Tale of Two Swans

Never Have I Met a Kid With This Much Audacity

The drive was excruciating.

And no, I'm not being overly dramatic. Emma's kid just sucks.

We had warned the kid that this drive would be a long one- I mean, surely he would know? Considering he had just went from Storybrooke to Boston? But no, the kid acted as if he had no idea about the hours it would take to get back and instead, asked us if we were there yet every ten minutes.

I had no idea that I could become mortal enemies with a child so quickly.

It didn't help that the kid was weirdly curious about me. He asked an abundance of questions, each one deterring my will to speak until eventually I just answered in grunts. The kid got the point and took to asking Emma questions about me. She answered him, like the bloody traitor she is.

"So, her name is Jack?"

"It's Annie, but yeah, she's fine with being called Jack as well."

"That's weird, what's her last name?"

Emma chuckled, "It's Swann."

"Like your last name?" The kid questioned, head tilted in confusion. "But I thought you said she wasn't your sister?"

I huffed, turning in my seat to face the kid. "It's Swann with two N's.  S-W-A-N-N, got it?" The kid looked to me eagerly and I groaned as more questions spewed from his mouth. "Look, I know, it's ironic that we practically have the same last name. Don't get your nickers in a twist; I assure you it was not bloody planned-"

"How did you guys meet then? You two meeting and having the same last name and sharing an apartment together is so perfect it's like magic!"

I shook my finger at him, "I'll have no talk of bloody witchcraft and magic in our vessel, do you understand me lad?"

"What's a vessel?"

"Ugh! I give up! Neither of you talk to me, I'm going to take a bloody well deserved nap!" 

Ignoring Emma and her spawns laughter, I turned to face the window and got into a comfortable position. And despite myself as my eyes drifted closed, a small smile twitched onto my face as the mother-son duo got to know each other. 

Soon enough I was gone from the world.

~~

A salty sea breeze drifted over my face and through my hair as I opened my eyes, the gorgeous view of the winking waves greeting me warmly. I took a deep breath, a cleansing feeling washing over me as the sea air cleared my lungs. In the distance, a busy shore carved a line into the ocean; the sounds of people working and carts being hauled a vague sound on the wind.

Eyeing the sight for only a moment longer, I wondered briefly at the island residents ability to stay in one spot for so long before turning to face the crew awaiting my orders below me on the ships main deck. With a smirk I grabbed onto the rope of a nearby pulley, swinging down before them effortlessly as I'd done dozens of times before.

"Alright lads, you know the rules! We have a tentative agreement with Mr.Turner and we are not to disturb to populace, Aye?"

A chorus of Aye's and Yes's filled my ears and I nodded, "Good that! Take the time while the tide is soothed to change your attire, I'll have none of the sissies on that shore suspecting us of what we really are- understood?" The same response had me smirking, "Aye! That'll be all- Terrance, have you switched the flags?"

"Aye captain!"

"Good that- and remember lads! One 24 hours only, so if you have any secret lover hidden from us then you better make good use of that time!"