever. Swaying to the music she imagined them going back home to her home. All alone with a rapscallion of a pirate dressed in all leather surely did something to her insides. Despite the chilled evening air she suddenly found herself rather hot and eager to be alone with Killian.