ᴡᴇ ᴘɪʟʟᴀɢᴇ, ᴡᴇ (plunder) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-04-03 21:13:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, emma swan, killian jones (captain hook), neal cassidy (baelfire) |
Who: Captain Swan (with Dark!Hook posing as Neal, and then the real Neal later on)
What: Stealing that broken piece of Excalibur
When: Sunday sometime
Where: The Swan-Cassidy abode
Rating/Warnings: Mostly low - Hook is shady, but lol what else is new
Status: Complete
Emma had been warned numerous times through her pregnancy to try and avoid stress. It was like people didn’t know where they lived. For now, Emma was trying to put things on a positive spin. They could get through this. They had an uphill struggle, but if anyone knew how to beat this, hopefully it was Regina. With the added incentive of destroying the Dark One for good. That was probably something that they’d all prefer to do at this stage. Keeping busy ended up being supply shopping for the baby, finally named and just incubating away happily, Emma was elbows deep in nappies, towels, tiny socks and the zoo of beanie babies she was collecting for his nursery. It was something to keep her mind from the current fuckery. Which she wasn’t even sure how it came about. Her last dream had been following her own acceptance of the curse, making Regina promise to find a way to save her from it, giving herself up to the curse to stop Regina needing to make that grueling battle back from villainy again. Regina had just found her happy ending with Robin, Emma’s martyr heart couldn’t watch that crumble again. And maybe it was the triumph over the author, showing Isaac that there was always a way. That good could find a way against all odds. Whatever the unfolding of that, Emma was sure she’d catch up -too late to help now, but at least with a vague understanding of what was coming. Cuddling a little lion to her chest, Emma really hoped this worked out for them all. Neal hadn’t been sure what happened either, he only had Regina and Emma’s dreams to go by - obviously he personally hadn’t dreamed since his death, and ascending to some otherworldly plane where he’d maybe find the peace and happiness he deserved. But it didn't seem likely, because how could he find peace knowing his life had been cut short thanks to Zelena’s brand of crazy? That he’d died without Henry even realizing who his father was and what he’d been through to try to reunite them? His death was the result of dabbling in dark magic he shouldn’t, all out of desperation - he’d barely managed to make things right with Emma before all that, and as for his father? It would have taken awhile, maybe some therapy with Jiminy freaking Cricket. But he’d been bitter about his death enough - he was past that now, because every day in Orange County was a second chance. And he had a lot of those to enjoy - Henry, a life with Emma, their new baby. Killian being the Dark One was a hurdle to cross, and Neal planned to help solve the problem, to put his knowledge of that particular thorn-in-their-sides curse to good use. He just didn’t expect to be greeted by the Dark One himself, in the car, as soon as he’d pulled it into the garage. The puff of red smoke was a hell of a way to announce one’s self, however. “Sorry about this, Baelfire,” was all he said before flinging the sleeping draught at Neal, who didn’t even have time to protest. Down and out for the count, Killian took his keys from him before assuming his very appearance. Into the house he went - this would only take a moment. In his arms, he was carrying the bags of groceries that he’d pilfered from the car while Neal slept like a rock, hidden in the backseat. “Em? Are you up there?” The voice sounded strange to his own ears - instead of the raspy, sea-scorched accent it was a deep and gravelly timbre. “Yeah,” calling back down, Emma started to heft herself up, hearing Neal back from the grocery run. It was amazing the food they could go through with a growing teenager and a pregnant lady at home. “Gimme a sec.” It was always a slow process, but Emma was adamant to keep up as much as she could. There were certain seats that she just couldn’t get out of without help now, and she was sure that was why Henry always made her sit in the middle of the sofa for movies, so that she had no choice but let him go and get everything. “Get everything we needed?” Shuffling down the stairs, wobbling her way into the kitchen, Emma already felt moderately exhausted, “Remember my ice cream?” Because important items on the list seemed to always be her snack foods. “I’m convinced he’s coming out breathing ice.” He took in the sight of her, a still very pregnant Swan who looked even more ‘glowy’ than she did when Killian last saw her - she was rapidly expanding, and no doubt was uncomfortable. Hook could tell by the way she moved, but then again, it probably wasn’t supposed to be comfortable thing, carrying all that extra weight which meant a sore back, sore feet, and sore everything. That was the baby she’d asked him to be a godfather to - and the wee sprog was probably the exact reason why Killian didn’t just blast Emma to another planet right now; he was quite angry with her. Yet not even the Dark One would hurt a pregnant woman. No, he’d just grab Excalibur and go - get what he came for, that was all. “Got it,” he smiled, flashing that crooked grin Neal was famous for, as he began to unpack the groceries - perfectly natural, like he lived here. “Has he been kicking a lot?” Then, because Neal probably would, he lovingly put his hands on the baby bump, to see if he could feel any of those tiny feet movements. “I came back as soon as I could. Nothing happened, did it? No visits from Dark One pirates?” Taking a seat at the kitchen island, Emma gave a small smile, shifting Neal’s hand a little to where she most regularly felt little Nikolas’ kicks. “He’s a shuffler.” But she’d been told that movement was good, even if it left her uncomfortable and restless, it indicated a lot of strength in the baby. “Everything was fine.” She knew that there was a worry, and it was presumably a warranted one, the Dark One curse was unpredictable, but usually in the very worst ways. “It was just me and the safari upstairs.” Eventually that would get organised, all the furniture ready and all the goodies ready for the little one, but right now it was just a big mess of bags and boxes while they organised. “I’ve officially had to banish Hawkeye from the room before he starts eating the toys.” Since he ate everything else. “But otherwise, nothing exciting.” No threats, no phone calls, no unexpected visitors. “Heard anything else from Regina?” The only Dark One who seemed to deal in the business of babies (bargaining for them, bargaining his own away, or dropping them through portals - well, that was mostly Snow and Charming who did that to babies specifically) was Rumplestiltskin; Killian, right now, had no use for little wrinkly humans. But feeling Niko kick (Neal started calling him Niko, it was a thing) was rather surreal - almost sweet, if he bothered to chip away at the layers of dirt, grime, and muck that currently stained his soul. Rather than allowing himself to like such a strange parental sensation, he simply went to rummage for the ice cream while Emma made herself comfortable at the island. Neal would give her ice cream - he’d cater to her every whim because True Love or something like that, it was enough to rot the teeth. “Just that she thinks it’s a good idea if we have a better hiding place for Excalibur,” he said, removing the top from the carton. Not like he had any clue in hell where the spoons were, which drawer, so one just materialised in his hand while he had his back turned. The ice cream was successfully presented, spoon and all. “Maybe blood magic? I could use mine. I’d just rather you not be connected to it at all.” How utterly chivalrous of him. Emma knew that Regina was probably on point with the whole ‘keeping everything separate’ with whatever it was Killian was doing, and Neal wanted to keep any reason for Killian to come near them far, far away. So moving Excalibur wasn’t that big a surprise. Emma didn’t really want it in the house either, in case cloaking it stopped working and Killian did come. She had to believe that he wouldn’t outright hurt them, but she didn’t like taking the risk. “And I would rather you weren’t.” Because they all knew the dangers of blood magic, and even more so the Dark One curse. The ice cream at least stopped her from pouting too big about it all, her mint choc chip taking a bit of her attention while she considered. “Any ideas where to put it?” If they were spreading things out, it was important that things not be too close. “I bet someone could teleport it to space, or send it to like a volcano. Or we could just ask Lina for some super nasty protection spells.” There was possibly something in one of Lina’s many books that Emma was absolutely going to ask to read through soon, maybe something that could knock out anyone trying to get in. A volcano? Space? Well, those were certainly grand ideas - much better than using your own shadow to hide the only thing that could kill you, like how Rumpelstiltskin did. It was good Killian came when he did - he was going to forge Excalibur first (and where he’d hidden the dagger portion, the tip of the blade, no one knew) and nothing would stop him. “The further away, the better,” ‘Neal’ said hastily. “Though, fine, we don’t have to use blood magic. I was talking to Lina a little about protection spells, actually. I told her I’d get a better look at the symbols on the sword - “ Or the broken piece of it anyway, but there were all sorts of little clues and artistic works etched into the blade, near the handle, the very design of it with the way it rippled smoothly resembling that of a Kris dagger. It was so close, he could practically taste it. “That way she can come up with something mostly foolproof.” Killian didn’t know what the girl’s magic was like, but he knew she and Neal were close - best to just go along with it, until he could get his temporary two hands on what he needed. Of course Emma knew that the problem with sending it far, far away was that they still needed to be able to get it themselves, so that when the time came to get the curse shifted to some other disposable vessel they had it at hand. Which was really why it was still in the house in the first place. Emma hadn’t really wanted it there, and she knew Neal didn’t either, but she was hopeful they could solve this quickly. That was seeming less and less likely if they couldn’t find the other bit of the blade, her bit of it, or convince Hook to give up the curse himself, which was difficult if he refused to talk to them or was dead set on what the other Dark One’s wanted. “If anyone would know, it’d be Lina, right?” The other woman really did have an extensive ability with magic -usually destructive, she’d said, but still, way more advanced than Emma. And there was no need to put yet another burden on Regina. “She doesn’t want to have a look at it herself? Although, can’t really blame her.” More darkness around them? Yeah, that was exactly what pregnant people wanted. Emma hadn’t actually told Neal where she’d put Excalibur, but she guessed he knew that she hadn’t actually removed it from the house. “It’s in the panic room.” Seemed like the safest place at the time. “I cloaked it after I texted you about it, then put it in there before Henry saw it.” “I can always have her come look at it. Or bring it to her, but I’d rather her come here - safer that way,” he pointed out. Of course, Killian had no idea of their plan to transfer the darkness to another vessel (which they couldn’t do unless they had the dagger) - but he knew they had Excalibur, and he also knew that he couldn’t let it go on like that. It was a race to put the sword together, really - one that Hook would win. A cloaking spell though, of course. Killian could get through that no trouble - but a panic room was a different situation altogether. Perhaps he could pop in and out using the red smoke; very few barriers could keep him at bay, and he doubted this would be any different. “I’ll go get it, then - don’t get up,” he added, motioning for Emma to stay seated. “It’s just another unnecessary trip up the stairs.” Now, to the panic room - which was discovered by a clever dastardly sort such as he, however it was hidden well. On the second floor, there was a long space of wall that bent like an L shape, the door not visible right away. This one opened easily enough when you tried - it led to what was basically an indoor gym, or it had been for the previous occupants - but then what looked like a wardrobe in there must be the panic room. He examined the panel which had numbers on it, a keypad on the wall - first he’d give it a go, before resorting to breaking in. The initial passcode he tried was Henry’s birthday, but when that didn’t work he went for Emma’s - 1023. There we go. The door swung open - so predictable, Nealfire. Meanwhile, downstairs, it was perfect timing. The sleeping potion had worn off, and the real Neal staggered in through the back door. “Emma?” If that fucking pirate hurt her, he was going to render him a completely handless Dark One. There was something a little odd about Neal, and while Emma had mostly gotten accustomed to the oddness that came with all the shit that happened here and Neal’s helicopter co-parenting, that was just a little more strange. He tended to not want anything to do with dark magic swords, and sure, it was important that they get this sorted out, but if Lina could just come over and look at the sword to specify more cloaking and protection, then… “Neal?” Leaving her ice cream to waddle to the hall, Emma’s eyebrow just rose in further confusion as she glanced between the stairs and the back door and Neal stumbling in like… “What the hell is--” Of course it would click too late, that she hadn’t actually been talking to Neal and instead just gave Killian what he wanted. “Shit, he’s upstairs, he knows where the sword is.” And there was no way Emma was getting up there to stop him, and she hadn’t gotten to the poofy magic yet either. Shit was right. Neal let loose a volley of curse words - he blamed himself, naturally, because if he hadn’t gone out then it wouldn’t have given Killian a chance to get in. They’d been doing so good at keeping Excalibur away from him, not to mention Kenzi - the heart of the one he loved the most was no doubt the next stop on his mayhem train. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t also have the flame,” Neal groaned, referring to the spark required to forge the pieces together - man’s first fire, doubtful it just was anywhere. But in Orange County, things fell through the veil separating worlds all the time. “I’m gonna - “ He rushed for the staircase, however, that was when the puff of red smoke stopped him in his tracks. Along with the triumphant grin on the Captain’s face as he wielded the broken bit of the sword, his name etched on the silvery blade. “Now that I’ve got this, I’ll just be - “ “You asshole,” Neal lunged at him, but was knocked back by a telekinetic wave that sent him falling into a bookcase, toppling it over. Killian didn’t appear very apologetic, however. He simply tsked, as if so disappointed, and then was gone once he summoned another mini-tornado of smoke to whisk him away. Emma was much slower in getting up the stairs, the bookcase crash making her shuffle a little quicker, hand to her side. By the time she reached the top of the stairs though, all that was left was a mess around Neal and tiny lingering tendrils of red smoke wafting away. “Neal,” they should’ve been more careful, shouldn’t have had the sword so damn close, but hindsight was great when everything went to shit. “Fuck, this is bad.” Because if Killian had the two parts of the sword, and he managed to forge them? They were screwed. “We need to call Regina.” Pushing at the debris as much as she could, Emma just knelt by Neal’s side, trying to be sure that nothing serious was damaged, the bookcase could be replaced, but a trip to the ER wasn’t going to be ideal right now. “You okay?” “Yeah...yeah, I’m good,” Neal promised, shifting a little to be able to stand. He’d hit something solid with a wallop, so he’d be bruised - but nothing was broken, and he wasn’t down for the count. “I’ll let Regina know. Jesus, I can’t believe this.” But that text message to Regina to tell her that, oops, we done fucked up could wait a few moments - checking on Emma was priority. “He didn’t do anything weird, did he?” Neal asked worriedly - and he’d clean up the mess later too, in addition to icing the nastier bruises from being slammed into furniture. “To you or the baking chimi?” Just one of the many affectionate nicknames for Nikolas, who probably wouldn’t appreciate being called a chimichanga when he was older. Clearly, Dark Ones got more resourceful when there was something they wanted. Not that is was overly surprising really, they were probably just lucky that all Killian wanted was the sword. They did get off easy here if all that was damaged was a bookcase and some additional bruises. “No, we’re fine,” considering all Killian did was unpack the groceries and talk, they were doing just fine. “What did he do to you, do we need to check your head?” A swift knock to the head was usually fairly adequate for knocking people out, but the damage it could leave later was the most worrying. Considering she and the chimi were totally fine, just a little winded and pissed off at being duped, Neal was the only one actually injured in the heist. “I think we need to check his head,” Neal grumbled, but rubbed the back of his own, not noticing any goose eggs. Well, at least that was something - no concussion on the horizon. They all had enough problems to deal with. “He only flung me into the furniture, Em, I’m fine. I knew I couldn’t stop him, but...I wasn’t just going to stand there.” Plus, he had been worried that Killian did something to his family. From the looks of it, and based on what Emma said, he hadn’t. He just came for the sword - but that didn’t mean they were off the hook (pun intended). Neal let out a frustrated sigh that did nothing to loosen the tension in his muscles. “He’s plotting something big, apparently to cast the Dark Curse again. I don’t know what else to do besides hope that someone can get through to him.” They’d lost their shot at forging the sword and transferring the darkness to another vessel - now what? Time to re-strategize. “Come on, let’s go call Regina. At the very least, we can make sure she has his sister someplace safe.” It was one of their biggest flaws, wasn’t it, being unable to just stand aside. Emma knew from the dreams that Neal would do anything for his family, to protect them. They were fairly similar in that way, since Emma already knew she’d do whatever it took to protect them. So she understood exactly why Neal couldn’t just sit back and not do something. She still had a check on his head herself, making sure he wasn’t just brushing an injury off. It threw their plan to stop this completely on it’s axis, without either part of the blade they had nothing to work with, and even if they could’ve gotten a vessel, they had no way to pass the power through. “Guess we need to warn her that he might use someone else’s face too.” Back to square one again, great. |