The hammock is hardly generous. It is not comfortable. It stinks, faintly, of rum.
But she doesn't care, his Lizzie. For she is his, now.
He knows that she knows that she has been placed with the crew for fear of what either of them will do. Will could forgive Lizzie running away to sea, perhaps, but never of them in the same cabin. Never. Will Turner was an honourable man, and would never understand dishonour.
Jack knows that Will will never take his Lizzie back anyway, tainted as she is now. He knows that it is just wishful thinking on her part.
But he will let her dream.
Dreams are all she has now.
But she seems to want something different. She doesn't want to be left on a hammock.
She wants to be corrupted, his Lizzie.
Does she know what she wants? he asks. So she leans forward and pulls his compass away from his hip where it hangs, and opens it. She looks mutely at it and shows it to him.
Yes, Elizabeth Swann says. I know what it is I want.
So he corrupts her, tears away her childhood and tears away her innocence. She welcomes the corruption, embraces it really.
He washes away the guilt with the rum. The sweet, blessed rum.
She wanted to be corrupted, he reasons to himself. It was bound to happen, he says.
If she wants to be corrupted, he will hardly deny her.
But people rarely want what is good for them, he says, gold teeth glinting on the third night.
I don't care, she says, her eyes flashing in the candlelight. I want to be selfish. I don't care.
He wants to point out that she said it twice. But he doesn't.
He knows that he should take what he can, and give nothing back. He knows that he will.
He doesn't quite know if she understands that yet.
He wonders if she has forgotten their first kiss. A sentimental thought, perhaps, but a valid one nonetherless. He wonders what would happen if he reminded her.
Do you remember, Lizzie? He wants to ask. When you condemned me to death?
When you left with William Turner?
They stop off at Tortuga, and Lizzie opts to come with the men to the Faithful Bride.
A wench parks herself flirtatiously on his lap, and he puts his arms around her.
Elizabeth Swann pushes herself away from the tavern table, and walks back to the Black Pearl.
Perhaps she will understand, now, he says to himself.
But she is young, and he is not.
The next night she is back in his cabin, and acts like nothing happened the past night.
What is it you want? He wants to ask. What is it that you want me to give you?
He doesn't ask her.
He doesn't want to know what she will say.
He knows that he won't be able to give it to her. He can't give her something he never had.
A/N: Lalalalala... like? Please review! I like to know what y'all think:)
