Another month, another setting of challenges!

This "story" will be a series of unrelated chapters in answer to NeonDomino's 2016 Monthly Prompt List Challenge: February. It is a continuation of my effort to combat writer's block and explore new territory. I'm definitely venturing outside my comfort zone - please note, this one is rated M for a reason (though that doesn't happen in this chapter)!

At the beginning of each chapter, I will list the prompt and the pairing/characters, genre, and rating I used to answer it. Unless otherwise explicitly stated, these will be [short] one-shots that I have no intention of pursuing into a full-fledged story. If a chapter strikes your fancy and ignites an idea in you that you want to pursue into a story, just let me know and I will happily let you take these half-formed ideas and run with them (just let me know so I can later stalk your story if you decide to post it!).

So for the first challenge:

[Quote] "You cheated!" / "Pirate!" - William Turner / Captain Jack Sparrow - Pirates of the Caribbean

Characters: Lily Evans and James Potter

Genre: Romance/humor

Rating: T


A Pirate's Lady

"Be careful, my lady."

Careful, she says. The lady in question refrained from rolling her eyes by the slimmest of margins. Her maid would not appreciate the gesture. They were strolling through the middle of the slums. The warning was hardly necessary. It wasn't as though she'd never come by this way before. Never in such an elaborate gown, of course. She'd never dared to proclaim her wealth in the slums before.

"Lady Evans, did you hear me?"

"Of course I heard you." Lily snapped without looking at her maid. "Relax, Leanna. We'll be on the dock and to my father's ship soon enough. Just don't make eye contact." Lily was keeping her emerald eyes pointed straight down the street. Her chin was held high and her back ramrod straight. Her steps were firm and even. Full of pride and arrogance.

Even in broad daylight, people littered the streets in drunken comas. Women dressed provocatively leaned against doorways and windows sending alluring smiles to anyone who dared to look. A musk of booze, sweat, and something indefinable yet distinctly unpleasant lay over the streets. Her nose twitched against it, but Lily wasn't going to make an outward sign of her distaste. Best to simply get to the docks quickly and be out to sea before the King got wind of their flight.

"What's a pretty little lady like you doing out on streets like these?" The voice was low and full of dangerous promise. The arm he snaked around her waist, strong and firm. Lily's breath caught in her throat as she landed against his hard chest.

"Release me." She hissed, hitting his shoulder.

"Not until you tell me why you're wandering around down here wearing that." He hauled her into the alley, ignoring her struggles. "Come on, babe." Lily stomped on his foot. He released her, cursing vividly. She fled—or at least tried to.

His hand fastened on her skirt, tearing half of it from the bodice. She yelped, flushing. But the man wasn't looking. His arm was around her again, and he drug her further into the alley.

"Let go of me!"

"Not just yet." There was a makeshift bed at the end of the alley. He swept her legs out from under her, dropping her on the pile of blankets. "Don't get your knickers in a wad, Evans." He covered her, hazel eyes dancing.

"Don't be crude, Potter." She snapped, smacking his shoulder again. "You ruined my dress."

"I told you not to come down here dressed like this."

"My father's ship sails within the hour." Lily growled, squirming to be free.

"And that's supposed to give me incentive to let you leave?" His gaze was darkening, and she stilled, heart stuttering.

"James, you know I have to leave."

"Not necessarily." His lips whispered across hers as he spoke. Heat chased across her body, and it was much too easy to allow her muscles to loosen. She was pliable beneath his hands, responding to his kiss despite her better judgment.

She remembered the first time she'd run into him. She'd run away from her father's house dressed in the worst rags she could find—still worlds better than what most people wore down in the slums. She'd come across Captain James Potter early in the night. Except then, she hadn't known he was a pirate Captain. He was simply James, and she hadn't cared for his profession. He hadn't asked after her life, accepting that she was his equal without question. His words were crass, but she gave as good as she got. They'd run around almost all night, getting into all sorts of mischief. Ending in much the same way they were now, except it had been in a real bed in his inn. She'd snuck away when he was sleeping, never intending on seeing him again.

But she had seen him again. Several times. Though it had taken nearly a year of cat and mouse before he'd followed her back to her father's house and seen her in the light of day. Captain James Potter took it in stride, going as far as to "kidnap" her. She'd spent a total of a day and a half aboard his ship, the Marauder, before the navy caught up to him. He'd tossed her off in a little boat to be picked up rather than engage in a fight. She hadn't seen him since that day.

But now his hands were inching the remains of her skirt up to her hips, and Lily was second-guessing their actions. Her father was out of favor with the King. Her entire family was fleeing into exile, and here she was about to bed an infamous pirate Captain. Again. She growled into his mouth, pushing him back and twisting away.

"Stop it, James."

"Lily." She shivered despite herself as he nuzzled the hollow of her throat.

"I said stop." Lily threw him completely off this time, scrambling to her feet. She bolted without pausing to look back. If she looked at him, she'd never leave. Lily ran for the mouth of the alley, shoving past the people at the front of it.

"Oh, no you don't." One of them caught her wrist, wrenching her back.

"Black." She spat, recognizing the first mate. Actually, now that she'd paused, she recognized them all. His crew stood around her, caging her in.

"Leaving so soon, princess?" The pirate smirked at her.

"Yes." She said flatly.

"I don't think so." Remus Lupin, second mate, stood behind her. "Cap's impossible to deal with when he's pinning for you."

"So we're taking you with us."

"You're kidnapping me?" Lily's voice spiked with outrage.

"Well…" Black blinked thoughtfully, a smirk beginning to dance on his lips.

"Lady Lily Evans!" A voice shouted from outside the crowd of pirates. Guards on horseback approached. "You are under arrest!"

"And what did you do?" Lupin laughed, taking her elbow. "Fetch the Captain, boys. Looks like this will be fun."

"Freeze!" The guard shouted. Lily whirled around with Potter's crew and fled with them. Lupin, she trusted. He would not hurt her. So she ran on his heels, ducking through narrow side streets and ignoring the guard behind them.

The Maraduer was crawling with activity when they reached it, and James Potter was at the helm, shouting merrily into the chaos. Sails were unfurling and supplies were being thrown onto the deck rather haphazardly. She, Lupin, and Black were the last up the gangplank before it was whisked from the dock. The ship slid smoothly out into open water, much faster than many were able to. But Potter, at least, was a wizard. It was magic that got them into open water so quickly.

Lily raced to the back of the ship, watching the port grow farther and farther away. From the look of things, pursuit was not imminent. Another ship was casting out, but it wasn't a war vessel. A smaller ship meant to take a fleeing family to safety. Her father's boat had been docked right next to the Marauder. Or perhaps the fault was James'. She scowled.

"Welcome back, Evans." He said from behind her.

"You cheated." She growled, spinning around to face him.

"Pirate." James reminded her with a crooked smile. Lily rolled her eyes pointedly. "Are you going to make me let you go again?" He wondered. "I generally don't loot women."

"I'll give you a medal."

"Come on, Evans."

"Tell you what." She jumped back onto the deck, stumbling only a little. "You explain how your noble ass ended up turning to piracy, and maybe I'll stay."

"You know?" His hand jumped to his hair self-consciously.

"Potter." She shrugged loosely. "A very wealthy name in the magical community. Muggles won't have the first clue, but I recognized the name as soon as you told me. You were only a few years ahead of me in Hogwarts, you know."

"I what?"

"I didn't even put it together until I realized what you called your ship. Then I remembered your gang and the stupid pranks and—"

"You went to Hogwarts?" Potter said blankly.

"Yes." She nodded. "I was scrawny, wore glasses, and generally tried to make myself unnoticeable."

"You little piece of shit."

"I—" He took two steps, grabbed her elbows, and slanted his mouth across hers. Stealing her defense.

"I love you." James said, daring her to defy him.

"I love you, too." Lily murmured, running a finger across the stubble on his jaw. "I can stay, right?"

"Finally." He drug her close, ignoring the sudden catcalls from his crew. Lily grinned into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. There were worse things than a bit of honest piracy.