DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Disney/R.L. Stevenson (Unless they dont appear in either the movie or the book - then there's a good chance they belong to me) Original story belongs to Person4
Okay, so this is a fanfiction of a fanfiction (Fanfiction2x ?) entitled "Perfect Imperfection" by Person4. If you had not read the story, then scurry on over there and do so, especially if you are planning on reading this! (Even if you aren't planning on reading mine, go read it anyway, it is a good story.) It's hard to follow this story if you haven't read "Perfect Imperfection" as it's designed to be an unofficial sequel.
I have the expressed permission of Person4 to do this story, so please no flames; unless we're having a BBQ, in which case I will bring the hot dogs.
Also, this is a JxS fic, so if it happens that you don't care for this pairing, DO NOT PANIC. Simply hover the arrow over the red X and click. Repeat as necessary.
Three years.
It had been three years since the Benbow's grand opening, three years since his acceptance into the Academy, since his fateful reunion with Silver on a 'borrowed' wine boat that had completely revitalized his life, and since his first kiss with the same man on said vessel.
Three years, and still no word.
James Hawkins sighed and rolled onto his back to stare at the opaque white ceiling above him, the weathered four-poster bed he laid on groaning in protest. Even though it was midday, Jim wanted nothing more than to lie on his bed and absorb the rare moment of silence – only offered when his roommate was gone – that had settled over the room. Recently, each day had become more and more like the last, locked up in his room brooding over his own sadness. His depression had deepened four months ago when, after two and a half years of keeping his shape-shifting pet, Morph, a secret, the mischievous blob had followed Jim to his Advanced Biology class and imitated a preserved Kalyptian frog. Jim hadn't even known about Morph's misadventure until his partner's soon-to-be-dissected frog suddenly sprang up and performed a muddled version of the Can-Can. It had taken all of Amelia's persuasion to convince the headmaster not to expel him, but Morph had been sent back to the Benbow and the company of Jim's mother. Not even solar surfing lifted his spirits anymore; but the pain of losing his troublemaking friend wasn't the only cause of his condition.
'Why hasn't he sent word yet?' He and Silver had parted three years ago with the promise that the older man would send word for Jim when he was ready…
'Ready to what?' Jim wondered, 'to start a relationship? To settle down?'
Was the cyborg even capable of something as serious as entering a monogamous relationship; or, more importantly, was he willing to? Jim wasn't sure; all he knew was that he had received no letter from Silver – not even a scrap of news about the pirate in the newspaper, although that last bit was likely a good thing.
'Why?'
A thousand answers came to mind, but none that fully satisfied him; had the cyborg failed at finding an honest job, had he had some sort of run-in with the law, or, Jim's worst fear had he simply lost interest in his cabin boy?
"Why hasn't he sent for me?" He asked the ceiling.
"Why hasn't who sent for you?"
Jim bolted upright as his roommate, Evan, closed the door behind him and immediately dumped his book bag on his bed amongst a pile of clutter before turning to Jim with a large grin. "You waitin' on word from the Professor? Trying to get a little more kiss ass in before final grades"?
"Shut up, Evan", Jim snarled, turning onto his stomach and burying his face in the pillow.
"..cause personally I would rather fuckin' fail, and.."
"Evan."
"..I mean, it's Music Theory, now when the fuck, are we going to need Music Theory?"
"When you get thrown off your own ship and have to play the pennywhistle on the street for money."
"Oh my God you're a terrible person". Jim smiled against his pillow and turned his head slightly to observe Evan as he struggled to remove his left boot. "And by the way Jim, if Cindy calls…"
"You mean Stacy", Jim interrupted and Evan quickly glanced up to meet his eyes, one foot hovering in the air by his hands.
"I mean Cindy."
"No, you mean Stacy. Cindy was three weeks ago."
"Shit!" Evan dropped to the floor and banged his fists on the ground like a tempered two-year old. "I've been callin' her Cindy this whole time!"
"Maybe that's why she dumped you."
"Fuck! Well, if she calls or anything, just….just tell her I died or something. She's fuckin' psycho." And with that he rose to his feet just long enough to reposition himself over his bed, before he collapsed again.
Jim sighed quietly, and when he spoke his voice was weary, "You really shouldn't jump from one girl to another like you do." Jim couldn't recall how many times he had said this particular line to his friend, but in all honesty he couldn't blame the young man. Evan was human, like Jim, but possessed an unnatural beauty, his skin was clear and fair, his hair the perfect tint of blonde, a muscular body from swimming, and also the most conceded personality Jim had ever encountered. As though he could read Jim's thoughts Evan waved a finger at him in mock scorn, "Hey man, I can't be blamed for my uncontrollable libido, besides were young, this is when were supposed to have fun."
Jim flinched and buried himself further into his soft pillow. He was supposed to be having fun. He was supposed to be experimenting and reckless and enjoying himself. Not wasting his best years on an empty promise from…
Jim's eyes widened even before the thought had been completed. Was he wasting his time? He had already waited three years for a message that had yet to come, and how did he know that it ever would? Before he could consider this notion, Evan pushed himself to his elbows and grinned. "Hey, let's go out tonight, you and me."
"No thanks", Jim replied routinely. Evan went out every night, no matter the circumstances. He was the only cadet in the history of the Academy to get completely and utterly hammered the night before finals – and pass with a C average, a fact that he was much too proud of.
"Come on man, just this once", he pleaded, "Or how about tomorrow? I've got a hot date lined up, and I can find some girl for you."
"Who's your date?"
Evan grinned. "You know Sophie Clements?"
Jim sat up straight; Sophie Clements was the governor's eldest daughter, a felinid, sophisticated, and incredibly – almost eerily – beautiful. "You have a date with Sophie Clements?"
"No, its her lil' sister Deborah, but they're family so they have the same hotness genes, right? It's all about genetics."
Jim made a face, "You mean you haven't even seen her?"
Evan coolly waved him off, "I don't need to man, she's a guaranteed hottie. So how about it? I bet Kate from Tactics would jump at the chance to snog with you – you could proubly get her to pay just to spend a night with you." Jim blushed slightly and pressed his face back into his pillow. He had not yet gathered the courage to tell his roommate that not only did he already have a romantic figure in mind, but that the figure in question was a pirate – and a man.
'A man that I haven't seen or heard from in three years…and might not ever.'
This overwhelming possibility made Jim's heart feel even heavier than before. Sensing his distress, Evan rose from his bed across the room and made to touch Jim on his shoulder; but he recoiled and walked briskly back to the door.
"I'll see you later tonight man, alright? Take a nap or something, 'cause honestly, you look like shit." And with a last chesire grin he left as quickly as he had come.
Left alone again with the silence Jim quickly decided that sleep was exactly what he needed. He reached down and grasped a quilt with his fingertips, pulling the thick cover himself and turning on his side to face the wall, his mind still racing with mutinous doubts and questions.
How much longer could he wait?
I thought I should mention that this is not a one-shot, there will be at least three more chapters. Reviews on how to improve the dialogue are especially appreciated.