Killian scrunched his face as Cook scrubbed at it with a rough cloth. He didn't understand what all the fuss was about. The crew had been talking about some girl all morning. He didn't see how it had anything to do with him and why they hadn't disembarked from the ship after making port hours ago.

Cook spit on the cloth again and wiped at Killian's neck. Killian turned away in mild distaste, a frown pulling on the edges of his mouth.

"No need to look so sull'n, boy. That be the best we can do with yer anyhow," the one-eyed man mumbled before dropping his meaty hand.

Killian took that as permission to scamper away. He ran towards the mast and started climbing the rigging when he heard the sound of trumpets, quickly followed by the familiar barks of captains telling their men to get in order.

To Killian's bemusement, the sailors in each ship along the berth got in line like they were members of some royal navy. He was frowning so much at the spectacle that he nearly missed the one that caught everyone else's attention. It was the subtle shift of his own crew's heads that alerted him to the true scene.

Running along the docks was a yellow haired girl in a red dress. The fabric had a certain sheen to it that indicated it was finer than any fabric Killian had ever been privileged to touch. Just from her clothing, it was clear to him she was high born.

But there was also the way she held her head up and the retinue that followed her and everyone clearing their way for her. And of course, all the men straightening like the Admiral himself had come to inspect their posture!

Why, the girl was probably only a year or two older than him! Killian thought with a shake of his head. Noble born or not, Killian really didn't see what all the fuss was about. She didn't even glance at any of the merchant ships she was passing. She was clearly more intrigued by the tall masts of the actual Royal Navy.

Killian was just about to climb higher on the rigging to see if there was anything more interesting when Murphy grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back on to the deck. Though he hadn't been very far up, Killian landed hard in front of Captain Flint.

The hooked faced man sneered down at him and pointed a heavily ringed finger in his direction. "Sing, boy."

Killian was so startled that he didn't sing any of the sea shanties he had been taught by various members of the crew. Instead, he sang a song his mother used to sing to him, nearly the only thing he remembered of the woman who died when he was barely a toddler.

looking up from underneath

fractured moonlight on the sea

reflections still look the same to me

as before I went under*

The girl had already passed the ship but she paused and tilted her head to the side. After a moment, she turned back and looked up, following the sound of his song. Her deep green eyes met his as he continued to sing.

and the arms of the ocean are carrying me

and all this devotion was rushing out of me

and the crashes are heaven for a sinner like me

but the arms of the ocean delivered me

Without breaking eye contact, she walked closer and closer to the ship until she was nearly at the end of the pier. Her people fluttered around her, not getting in her way but clearly concerned about the change in her trajectory.

Killian may have found her unremarkable from afar, aside from the fineness of her dress. But closer up, he thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. And with her eyes locked on him, for the first time in a very long time, Killian felt like he was worth something. So, he kept singing.

*Song is Never Let Me Go by Florence and the Machine