You shied almost immediately when all eyes went to you, cussing yourself mentally for feeling rather introverted.

"This is (name)," Vane saved you quickly, seeing you had struggled, "she's had a shitty journey so far, so I thought she'd fit here- new beginnings and all."

"We've all had our fair share of shit," thatch interjected, reclining happily in his seat, his cool eyes flitting to yours. "How's Nassau fairing for ye?"

"Good so far... It's been very welcoming." You replied, managing to have calmed yourself. "Every day is different."

Thatch chuckled to himself quietly, the conversation seemingly quiet for a few moments as Kenway leaned against one of the support beams for the tavern roof.

"You sail lass?" He asked, as you looked at him properly for the first time.

The first thing you noticed was the way the sharp bright blue of his eyes snared you up, they were such a vivid colour they were hard to miss.

He also had sandy blonde hair tied up loosely into a pony tail, a few rogue strands swept estranged into his structured features.

"Not very much... I haven't had much experience on a ship." You responded, Ben's face expressing a sort of gloating look.

"Well if it's experience your looking for, there's always a spot for ye aboard my vessel." He exclaimed in a tone that made you repulse slightly, if he wasn't so evidently keen for sex you might've let yourself accept the fact he wasn't a bad looking bloke.

"No, thank you Ben." You responded with a short smile, "I feel these legs rather belong on land, besides, I have little jobs to do here and there."

As of recent, after talking to Vane one night over an ale at the tavern, you'd been making it your job to make whatever Spanish guards who showed up on Nassau to control the pirate community want to leave instantly. You stole their money pouches when they weren't looking, swords, pistols and whatever you could get away with really. Vane liked to call you a 'sneaky little shadow' because you seemingly got away with things quickly and quietly, without so much as a second glance.

"And what does that entail?" Thatch started with a seedy smile, making jest at the fact your wording could be interpreted under a list of all sorts of different things.

"Don't be daft," Vane intercepted quickly, clearing his throat slightly of all the tar from the cigars he smoked daily. "She does a good job of keeping this place free from Spanish influence- like a little shadow this one, can steal a guard's weapons and coin without so much as a peep." He commented proudly, like he was happy he had taken on the role of becoming your mentor type figure.

All the time, from the corner of your eye, you had noticed Kenway was smirking like a cat, a musing glimmer in his sea blue eyes that made you instantly recognise the man was hatching a plan.

You allowed Vane to preach and flog your effortless pinching talents some more before you heard Kenway's laugh fill the warming air, and he stepped forward from leaning against one of the support beams.

"And what do you make of yourself lass?" He instigated, a coy smirk framing his structured face. You felt your blood go a little hot at the sarcastic and almost belittling tone the captain had taken.

"What do I make of myself? Well, I'm doing a good job so far of keeping your community down on Spanish guards." You answered hotly, fists balled slightly, tired that still you were taken as some joke. You had hoped a life on these new shores would bring you to some level of equality- and suddenly you felt a fool for thinking these men would ever really take you seriously.

"Prove it." Were the next confident words to slip the Captain's lips, his arms folded securely over his broad chest, as he flickered a challenging smile your way.

Huffing, you decided you wanted to show them- show them that Vane's faith in you was of worth and it was genuine, and you could handle the job.

"Fine, Captain Kenway." You stood, planting the tip of your decent little dagger in the wood surface of the beam opposite, as if to enforce a point. "My next round is at 2 this afternoon," you exclaimed, sweeping your (hair colour) hair over your shoulder as your brows fell into a slight frown.

Quickly, your hand had then wrenched the dagger free, a quick sweeping motion that had made Edward step back slightly in surprised alarm, and you enjoyed watching him have to write it off as not being alarmed.

"You don't want to be late, or you'll miss the show." You reiterated quickly, turning hotly on your heels and sauntering collectively out of the tavern, and up over the sandy bank.

"Cor, she's a little hot head isn't she?" Thatch boomed, his laughter ringing through the air as he landed a playful punch to Kenway's shoulder. "I reckon she'll be right gloatin' once she's proved her point, lad." He chuckled as he returned to get himself another drink.

Edward said nothing more, but leaned on the banister of the porch that overlooked the sun soaked island of Nassau, and he smiled quietly to himself in thought.

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A/N: I've had a few days to think about what I want to do, with my writing... And even just having a small little hiatus like I did has made me feel so much better. I know this chapter is a little bit shorter than I would've liked but hopefully the next one should be a little more action packed :) thank you so much for your patience and support X