Daddy!Killian + sailing for the first time.
"Alright," Killian said abruptly with a smile, dropping a bundle of rope onto the deck. "Ready, sailor?"
He had to fight back an involuntary laugh. Liam looked beyond skeptical as he peered off the side of the dock, furrowing his eyebrows at the water and then glancing back up at his dad in hesitation. It was fortunate that his boy's little gaze was so blue or it would be difficult to find it partly shielded behind that obnoxiously orange life vest Emma hadinsisted they make him wear. Liam rocked back and forth on his little boat shoes, navy blue with canvas laces. He was definitely nervous. Any lesser man would be deemed a coward, but today was this little shipmate's first trip out on the water - and Killian would wait as long as his young son needed him to.
"Sharks?"
"Not in these waters, buddy," Killian grinned, leaning on the edge of one of the dock posts. "You'll be safe. I promise, Liam."
"But papa-" he responded, swallowing hard as he touched the side of the boat preemptively. "-what if there's a hurricane? Or a tsunami? Or a Kraken?"
Killian inwardly cursed his wife's allowance of the Discovery channel in their home. They'd been blessed with a curious son - one who had questions about anything and everything. It was just their luck that the only TV shows he preferred to watch were ones about the natural world - exaggerated as it could be sometimes.
"I think we'll be okay as far as the weather is concerned," Killian replied, biting his lip humorously. "Should make for smooth seas and no natural disasters, lad. Plus, I think an old pirate took care of that Kraken years ago. There's been no reports of that nasty beast for a long time."
Liam served him with a look that he deserved - it was one that he himself had given to others numerous times. He arched an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes in that you-can't-be-serious fashion. When Killian only smirked in response, the little boy finally began to scratch behind his ear with a sigh. God, that kid sure took after him.
"Liam," Killian began, a bit gentler as he hopped onto the dock and knelt down. "We don't have to go if you don't want to. We can always try it another day."
Liam gazed back at him with those swimming blue eyes, ones that could have convinced his father of just about anything. His hair was dark and wavy as it blew in the breeze and Killian used a hand to sweep it back and out of the little boy's line of sight. After a minute or so, Liam's lips pursed into a shy smile.
"No," the blue eyed boy decided, his bravery making a slight appearance. "I-I want to go."
Killian gave him a moment to change his mind - to switch his decision even. But he didn't. Instead, he smiled anxiously up at his dad and held out a timid hand. Rather than offering his grip to assist the little boy, Killian swooped him up with one arm, holding him tight by his legs as he walked back onto the boat. Liam laughed in amusement before he rested his hands on his papa's shoulder. He seemed to relax and for the millionth time, Killian took pride in the fact that he could assuage his son's worries so easily. There was something to be said for being able to protect something or someone so valuable.
"So if there's no Kraken," Liam began, his expression thoughtful. "Does that mean we won't see any mermaids either?"
"I'd say it's not likely, my boy," Killian chuckled. "I'm afraid it will just be us and sea."
"Well, that's probably okay."
It was definitely fine by Killian and he nodded in agreement. Almost immediately after, a flash of blonde hair from a ways away caught his attention and he didn't have to look twice to know who was making their way up the wood planks to the boat. She'd offered to drop off lunch for them before they set sail, no doubt wanting to lecture him on keeping their son safe and hopefully to kiss the hell out of him when he promised he'd do so. He felt his heart flutter at the possibility.
"But you know, Liam," Killian started, knowing that his son hadn't noticed Emma's impending presence just yet. "There's really just one creature you've got to watch out for around here."
"What is it?"
Killian's eyes hooked on Emma and she finally noticed his staring. She gave him the honest, glowing grin he usually got when he was doing something lovingly paternal. He just couldn't help himself. He shouldn't be teasing his son with magical nonsense, but he'd called her by this specific term many times before so perhaps it had some validity.
"Sirens."
"Sirens," Liam repeated, testing the word out. "What are those?"
Killian laughed to himself, watching a curious look spread across her features as she moved closer. Liam wiggled his feet, trying to gain his father's attention once more so he could get his answer.
"Well," Killian sighed, lowering his son to the floor. "That sounds like a question for your mother."
The little boy turned quickly to the place where his dad's eyes had been previously fixated and an excited smile with deep dimples overtook his face as he noticed her.
Let's see her talk her way around this one, Killian thought with a devilish smirk.
