In all his musings over how this reunion would go, being named 'cruel' was never part of it. He had imagined being called a coward for not fighting the Captain harder, for not attempting to flee at every port. He'd envisioned being named selfish for returning at all and ruining whatever new life she had established for herself. Never cruel. And to hear her sob the word now was worse than any of his imagined scenarios. To watch her grief become so volatile and enraged at the mere mention of her 'dead' husband was enough to make Will wish he'd never come back at all.
It was suddenly true, too, that he would return to the empty pit from which he'd come if she asked it of him.
Will wasn't sure what to say. In another life, he might have reached for her, might have hauled her to her feet and kissed sense into her. He would have found a way to talk her through her hysterics without further stressing her. But this - being the source of her screams and sobs - Will was at a loss on how to proceed.
That was, at least, until she begged him to help him find her son.
(Their son?)
Henry, the name she'd been screaming above the crowd. Henry was her son, and presumably old enough to be mobile, otherwise he'd still be in a pram and not lost. Henry, a boy Will never once imagined but knew he'd love instantly if given the opportunity.
He helped her to her feet and placed two hands on each arm to steady her. It was too intimate, he knew, to stand so close when she was so distraught, but he had to get her to focus. He had to help her find her son. "Henry - the name you were yelling. How tall is he? Does he like to hide yet? What color clothes was he wearing?" Will's voice was steady, his eyes clear. Nevermind that there were dragons overhead and fire blazing everywhere. Nevermind that blood - her blood - was dripping down the side of her face. None of it mattered - not until they found her son.
"We'll find him, I promise." It was the most solemn vow he'd ever taken, one he meant more than the marriage vows they exchanged.
It was suddenly true, too, that he would return to the empty pit from which he'd come if she asked it of him.
Will wasn't sure what to say. In another life, he might have reached for her, might have hauled her to her feet and kissed sense into her. He would have found a way to talk her through her hysterics without further stressing her. But this - being the source of her screams and sobs - Will was at a loss on how to proceed.
That was, at least, until she begged him to help him find her son.
(Their son?)
Henry, the name she'd been screaming above the crowd. Henry was her son, and presumably old enough to be mobile, otherwise he'd still be in a pram and not lost. Henry, a boy Will never once imagined but knew he'd love instantly if given the opportunity.
He helped her to her feet and placed two hands on each arm to steady her. It was too intimate, he knew, to stand so close when she was so distraught, but he had to get her to focus. He had to help her find her son. "Henry - the name you were yelling. How tall is he? Does he like to hide yet? What color clothes was he wearing?" Will's voice was steady, his eyes clear. Nevermind that there were dragons overhead and fire blazing everywhere. Nevermind that blood - her blood - was dripping down the side of her face. None of it mattered - not until they found her son.
"We'll find him, I promise." It was the most solemn vow he'd ever taken, one he meant more than the marriage vows they exchanged.
![[Image: q0qVwr.png]](https://a.l3n.co/i/q0qVwr.png)