A/N: been writing bit by bit as I feel a little bit like an insignificant author as of recent :( sorry guys x

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"I have a proposition for ye." Thatch started at the table of the tavern one day, dictating away to his captive audience of yourself, Edward, Hornigold- and a rather reluctant Vane who had naturally distanced himself as far away from you and Edward as he could get.

"Aye, and that would be...?" Hornigold prompted, taking a quick swig of his drink, furrowing his brow, his new natural expression

"There's a large brig heading into Havana with a big bounty of sugar. If we can plunder the resources, we could sell them off for our own profits... do this town up a bit for likes of our people, if you understand me?" Thatch asked, as you all nodded. The place could do with some... well, regard.

The tavern was falling into a slight disrepair after the many drunken nights of dancing and fighting, Nassau itself was a bit of a shanty town, the shops were in shacks and the port looked about as robust as Jack Rackham's deteriorating liver.

"It's not a bad idea Thatch, not at all." Vane chipped in quietly as he cleared his throat, and then returned to silence, his jade eyes flitting away from any of your gazes.

"So, I propose ye all head out on Kenway's poxy brig. That way there's less to commandeer home as well as the goods." The mighty Blackbeard said, and for a moment it installed dread into you.

In small ship confines for around a week, with your new found love and then seemingly, your worst enemy- as well as the annoyance of Ben bloody Hornigold. Oh joy.

But no one dared to defy Thatch when he had such a plan- that's something you had to learn quickly. What Thatch said, went.

"Of course, Edward. Sounds prosperous at best." You smiled to the much feared sea captain, watching his blackened teeth form into a delighted grin. If it kept Thatch a happy captain, it looked like you were going to have to grin and bear it. And try not to get into a dog fight.

---

You clearly remembered the sunny bright morning when you headed down to the docks. It was like your body was on high alert to look out for Vane, and the possible drama that might ensue.

Edward was quick to pick up on your skittish behaviour when you boarded, as you bumped into him when you weren't looking where you were walking.

"Lass? What's got you so frighty?" Edward chuckled, cupping your face and making your (eye colour) eyes focus on his, your heart hammering hard. You don't know why you were so terrified, it just felt like this long drawn out silent hatred Vane had for you and Edward could only end in violence.

"I'm just... just a little worried about disappointing Thatch." You reassured Edward, swallowing your fear as you kept skittishly watching the dock with frightened eyes, not convincing anyone. You heard Edward sigh, his sky blue eyes like pools of comfort drawing you in and away from the bad things.

"If you don't want to tell me it's fine... is it about Vane?" Edward whispered, and you sighed. You couldn't be causing fuss this late in the morning, you were due to sail soon. With that, you quickly darted into Edward's office and closed both doors, paranoia taking over.

---

The time between setting sail and feeling the waves gently rocking the Jackdaw seemed infinite, how many centuries had you been sat at that desk?

It felt like centuries, with the fear that racked your thoughts and plagued every little entry that happened to occupy your mind for a brief time before scuttling out like a rat through a cellar. You heard laughed and singing from the crew who were hard at work, and occasionally Ben's booming voice as he thought he was the captain of the ship. But however your brain couldn't decide on whether it could locate the deep baritones of Charles Vane's thick whiskey laden voice. You just weren't sure.

Your mind seemed to plot how you could manage to survive in the office for the trip, so you wouldn't have to encounter Vane. You were just beginning to reassure yourself when the doors of the office creaked open noisily, and the heavy clumping of leather boots on the wood floor sent your heart thudding madly like a rabbit in a fox's jaws.

Oh no.

"Oh- (name)." Vane seemed a little startled, his voice still cold. It unsettled you so much. "Kenway's asked me to grab some maps."

"Here- just take them." You said quickly, realising how hasty you sounded and you wanted the floorboards to swallow you.

Vane eyed you up sharply, before snatching the maps from your shaking hands.

"Just take them - and be done with me, aye?" Charles snapped, and you went cold.

Ever since you came to Nassau you had been reinforced with the idea that you couldn't be a coward, you couldn't hide away from confrontation you had to fight your corner. Always.

And finally you were going to get some mad courage from somewhere and try this method against the man who had originally installed this theory in you the most

"Me be done with you?" You started off in a collected tone, to show you were still reasonable- and he was being the hostile one.

"Perhaps the other way, Vane. You've been so cold with me recently, so dry." You made clear the way you were feeling, watching his eyes fill with acknowledgment for a moment, and his jade orbs almost softened for a second before the bitterness inked in his pupils and he narrowed his eyes like a snappy, rugged mutt.

The captain slammed the maps down on the small desk beside the double doors, turning the locks on the doors themselves which made you falter almost. The next thing you knew he was angrily stood at the opposite end of the room facing you.

"Do you think I wanted to be cold!?" He hissed, seething. "Do you think I wished to turn my back on you, (name)?" Charles snapped, his fists balled and his stature rigid.

Behind the rage in his eyes there was evident pain.

"What had I done? How am I to make things right? By guessing!?-"

"You know full well!" Charles snapped as he stormed up to you, his face in yours, making you jumped as you automatically reeled back slightly.

"No Charles. I do not." A little brave voice inside piped up. You couldn't believe it was your own. Your (eye colour) eyes studied the slight twitching of irritation on his face. For a moment you thought he was going to raise his hand to you in pure fury, but he faltered as you winced.

A crushing silence sunk in that small office.

"... how I felt about you... you must've known." Vane pressed, his voice, although now quieter and more composed, felt like a booming cannon in that silent space. You felt as if you daren't breathe.

"... you were like a brother to me Vane-"

He then quickly turned back, running his hands through his thick dark brown wolffish hair, as if he didn't want to hear, groaning quietly.

"What do you want me to say!? I'm stating how I felt!" You cried, now getting upset by his display of contempt.

"I cared for you, (name)!" Vane exclaimed as he turned on his heels to face you once more, "were my affections not clear enough? The gentle encouragement too subtle? The kind stares all to dull and bland for you!?" His voice was raising and making your ears ring.

"Or were you to enraptured in Kenway's lust to see beyond the end of the bloke's cock!?" His voice was like a sharp knife that kept on stabbing directly into your heart, and the following stare acting like a salt being poured directly into the open wound. Your whole chest ached. You couldn't find the words to retaliate.

"Your silence screams a million things your bloody stupid words could never say." He scoffed brashly, snatching the maps and heading out of the door as he wrenched the locks open, slamming the wood behind him defiantly. The sound rattled through you, and left you shaking.

It pained you to realise all the fears and all the rumours had now been confirmed.

And as well as terrified... you felt awful.