if you liked Captain Charming, you should try
David and Killian grew up together near the village of Longbourn. The boys would play by the shore whenever David and his mother came to market. Despite their own poverty, Ruth always made sure to bring some extra food for Killian and his older brother, who were eking out an existence on their own as orphans.
Over the years, the two boys grew to become close friends. More than once, David helped Killian out of a scrape that typically arose when Killian picked a fight with someone bigger (as most were). And more than once, Killian's resourcefulness helped David get by, especially after his father died, leaving him the man of the house.
Eventually, Killian’s brother joined the King’s navy and Killian came to live with David and Ruth. Over the next couple years, they worked hard side-by-side and shared their hopes and dreams with each other: of heroism, of adventure, of love.
But Killian could not deny the call of the sea, and though he’d come to view David and Ruth as family, he missed his brother. So once he was of age, he too enlisted in the Navy.
The day he left was an emotional one. Ruth cried and hugged him close, wishing him well, praying for his protection, and commenting on how grown-up he looked in his uniform.
David, though, didn’t know what he’d do without his best friend—especially knowing that they may never see each other again. He was happy for his friend to go off in search of his dreams, but he had selfishly hoped they could do that together.
He tried to play it cool by only offering Killian a handshake, which lasted for all of two seconds before they embraced in a brotherly hug. No words were spoken; none were needed.
They broke apart, nodded at each other in understanding, and then Killian turned to make the walk into town.
But he paused just before taking to the road to look back at the family that he’d somehow become a part of, praying that he’d see them again someday and if not, then hoping they knew how much their (especially David’s) friendship had meant to a little lost boy.
He waved before walking away for the last time and boarding a ship, never to see Longbourn again.
(They both stumbled upon adventure, heroism, and love in their own ways, but their paths didn’t cross again until some years and a strange curse later, in a small town in the Land without Magic.
David tried to pretend he was angry that his best friend was dating his daughter, but...he wasn’t.)
I think this stemmed from a convo with @thesschesthair, @xpumpkindumplingx, and @optomisticgirl; tagging the rest of the crew: @kat2609 @nfbagelperson @gusenitsaa @lynyrdwrites @captainswanismyendgame @fergus80 @shipsxahoy @mryddinwilt @cocohook38 @annytecture @xhookswenchx @wingedlioness @fairytalesandtimetravel @disastergirl @laschatzi @ive-always-been-a-pirate @jscoutfinch @stubble-sandwich @phiralovesloki @swankkat @athenascarlet
