hipsterizzy:

Throwing this in my pirate au bc why not. :3c

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Rhys had been having a pleasant enough dream.  He was back in his father’s house, the garden in full bloom, a warm breeze blowing through the open window.  He and Jack were having tea with his parents.  His mother’s laugh rang throughout the sitting room on the heels of a joke Jack had just told.  But it was all abruptly interrupted by an anguished scream.

He bolted upright in the bed, automatically reaching for the pistol the captain kept loaded under his pillow, but that’s when he saw the source of the scream.  Jack’s face was twisted in pain, eyes shut tight and body writhing beneath the sheets.  Rhys sighed in relief, taking a moment to gather himself before waking Jack.  He dropped his hand to the older man’s shoulder and shook gently.

“Jack.  Hey, handsome, wake up,” he called softly.

The captain’s eyes flew open and his hand was around Rhys’s throat instantly.  He stared into the boy’s eyes for a long moment, his own glossed over in rage, before he realized what was happening.  He let go of Rhys and sat back, pushing his hand through his hair.

“Shit, kiddo, ‘m sorry…”

Rhys gave him a worried look.  “A nightmare?”

Jack shrugged, looking away.  “Memory…Sometimes, I dream about them, about that night…”

He reached over, slipping his hand into Jack’s and lacing their fingers.  Jack hadn’t told him much about what had happened to his wife and daughter, only that they’d been killed.  He squeezed the older man’s hand.  “Just hold my hand.  You’re going to be fine.  I’ll be right here.”

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(Hurt-Comfort meme – I’m absolutely still taking requests!)