Liam + Emma - after the Underworld
A/n: This is my current freaking WEAKNESS right now. So basically the idea is that Liam ended up coming back with them from the underworld instead of Killian. He did not move on to the better place. Killian is gone gone, not just in the dungeons. He either moved on or is in the river of lost souls. No need to overthink it. xD
She had thought it might be cathartic, drinking with him. No matter how muchit hurt toasting to the man they both cared for so deeply that it was like apiece of them was missing, she truly thought that it might help. He would have wanted them to get along. She thinks it’s what he had always hoped.(And she couldn’t even give him that before...)
And so they had a drink once.
She thinks it’s some sort of sick punishment he’s put upon himself, working at the Rabbit Hole, working the job he was meant to still be working in his mind. Apparently bartending for Hades held up on a Storybrooke resume and there were only rare times that Liam wasn’t found there.That first drink was quiet mostly, a couple of shots of rum and moments of silence. Theyhad another one the next week. And then it was every Thursday, drinkingthemselves into oblivion at The Rabbit Hole in a tense mostly-silence. (Fridays were never great after thosenights, but what day was anymore?)
It became a ritual for them – not apleasant one, but at least it was something consistent. Hell, sometimes they actually forgot how painfully their personalities had clashedfrom the first moment of their meeting. Unfortunately, other times they didn’t forget at all.
Liam slams his glass down, a grimace sort of set to his jaw as he staresat the table.
“You wanna say something?”
She watches him as he carefully chooses his words.
“I’m afraid I want to say quite a lot things, but I still have a small senseof good form left in me.”
His prim and proper accent almost makes the words cut deeper, though for what reason, Emma has no idea. She waitsfor an explanation that doesn’t come and then simply says “oh” as she takes a sip of her whiskey. She really couldn’t stomach rum anymore.
“So, it’s about me then.”
Liam doesn’t say a word. He stares at his own drink for a moment,considering it, before he drains it and mechanically pours himself another.
Typical. Typical Liam. Self-righteous andcryptic as fucking ever. You know, if it hadn’t been a month of this crap withhim, they might have actually learned to get along but no. He’s just asstubborn as–no. She doesn’t want to go there.
“Well?”
He sighs, but it’s a frustrated sound, like what one might make to a petulantchild, and it irks her. Why? Why her? If he blames her, fine, but she’s prettysure that they already had this conversation back in the Underworld or whereverthe hell they were. She only stares as he empties his glass again and then sets it back onto the table with a clatter.
“You know, I think I’ve had enough to drink tonight.” He begins to stand,swaying with drink, and his chair scrapes across the floor.
“No.” She stands as well, crossing her arms over her chest. “If you havesomething to say, then say it.”
Liam grumbles something incoherent, shaking his head as he stumbles backtowards the bar.
“I’m the sheriff. I could have you arrested for drunk driving, you know.” Sheknows she shouldn’t say things like that, especially not in the snide tone that she used, but his holier-than-thou attitude isreally starting to bother her. He’s not the only one that lost something thatday, he’s not the only one that hurting, and to take it out on her–
Liam whirls on her and stops abruptly, as if not sure what to say first. Hisexpression doesn’t soften, but his tone does, if only slightly. “Out of respectfor my brother, Sheriff, I’m going to go.”
He dares her to stop him with his eyes, blue and angry and flashing at herin such a familiar way that it makes her flinch. She hates him for that. Shehates that she sees so much of Killian in him sometimes that it makes her chestliterally ache and tighten.
“It’s my fault.” She throws up her arms, frustrated. “Is that what you want me to say,Liam? I should’ve let him die the first time, right? Let him die a hero. Maybethen you both could have moved on together. Maybe there wouldn’t have been anymistakes that landed you here and him there, right?”
“Me ending up in this hellhole isn’t a mistake. It’s downright cruelty andHades knew that.”
“But I’m to blame.”
He huffs a harsh breath out through his nose, his piercing eyes neverleaving her gaze. Emma sighs so heavily her shoulders slump and she feels tears begin to prickthe back of her eyes.
“What was I supposed to do, Liam?”
He answers her, but this time the edge is gone from his tone. “I don’t know.”
He leaves after that. Emma doesn’t follow for a long time.
