Sailor!Denmark x Reader- 'Til you come home to me

I remember a time when I despised Mathias Køhler.
Just hearing his name would tick me off.

But secretly, inside, I knew that I loved him.
I hated to admit it, but it was the truth…

Now, I stand on the pier, staring at the ship that is going to take my love from me
and spirit him far away.
There is a pain in my heart that strikes like a knife. Cold, and painful. Twisting and cutting me deeper than any pain before.

But I know there is nothing I can do to make it stop.

“[Name]!” I am brought back to earth at the sound of my name being called.

I turn to see the blonde Dane running up to me. He looks positively adorable in his sailor uniform and I can’t help but smile at him.
“Hello Mathias.”

His blue eyes sparkle, shining like the sea and he wraps his arms around me in a gentle embrace.
“You came…” He whispers into my hair, almost as if he can’t believe it.

I laugh. “Of course I came! Why wouldn’t I?”

“Well…” He pulls away and looks off awkwardly. “You weren’t exactly my biggest fan when we first met…”

I can’t stop the smile that’s building. He remembers it too. “Yeah, but we’re friends now right? Isn’t that all that matters?”

His cheerful expression returns and he nods. “You’re right. And I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Mathias must notice me glancing warily at the ship because he frowns. “W-we don’t set sail…for a while now…”
I look back at him, eyes widening slightly. “W-what? O-oh. Yes. I know.”

Then, averting my gaze, I speak gently. “I just…wanted to spend a little time with you. Before you, you know. Leave.”

“Oh.” His gives me his usually cheeky grin and says “I really appreciate that. You’re being way cooler than my jerks of friends, Gilbert and Alfred.” I laugh again and he does too.

“I’m sure they’ll come soon. I bet they’ll really miss you.” I know I will, I add silently in my head.

“Yeah. But I bet they’ll be alright. They’re tough. They can hang in there.”

A slightly uncomfortable quiet falls over us, as we shuffle our feet and look anywhere but each other. Finally I break the silence. “I can’t believe…that you’re really leaving…”
“Neither can I, to be honest.”

He tries to smile again, but this time I can tell it’s half-hearted.

Suddenly, the boarding call can be heard and we both just stand there, unable to move.
“[Name].” Mathias says quickly, any trace of his carefree attitude now gone. “There’s something I need to tell you. If this is the last time we speak…”He almost whispers the last part.

“Y-yes?” Our eyes meet, and he clears his throat.

“Okay. Here goes. Even, if you didn’t like me and even if you don’t like me now, I just want you to know that-“
He’s cut off by the last call to board, alerting us that our time together is slipping away like sand through an hour-glass. He bites his lip and continues.

“I’ve loved you and I always will. No matter what.”

Everything seems to be in slow-motion and I smile, coinciding with the happy tears sliding down my cheeks.
“I love you too.”

He embraces me for what might be the final time and we kiss. It was like that moment was frozen in time and would last forever. But before I know it, he’s pulling away. Gathering up his things, and turning to leave.

“I’ll come back safe and sound, before you know it. Okay? I promise!”
Mathias says as he begins to walk away, stopping to smile.

“I know you will!” I call back, proudly. “And I’ll be strong too! For you!”

That day, I watched Mathias Køhler sail away, taking my heart with him.
But I knew I would see him again.
And I couldn’t wait til’ he came home to me.