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Takes place after 3×06  but before Vane leaves Ocracoke with Flint.

———

Teach took another drink of his ale. He sat on the edge of his bed under the tent. The day was beginning to wane, the shadows of his makeshift room stretching long over the sand. He’d been staring at those shadows for minutes on end, ever since leaving the beachfront and leaving Charles to Flint.

“Teach.”

Teach blinked, pulling himself out of his brooding at the sound of the familiar, gravel-voice. He turned. Charles stood in front of the tent. His arms were at his side. He looked uncertain. Teach nodded for him to enter. He told himself he should have still been furious, had been furious less than an hour ago. But all the fury had drained from him. He recalled how he had not even stayed angry at Charles all those years ago, when he had chose Eleanor Guthrie over him. Even then, sailing away from his once-home on New Providence, his anger had dulled by the time the island was out of sight.

Now, Charles approached him like a wary rabbit, though his expression remained neutral.

“I feel I owe you an explanation,” he began. 

Teach raised his hands, fingers curling slightly.

“You owe me no such thing. I know why you chose him.”

Vane blinked, brows just barely knitting together. When Teach offered no further words Charles leaned against the wind-beaten dresser across from him.

“You think it was my word I gave him. That I had to keep it. You would be wrong. That isn’t why.”

“Oh?”

Absently he brought his fingers up to his breast, where his little shrapnel timepiece was embedded inside him. Perhaps he should tell Charles about it at last.

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