tags: fluff, background sparrabeth, first kiss, oblivious reader, ignores geography?, follows canon a little? pirate! will
a/n: love you all!!!
divider cred: me!
The river had always been your home. The murky waters greeted you kindly, and you’d never met another of your kind. You strayed from the banks, afraid of those who had tried to catch you when you were a toungling, muttering things about your tail. You aided boats through the channel, helping the vessels avoid debris, moving the animals out of the way, and keeping them from harm.
The blacksmith’s shop faced the water, and you’d watched a young man grow through the years, and watched him practice his sword work at night after long days working. Your head peeked just above the water, moonlight echoing off the surface.
One particular night, after you’d heard of rumours of a pirate in Port Royal, the man was out practising again, clearly more angry than usual, louder grunts of frustration slipping between his lips. You watch in horror as his foot catches on his other, tumbling backwards into your water with a yelp. You linger for a long moment, frozen with shock, before quickly swimming over and gently lifting him from the water and aiding him to the shoreline. As he gasps for breath, he looks over at you, eyes widening at the sigh of your tail. The word mermaid leaves his lips, making your head tilt.
“Mermaid?” You echo gently.
“You speak…” He whispers, reaching out to you, making you flinch backwards. “I won’t hurt you… You saved me.” You watch him for a long moment before turning and diving back into the depths of the water, leaving the man with a distant glimmer of your tail under the surface.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
“I’m telling you! There was a mermaid!” Elizabeth gives Will an odd look.
“So you’ve seen pirates and a mermaid this week… are you sure you haven’t gone mad?” The woman asks, making Will’s gaze across the river narrow.
“She helped me out of the water! But she was clearly scared.”
“Even if there was a mermaid… why is she in a river?” Will’s mouth opens before he pauses, considering the thought.
“I… don’t know.”
“I think you’ve gone mad. Too much rum last night?” She elbows his side, making him roll his eyes.
“She was there… I know she was…”
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
The weeks and months pass slowly as you continue to watch Will train each night, making sure he doesn’t see you as he scans the surface for a glance at your tail. The time slows when Will disappears for a few weeks, and you overhear talks of a curse facing his return.
The training slows, only a few choice nights of watching him, now often joined by a young woman in fancy dresses. A large ship pulls into the bay, and another man joins him with a red bandana.
“You sound mad, mate.” Jack snorts, tying a rope on the ship.
“She can probably help us through the channel!”
“This is probably one of the few times I’ll agree with Jack,” Elizabeth mutters, making Jack snort.
“I think we should at least try!”
“If you’re fibbing and get stuck in that channel, we’re utterly screwed, William.”
“I promise she’s there.” Jack rubs his eyes with a long sigh as Elizabeth shakes he head and crosses her arms over her chest.
“If you’re wrong, you're paying for my ship,” Jack grunts, making Will smile triumphantly.
“Gibbs! Man, the wheel and take us through the channel!” Will calls out, making the older man raise a brow and glance at Jack, who reluctantly nods. Will move the edge of the deck as the ship follows the wave and the canal stretches out in front of him. He watches the water carefully, desperately to catch a glimpse of your tail again.
“That mermaid of yours needs to get here now!” Jack yells.
“Please, please, please–” He whispered, scanning the water.
“What’s that?” Elizabeth shouts, making Will’s eyes shoot to where she’s pointing, a glimmer in the surface against the side of the ship. He smiles, feeling a jolt as you help move the ship through the channel.
“I told you!” He calls out to Jack happily, with a grin over his shoulder. The man moves to stand beside him, watching you with interest.
“So they do exist.” He hums. “Marty! Grab a net!”
“Jack no–!” The captain turns to Marty.
“The second we’re through that channel, get her up here.” Jack’s shoulder is yanked back by Will’s firm hand and a pistol barrel to his throat.
“Don’t hurt her.”
“We never said anything about leaving her there.” Jack grins, making Will load the pistol, expression tightening. “You need to get better at making deals with pirates, mate.” A horrible screech fills the air as the net is thrown, the channel giving way to the ocean on the other side of the island, and Will watches helplessly as your body is thrown on deck.
“Let me at least be the one to talk to her… please.” He pleased, tucking his pistol back against his hip. Jack glances at the man for a long moment before nodding.
“Bring her down to the private quarters and leave her with Will.” The crew groans, obviously wanting to ogle your foreign form. Will nods, following the crew down and shutting the door behind himself. You hiss as he comes closer, teeth barred, his hands raised in surrender.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I asked them not to–” He gently and slowly cuts away the net, starting at your tail. Your hissing quiets as he peels the twined ropes from your form.
“I was helping your ship.” You whisper, making him nod sympathetically, reaching out to touch the rope burns that littered your arms.
“Can I help you with these?” You glance at your skin, letting out a soft hiss of pain and gently nodding. He gives you a light smile, standing to find a salve and sitting back beside you on the bed.
“Why am I on a ship?”
“You weren’t supposed to be.”
“Are you going to kill me?” The softness in your tone makes his heart drop, a soft sigh leaving his nose as he massages the salve into your delicate skin, avoiding the small patches of scales.
“No. And I will make sure no one does.” You nod slowly, wincing at the treatment. He mutters another soft apology. “Why were you in the river?”
“River?”
“I would think mermaids live in the ocean.”
“Ocean?” Your brows furrow, watching his expression closely.
“Have you ever left the– your home?” You shake your head, finally looking around the space and observing the space around you.
“No. I like my friends there. There’s a family of ducks. And a very big school of fish that passes by quite often.”
“And you help the ships through, yes?” You nod, tracing a small patch of scales on your stomach. He watches you carefully, heart flooded with gentle affection.
“It’s a difficult channel to navigate.”
“That’s why I had the captain bring us through… I knew you’d help. I didn’t… mean for any of this.” He motions to the discarded net.
“I don’t know your name. I’ve seen you practicing with the swords… every night.”
“It’s Will. Three hours a day.” He smiles with a nod. “You were watching?”
“Besides the creatures and some boats… not much comes through my home. You’re fun to watch. Good with swords… Will.” He smiles at his name on your lips.
“I’ll take the compliment…” He watches you for a long moment as you continue to trace the patch of scales. “Can I touch it?”
“What?”
“Your tail.” Your head tilts with a questioning glance.
“Why?”
“You’re the first mermaid I’ve seen.”
“Is there more of my kind?”
“You’ve truly never left the river, hm?” You shake your head. You sit up, head tilted as Will watches you intently.
“There’s a whale! It’s hurt!” You cry out, gripping the sleeve of his blouse.
“What?”
“It’s calling out for help! I need to help it!” You wriggle, struggling to get up from the bed. Will grab your arm, fingers digging into tender flesh and making you hiss. “It needs help!”
“I cannot let you go!”
“I’ll come back! I do not– this water is unfamiliar, but I must help the creature!” You watch Will debate his options before rubbing his face and letting out a sigh.
“Jack is going to kill me.” You shriek softly as you are lifted into Will’s arms and shuffled through the ship. One of his hands gently guards your head as he steps onto the deck, the crew turning their eyes.
“Can I drop you from this high?”
“Will I land in water?”
“Yes.”
“Please.” He nods, rushing to the edge and gently dropping you off the side. Your tail sparkles in the morning sunlight before you plunge into the water.
“What the hell was that for?” Elizabeth snarls, pulling from Jack’s gentle hold on her waist.
“Did you just set my mermaid free?” Jack asks, moving into Will’s space and watching the water.
“She heard a whale.” Both Elizabeth and Jack send him unamused glances.
“What does that even mean?” The woman asks.
“A whale was hurt and calling out for help. She said she’d swim back. She doesn’t know the sea.”
“She’s a mermaid.”
“She’s never left the river.”
“Will!” You call out, making all three heads turn your way. “I need a knife! It’s caught in a net!” He nods, grabbing the knife from his belt.” You nod, motioning for him to drop it. You avoid it, grabbing it as it slips beneath the water. You return to the large animal, beginning to cut the nets away from its skin. The animal lets out soft, appreciative noises only you can. You pull the net away, and the whale swims forward, squealing softly. You blow the animal a kiss before clutching the knife close and swimming back to the surface. “All done!” You smile proudly, Will matching your expression.
“How do you propose we get her back up?”
“Lower a long boat.”
“We can just use another net–” Elizabeth suggests, making Will cut her off.
“She’s hurt from the last one. Lower a long boat.” Jack rolls his eyes but motions for the crew to follow the order, pulling Elizabeth back into his side. You watch from the surface, face puzzled as the boat hits the water.
“What do I do with this?” You yell to Will, making an affectionate smile break across his face. He throws a leg over the railing, using the ropes to get down into the boat.
“It’s like the ship but smaller.” He offers a kind smile and a hand, lifting you into the boat, being mindful of your tail. You hold his knife out to him as the crew lifts you back on board.
“It was stuck in a net!” Will nods, helping you from the long boat, holding you gently in his arms as he steps back on deck.
“I’m taking her back down to the chambers–”
“Why can’t I stay here?” Will looks from you to Jack and Elizabeth, raising a brow.
“You have to find a place for her to sit, and if we get attacked, she’s saving herself.” Jack dismisses, bringing Elizabeth’s hand to his mouth and moving back up to the wheel. Will shoots you a weak smile, clutching you closer. He gently asks Cotton to push a few barrels together, the man nodding and doing the favor. Will gently set you down on the barrels so you can look over the edge.
“I liked it out there… I didn’t realize there was… so much.”
“So much what?” Will asks softly, reaching out to touch your tail but stopping his hand.
“Water… so many new creatures were speaking! That whale had a daughter whom she loves very much. Do you still want to touch it?” You tilt your head watching the movement of his hand.
“If you do not mind.” You shake your head, watching his tan finger gently trace the pattern of your scales. “It’s softer than I’d imagine.” You stifle a giggle at the ticklish feeling, making Will’s smile widen.
“I’ve never had someone touch it.” You grin.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
“Captain Jack? May I go in the water?” You ask gently, watching the crew head into Tortuga. It’d been a few weeks since you’d been brought aboard, attached to Will’s side and helping in the small ways you could. You navigated the crew through reefs and rocks from below the surface, helped various animals along the way (to Jack and Elizabeth’s dismay), and even caught fish when the crew was lacking in meals.
Jack had grown fond of you (even though he’d never admit it, and Elizabeth would probably skin him alive if she knew) and glanced at you as your question rang out. “Not here. This is the least safe place for a creature such as yourself. We need to get you down to the private quarters.” He sighs, rubbing his temples.
“Why?” You pinch a frown.
“They’ll hunt you here. Cut off your tail and count your scales.” Your expression drops in fear, looking back over.
“How long till you come back?”
“Three days, probably.”
“All alone?”
“Will will probably come back for you.” Jack moves to gently lift you, moving you below deck. You watch him leave with a frown, the door locking behind you. A huff leaves your mouth as you glance around the room, grabbing the blankets and pulling them around you.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
When Will returns that night, he gently unlocks the door and steps into what was slowly morphing into your space. He smiles, seeing your tail fins peeking out of the blankets, which are clutched close to your face. He reaches out gently to touch your tail, making your eyes snap open. “Will! Has it been three days already?” He shakes his head, helping you sit up before sitting close beside you, hand drifting to caress your scales.
“Jack said you’d be gone three days!”
“You fell asleep, and I care enough to come back to check on you.”
“He said I couldn’t go out for a swim.”
“Believe me… Tortuga is not the place you want to go for a swim. It’s a haven for the pirates… and pirates love mermaids.”
“Jack said they’d hunt me and take my scales.” Will solemnly nods. “I haven’t swam in days… My tail… hurts.” Will shoots you a sympathetic glance, intertwining his hand with yours. Your chin moves to rest on his shoulder, blinking up at him as he watches you.
“They’ll hunt you. Most pirates are not kind.”
“You are.” He nods, cupping your jaw and kissing your cheek. “You’re very kind to me.”
“Cannot imagine hurting such a beautiful creature.”
“I am beautiful?” He nods gently, kissing your temple again.
“Pirates long for you because of your beauty.”
“Will?”
“Hm?”
“That thing that Elizabeth and Jack do when they’re… happy? With each other.”
“What thing?”
“They press their faces together! Like you just did here?” You point gently to your temple.
“A kiss?”
“Is that what it’s called?” He smiles and nods.
“And people do it because they’re happy?”
“It’s a show… of love.” You reach up to trace the blush that crosses his cheeks.
“Love?” Will nods, smiling again and making you giggle.
“So you love me?” His brows furrowed, and his blush deepened beneath his tanned skin.
“Maybe I do.” He hums, pulling you closer.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
“Jack. We need to set sail.”
“We’ve still got another two nights!” The man says happily, blood clearly running with run as Elizabeth hangs off his side, somehow more drunk than the captain.
“She’s getting sick.” The man’s brows furrow.
“Who?”
“Our mermaid! She hasn’t swum in almost a week, and she’s getting sick without the sea.” Will exclaims.
“Take her for a swim!” Elizabeth jutts in.
“It’s not safe here!”
“Wrap her in a blanket and take a long boat.” Will stops, considering the idea.
“Fine.” He huffs, moving to make his way back to the boat.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
“I get to go swim?” You ask softly, body weak in the warmth of the blankets.
“We’re going to take a long boat and move from shore, somewhere safer, so you can get in the water.” You reach up for him, making him grin. He takes you eagerly in his arms, wrapping the blanket protectively around your tail and moving to the deck and setting you into the boat.
You drift in and out of sleep as Will rows out, the sensation of the sea soothing your mind. “Almost there.” He says gently, making your eyes flutter open with a smile.
“Can I get out?” He nods, peeling the fabric from your scales and helping you into the water. The comfort is instant, the tenseness in your form easing as you eagerly swim laps around his boat before surfacing with a wide grin. Will leans over the side of the boat to meet your gaze. “This is much better.”
“How are the creatures?” He asks softly, making your smile widen.
“They are happy.” Will cups your cheek, thumb tracing the soft skin.
“You are happy.”
“Will?”
“Yes?” His head tilts as he watches you.”
“You have kissed me.” He hums.
“But never on the lips.”
“That’s saved for very special people.”
“Those you love the most?” Your head tilts as he nods. “Then may I kiss you?” Will’s jaw goes agape for a moment as he looks down at your form, resting delicately in the water, droplets of water falling across your skin.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I think I love you.” You whisper. “I’ve described us to the creatures, and they say I love you.” He leans down to meet you halfway, his lips delicately pressing to yours. A soft noise of excitement leaves your lips, making him pull away at the unfamiliar noise.
“Are you alright?” You nod, leaning up to chase his lips, making him chuckle.
“You’re eager.”
“Swim with me.”
“The boat–”
“I will bring us back.” You assure softly, tracing his knuckles that clutch the edge of the boat. “Please?” He sighs but nods, taking off his sword and setting it in the bottom of the boat. You watch him dive into the water beside you, your arms wrapping around his shoulders.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Much. Less sore… happy.” You whisper, kissing him again. His hands find your waist beneath the water, rubbing it softly and admiring the feeling of your skin transitioning to scales.
“I don’t like Tortuga.”
“I can imagine.”
“I hate having to stay on the boat.”
“I know, my love. Sometimes I wish I’d never taken us through that channel.” Your tail gently brushes his legs.
“Why?”
“Because then you’d still be free.”
“Am I not free?”
“Do you feel free?”
“When we’re not in Tortuga.” Will snorts, making you giggle happily.
“But you’re… ok with all this?” You nod.
“And I’ve learned what it means to love someone.” He hums, and you watch him blush again.
“You ready to head back to the ship?” You nod, hugging him close and kissing him again.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
If Jack and Elizabeth thought you were attached to Will’s hip before, they were surely mistaken. You clearly weren’t fully accustomed to human cues, constantly kissing Will. It wasn’t like Will minded, completely infatuated with you. He protected you through each battle, making sure no harm came to you.
“Will!” The man turns to Jack. “We need her in the water!”
“Why are you telling me?” Jack gives him a weird look. “Tell her yourself! She’s right there.” Jack huffs softly.
“He is right,” Elizabeth mutters behind him, making his shoulders sag in defeat.
“We need you in the water.” He calls out, watching as you eagerly grin
“Happy to help!” Jack nods, watching Will lift you before letting you descend over the edge.
“I thought mermaids were only good for the fountain of youth,” Elizabeth mutters, resting her head on Jack’s shoulder.
“Turner’s heart is right sometimes.” He admits gently, making Elizabeth nod.
