tomeandflickcorner:

mryddinwilt:

Killian doing some mock sword fighting with Henry hits me on so many levels because one of the reasons Captain Cobra is so beautiful too me is because of how it connects to Baelfire. Killian is a link for Henry to his father. Killian knows things about Neal that Emma and Rumple don’t, he had a different relationship with him and I have zero doubt that Bae and Hook used to spar or mock sword fight. I don’t think Killian gave Neal all of his sword fighting training he probably picked the basics up other places. We know that after Rumple became the Dark One nobody would spar with Bae for fear of hurting him and becoming escargot. And we know that Hook gave him a cutlass and that Bae felt confident enough with it to challenge Hook directly when he discovered who he was. 

So imagine this brave kid who wasn’t allowed to get a skinned knee around his father being presented with a cutlass because he was a pirate and expected to defend himself. And then imagine Hook patiently teaching him and smiling proudly as Bae perfected a move. And imagine how for all these years those memories have been tainted by the betrayal that followed. Every time Killian thought of them he was reminded of just how low he sunk for his revenge. But now those painful memories can bring happiness once again because they can help Henry connect with his father. Help him discover the parts of him that are also a part of his dad. But at the same time Killian gets to make up, in a small way, for abandoning Bae. He gets to make sure that Bae’s son isn’t abandoned and that he knows about his father. 

And that’s what is so beautiful because Killian is a link for Henry but Henry is also a link for Killian.

Speaking as someone who liked Boy Baelfire but strongly disliked Adult Neal, this was beautifully worded.