Fire at Will
Disclaimer: Owned by the Mouse
Rated: G
A/N: I wrote this fic in tribute for my friend after she pointed something outabout acertain phrase while riding the attraction at Disneyland. It's fluffy, and I don't write a lot of humor, but I hope you like and please review!
Raucous laughter and the stench of smoke and spilt rum greeted Will Turner as he entered Tortugas most popular tavern. The lights were dim and one of the tables had been overturned, yet everyone seemed to be in jolly spirits. Will surveyed the chaos and recognized most of the faces from the last time he had visited the very same tavern about six or seven months earlier. That time, he had been with Jack and disgusted by his decision to stop there. Now he was scanning the crowd for the same man.
Not surprisingly, the task wasn't too difficult. Jack was at the bar downing what Will supposed was not his first drink. He seemed to be alone and stood up shakily when he saw Will.
"Ah, William!" he cried, motioning for Will to follow him. "Come sit with me!"
He led Will to one of the taverns more private tables and handed the younger man a mug of rum. "How's Elizabeth?" He expected their conversation to inevitably find its way to the governor's daughter anyway, so he decided to start there.
Will beamed.
"She wishes she could've come, but she's busy with wedding plans."
"Your wedding I presume."
"Of course our wedding!" laughed Will, taking a polite sip of rum. Jack drained his own mug and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"Now, I've been thinkin' about something I had never realized before. I'm serious! You see, not many days ago the Pearl had a run-in with another ship."
"Is everyone alright?" Will asked quickly, alarmed.
"Well, yes, that's not the point. So when this other captain had his cannons ready he just stood on the deck and shouted 'Fire at will!', and I thought of you."
"What?"
"I mean, don't you mind that people are shooting you all the time?"
It took a moment for Will to realize just what Jack was asking him. When he did, he didn't know whether to laugh or find a doctor. He searched his friend's face, trying to figure out if he was joking.
"N-n-no," he stammered. "I never thought of it that way either. I mean, it's not like they're actually talking about me. They're not even talking about a person."
"They could be."
"Jack! 'Fire at will' means fire at your inclination, or when you choose. It has nothing to do with me or anyone by that name."
"But don't you think that when the saying was created they could literally have been firing at a Will?"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because…" Will couldn't think of a reason, but he didn't want to tell Jack that. He tried to remember how they had gotten in to this conversation. "Because it's just not reasonable. That's not what they're trying to say."
"You know I'm right!"
"I never said that."
"Maybe so, but you thought it."
"You're daft! Even if your theory was correct, which it is not, it could've easily been 'Fire at Jack' instead."
"You think so?"
"…Yes…" Will said slowly, not liking Jack's look.
"Well then, I'll just have to change it."
"Excuse me?"
"From now on I'll say 'Fire at Jack', and everyone will think of me." Jack said, pleased with his decision. Will gaped and promptly rose from the table to refill his drink.
FIN