I'm Still Here (Jim Hawkins X Reader)

You grumbled to yourself as Silver walked by, his arm slung around Jim's shoulders as they shared a joke about something that you "wouldn't understand". Captain Amelia raised an eyebrow at you, her eyes following your line of sight.

She sighed and clapped you on the shoulder. "Chin up, dear. You know he doesn't mean anything by it. Jim's just...a boy."

You gritted your teeth together. "I understand that but," You frowned. "I learned this," You gestured to the knot you were tying. "All of it, for him. I grew up hearing these stories about my father and I did everything I could to be like him, and then when I finally meet him after sixteen bloody years, he treats me like I'm just another sailor."

Amelia blinked in surprise when you suddenly wound your arms around her torso and buried your face in her chest. "There, there." She tried to soothe, patting your back awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, Captain." You said, pulling away immediately. "It just hurts. Do you mind if I take a break? I, uh," You patted the gun at your hip, smiling at her even though there were tears in your eyes. "Feel the urge to shoot something."

She shook her head. "Not at all. Take all the time you need." You started to walk away when her voice stopped you. "And __y/n__?"

You raised an eyebrow at her.

"Maybe try talking to your father about this? And Jim? It might do you some good."

You simply shrugged in response before slipping away from the deck of the ship and climbing into the underbelly. You snagged a few empty bottles on your way and brought them with you, setting the first one up on a barrel. You had already crouched down and you were just starting to aim your gun when you heard footsteps, looking up and biting back a rather rude remark when you saw who it was.

He blinked at the gun you were holding in surprise, and you ignored him as you aimed, focusing all your attention on the bottle. You squeezed the trigger and smirked in satisfaction as the glass shattered into thousands of pieces. Only then did you turn your attention to him.

"Did you need something, Jim?" Your voice came out harsher than you intended, and you felt a little guilty when Jim flinched. He sank into a crouch beside you, his eyes trailing over to the shards of glass on the ground.

"You're a good shot, you know." Jim pointed out, and you knew he was trying to be nice, but you still rolled your eyes.

"I do, in fact, know. But thanks." You said reluctantly, because a compliment was a compliment, even if it was from Jim. "Is there a reason you're down here?" You tried again, and Jim scratched at the back of his neck awkwardly.

"The Captain said I should come talk to you. She says you're mad at me. I'm not really sure how you're mad at me when we've hardly spoken two words to each other the whole time you've been on the ship, but she's almost always right so I thought I should listen to her." Jim said in one big breath, sucking in a big gulp of air when he finished.

You sighed, scrubbing a hand across your face. "I'm not mad at you. If anything, I'm mad at my dad."

Jim raised an eyebrow at you. "I'm sure it's probably personal, but can I ask why?"

"You."

"I thought you just said you weren't mad at m-"

"I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the attention my dad gives you." You exhaled in annoyance. "I spent sixteen years looking for him, and by the time I found him, it's like he already has a kid. He treats you more like a son than he's ever treated me like a daughter."

Jim was surprised at the sadness he saw in your eyes as you turned to look at him, and he hesitantly brought an arm up and wrapped it around your shoulder. When you didn't move away from his touch, he tugged you a little closer to his body. "I'm sorry. I had no idea it bothered you so much."

You shrugged. "S'not your fault. Just thought it'd be nice to have a dad for once."

Jim ran his hand up and down your arm. "Me too."

You snapped your eyes over to look at him. "What? Your dad wasn't around much either?"

Jim shook his head. "He wasn't around at all, actually. Left when I was, five, I think."

Your eyes were wide as you looked at him. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Your voice was devoid of any of the malice from earlier. "My dad didn't know I existed, so I at least had a reason for why he never came to see me, but yours just left? That's awful."

"He wasn't much of a father before then anyway, it's probably good he left when he did." Jim said, shrugging.

"Still. I'm sorry, Jim. I didn't know." You were silent for a moment before you smiled softly at him. "I can see why my dad likes you. You're pretty cool, Jimbo."

Jim groaned. "Are you gonna start that now too?"

You grinned. "Definitely." You jumped to your feet and offered Jim a hand, and he looked surprised for half a second before taking your hand and allowing you to pull him up.

"What are you doing?" Jim questioned as you placed another empty bottle on the barrel.

"Has my dad taught you how to shoot yet? Or has anyone?"

Jim shook his head, and your smile widened as you pushed your gun into his hands and directed him into a kneeling position.

"Good." You said excitedly. "This'll be fun."

Jim knew how to shoot better than half the crew of the RLS Legacy by the time you were done with him.

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When Amelia saw you later that week, you and Jim were walking so close that your shoulders were brushing with every step, and you were talking enthusiastically about something.

It wasn't until Jim dropped you off in front of the door to the kitchens and pressed a quick, hesitant kiss to your cheek that made both your and Jim's cheeks burn bright pink that she allowed herself to smile.

She had known you two would get along well if you had just given him a chance. It appeared that you finally had done so, and Amelia couldn't help but chuckle to herself when she thought about how Silver would react when he found it.

He took it rather well, actually. There was only a little bit of yelling, mostly out of surprise over actual anger, and he only threatened Jim with the many knives on his hand once, before he made Jim promise not to hurt you and scooped you both into a bone crushing hug (because really, he just wanted you and Jim to be happy, and if being with each other made you happy, then he was okay with it).

End.  <3