Thief of Princes (Kid Blink x Reader)

nine

𝔗𝔴𝔬 hours later found you sitting on the edge of a table in the ship's galley, hands resting on either side of you with a grin on your face as the ship's cook-- a boy with a gimp leg, a solid wooden crutch, and impeccable balance-- told you all about the cookies he was currently making. 

"Y'see, they's from Franca, originally. Just like me." The boy, nicknamed Crutchy (or, at least you hoped it was a nickname; it was all the introduction you'd been given), said. "The almond flour gives it this real nice, fluffy texture, right, and then it's just sugar, eggs, and flavorin'." He beamed at you as he whisked the ingredients together. You smiled back, finding it impossible not to. 

"Keep this up and we'll have to stop for more supplies by tomorrow." The deep chuckle that sounded from the place against the wall where Kid Blink leaned was all together more attractive than it should have been. 

Didn't that describe the pirate captain as a whole, though? Even as much as you hated to admit, he was exceedingly handsome-- and he knew it, too. You could already tell he had no qualms about using it to his advantage. That's why you were determined not to let him see how acutely aware of it you were. 

"Aw, it ain't that bad. Besides, royalty's used to eatin' well. Maybe not this well, though." Crutchy winked at you, and you couldn't help the small laugh that bubbled up inside of you as the boy continued, "I knew I missed my callin' as a palace cook. Just didn't fancy starting at dishwasher and working my way up-- talent like this needs to be practiced. In any way, this is better, and near the same thing." 

You didn't miss Blink's small shake of the head, or the way Crutchy abruptly changed topics after this, moving on to ask you what your favorite dessert was. Upon hearing your answer, he sighed dramatically. "We're gonna have to stop in at a port, Cap'n, I don't have all the stuff I need for that. Shall we say... tomorrow?" Crutchy wiggled his eyebrows in the direction of Blind Diamond.

"Not tomorrow. When we get to Ayzar." The captain said firmly. 

You thought it through. Ayzar was the closest Kozmiran city to your border. If you'd stopped any sooner you'd have been on Talin lands-- and it would have been all too easier for you to have made a break for it. "You're smarter than you look, Captain." You muttered under your breath. 

Blind Diamond smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment, Princess," He replied, standing upright and walking over to you in two long strides. 

The man had ears like a bat! "So will you be thanking me, then? You did seem to have such good manners." You said, covering your unintentionally heard comment with  a slightly raised eyebrow. 

"Oh, of course." The pirate disappeared, his posture straightening and the... general? if he was, if that was all he was-- smirking wider. "Thank you for the compliment, Princess Y/N. I do so enjoy your company." He lifted one of your hands-- you weren't sure how, you had a death grip on the table-- and pressed his lips ever so lightly to the back of it, peeking up through his blond fringe to give you a grin, his lips lingering on your skin until you snatched your hand away and folded it with the other tightly in his lap. It took you longer than it should have to break out of his captivating gaze, and it only made his grin grow bigger as he stepped away, only the smallest amount, but it was enough to let you think clearer, especially when he turned to face Crutchy again. 

As he did, you took a deep, slow breath that went hopefully unnoticed. You were going to have to watch yourself with this one. 

*

After Crutchy had given you a plate of cookies, Kid Blink insisted on escorting you back to your room. You memorized the way to the kitchen as best you could, since you wanted to know where it was in case you needed an emergency run. Or just wanted to talk to Crutchy, since it seemed he was another of the members of the pirate-but-not-really-pirate-like club. 

You still hadn't quite made up your mind if the captain was or not. You assumed it would depend on what he ended up doing with you and David. 

But you couldn't help yourself from thinking that you hoped he was... and not just for the obvious reasons.