Chapter three: Finally I can see you crystal clear

Bill brought Jack out to the deck, and the moonlight cast an eerie glow across them, as Jack leaned heavily on the railing, while Bill stood almost ten feet away with his hands awkwardly on his hips, as if he wasn't sure what to do with them. And Jack just stared at him, careful to keep his own expression blank, and refusing to start the conversation he knew was coming, because though he had dreamed, for years, of having the whole thing explained to him, he was scared.

"Hector," Bill finally said, and Jack let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, "Hadn't boarded the ship intending to mutiny against you, Jack."

"Really now?" Jack drawled, unable to keep the bitter tone out of his voice, "So what happened then, mate? Did I offend 'im in some way? Did 'e jus' not like tha' I was younger? Handsomer?" Jack realized he was being petty, and that Bill would probably be getting annoyed with him, but he couldn't help but be bitter with Bill. Bill had been his best friend, he had saved his life. And the fact that he'd sided with Hector (even if he did come to his sense some where down the line) over him, had always eaten at Jack in a way he hadn't known a mere memory could.

"Jack, please." Bill looked up at him finally, and again he cringed under Jack's cold stare. He wasn't accustomed to seeing Jack look at him that way (Jack had never looked at him this way. Not the night of the mutiny. Not the night he'd given him the black spot... not in any of his dreams).

And though Bill knew it was ridiculous to be afraid of such a small, and much younger man, he still was. "Let me tell you." Bill sounded desperate, so Jack remained silent, but with a wave of his hand indicated that Bill should continue.

"It started a week afore we made port in Tortuga. A week afore ye said we were goin' to find Isla De Murta." Bill sounded sad, almost broken, as he looked just beyond Jack, to the round moon in the sky.

Will wasn't sure why he was looking for Jack, but as soon as he'd laid William down to sleep he'd left his cabin in search of the older pirate, and as he wandered around his ship aimlessly, barely paying attention to his surroundings, his mind on Elizabeth, he found himself going up on the deck. But as he neared the top step he heard his fathers voice, speaking slowly, and evenly, "You and Barbossa were fighting over something, it was so trivial then that I don't remember it now." Will paused on the top step, and casually leaned against the wall, barely concealed in the shadows, but neither Jack nor Bootstrap seemed to realize he was there, so he decided to listen in.

"It must've been around midnight, because I was on watch, when you threw Barbossa out of your cabin, and I could hear you shouting, he'd done something to anger you, and whatever it was, it had continued to that night. After he went to bed you came up to the helm, and turned us toward Tortuga. I remember askin' you if you were alright, and you just looked at me, and then you nodded. I went below deck for a drink, and when I returned you were standing there waiting for me..." Bill swallowed nervously here, and shifted awkwardly,

"Finish the story, William." Jack's voice was cold now, and Bill knew it was probably because he didn't appreciate the problems he'd been having with Hector, that led up to his mutiny, being called trivial. Bill looked at the deck, and rubbed the back of his neck nervously, but he nodded.

–

"Captain?" Bill asked cautiously as Jack stood with his arms folded over his chest, scowling at the moon, as if he were fighting with it, and the way he'd been fighting with everyone lately, Bill honestly wouldn't have been surprised.

Jack turned toward him slowly, smiling suddenly, and it was a bit unnerving for Bill the way Jack could go from fighting-mad, to jolly in a matter of seconds. Jack motioned vaguely and Bill was about to say something when Jack spoke, "William," Jack started slowly, carefully, as he took a step toward the deck, "I've been wonderin' somethin'. Ye seem to stare at me a lot, and I was just wonderin' why ye do that?" Jack turned to look at him slowly, smiling strangely, and Bill stammered, unsure of what to say, or how to word it. His face flushed and he looked at the floor, nervous.

And Jack couldn't help but grin wider, because this was just the reaction he'd anticipated. Just the reaction he'd wanted. He had William right where he wanted him, after all. "Excellent." Jack said throwing his arms open, "Jus' as I expected. Come 'ere, William." Bill looked up confused, but Jack was smiling, and he looked happy, and so much more like Jack-Jack, that William walked to him nervously, he paused about three feet from Jack, and the younger man stepped forward casually, and wrapped his arms around Bill's neck, smiling at him, "I won't hurt ye." Jack cooed before drawing Bill into a light, gentle, friendly kiss.

Bill started slightly, and placed his hands on Jack's shoulders, and pushed him back slightly, "Wh-" he started but Jack moved forward, and seemed to melt against him as he covered Bill's mouth with his own. He wanted to push Jack away, he wanted to deny him, he really did, because he didn't want Jack to regret this in the morning. But, Gods, he'd wanted this for so long, that it felt a bit superfluous to push Jack away. So Bill settled for wrapping his arms around Jack's waist and holding him tightly to his chest.

Jack let out a soft noise, almost a sigh, but just the right side of a moan, as he hiked a leg up on Bill's side, and moved his hips experimentally. It felt almost wrong to be moving against someone who was not Hector this way, but Jack wanted to do this. Needed to do this.

Bill let out a soft sigh, as he ran a hand across the expanse of Jack's back, and down over the curse of his ass, giving a light squeeze, he slowly trailed his hand up the younger mans leg, to hook his fingers under the younger mans knee, to pull his leg up higher.

Bill was backing them into a wall, Jack realized gratefully, not really wanting any of the other men to stumble on to this. As his back hit the wall, probably a little harder then Bill had intended (unless, Jack mused, he liked it rough) Jack let out a small gasp, as he arched against the other man, his arms reflexively tightening around Bill.

Bill moved deftly, and Jack honestly hadn't expected him to be so good at this. But the other man was moving his hips in a way that was making Jack see stars, And Jack had honestly believed that Hector was the only one who could make him feel the weak with lust. But Bill was having a fine go with it.

Jack moaned low in his throat and tipped his head back against the wall as Bill began to mouth at his neck, thrusting his hips up into Jack as he did so. Jack opened his eyes slowly, breathing slightly heavily, he'd thought he'd heard...

Jack was little more then surprised when he saw Hector standing in the mouth of the hall, looking at them, his mouth was slack, and his eyes were wide with shock. And Jack realized the man looked ready to beg him. Well, Jack mused, he'll have plenty of time later.

Bill slammed into Jack, causing Jack's hands to scrabble across his shoulders for purchase he was so startled by the movement, but Bill was pressing up against him, and roughly working at his pants, and Jack didn't miss Hector's horrified expression.

Jack wrapped an arm around Bill's neck, splaying his fingers across the mans cheek sensually, and looked straight into Hector's eyes, and smiled. When Bill suddenly slipped a hand into his pants, Jack let out a low moan as the other mans long fingers wrapped around his already, painfully, erect penis.

Jack let his eyes flutter shut, and exaggerated the moan. He knew Hector would get offended. Knew Hector would view this as Jack telling him that Bill was pleasing him more then Hector had.

Jack knew he should feel bad. But it was impossible to feel bad with Bill pumping him like that.

–

"Stop." Jack snapped, looking away from Bill, and the older man continued to look at the deck in between his feet, obviously worried. "I suppose Hector told ye tha' I seen 'im there, then?" Jack asked softly, and Bill muttered a weak 'yes'. Jack inhaled sharply, more angry then he knew he should be. "Leave me, William. I 'ave to think." Bill didn't seem to want to go, so Jack spared him a cold, encouraging look, and the older pirate nodded hesitantly and slowly turned, and began to walk away.

Jack knew exactly what fight William was talking about. The fight that had apparently set the ball rolling. The fight that had led to him practically forcing himself on Bill. The fight that had led them to that night. The night he'd seen Hector standing in the hall, looking at him with wide, pleading eyes. He'd looked so sad, so desperate, that Jack had felt powerful. Felt like he could make Hector beg him.

The night he'd looked over Bill's shoulder into Hector's eyes, and smiled.

Yes, Jack remembered that night well.

Watching Bill walk away Jack came to the startling realization that he actually resented the other pirate. Jack found himself wishing he could start over, with everything.

If only he'd never met Hector Barbossa... he would be a happy captain aboard the Black Pearl, and he would be rich.

Jack resented them both.