#potc1

prompt:

unrequited love from a childhood friend, distance, the other realizing their feelings too late

-“I just came to see how you were doing” “and now it’s time for you to leave”

-“I’ll always need you, I love you” “it’s too late”

warnings: ANGST, no uses of y/n, reader is called mama and wears a skirt, la la land esk ending. This feels very rushed and I wrote it with a migraine so leave me alone if it absolutely sucks

“Will?” the man I once knew all those years ago, the man I once loved, is walking towards me through the mist. For a moment I think it’s just my eyes playing tricks.

“surprised to see me?” he stands at his full height, he’s tanned over the years. His face has matured but still has his boyish charm. Donning pirate attire, he holds an aura of confidence he much lacked in his younger years.

“what are you doing here?” disdain evident in my voice although not intentional.

Although taken aback by my curtness, he continues, “I just came to see how you were doing” I can’t help but notice the hopeful glint in his eyes, the strain in his voice as if he’s trying to find the right words.

“and now it’s time for you to leave” I’m not sure where my sudden irritation came from, perhaps it was the years of waiting, the years of wanting and nothing being returned.

Laughing dryly he quirks his brow as a silent question. “what do you mean? I just got here”

“why are you here Will?” his hopeful expression falls, replaced with something I can’t quite place.

“come away with me, like you did once before,” grabbing my hands he pulls me closer to him. “I need you” Pulling away I take a step away from him and let out a strained laugh. His dislike of my reaction clear on his face.

“no you don’t, you’ve never needed me.” Searching his face I try to find any indication of where he’s going with this.

“I’ll always need you, I love you” oh how long my heart had ached for those words. He tries to step closer but for every step closer he takes, I take a step back. I put my hand up between us to stop him.

The ache in my chest starts to burn with feelings I buried many years ago. “you don’t mean that, and anyways it’s too late now”

“no it’s not, just run away with me. Travel with me, live on the sea” the eagerness in his eyes almost makes me want to but…

“Will…” I’m cut off when his eyes flicker over to my home behind me. The sound of small feet pattering on stone comes close till my son comes up hiding behind my skirt looking at Will skeptically,

“who’s that mama?” the small voice of my young son cuts through the silence between us. Turning to his slightly I whisper with a bittersweet smile,

“no one sweetie, go on back inside.” Gently I pull my son from my leg while gesturing towards our house. “I’ll be there in a minute”

“I- I didn’t know, I’m sorry. I’ll go” before he can turn away I take his hands in mine, still rough from those years of blacksmithing and life at sea,