AnonymousEh, the thing is. I don't think Liam would support Killian's all-consuming quest for revenge against Rumple. I feel the reason why Killian went so far as a villain was because there wasn't anyone to tell him "Stop. You're going too far." I can see the brothers Jones working for Pan in Neverland so they can leave, and Liam following Pan's more dirty orders so his brother's heart wouldn't be darkened as much.
But can you *also* see Killian outwardly agreeing not to let a quest for vengeance darken his heart, while internally struggling with his demons and really kind of coming to the conclusion that he must do something to make Rumple pay for Milah’s death, even if it means keeping it from Liam? Because I can totally see that. Plus you’re assuming that this AU Liam was still straight-laced and good hearted, but the whole point is that it’s an AU. A reimagining of things. And I think Liam would definitely do villainous things if it were for Killian’s sake (I mean, he did in canon which is why he was stuck in the UW) so I think seeing them both sort of spiral into the pirate lifestyle of violence, loot, and women while still maintaining that brotherly bond (OR perhaps having a strain on their relationship!) would be so interesting to see. (Canonically I doubt that either of them would become pirates if Liam had survived. It’s just a fun idea to play with.)
I totally agree with you…and I think the canon version of Liam actually isn’t all that straitlaced or “pure.” We meet him as the rule-abiding, by the book, upright and righteous captain in S3 (though even then, his stubbornness and a touch of self-righteousness shine through - and I say this as someone who loves the character, but he wasn’t a saint).
Killian idolized him and put him on a pedestal, but we can’t forget that it’s actual canon that it was Liam who was going to start a mutiny against Silver, and who did end up making a deal with Hades (in order to better his and Killian’s lives and get them out from under slavery, yes, but he also doomed Silver and his crew to the Underworld). I like the complications, it makes him a more interesting character. :D
Side note: you could switch your initial prompt to “extreme angst mode” if, after Milah’s death…and after several years worth of tagging along on Killian’s revenge-bender and trying to keep him from completely going off the deep end…what if Liam stumbles on knowledge of the Dagger and how to vanquish the Dark One, and, much like he made the deal with Hades behind Killian’s back but for Killian’s own good…what if he (stupidly, nobly) goes all protective older brother again and decides to save Killian from the consequences of killing the Dark One and simultaneously get rid of the need for Killian to get revenge in the first place…by killing the Dark One himself. Which of course leads to…
…Dark!Liam Jones.
What have I done?!
I wake up to this!?
And that’s why Killian ends up back in Neverland? Not to stay alive long enough to find a way to kill the Dark One, but to stay alive with him and try and find a way to save him?
No I’m super fucked up over this and my brain is actually on fire rn.
Imagine how this would affect the rest of canon? The brothers in Neverland, Milah and Rumple dead, and then Bae tumbles into Neverland. And can you imagine, a Liam who hasn’t gone sparkly yet bc he killed Rumple to protect Killian from himself, not for the power, so it’s not obvious physically, but this kid being here has his *Personal Guide Rumple Fucking Stiltskin* FUCKING RAGING OFF THE CHARTS bc it’s his son. And that’s how he finds out who Bae is, tells Killian, and all of a sudden it’s the both of them invested in keeping this kid safe, both out of love for Milah, and knowing that they’re responsible for there being no father for this kid to go back to, regardless of whether he’d decide to or not.
And now they don’t know what to do bc they have to stay to stay alive together, but they don’t want Bae to have to grow up like this (although Liam is slipping - it would be so easy to just stay here forever. Alive together forever, he’s isolated enough to not be a threat to the world at large, alive together forever why change things, Killian? It’s what the previous Dark One in his head is thirsty for).
But they don’t have to debate for long bc the thing that sets Bae off is that he finds the dagger. They “killed” his mother, they killed his father, he runs away without hesitation (is there still a deal with Pan? Or is Pan playing nice with them bc keeping the Dark One in Neverland is magic enough to keep the place vital? I vote the latter)
if liam were like 8-10 years older than killian instead of like 1-3 years, i feel like it would have made a dramatic change to their story. like, brennan abandoning them when either A, killian was like 3 and liam was 13, or B, killian was 9 and liam was 17.
young teen liam being responsible for toddler killian on top of them being passed off to this random crew to serve. killian having practically no memories of his father at all, while liam simmers in hate and disgust for the man. liam being a bit darker, willing to do some bad things for the sake of raising and protecting killian. a lot of killian getting into things he shouldn’t because he is a curious child and liam frantically yelling at him, not because he wants to scare him or be cruel, but because he is terrified that a crewman or the captain will toss his brother overboard if he messes up too badly. liam unintentionally making killian grow distrustful of others just because he wants him to be safe. killian not knowing how other children live, or that his life is unusual. liam pushing himself to teach him someday, when he gets them out of there.
or older teen liam refusing to accept working for the captain or crew, planning an escape as soon as they threaten killian’s life to force him into working. liam and killian on the run in a foreign country, stealing to get by, wary of authority figures, unsure of their destination but unwilling to stay by the water to avoid possible run-ins with anyone who might recognize them and force them back into servitude. running from law enforcement for stealing. killian learning to pick pocket. both falling into the roles of charming con artists. liam feeling a steady dose of guilt for it.
After Liam falls prey to Dreamshade, Killian tries desperately to rouse him. When that doesn’t work, he tries futilely to pick him up to bring him back to the ship. Unbeknownst to Killian, Pan watches the whole scene from nearby.
