IOU [Pirate!EnglandXChild!Reader] [1]

They would be making port soon. The fact was evident in the unusually jubilant way the men were carrying out their daily tasks. Not to mention they had been very accepting of their meagre lunch. Captain Kirkland was happy as well, but for reasons different from that of his alcohol-thirsty men.

He smirked at the slightly ridiculous way in which two of his crew members were carrying themselves. The twits were liable to fall overboard if they weren't careful. Then again, if someone fell over every time they walked like that, then he wouldn't have a crew any more. He turned to look over the railing to the horizon where he hoped land would be peeking from soon. He had no right to be sceptical of his men. Only the thought of his dignity as captain was preventing him from conducting himself in the same manner as them.

'Soon.' He thought, 'Soon...'

---

Someone glancing through the window would have been thoroughly mystified. For the pile of pots and pans seemed to balancing themselves in a pile and floating past. If they were stupid, they would have run screaming about witches towards the village. If they were a bit brighter, they would have noticed the small scuffling noise of skirts and a few curses being uttered in a childish voice.

Either way, they would have left.

You liked it that way.

Ever since that IDIOT of a pirate had gotten your sister killed. You didn't mind that bit much. She was never around much. She didn't show any excess affection. But she DID have the decency to divide up work equally. Now she wasn't around any more...

You momentarily let the vessels drop and stretched your aching arms. "I knew I shouldn't have left it for later..." You muttered. It had been stupid. Of course no one was going to magically show up and clean it all. You glanced mockingly at the framed painting of your sister hanging on the wall.

---

"A PIRATE! YOU HONESTLY COULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN ANYTHING ELSE?"

"THING? HE'S A PERSON!"

"NO HE'S NOT! HE'S- HE'S- " You broke off, eyes wide and glaring at the girl in front of you. You were breathing deeply, attempting to calm your anger before you did something you would regret.

You and your sister had been eating a bland meal of boiled rice and vegetables when she suddenly broke the silence by announcing that she wanted to sail with the some pirate she had met at the docks. She had known him for THREE WEEKS. Did she really think that was enough? Needless to say, you had positively exploded, and knocked your ceramic bowl to the floor, shattering it. She had taken your yelling until you had begun insulting him.

"Please, ___." Your sister pleaded. "I can't go if you don't want me to. I- I just can't... I'll send you money and everything, just please, let me..." She was blinking more than usual, and avoiding your eyes.

"You'd go anyway. How the hell would I stop you? By force?"

"You know I've never-"

"Nobody in their right mind has decided to love a pirate, either." The word was spat out like venom.

Rain was coming down in torrents, and the occasional bolt of thunder caused the feeble wooden walls of the little cottage to shake ominously. The house itself was small, a single-storied structure with two rooms and a cooking area.   It was perched on top of a hillock that overlooked the village and gave a nice view of the sea and harbour. The location had been chosen for it's safety. No one would be able to sneak up on it easily. The house had been built two generations ago, by your grandfather, a paranoid man, and not a single soul had ever thought to repair it. The two of you weren't about to start. As a result, it was starting to fall apart.

Your parents had died long ago when a horse carriage ran over them in the village. You were too small to remember that. Your sister had been just old enough to support the two of you, and you were grateful for that. You also knew it was selfish of you to deny her the one thing she had asked you for all these years, but it was such an unreasonable request! You should have just confronted her when she began coming home later than usual and stopped it right there.

"___, you're being an idiot." She was attempting to reason with you. "It's stereotype. Arthur's not-"

Something snapped. "GO THEN!" You shrieked, and pointed at the door with a shaking finger. "GO! AND DON'T COME BACK! I HATE YOU!"

You could have imagined it, but it looked like her eyes filled before she rushed out into the torrent. You didn't look at her retreating form.

---

You sighed. You'd warned her, and look how that had turned out. "People should really listen to me more." You picked up the pile of dirty pots and pans and proceeded out the door to wash them at the little river flowing nearby. After that would be the market to pick up some supplies.

---

Your list was nearly finished. All that was left was a little meat from the butcher and you could go back and sit around. The very thought was music to your aching muscles. You looked at the money bag strung around your waist, and dismally noticed the reduced number of coins in it. There was enough left for a week, possibly. That twit really had to clean up his act and get some more money to you...

That was when you saw it.

A ship coming over the horizon. It was too far away to make out; but you had a feeling it was who you were waiting for. Nobody else scheduled any stops here at this time, anyway.

---

It was around five months after your sister had run out. She hadn't returned, nor had she sent you any messages to tell you where she was. The money was starting to run out. You were good for a couple of weeks more, but then you'd have to find work. It was evening, and you had just woken up from your nap after your daily chores. Thinking that it would be good to see the sunset, you shuffled outside, and froze.

A ship.

THAT ship.

The one your sister had boarded. The ship you had cursed with every fibre of your being. And now it was back. Carrying her, no doubt. And if you squinted, you could see people making their way out of the village, in the direction of your house. Suddenly feeling panicked, you rushed back inside, and slid the heavy bolt on the door, and sank down next to it, breathing erratic.

Around an hour later, you were still in the same position, albeit calmed down a bit. You had probably imagined it. It could be any ship, after all. You stayed there for a couple of minutes more, and were about to get up, when there was a rough knock on the door. You let out an involuntary shriek and moved away from the door, stumbling on your skirts.

"I WON'T OPEN IT!" You yelled, and then covered your mouth. WHY did you do that? Now she would know you were inside.

There was no movement from outside, and you hopefully started considering the possibility she had given up and left. That was when there was an almighty crash from the other side.

"Oh lord, they're trying to break it down..." You paled, and backed up as much you could. And then gave up. The wood was old, it would break soon. And there was no other exit. You were trapped. Accepting your fate, you looked down at the floor, refusing to see the door break.

There were two more crashes followed by a splintering noise. Light suddenly flooded into the dim hall, but was quickly marred by a shadow. It wasn't your sister's.

'They're going to kill me. I'm dead, dead, dead...'

"___?" You twitched. The way the person said your name didn't sound as if he was going to kill you. You warily looked up and met their eyes. They were of an emerald green shade. He was a blonde, and decked out in full captain's attire, complete with the over-the-top hat.

Taking your gaze for acknowledgement, he respectfully removed the hat. "___. I don't know how to tell you this, but your sister is- she's- she's DEAD, ___."

---

You didn't quite remember what you had felt at the time. Pain? Or indifference? It didn't matter, she was gone, and no emotion would bring her back. However, you remembered the deal he had offered you afterwards. Apparently, your sister's dying words after some Spanish git had stuck a sword clean through her was that someone had to take care of you.

This man, this pirate, was offering to do that. He wanted to uphold her wish, and promised to bring you money every six months. And other fineries, if you wanted. He wouldn't allow her sister to live in filth, he said. The way he said her name was disgusting, so full of LOVE.

Bah.

You weren't stupid. You had accepted. But declined the 'fineries'. You wouldn't be able to wear a necklace that belonged to some poor girl who had had her throat slit.

And now it was nearly the end of another six months, and you needed that money. He was late this time. But hopefully, not much later. You decided against buying the meat, and hurried back up the path to the hill. There would be plenty of time for that later.

---

Arthur Kirkland disembarked from his ship with grace befitting one of his status. He experimentally shook the pouch in his hand. It jingled satisfyingly, attesting to the many coins inside. Little ___ HAD to smile at that. Sure she was young, but what was age in the face of wealth?

Humming in a low voice, which was pointless, as he could have been yelling and nobody would have heard it in the din of the harbour, he set off along the main path through the centre of the village, which was the shortest route to a certain hill outside of it. Maybe he could convince her to take some of the cloth he had... obtained from a merchant ship. Yes, she could certainly do with some cleaner clothes...