A/N: I'm sure this makes like 0 difference to you guys but I'm actually writing on my laptop? I never write on my laptop anymore xD Anyway, I wanted to get another chapter of this done. I really wanted to consider writing a full length Arno fic because I'm really into Unity at the moment, but I'm not quite sure.... We'll see how this goes. 

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It felt as if there was a clean, knife edged split between yourself and Vane - and Edward even. It made sailing incredibly difficult. So when the hazy horizon of Nassau glimmered on the horizon against the backdrop of the rising sun, you were glad to be going home. 

And yet, you considered how much of a home this place really was, when it all boiled down to it. Vane's earlier act aboard the ship, of practically leaving Edward to die, that was against all of the codes the men in Nassau had jeered their hearts away about. It showed really, how no one in Nassau was really unified, but everyone was always going to be petty and fickle- like immature school children bickering in the playground. Of course you were grateful for the day that Vane had rescued you, but now you wondered whether this current course was right for you. It just seemed like you were the force wrenching everyone apart, over the sake of affections. 

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Upon reaching the shore, the crew helped Edward unload the plundered cargo from the ship. In the peaceful morning sun, the waves washed with a quaint whirr under the wooden legs of the docks, worn leather boots tread with soft clumps over the tired boards, and despite the sleeping town they still laughed and made a fair bit of noise in their proud victory. 

"(name)," you heard, as you were walking back up the beach. You turned, (hair colour) hair spilling over your shoulder, with a gone out and given up sort of look in your eyes. Edward was leaning against a stack of barrels. 

"You've been as quiet as a mouse the whole way home, lass," he crooned quietly, going to approach you as you took a step back- and he had a horrified sort of look on his face.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked a little harsher now, taken aback by your bold statement of stepping away from him, "You are seriously not letting that tiff with Vane get between us?"

"No Edward." you struggled to say, your airways suddenly tight and your eyes swelling with tears. You desperately didn't want to cry.  "It is me who has come between you and Vane. I can't have affections ruining the future of Nassau." you said selflessly, wiping back the tears as your feet crunched over the sand and you headed back up the beach. 

Your eyes did not cast back again, not to the disputing pleas of your Captain. You wanted to run far away, but where could you run too? You wished nothing had ever happened, as perfect as it had been in the short while, but now... you ached to be elsewhere. 

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3 Months Later ~

You had carefully been plotting and planning this moment for weeks now. Your escape, it only seemed right. Vane had gone back to his usual approach of skulking off, and no one hardly saw him around anymore. Edward would always attempt to be soft and gentle with you, but you struggled and held up your reluctant guard- you cared about him but your next move, it would be best for everyone. 

You'd liaised with a local merchant who was taking sugar over to Havana, negotiating coin for him to take you over there. You would start a new life, far away from the political and complexity of the pirate colony. You wanted to start afresh, wipe the slate clean and just try to lead a humble and simple life. 

And so your new story began on a cool morning at 5.00am. Your tired eyes awoke to the last sunrise you would see in Nassau, before climbing aboard the small brig for the three day sail to the capital of Cuba. Your crystallized, teary gaze bid farewell for the place you had called home for the past six months, before you promptly looked away and pushed the feelings of upset down. No. This was to be your redemption, your new beginning. 

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Three days later, you knew you had arrived when you heard the level of noise outside of the brig. Once it had docked, your sensitive eyes surfaced to the bright light of a new day. The market on the dock was bustling with life, merchants selling sugar and fish and all sorts of other goods. Scantily clad women smirked and batted their feline eyes at passing sailors, hoping to earn themself some coin for a simple exchange of pleasure. All around you things seemed to be so bold, so brilliantly colorful that it almost blinded you to be in such a place of life, which opposed the usual quiet lazy haze of Nassau. 

Your dainty hands secured your light chiffon headscarf around your features to keep the baking hot summer sun from scolding your skin, while you ventured up the steps from the dock, noticing the aloft cages filled with the skeletons of pirates. You took note of the brutal caution signs about pirates in Nassau, and then walked onwards. What if that one could be Edward or Vane....?

No. You stopped that thought suddenly, while you ventured up into the town. No more would you think of that life, it was now you in control of your life, and not pirate governing. Therefore, you swore to yourself the two men or anyone else from your past life, would not even cross your thoughts.

Instead you busied your time, examining the market and the amount of rich and tasty looking fruits and flowers arranged so beautifully, striking red and pink hues drawing your interest in. Of course you couldn't really afford to be buying little things like that, the coin you carried in your pocket was just enough at that moment to buy yourself a hot meal for the night and a place to stay for a few days- and then you felt anxiety about what you would do from there?

From the corner of your eyes, you noticed Spanish speaking guards wearing mustard yellow, chattering among themselves as they walked in a large group along the harbor front market. It was plain to see that people immediately became more quaint in themselves at the sight of the guards.

You watched the group of men walking between the tall villas, and when you looked closer you noticed that they were seemingly walking in a formation to protect a man walking with them. A man with olive dark skin, and a rather extravagant looking hat. 

You wondered whereabouts in the city they could be going, with such a formal looking formation like that. You tailed away from the market, keeping your distance, and followed the men. The lot of them continued chattering away in Spanish, so you understood next to nothing of their conversation. Keeping behind them, you were eventually brought out at the gates outside of a very tall property you weren't able to make out from the harbor. So this made sense, the building looked official too. 

The guards liaised with the gate keepers, who chatted quietly. You heard practically exploded in fright when they pointed at you, and the guards all seemingly turned all at once. Perhaps you weren't as stealthy as you liked to think you were. 

You'd only been here merely half an hour and already you were in trouble. 

"I thought I reconfigured you from the market!" a guard snarled like a vicious dog, pressing the tip of his knife to your side as a threat, making you squeak. "Sneaking about are you?" he shouted, his accented voice laced with rage. You felt sick to your stomach

"I-I'm sorry- I just got here- I was only curious-" you babbled foolishly, seemingly only enraging the man even more. 

"Un momento," the man with the large hat said, stepping forwards, and you were able to get a better look. He was actually fairly handsome, a rugged look to his features, and a dress shirt that was open and exposed the olive skin of his chest, his hazel eyes scanning you suspectly. "Who are you, Senorita?" he asked, a gentle tone and compared to the guard, completely kind and reserved. 

"I'm (name) (surname)..." you replied shakily, "I just got here, I do apologise, I wasn't meaning to pry..."

"Ingles." the man spoke to the guard, and gestured at him to drop his hold of you. It seemed as if he was taking pity.  The man then sighed gently as he stepped closer, and you automatically flinched. 

"Do not worry, I am not going to hurt you, Miss (name)." he spoke quietly, "My name is Julien Du Casse," he explained, "I shall not allow this guards to harm you." he added, taking ahold of your arm gently and you felt yourself relaxing, admittedly at a very slow rate, but at least you were relaxing. 

"If you are as new here as you do say, then please allow myself to act as your company." he bowed, linking your arm through his. How had all this happened at once? It seemed the pretty face of a girl could warp a man to take her under his wing. 

Du Casse called for the gates to be opened, and the very puzzled guards just followed obediently behind their superior, as he walked you up the beautiful winding grey stone staircase. Wild flowers and beautiful trees and plants lined the borders beside the staircase, and you felt as if you had stepped into another world. 

"Havana is really quite beautiful, miss, and a lady as fair as yourself really must have a proper introduction," Du Casse smirked warmly down at you, and you quirked a soft smile out of politeness. Just as you thought, the only reason he had taken pity on you was because he had taken a fancy to you, but it saved your skin from the gallows so in a way you were grateful your looks had redeemed you. 

"And I'm quite sure my dear friends will be delighted to meet you." he assured, linking his arm with yours tighter. When you reached the top of the stairs, you saw two other men sat at a pretty white bistro table, sipping away at tea in the early afternoon sunshine. 

"Allow me to introduce you to Mr Woodes Rodgers," your savior said, as you curtsied, "and Grandmaster Torres." he said in a respectful tone, as the older man with leather like skin smiled over at you. There was something in admittedly all of their eyes that made you feel less like a guest and more like sexual object, that look men would often cast when a young girl would walk into their midst. 

"Miss," the Grandmaster uttered with a flared accent, as he cast his old eyes over you, the smirk remaining. 

"It is a pleasure."

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A/N: Woah now there's a bit of a twist for you! Wonder how long things will be rosy for..... ;) Thank you for reading everyone! Love you lots!