Whew. Well, at least that made things a little better-- Star's contribution of coats, gloves and hats to everyone who needed them, anyways. Emma, herself, only really needed the latter. Her jacket was plenty warm, in her opinion, and she didn't really feel keen on taking it off in favor of other. Still.
"Thanks, kid," she spoke, still seeming slightly distant and distracted, even in her expression of gratitude as she hugged herself tighter in attempt to keep warm. Still, despite this apparent lack of desire to really interact right now, she found it in her to give a reply to Killian.
"That's great and all, but it's kind of not what I asked," she mused, eyebrows raised. It was clear he was avoiding the question, and there was obviously blood coming off on his hand when he reached for the wound. If he really thought she'd fall for his dodging so easily, he was an idiot. She was a human lie detector, after all, and it was just as easy for her to see through little attempts to get around something. Of course, it would likely be obvious to anyone with a working brain- a population Emma counted herself among quite proudly.
But her lie detecting abilities could not predict the future, as nice as that would be in situations like this. And thus, she didn't exactly expect the next string of actions and words from Killian, his first tease earning only a scoff.
"Of course I'm used to it. And... her," she added after a pause. Yeah, a little less used to Snow White, but still. She was slowly getting there. Not that being away from her for weeks after they had finally reunited as mother and daughter as opposed to Mary Margaret and friend for the first time really helped. But she'd get there. As son as she got home.
...
If she got home. An outcome that, honestly, at this rate? She was beginning to doubt to a point of heartache and frustration.
That frustration, however, did not keep the surprise from her face upon noting what Killian did next. Sure, initially she had grinned with amusement at his words, nodding affirmatively after a moment.
"Great observation. Really. I don't need you pulling the self-sacrificing card on me. Can't say you really seem like that'd be--" And the words were abruptly stolen from her mouth, her warm breaths ceasing to cloud the air for just a moment as he began to peel off his long leather coat despite his words, slowly and gently lowering it onto... her.
He had given his coat to her. In cold wilderness likely beyond any he had ever experienced-
certainly beyond what she had -he had made the sacrifice of giving her what was likely a large provider of what little warmth he could retain, considering his shirt didn't exactly seem to be the most cozy of attires. For a moment, this left Emma speechless, the savior only able to stare up at him with a million cluttered thoughts and questions racing through her mind. Why was he doing this? And why for her? Compared to the others, she was well off. She didn't need reinforcement, especially with Star's own help. So why was it- if he was so compelled to give up his only source of warmth -it was to her?
She knew the answer. She just both loved and hated what it was. What it meant. And, most of all? What it made her feel. And yet she couldn't help but stare at him with doey green eyes full of gratitude, mild surprise and, if one were to look closely enough, perhaps even yearning.
Eventually, she managed to snap out of her trance, opening her mouth as she stared at him only to promptly close it, slowly shaking her head, almost as though in attempt to rid herself of the intoxicating lingering feeling of his touch from the brief, gentle rub of her shoulder. No, now wasn't the time for that. To let herself be distracted by him, one of the few things that seemed to pull her from her current immense woes. She needed to focus on the more pressing matter.
"...No. No. You need this way more than me," she insisted after a silence that she was well aware had lasted far too long, again shaking her head as she reluctantly shrugged the coat off, unraveling her arms from around herself in favor of moving to put the coat back on Killian, instead.
"Believe it or not, long sleeves, pants and a jacket are kinda warmer than... That," she mused, nodding momentarily to his more showy choice of garb. If he attempted to shrug her off or decline, she would only persist further, practically shoving it back onto him.
"...Just take it."
@thatguyinthestore @Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Jeremi @Everyboday
