Request for William Turner!
I’m thinking reader and William are childhood friends on their way to rescue Elizabeth and William realizes he is actually in love with reader not Elizabeth.
Reader is just hopelessly in love with him not unlike how he thought he was for Elizabeth.
I love your work btw!
Hello angel!! Thank you so much for a great request! I really like this sweet idea. Pirates of the Caribbean are so back, baby! And thank you so much for your kind words !!! El <3
William Turner Jr.- unspoken feelings
𓇼˚₊‧꒰ა
GN reader
<3 (SFW)
TW- none
WIlliam Turner discovers cofusing feelings for his childhood bestie
slight angst with a happy end :)
William Turner Jr.
The salt spray was a constant companion, stinging your lips and coating the rough canvas of your tunic.
The Interceptor cut through the waves with a determined, if weary, rhythm, each creak of the timbers a reminder of the vast, unforgiving ocean stretching between you and Elizabeth.
Beside you, William Turner was a study in restless energy, his brow perpetually furrowed, his hands idly clenching and unclenching.
You watched him, as you always did. Since you were children, sharing tales by the flickering light of his blacksmith’s forge, his presence had been the anchor of your world. You’d seen him grow from a wide-eyed orphan to a skilled craftsman, his loyalty as unshakeable as the iron he shaped.
And you loved him- hopelessly, fiercely, with a quiet devotion that felt both like a blessing and a burden.
“She’s… she’s strong, you know.”
Will said, his voice barely above the wind’s howl, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
“Elizabeth. She’ll be fighting them, I know it.”
You nodded, a knot tightening in your stomach.
“Of course she will, Will. She’s resourceful.”
Your words were meant to be comforting, reassuring him, but each syllable felt like a tiny chisel chipping away at your own heart. He spoke of Elizabeth with such reverence, such desperate hope.
It was a love you understood, a love you’d witnessed blossom over the years, a love you yearned for him to feel for you, even as you knew it was impossible.
You’d spent countless hours on this journey, the two of you, sometimes with Jack Sparrow’s exasperating presence, sometimes just the quiet companionship of the sea.
Will was consumed by Elizabeth’s abduction by Barbossa, his every waking moment dedicated to devising plans, fretting over probabilities, or simply staring into the endless blue, imagining her plight.
And you, your own heart aching, stood by him, a silent pillar of support.
He often spoke of her bravery, her spirit, the way she’d stood up to the pirates even as they swarmed Port Royal.
“She’s truly remarkable.”
He’d murmur, almost to himself, and you’d bite back the sharp retort that bubbled up- I’m here too, Will. I’ve always been here. Instead, you’d offer a soft,
“She is.”
Days bled into a monotonous string of sunrises and sunsets. You ate together, slept in shifts, shared watch on the deck under a blanket of stars.
Will, despite his worry, never lost his innate blacksmith’s practicality. He’d sharpen his cutlass, polish the hilt, always meticulous.
Once, he’d found a loose hinge on a storage locker and, without a word, had taken it apart, hammered it back into shape, and reattached it. You watched him, admiring the easy strength in his hands, the focused intensity in his eyes. He caught your gaze then, a faint smile touching his lips.
“Good as new!”
He’d said, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes held yours longer than usual, a warmth there that wasn’t about Elizabeth.
But then the conversation would invariably drift back.
“Do you think she’ll be cold? On that ship?”
He’d ask, his voice laced with concern.
“Barbossa’s a monster. He wouldn’t hurt her, would he?”
Your chest would clench.
“He wants the medallion, Will. He needs her blood. He won’t harm her until he gets what he wants.”
It was a cold comfort, but it was all you had. You had to be pragmatic, for both your sakes. You had to be strong, because he needed you to be.
One night, the moon hung low and swollen, casting a silver path across the water. Will was leaning against the railing, his silhouette stark against the glow. You joined him, the quiet hum of the ship your only company.
“Sometimes..”
He began, his voice rough with exhaustion,
“I close my eyes, and I can see her face. So clear. And I just… I need to find her.”
You felt the familiar pang, the tightening in your chest. Here it was again, the raw, undeniable proof of his devotion to her. You wrapped your arms around yourself, a chill that had nothing to do with the night air creeping in.
“You will, Will...”
You whispered, your voice a little strained.
“We will.”
He turned then, slowly, his eyes finding yours in the dim light. And for the first time, you saw a different sort of confusion in them. Not just worry for Elizabeth, but something else, something directed at you.
“You know..”
He said, his voice softer,
“you’ve been remarkable. You always are. You never complain, you just… help. You’re always there.”
The unexpected praise sent a jolt through you. Your heart hammered against your ribs. This wasn’t about Elizabeth. This was about you.
“We’re friends, Will.”
You managed, trying to keep your voice steady.
“Childhood friends. Of course I’m here.”
He shook his head slightly, his gaze unwavering.
“It’s more than that, isn’t it?”
He mused, almost to himself.
“With Elizabeth… I thought… I thought it was love. All the knights in shining armor stories come to life, you know? The governor’s daughter, the noble pursuit.”
He paused, his gaze drifting from your eyes to your lips, then back up.
“But now… now I look at you, and it’s different.”
Your breath hitched. Your very being seemed to freeze, suspended in the cool night air.
“When I think of Elizabeth..”
He continued, his voice a low, hesitant murmur,
“I think of grand gestures. Of saving her. It’s dramatic, it’s… intense. And yes, I want to keep her safe, desperately so. She’s my friend, my dear friend. But with you…”
He reached out, his calloused hand hesitantly covering yours where it rested on the railing. The warmth of his skin was an electric shock, sending shivers down your arm.
“With you...”
He repeated, his thumb gently stroking the back of your hand,
“it’s quiet. It’s… peace. It’s the feeling of coming home, even when we’re out here in the middle of nowhere. It’s knowing that no matter what happens, you’ll understand. You’ll be there. You always have been. And I… I never truly saw it.”
His gaze, clear and earnest, met yours.
“I thought what I felt for Elizabeth was love, because it fit the story. But what I feel for you… it’s just… you. It’s real. It’s been real all along, hasn’t it?”
Your eyes burned, hot with unshed tears. The jealousy, the angst, the quiet despair you’d carried for so long, began to dissolve, replaced by an overwhelming, joyous rush. He saw it. He saw you.
“Will?”
You breathed, your voice barely a whisper, filled with a disbelief that slowly morphed into profound relief.
His thumb smoothed over your knuckles again, a tender gesture that spoke volumes.
“I’ve been so confused..”
He admitted, his voice rough with emotion.
“So focused on what I thought I should feel, what I should do. But holding your hand now, looking at you… it’s like the fog has lifted. Everything is suddenly clear.”
He squeezed your hand gently.
“The thought of losing you, of you not being here by my side… that’s the true fear. Not just for Elizabeth, but… for us.”
He stumbled over the word, "us," as if it were brand new, yet so fundamentally right.
A tear finally escaped, tracing a warm path down your cheek. You couldn’t speak, not yet.
The sheer weight of his confession, the sudden, liberating realization that the love you held for him was reciprocated, was too much.
He leaned in slowly, his gaze searching yours, asking for permission. You didn’t hesitate, leaning in too, meeting him halfway. His lips were soft, hesitant at first, then firming with a tenderness that made your soul ache in the best possible way.
It wasn't a passionate, sweeping kiss of storybooks, but something deeper, quieter, a profound acknowledgment of years of unspoken affection, a promise whispered on the salty breeze.
When he pulled back, just inches away, his eyes were still on yours, no longer confused, but filled with a newfound clarity, a gentle warmth that promised home.
“We still have to find Elizabeth..”
You finally managed, your voice thick with emotion.
“And we will.”
He nodded, a soft smile gracing his lips.
“Yes, we will.”
He agreed, his grip on your hand tightening, a silent vow.
“But now… now I know who I’m coming back to.”
The ship continued its journey, cutting through the dark waves towards whatever fate awaited you.
But the world had shifted on its axis. The heavy burden of unrequited love had lifted, replaced by a delicate, precious hope.
You were still on a perilous voyage, still worried for Elizabeth’s safety, but now, a different kind of warmth had settled in your heart, a steady, comforting glow that promised a future you suddenly dared to dream of, right there beside William Turner.
Something a bit more angstyyy <3
Also, here is the MASTERLIST!! (click on link, babes <3)
Don’t forget, requests are always open and I can write for any character you’d like!
I love you guys so much <33
El <3
(all images were made by: El via canva & paint)