A/N: Something I wrote four years ago and forgot about. Not planning on adding to it, but I hope you enjoy this very brief dip into the PotC universe!
Poker Face
"Well, there's the game," Jack swaggered to his feet and grinned, his gold teeth flashing in the candlelight. The fingers of his left hand drummed on the splintery tavern table while his right arm swept dramatically into the air. "Pay up gents, an' don't try to cheat me! I'll have what I'm owed."
Gibbs groaned good-naturedly, releasing his handful of paper cards and taking a long pull from his tankard of rum.
"Yer cleanin' me out, cap'n. We'd better get out to sea soon or you'll have all the money on this island!"
Jack laughed. "As usual, Mr. Gibbs, you've discovered my nefarious plans."
The other players—a few of the usual hangabouts—dug into their pockets and slapped coins before the dreadlocked captain. As Jack leaned forward to collect his winnings, a single card slipped from his sleeve and fluttered to the table in front of a tall, tattooed man by the name of Paxen.
Paxen's head shot up and his eyes narrowed. "You dog! You cheated!"
"Did not." The indignant reply was far from convincing, as was the hurried way Jack scooped the coins into one palm and not so surreptitiously swept the offending card out of sight.
Paxen jumped up, stabbing a finger into the air. "Scum!
"Pirate," Jack offered unapologetically, springing back nimbly as the other pulled out a knife.
"Oh no," Gibbs groaned, dropping his forehead on the table with a thunk.
Jack made no move for his own weapon. "I don't think you want to do that, mate."
Paxen sneered. "So you're a cheat and a coward. Tell me, what's become of the infamous Jack Sparrow who crossed swords with corpses?" The words were spat with contempt.
"Captain, captain! Why does everyone forget I'm a bloody captain?"
With a roar, Paxen charged. In one fluid movement, Jack drew his sword from its scabbard.
"Damn." With a resigned sigh, Gibbs took to his feet and seized his chair, swinging it around and making contact with one of Paxen's comrades, who had been advancing to flank his mate.
Unsurprisingly, these moves triggered a chain reaction and within moments the entire bar descended into chaos.
Jack ducked as a mug soared through the air and simultaneously parried a blow from a vaguely familiar opponent, whose arm was impressively steady considering his level of drunkenness.
"Mr. Gibbs!" he shouted to his second-in-command, "I think it's high time we made our way back to the Pearl!"
"An excellent idea!" Gibbs fought his way in the direction of the door. He broke through the wall of bodies into the night air, Jack on his heels.
"A pity about losing those cards," the captain mused as they navigated Tortuga's twisting avenues.
"Hm?"
"They were Anamaria's. She's going to murder me."