The sound of tiny, bare feet slapping against the wet deck cut through the usual hum of the Jolly Roger’s crew cleaning up after the storm. Halric’s heart plummeted.

“Shite.”

He nearly tripped over a coil of rope as he burst out of his quarters, eyes wide, panic tightening his jaw.

“Oi—!”

He hissed through his teeth, bolting after the small figure darting between barrels and boots, giggling like this was some sort of game.

“Get back here!”

The crew barely had time to register what was happening before Halric caught up, scooping the kid up into his arms with practiced ease, arms around their tiny squirming frame as they laughed breathlessly, completely oblivious to the chaos they’d just caused. His coat was still open from where he’d used it to smuggle them food not five minutes ago.

Then came the silence.

Halric turned slowly.. too slowly.. to find Killian standing there on the steps, brow arched, mouth parted in stunned disbelief as he stared directly at the wide-eyed child now nestled in Halric’s arms.

“…Halric.”

Halric shifted the kid higher against his chest as if that might shield them. His jaw worked for a moment before he finally muttered, “…This isn’t what it looks like.”

Killian didn’t blink. “Isn’t what, exactly?”

Halric cleared his throat, eyes flicking down to the kid, who now clung to his shirt like he was their whole damn world. “I… may have lied. About finding their family.”

Another long silence.

The wind tugged at the sails.

Killian slowly descended the stairs, arms folding over his chest. “You’ve had a child in your quarters this whole time?”

“I was gonna tell you,” Halric muttered. “Eventually.”

The child looked up at Killian with a small wave and a cheeky grin.

Halric closed his eyes and groaned, “Bloody hell.”