AN: Updated the glitches from previous posting, but I promise- this is it! After that epic finale and all the speculation behind it, the muse took over and this role reversal fic happened. I hope you'll give it a shot and give any feedback that pops into your head! I own nothing 8].
He's not sure why he's been the one assigned to this task, but he's been alive long enough to know that one should never question their older brother, especially if said brother also happens to be the Captain of the Jewel of the Realm.
Earlier today, Liam pulled him aside, calling him away from his usual tasks, and told him of a special assignment that he wanted Killian, specifically, to be responsible for. This was a direct order from the King and Queen themselves- an honor for the Jones brothers, to be able to undertake and serve the majesties of their land. Liam instructed him to abandon his watch for the night (Liam and David, his fellow lieutenant would cover it) and make his way to the docks, late enough that hopefully he could find a way to sneak into the infamous Jolly Roger. Though he may be a young Lieutenant, he knows this land like the back of his hand, and more importantly- he wants to do his brother proud.
His plan, which he runs over with Liam and David, is to wait until the crew on the Jolly abandon their posts for the night and make their way to the tavern to partake in libations and inebriations and wenches till the morning sun. There's one thing he knows about pirates- they like their drink and their women.
Killian waits until night falls and the land is covered by a thick darkness, only illuminated by the twinkle of the stars. From his bed in the crew quarters, he can hear the jovial sounds beginning to emerge from the taverns, the boisterous echoes and dancing tunes reaching their ship.
From a young age, it had only been him and Liam-their mother lost to an illness and their father to the drink. Therefore, the two of them had to look out for one another for they had no one else, but each other. This assignment would be the first time Killian would be going alone and the thought of not having his brother by his side caused his brow to furrow with worry. But, he saw the confidence and the pride that lingered in Liam's eyes earlier- his brother believed he could do it and he trusted Liam with everything, so with that thought, he checked to make sure his sword was secure in its scabbard and said a quick prayer to watch over him and Liam.
He shut the door to the quarters and was met with the faces of his fellow crewmen, who all give him rounding cheers and encouraging pats on the back as he passes them. On the deck of the Jewel, he sees Liam at the post keeping watch. Liam steely nods his head at him, a silent reminder underlying his simple action to keep safe. Carefully navigating his way to the other side of the docks, he moves swiftly and quietly, so as not to alert anyone of his presence.
The Jolly Roger is as magnificent as he's been told. He's heard stories of this ship, the crew, and more importantly of their newest Captain. Whispered and hushed talks spread the tale of a leader so fearsome, so heartless, the kind of man you wished to never cross paths with. While some of the stories may have been exaggerated by the drunks and elders of their town, he still believed that there must be an ounce of truth to them. After all, these are pirates, the revulsion evident in even his thoughts.
He quickly scours the surrounding area- no pirate seems to be keeping watch on the dock leading to the ship nor the decks. Not a single soul lies by- all he can see as he squints from behind the cargo load piled high is the shadow of the sail illuminated by the lights from the port and the sky, as the wind gently rocks the ships in otherwise still waters. He tugs at his belt which holds his sword and makes his way onto the deck. His mind drifting back to this brother's instruction to find this compass that the royal leaders believe to possess some form of magic. His brother's warning to take heed for finding such a treasured item of great value is a difficult task, but even more so amongst a pirate ship.
Once he's made his way past the gangplanks onto the deck of the Jolly, he carefully places one foot on the stairs that leads to below deck, waiting with bated breath to hear some noise, some creak in the wood. Hearing none, he quietly bounds down the stairs on the balls of his feet, and he thinks perhaps this is why he was sent- his stealth surpasses anyone on the crew, even the Admiral.
He tries to place his mind in one of a pirate as he questions where he should go to search first for their most beloved treasure. Of course, it's most likely that Captain who would see themselves fit to hold onto something so valuable as this magical compass, so the Captain's Quarters is his first stop. He's surprised to find it unlocked and he scoffs to himself that the pirates have just made his job too easy.
His opinion of pirates is not one of high esteem, but surely he thought that they would possess the intelligence (at least the Captain) to lock their quarters. In the room, he carefully starts looking for the compass- he's half hoping it to be glowing in the dark due to its magical abilities. Turning over piles of paper, opening drawers, keeping an ear out, while he rummages through the Captain's desk. He searches underneath the desk, his back to the floor, and he feels a panel of wood on the underside give. A victorious smile starts to line his lips as he fiddles with the panel to shift it to open the secret compartment. As he's about to, he hears footsteps, coming from the very room he's in.
"Who dares come aboard the Jolly Roger uninvited?"
His breath catches upon hearing such an angelic voice in such a place. He thanks the heavens that it's in his good fortune that the ship wench or some wench the Captain's brought back is the one to find him searching the Captain's Quarters. He dares not move a single muscle, holding in his breath, the pounding and ringing in his ears thumping away in the background. Perhaps he'll be able to fool this lass into thinking no one's here.
"Now why don't you make this easier for both of us, and come out from underneath the desk." The annoyance in her voice coupled with the veiled threat cause him to believe that it's in his best interest to come forward now. Quickly, he scoots from under the desk and wipes his sweaty palms on his pants, as he faces the shadow hidden by the quarter's doors.
The woman that steps forward from the dark into his view is beautiful- actually he has no words that would do it justice to describe her. Her face, while strong and defiant, holds a touch of gentleness. Her body has the gentle curves of a woman, but her posture tells him that she's poised and tense, ready for combat at any moment. Her shoulders stand proud as her chin juts forward, her long neck lit by the moonlight. Her hair, yellow as the sun of the new morning just after dawn breaks, is up, allowing him to clearly see her face. Finally, her eyes so poignant with expression that he could drown in them; albeit the expression right now is anger, and it's being aimed directly at him.
"Perhaps you'd like to enlighten me as to what you are doing aboard my ship?"
"Your ship," he stuffers in disbelief. "Aren't you the wench? The words just slip out of his mouth, his brain and mouth have lost the ability to work in tandem. Curse the woman who has floundered his ability to speak!
Her boots clack ominously as she walks across the room to come towards him. Her body moves, swift and slick as a cat, her eyes on him the entire time. As she moves closer, he moves backwards, until she has him pinned up against the desk. Grabbing his face roughly in her right hand, her body up against his- so close that he can feel how fast her heart is beating and surely she can feel his. Her tongue runs across her lips, slowly, mesmerizing him so (thoughts filtering in of the opposite of a gentlemanly manner), that for a moment he forgets that he's in a position of weakness, and that this succubus has the upper hand.
"I would be careful calling someone a wench. You better think twice before you use that word when addressing the Captain." She growls in his face, her tongue harshly clicking the n at the end of her title, her grip on his face growing a little tighter.
Perhaps this is what Liam meant when he warned Killian that his propensity to put his foot in his mouth would land him in dangerous waters.