piratesails:

literally all of this is @killianswench‘s fault. this is the longest one shot I’ve ever written (almost 12k, dear God, how) and I had such a fun time doing it. massive love to my cupcake @high-seas-swan for saving this from becoming a Hot Mess. 
modern lt. duckling based off of this perfect graphic.

worth the risk, worth the guarantee.
ao3 | ff

“How many of these do you even
have?” Emma asks, poking at the side of his combat boot with the toe of her Converse.

He doesn’t need to see her to
know she’s smirking. He doesn’t even need to take his eyes off the fretboard to
shift his legs so that he’s managed to trap her foot in between the two of his
own. She makes a small sound of annoyance but it’s all he gets in retaliation
and he quietly thanks any deity listening that she’s in a good mood today. He
doesn’t think he can handle more bruises on his legs, if he’s honest.

“You very well know I only own
one pair, Swan.”

“How do they always look so
clean?”

He glances up at her shoes, the
sides of which are dirt ridden, a stain on the shoelace which could be from the
ketchup she spilled on the floor two weeks ago. “I clean them,” he gives her a
pointed look before adding, “unlike some people.”

He’s known Emma for the better
part of his life. (And really, it’s been better because she’s been in it, as
cheesy as that makes him sound.) They’d moved to Storybrooke in early October,
four suitcases between his mom, Liam and him. He didn’t understand much of it
at the time, but they told him it was for the best, that they were going to
make a new life here. Emma had been his first – and for a long time, his only –
friend in school, had for some reason chosen him to spend her days with and
been practically glued to his side since. Not that he’s complaining. When you’re
five years old and a cute blonde in pigtails holds your hand to tug you to the
slide, it’s not something you fuss about.

And when said cute blonde turns
out to be a spitfire of a teenager who’s one of the most important people in
your life, that’s when you start believing in miracles.

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