[ Despite how awkward and tense things seemed to be between them, it hadn't actually been his intention to shift Killian into third-wheel status. This conversation, this- whatever this was, it wasn't like... that. It wasn't about wedging one another out of Emma's graces, or getting the upper hand on each other, or... whatever. As weird as things had been in Neverland, they seemed to have stabilized once all of them got out. Especially considering the last moment they'd had together before Neal bit the dust.
So he licks his lips as Killian retreats, hesitates, and then calls out: ]
Hook.
[ There's an awkward sort of pause wherein he's not really all that sure what to say. Finally, he shrugs a shoulder. ]
Thanks.
[ For, you know. Looking. Implying they'll actually bring him back with them. Letting him have a moment with Emma to talk about his son. Being a good guy, whether Neal likes it or not. There's a little more in his expression, but no other words come out before Killian makes his escape.
His attention turns back to Emma again, weary and frayed around the edges already. His head ducks, and he scratches the back of his neck with something not unlike guilt tugging at his shoulders. He knows it's stupid to feel guilty for dying, but it was his own stupid mistakes that lead to his early end anyways. His own stupid decisions that lead to Henry being fatherless, lead to Emma suffering through him abandoning her yet again. Lead to broken promises and empty potential. ]
Yeah, about that... He's a good guy. I think he's good for Henry, too.
[ Neal settles on, finally. It's not exactly what he wants to say, because it's not like there's any permission that's his to give, but... if he had to pick someone for Emma, someone that would be good to her, someone that could be involved in raising his son right... Well, the guy who raised him has some pretty good merrits. Neal might not be able to teach Henry the things he knows, but since he learned most of it from Killian in the first place...
Because he doesn't think he's coming back from this, no matter how confident Emma is. Magic can't bring back the dead. ]
no subject
So he licks his lips as Killian retreats, hesitates, and then calls out: ]
Hook.
[ There's an awkward sort of pause wherein he's not really all that sure what to say. Finally, he shrugs a shoulder. ]
Thanks.
[ For, you know. Looking. Implying they'll actually bring him back with them. Letting him have a moment with Emma to talk about his son. Being a good guy, whether Neal likes it or not. There's a little more in his expression, but no other words come out before Killian makes his escape.
His attention turns back to Emma again, weary and frayed around the edges already. His head ducks, and he scratches the back of his neck with something not unlike guilt tugging at his shoulders. He knows it's stupid to feel guilty for dying, but it was his own stupid mistakes that lead to his early end anyways. His own stupid decisions that lead to Henry being fatherless, lead to Emma suffering through him abandoning her yet again. Lead to broken promises and empty potential. ]
Yeah, about that... He's a good guy. I think he's good for Henry, too.
[ Neal settles on, finally. It's not exactly what he wants to say, because it's not like there's any permission that's his to give, but... if he had to pick someone for Emma, someone that would be good to her, someone that could be involved in raising his son right... Well, the guy who raised him has some pretty good merrits. Neal might not be able to teach Henry the things he knows, but since he learned most of it from Killian in the first place...
Because he doesn't think he's coming back from this, no matter how confident Emma is. Magic can't bring back the dead. ]