The Things We Don't Understand
Disclamer:The characters are not mine. Anything you recognize is owned by Disney! I recieve absolutely no money from writing fanfiction.
(The authors note is at the bottom.)
The wind whispers softly through the sails of the dark vessel. The night is as black as coal. Stars reflect on the smooth surface of the magnificent ocean, giving an impression that the ship is sailing in the sky. It is not even that hard to believe, if one is melancholy or drunk enough to try. Many of the crew enjoys the easy smoothness on this beautiful gift of a night, while many more rest up in order to face another day under the crackling Caribbean sun. Life is not easy aboard the Black Pearl, though not one person on the ship regrets it. The night is too peaceful to not enjoy; and enjoying it everyone is. Everyone, that is, except for three.
"Please Lizzie. Please eat the orange," the man says in a soothing tone, so as not to startle the beauty before him. An older man stands watching; his eyes full of deep regret and sorrow. In his hand he grips a flask tightly. Every once in a while the older man raises the flask and drinks from it in deep gulps, like a parched animal quickly dying of thirst. But his eyes never leave the two people in front of him.
"Please eat it," the man once again says to the woman hunched before him. The last orange- the last fruit- on the ship is clutched in the man's ringed and dirtied hand. He waves it in front of the woman's face, but she does not even acknowledge the motion. In agitation, the man stands up, causing his trinketed dreadlocks to clink and rub together, before determinedly kneeling once again.
"You need to eat, Lizzie-luv," the man says in a commanding sort of tone. "Look at this orange! It looks very good, doesn't it? Every man on this ship would fight for it- but I'm going to give it to you, luv. I just need you… to eat it." Both men look at the only female occupant, but there is still no response. It's as if they aren't even there to her.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing Captain?" the older man asks, throwing out the words to try to cut the palpable tension in the thick air. "Are you sure this is the… right thing to do, under the circumstances, sir?" the older man says again. He glances at the frail form of the lady. She is obviously beautiful. Her blond hair hangs and frames her angelic face in a soft, dirty curtain. Her delicate form is covered by the sturdy clothing of a man, but it manages to somehow compliment her all the same. Her nimble body is sun-bleached, and some sun-burned skin has begun to peel on her small nose. Her full, red lips hang slightly open and her long eyelashes sway with every rock of the ship. The girl is quite lovely- except for the blank, hazy brown eyes that stare at nothing. The sight is actually quite unnerving, and the effect is not an exception to the old man.
"Mr. Gibbs," the apparent Captain says in a condescending tone. "We are pirates. We do not know what we are doing, and we most certainly do not do the right thing." The old man fidgets, clearly uncomfortable.
"But sir- this seems a bit different from other situations," he begins hesitantly. The Captain lets out a small huff, clearly annoyed.
"I know that you idiot! What do you think I'm trying to do?" the Captain yells in a loud voice. His tone seems to startle the girl, who stirs and lets out a small noise of distress at the volume of voice the Captain has used. He immediately lowers it and smoothes the girl's hair.
"Shhh, luv, it's alright. No need to be worried now. It's just me. It's just good ole Jack," he croons awkwardly, but in a comforting tone none the less. She seems to come to life at the name the Captain has said.
"Jack?" she asks. Her voice sounds like a child when first learning to talk or a person riddled with sleep; clumsy and hesitant.
"Yes!" the Captain says excitedly. "That's me luv! Come, please take a bite of the orange for Jack?" the Captain named Jack brings the fruit temptingly in front of her face while hugging her waist with his other arm. Though the girl's eyes are directed towards the object in front of her face, Captain Jack can tell that she isn't actually seeing it.
"Come on luv," he urges in a despairing sort of voice. He peels the orange, rips off a bit, and puts it directly before her mouth. "You really need to eat this bite." The man named Gibbs watches his Captain with a sorrowful, knowing eye. The girl only notices the fruit when Jack bumps it against her lips.
"Hungry?" she asks, though the word does not really make sense as a question in the current situation. Jack jumps on it anyway, not usually making sense himself.
"Yes!" he cries softly, flashing a golden smile. "You are hungry. Very hungry. You need to eat this now, Lizzie." Lizzie looks at Jack, her brown orbs taking a while to actually focus on his face.
"No hungry," she says softly. Lizzie looks back down at the floor of the Captain's Cabin. Jack moans in disappointment and buries his face in her hair.
"Please luv?" he begs, as if using manners will make her eat. But she keeps staring at the floor, as unaware as she had been moments before. Soundless seconds pass slowly before Gibbs decides to end it.
"She needs help, Jack," he says. Jack starts before glaring up at his first mate and worriedly glancing at Elizabeth, as if the statement could hurt her in some way. Gibbs watches bleakly as Jack rubs soothing circles into Elizabeth's unresponsive hand and whispers meaningless assurances of his only temporary absence before walking out of the bedchambers and to the main part of his cabin. Gibbs has no choice but to follow.
"I'm doing my best," Jack says in a strained voice once Gibbs has quietly shut the door. The older man takes a good look at his Captain. Though his ever-present attire is there, as well as his swagger and bottle, Captain Jack seems different. His eyes have lost their sparkle, and his jokes, when present now, seem forced. He is never at the helm of his precious Pearl. In fact, he never leaves Elizabeth's side unless it is to get something for her or to nourish himself. The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, the legend, the notorious pirate, is losing it. And all because of the shell of a girl inside his cabin.
"Is the sea really where she should be now, Jack?" Gibbs begins. "Shouldn't she be on land- safe- with someone more potent than us to take care of her?" Captain Sparrow barks out a cruel laugh.
"And just who would take care of the poor Elizabeth?" he demands harshly. "She has no one left. You know that, Joshamee. The whelp just- he just left her there-" Jack takes a steadying breath. "- and everyone we know is incapable, inept, or too untrustworthy to look after her in this state. Plus, how would I be able to know how she is?" Jack shakes his bandanna-sheathed head, causing both trinkets and dreadlocks to fly. "She is fine where she is," Jack whispers resolutely. Gibbs shakes his head dejectedly.
"Jack, I care for Miss Elizabeth like a daughter, and I have to tell you, this is just not wor-"
"Jack?" a petulant voice suddenly cries from the bedchambers. "Jack!" Immediately the Captain is on his feet and opening the door.
"Jackie's right here," he says soothingly. "What do you need luv?"
"Jack," the childishly warped voice of Elizabeth Swann repeats. The Captain looks at his first mate with hard, determined eyes, full of stress and something else- something that is dangerous for an infamous pirate with many enemies to have.
"I'm dealing with the brain damage as best as I can," Jack says firmly. "But Elizabeth needs me." Gibbs does not comment on the 'vice-versa' thought that may or may not be flashing through both of their heads.
"She needs help," Mr. Gibbs says stubbornly. Jack flashes him another hard look, one which Gibbs knows to not argue against.
"She needs a cure," Jack says in a cracking voice before slamming the door in Joshamee Gibbs' worried face.
The Captain turns to the frail and inwardly damaged lass before him. He runs his dirty fingers through her hair and caresses her cheek, wondering what she would be saying to him right now if her mind was in its full capacity. If her mind wasn't broken.
"I intend to find it," Captain Jack Sparrow whispers into the oblivious girl's ear.
Authors Note: So, this can either be a one-shot, or I could continue it... it all depends on your response (or if I happen to recieve the blessing of inspiration any time soon!) What do you guys think? I know that since Angelica came into oST there's been quite a bit of Sparrelica, but honestly, in my mind, there will only ever be Sparrabeth. They were TOTALLY made for each other, and besides, can you guys image the Pirate King, Captain Swan, waiting on a cliff for a whole 10 years? I mean, it's obvious that she loves or loved Will at some point, but it's also obvious that she'd go off and explore... have adventures... maybe reconnect with Jack? ;)
Anyways... I just don't see her doing nothing for a whole 10 years besides having a kid! So, just to let all the Willabeth and Sparrelica fans out there know, this is strictly Sparrabeth... sorry!
YE BE WARNED:
*This story is strictly Sparrabeth.
*This story is un-bettaed (though if you guys want it to continue, and someone is interested, I wouldn't mind a Betta... I just don't know how any of it works, so you'll have to teach me!).
*This is my first fanfiction story.
*Rated T only if the story is continued; otherwise, I'd probably say it's K+. I'll change it later if I decide to leave it as it is!
*This story does not have a time set, meaning that it does not specifically take place before, in, or after CotBP, DMC, AWE, or oST. If the story is continued, I'll make it clear on what time our beloved characters are in!
So, this is my first fanfiction, and it would mean a lot to me if you'd review and let me know what you think of the story!