Un: Somewhere, beyond the sea...
James Norrington had never thought he'd settle for being the "other man". He'd always thought of himself as honorable and respectable, but one does not reject Elizabeth Swann - excuse me - Elizabeth Turner when she comes to you seeking for a specific type of comfort, especially when you've wanted to give her that sort of comfort for as long as you've known her.
And in that way he was neither honorable nor respectable, but he usually overlooked those impish moments from his days as a captain. He'd been younger then. So had she.
Technically, he should have been the first. He'd known her the longest. He should have gotten his before anyone else did, but it was timid Turner who'd bedded her first. James had heard them when he'd worked for Sparrow. He'd closed his eyes and pretended it was him who was making her whimper and gasp, but it only made him feel worse when he'd slunk off to relieve himself of the uncomfortable and embarrassing erection he'd gained from his eavesdropping. It wasn't him.
But that had been then. That had been before Calypso's last favor for the pirates. 'Whateva da king wants, she gets and da king wanted ya,' Jack had teased eloquently, one brow arching as he studied the newly returned Norrington. James had known what the look the pirate captain gave him meant. He'd seen the smirk with the golden sparkles when Elizabeth looked away. Elizabeth had wanted…him?
Of course, Governor Swann had returned as well, though the old man wasn't as used to being around pirates and had hidden behind his daughter as if she were some sort of shield.
When the work-worn but still dainty fingers curled around his shoulder, he'd almost been reluctant to speak with her. "I'm sorry to hear about your husband," He said candidly. "I'd much rather he endure the fate he has then to never set eyes upon him again," Elizabeth replied in a whisper, her honey brown eyes studying the water. She was always studying the waves as if it would show her something new and exciting, which it often did. "I suppose, though he has no heart. You're the one who will suffer save for those paltry days when he returns to you," He pointed out. "I'm sure I'll find something to do-"
Her eyes shifted to him and glided easily over her shoulder at Jack who was waving his arms around in his normal drunken manner. James marked this as either a very badly placed action or a suggestion of exactly what she would do.
"-to ease the pain."
James guessed it was the latter.
He was correct, though he wasn't quite sure if Jack had ever received his part of the deal. He didn't really care though.
Elizabeth visited her father often in Port Royal. Every time, she only stayed for a single night, and every evening they had dinner with the governor, exchanging knowing glances and shooting pleads towards the clock for time to accelerate. They never stayed for long, off to find a more interesting and daring place to "ease her pain".
For those few moments, when she was so close and when she was murmuring his name - not Will's, not Jack's – James felt wonderful. But after his spiraling crash down to earth, he'd feel nothing but emptiness as she set her clothes right and gave him one last, addicting kiss. "I'll see you again soon," She always whispered, the same promise time after time. And the same pain would return.
And then she was gone, sailing off on the Empress. The morning after their romp, James questioned his moralities. It was as if he ran through a routine. He felt colder than he'd ever been before. His eyes were lifeless. Gillette asked him if he was getting enough sleep. James curtly told him to mind his own business.
Sometimes he wanted to impede their nights together so that the ache of not truly having her as his own would subside, but every time he opened his mouth to say so he remembered a very important thing.
No one rejects Elizabeth Turner's offer, no matter how much it kills them inside to let her in for one more glorious night.
