K. Jones | Small Talk and Mediocre Coffee

Pick Up

Killian climbs into his truck without a second thought. You need him. That's all he needs to know. He feels like such a lovesick fool. He's willing to drop everything just because you called. And he'll do it again if you give him the chance. He's only felt like this once before, ages ago. At this point in his life, he truly believed that he'd never feel like this again – like an excited, infatuated teenager. But then you smiled at him the day he walked into the diner. He should have known he was done for then, when coffee started to leave a sweet aftertaste in his mouth.

Killian sighs as he drives out of Storybrooke's town limits. He has two hours until he gets to you. Two hours to worry about you. Maybe he shouldn't have hung up. He should have kept you on the line. He could have just asked you to talk to him for the next two hours. He'd listen to you talk about anything. And he's certain that the sound of your voice would calm his heart currently pounding in his chest.

God.

You're by yourself at a gas station in a place you don't know.

Killian runs a hand through his dark, tousled hair before roughly scratching at his beard. He's such an idiot. He could call you again.

But will that make him look desperate?

Will you think he doesn't trust you?

Killian sighs before moving to lean further back in his seat. It's going to be a long ride. He decides to start going through the radio stations to distract himself. This occupies him for a while, but, eventually, he switches it back to his favorite station and focuses on his surroundings.

The rest of the car ride is spent like this, switching from one mindless activity to another in order to pass the time. Killian hoped that he'd calm down as he continued driving, but, instead, his anxieties only seemed to multiply as he got closer to you. Once he gets to you, he'll start to feel better. When he knows that you're safe in the cabin of his truck, the knot in his stomach will dissipate.

Finally, after a little under two hours of anxious driving, Killian spots Emma's old, yellow Volkswagen on the side of the road. He lets out a relieved sigh. This means you're not too far away. And as he pulls into the gas station down the road, he feels like he can finally breathe again.

Killian quickly exits his vehicle, not bothering to turn off the engine. He closes the door and starts walking towards the entrance. Killian stops in his tracks as he watches you exit the building, you must have seen him pull into the parking lot. And then you smile at him, just like you did the day he met you – sweet and bright. The sight could light up the whole damn sky.

You keep walking towards him, quickening your pace ever so slightly as Killian stays firmly planted in the middle of the parking lot. Once you reach him, you throw your arms around Killian's shoulders and pull him into a hug. You breathe out a sigh of relief into his shoulder. Your touch sends his mind into a dangerous tailspin, but, eventually, he manages to recover and wraps both his arms around your middle.

"Are you okay?"

You nod against his shoulder before pulling away. Killian frowns slightly as you remove your body from his arms.

"Thank you for coming to get me."

"Of course."

Killian shoves his hands in his pockets. Has he forgotten how to stand like a normal human being? Why does he feel so stupid standing in front of you right now? Killian groans internally. He's supposed to be good at this. A ladies' man is what Emma and David call him, much to his annoyance. The charismatic personality, the dashing smile, the charming confidence – where is all of that now?