It's been some time, I've had some huge things happen in my life.
I'm an 'adult' now, but I never could get this story out of my mind.
Get ready, as I've charted out the end of this tale and its going to be an intense ride.
Let me know what you think is in store, and if you are looking forward to it
Listen to Home Alone by Ansel Elgort.
g.
Liete had thought to head to the tavern, if only to join Blackbeard and Drew for a quick kip before heading back into the tumbling wheel and confusion of Kenway. Yet, as she approached the open shanty where song filled the afternoon air, Liete couldn't bring herself to enter.
Instead, she found herself along the main road, the beautiful water and white sand at the end of the dirt pathways opening up before her as if a flower opening to the sun.
She wanted to believe that with this moment, with the coming of Kenway with months to his name, that it would show some change.
She'd changed.
Liete had become calmer and had found that in this moment as she moved away from where she'd offered the project that had kept her wild mind occupied for the past months, she felt the heat within her chest increase.
Seeing Kenway as he'd been watching her with the soft blue emotion, had ignited the pain that she'd felt aboard Thatch's vessel. The sting of doing something that felt so wrong within her very soul came around once more, to hit her with the sudden flow of calming. He'd been so willing to cage her once more, and she'd made the choice to escape..
Now with him coming back, it sent her mind into an unsure movement, would he try to cage her again? Would she let him now that she'd calmed..
Liete wanted nothing more than to believe that she'd gone through the worst of it when it came to Kenway. How could she have though, she mused as she sunk into the white sand moving closer to the water line. To her left was a singular shanty home above the water, its inhabitant lounging on the edge with a fishing pole. She didn't really know where he came from, his purpose or wants. They were new to each other, and that already promised a pain she knew nothing about.
She knew nothing of love or even of sex given freely and calmly. She'd been born into a world where everything was second to the ton, where money and title trumped all and be damned if you'd be happy or not.
No, Liete wasn't sure what this meant for her now, but for a taste of Kenway after the time apart she was willing to find out.
Thatch swirled his rum flip slowly as her stared ahead not really looking at anything at all as the afternoon heat brought a lazy feel to the tavern as soft shanties were sung by a group in the side.
He truly wanted to hate Kenway, he wanted to wring the man's neck upon seeing him saunter in like that, but he'd known. He'd known all along that he would make his way here eventually.
Whether for Liete, or simply because Nassau held the hub for their pirate republic, he would come.
He'd wanted to believe he wouldn't, he wanted to believe that come Kenway's appearance Liete would have balked and ran mad at his presence.
Thatch was no fool and knew better than that, even with his private hope.
From the moment he'd watched her weep against his ship's railing, sagged on his mortar cannons, her sobs fading into the nights crashing waves, he'd known all along that there was only space for Kenway in the heart that she did have.
Through all this, she'd been incredibly tight lipped about her origins, where she'd met their ilk, preaching of its non importance to anyone now.
Something from it made her heart and soul attached to Kenway, and it angered him. Fueling a jealousy he'd never admit to.
He wanted to understand, wanted to know that part of her if only for a little while.
Even as he'd stood by her these past months, as he'd left and made port anew, he'd fallen deeper into her spell with each passing. She owed him nothing, and Thatch would never act as if she did, but he wanted it.
Against the constant presence of her off kilter madness, Liete was calm and loving. She cared deeply, deeper than she'd ever admit to he was sure. The way she took each experience in, it reminded him of a child understanding things for the first time.
It was intoxicating.
It fired a need within him to show new things, provide new experiences to elicit the reactions he found himself coveting.
Then she'd seen Kenway, and although he'd been behind her, he could see the sudden change in her entire being, the pull and change so frighten ling fast.
She'd been absolutely enthralled.
He knew in that moment there was nothing he could say or do to bring her back to his world, so he quietly bowed out.
Before he had spirited Liete away, Edward had watched Liete like a hungry wolf. He expected no less now, he expected to hear no mention of see either of them for at most a few days.
Atleast, that was what he'd thought before Edward took a seat opposite him.
Now he frowned into his rum flip, confused and unsure of what to make of this development.
"Kenway." His voice was rougher than he'd meant but he wanted to make sure the first word came from him. He was no lily livered simpleton, and he wasn't afraid of Kenway nor his potentially looming wrath.
Fixing the younger man with a gimlet stare, Thatch was surprised to find the pirate practically glowing.
His hair was clean, dirt & grime washed away from his face and neck, and now he sported a brand new set of clothes. New breeches, jerkin, and leather all pristine. He now sported the strange outfit he'd adopted before in all black, tailored and all.
He looked like a right swarthy noble.
Thatch recognized the cloth and leather from many different instances; Liete toiling patiently over the different white stitching as she sat out in the waning heat of the sunset nearly each night.
"You know I ought to throw damn hands for your involvement in all this." Kenway's voice was level but a light lilt of humor that seemed to forever rest in his demeanor couldn't help but show itself.
Thatch, in pure disinterest in the threat, took a heavy draft of his drink before slamming the wooden glass down. He squared his shoulders and gave the man a droll look.
"Kenway, keep y'ur damn threats to a man ye can actually best." With the dressing down, Thatch picked up his flip once more, and took another swallow.
Edward would have laughed, but instead he grinned beside himself as he signaled towards a new barmaid he'd never seen before with flaming red hair. He pointed to Thatch's hand to infer he'd like the same before turning his attention back to the pirate.
"Or do I offer you a thanks for keeping an eye on her these past months?"
"You can offer or do whatever you like. She had no need of an eye kept on her, she's done by herself."
"Thatch, my aim is not to fight with you. I've come to share kip, and returned to Nassau a further enlightened man. I've been down to Tulum since we've last met, and it was better for us all the way it unfolded. She wouldn't have been safe with what the crew went through there."
Ears perked at the mention of adventure, Thatch sat a little higher, as the bar maid Anne shuffled by placing two tankards before them.
"Well then, fill us in then Kenway now that we be friends."
Night had long fallen by the time Kenway had returned to what he could only call Liete's hovel.
It reminded him of his very own home in Swansea... Where he'd once pleaded to Caroline that he'd only spend two years at most in a bid to enhance their lives. To bring in food that didn't reek with near rancidness, for walls that didn't allow to wind and rain to make them sick.
It was a memory that caused a bittersweet sadness to tinge his mood, a memory of a life he couldn't return to. At least not without money, property. And how would he return now, now that he'd had a taste of true freedom without boundaries and rules?
He'd made his way to Liete's home with ease as he'd used the connected roofs and lines that expanded through the wooden town.
Just as he'd done earlier that day, Edward lowered himself within the sturdy tree branches outside her home, looking into the windows to find Liete, once more at the small area she used to prepare food and the like.
She hummed to herself softly, and Edward found himself for a moment caught in her siren song of calm.
The picture she posed of this calm life, put a drop of fear in him.
This wasn't what he wanted, a show of domesticity & poverty was not what he wanted to see before him.
With this thought, Kenway made a soft whistle that instantly brought Liete's eyes up to pin him.
With only a moments hesitation, Liete settled her hands on the coconut she'd just managed to open a small hole atop and quipped, "Kenway, you look closer to a howler monkey than man sitting atop the branches."
Kenway grinned and dropped to the floor, moving quickly to enter the hovel, only to find Liete once again waiting at the door.
"You've returned captain. What has been your thoughts of the day?" Her words were a jest, but her eyes were as still as a pond with no wind.
Kenway placed his hands on either hip and grinned ever so slightly. A day spent in drink, as new plans came, he felt his mind slightly clouded as he stood before Liete his excitement peaked.
"My day, and hours have been well spent. Not only have I found my wayward woman, but It seems I've also been given the means for a little revenge."
Liete crossed her arms and simply raised an eyebrow as she waited for Kenway to elaborate.
She nearly pipped up to remind him that she wasn't his to claim, but she kept quiet sensing Kenway's eagerness, as well as smelling the rum on his breath at being this close.
"In two days time, we set sail. Governor Torres himself is set to bring a large chasm of gold to a nearby fort as he makes his way to some . The gold will set most of these men up for life, and this is the same man who meant to send me to some god forsaken Jamaican prison. Damned Charles Vane & Jack Rackam made port this afternoon and offered the score as treaty with the Nassau pirates."
Kenway's excitement was nearly tangible as he moved forward, his hands on either side of Liete's arms, his eyes twinkling with hit.
Leite stilled once more, even as his warm hands sent shivers to the very center of her stomach.
"and how am I to take this news?"
Kenway couldn't help his laugh then, as he went against the small warning bell that sounded to remind him not to grab Liete suddenly lest he find himself flat on his back once more, and gathered her in his arms spinning her about.
"You, love, are coming with me. I made the mistake of trying to leave you behind once before. It cost me to much, although it was better for all in the end."
Kenway's laughing returned and Liete couldn't help herself as she placed her arms around his shoulders, and a long-awaited smile graced her lips.
It nearly blew him to bits.
He'd seen so much in his time away from her, he'd seen things that were impossible, men that lived forever… Secret worlds… He'd seen a new way of live, and even at the wonder, he couldn't shake two things from his mind.
The observatory, and her.
He didn't want one without the other, and as he held her once more, Edward knew.
Liete felt a well rise within her chest, and as Edward swung her around once more, she too began to laugh softly.
Edward slowly let her down, and as she laughed, he didn't hesitate to capture her lips one more time.
His hands found there way to either side of her face, his lips sparking as his entire body began to heat and his feet stuck to the floor. It was a feeling he'd give almost anything for, as her owns hands moved to grasp onto the back of his jerkin balling it in her fists.
It felt like fire, a pure bonfire ignited between them, as Kenway began to back her up until her thighs touched the edge of her table. With ease, he lifted Liete to sit on the table sliding between her thighs all with one fluid movement refusing to allow any skin to stop touching.
Liete felt her breath quickening as she gasped against Kenway's hungry mouth, needing to breathe the air but him in as well.
Kenway drew into a frenzy, and began to tear at her simple slip dress, yanking until he heard cloth rip and ribbons give. Liete gasped as thick summer air touched her chest.
Her round dress had split down the front, leaving her in just a simple pair of drawers. She'd been accustomed now, to wearing as little as possible with the Nassau heat.
Edward pulled away from her mouth looking down at Liete, the pure reverence on his face as she looked up at him with those eyes that swirled drawing him into a pool of intoxication.
She'd never really been with a man, she'd never seen love that above all reason persisted. But damn if she didn't believe in all of it, right now.
Reaching up to pull Edward to her once more, Liete captured his lips & let him take her into the peace that had saved her once before.
Drew was nearly skipping as he'd headed back home after finishing his eighth pint.
It had been a damned good day in his opinion.
Liete got her captain back, and he was happy as a damn clam jumping about in the water. She'd been sad, even if she'd made her way about living with out him.
He'd follow her anywhere, and although everyone else seemed so scared of her, he'd never understand.
Drew liked to watch her as she went about on the sewing work, it reminded him of his mama, and like her, she'd be alone as she'd raised him. Now he was a damned simple man, but he knew when a woman was hurting for something.
When he'd seen his lady lay eyes on Kenway, man it looked like a plant that just been watered.
He'd been here all the while, watching over Liete, helping as he could. She needed someone, even as she yelled and growled that she was ever for herself. Many nights she'd woken frantic, running out of her room igniting lanterns and candles, checking that he was there in his bunk. Touching the shanty, the tables, crates as if to confirm to herself it was all real.
When she'd walk with him, often as he'd headed to the store for work, there were moments when large men or any man in uniform if they drew close she'd flinch and move to whatever opposite side they weren't on. It was so slight, he knew no one else could notice but he'd adopted it into his way to put himself on whatever side he saw officers or the like coming from.
She was scarred, in a way he didn't understand. The jumpiness, fear, and anger that followed. He wanted to believe he could help her as she'd been kind to him… But seeing the pure calm that descended over her as Kenway came about…
Liete needed Kenway.
Drew tossed aside the bottle he'd been sipping on as he'd made his way home, scuffing his boots on the bottom step of the staircase leading up, fully expecting to be alone upstairs.
"Drew." Nearly jumping out of his skin, Drew turned to his right to find Thatch in the shadows a lit pipe giving his face a taut look, his eyes black pits in the night.
"Yur' not goin' to want to go up tonight. Follow me lad, I've a bunk on ship for the night."
Drew looked up to the door of the home, unsure of what to do. If he didn't return, and Liete had a nightmare... he'd hate to do that to her.
"She's got company, don't you worry on that" Thatch snuffed his pipe against a tree, the embers falling as the man lumbered forward onto the path back where Drew had come from.
As the light flickered from the home above, he could make out just barely noises that he'd heard coming from the red light houses down by the water.
Satisfied his girl was going to be all right, Drew tugged his britches a little higher before hustling to fall in with Thatch as they made their way back towards port.
"An' yu've jus' been sittin' on waitin' fer me cap?"
Thatch looked at Drew, and then couldn't help as he looked back for one last glimpse of the lit doorway of Liete's home, before rolling his shoulders and quipping.
"Don't get smart on me now Drew."
Drew only grinned, as he put his hands in his pockets and followed the gloomy captain away from their own self-appointed ward.