Author: Spiral2darkness Rating: PG-13, so far
Pairing: established Sparrington
Disclaimer: Disney owns most of these characters (with the exception of a few of my own OC) and the setting in which they live.
Notes: This is my first PotC fic and is a AU since this takes place after CotBP but ignores the DMC (even though I liked the movie and have a few of the characters from it show up). Forgive any horrible historical inaccuracies, I'm just doing this for entertainment.
Inspired by Oasisherself's wonderful "A Fish Tail" (go read it!), and reading Hellboy graphic novels.
This chapter is unbeta-ed, so lots of mistakes! Beware!'
All stop!" Gibbs barked and soon the ship was brought to a gentle halt, the crew deathly quiet as they gathered along the railing, the very ship beneath them seemed hushed at the sad sight. Even many of the crew that had jumped to their feet and loudly celebrated at the news of the Dauntless sinking were quiet, also affected by the humbling sight.
As his dark eyes watched the once great warship amongst the rocks, Jack gently squeezed and stoked one of the spokes of the wheel in his hand, but if the gesture was to comfort his ship or draw comfort from the simple act, only the silent pirate could say.
"Why didn't we see 'er afore? We past ere' three times already?" Ragetti whispered in confusion, squinting at the distant ship with his one good eye."Cause we was go'in the other way," Pintel shrugged, sharing a look with his one eyed mate, a greasy eyebrow cocked. "That and the Spanish said she gone down in the straight, not bashed up on the rocks, Rags."
"That still don't explain it. We should 'ave seen her!" Gibbs insisted, leaning on the railing. "Magic be a foot in this..." he muttered under his breath, no one else had a better explanation. Many of the crew feeling a little shiver run up their spines.
"I don't like this one bit! Don't feel right," Draco muttered darkly, holding onto one of the ratlines.
"No one ask you!" Anamarie barked, giving the rangy blond an irritated look before turning her glare back to the wreck.
A long boat was lowered and soon Jack, William, Gibbs and lanky red-haired crew member by the name of Sexton made their way across the calm water to the massive ship impaled amongst the rocks. Only one of her tall mast still standing, her once snow white sails nothing but ghostly tatters, her massive hull cracked and broken, leaning against some of the deadly rocks that now cradled her. As Gibbs and Sexton rowed, both men looking nervous, especially the older ex-navy man who glanced over his shoulder again before reaching for his hidden flask and taking a quick swig.
"'Frightful bad luck ta stand on a wrecked ship, it 'tis!" He mumbled to himself for the second time.
Will meanwhile made his way up to sit behind the oddly still Sparrow, who had not moved from his perch since boarding the longboat. His midnight eyes seeming to suck in all light, their dark depths swirled with emotions that Will couldn't even begin to fathom, but there was one thing he did now see and understood all to well in Jack's eyes. Loss. Jack's elfin features usually so animated, now seemed so still and strange.
Will had never seen Jack like this and it worried him as he frowned at the silent pirate. Never had his face been the still mask it had now become, the playful gleam gone from those chips of obsidian. With a sigh Will turned his brown eyes to the wreck that loomed closer as their small boat passed several deadly juts of rock, perhaps Jack had been in some type denial, but now seeing with his own eyes Captain Jack Sparrow could no longer deny the truth now.
As they neared the wreck, Will noticed the many sea lions lounging on the ship or swimming around, some coming near their boat for a curious look before darting away.
A few moments later the small party stood on the slanted deck of the eerily quiet ship, the long boat tied up, looking around at the damage as they remembered the last time they had been aboard. It was hard to image this as the same ship that had rescued Will from the sea as a mere boy or that had rescued Jack and Elizabeth from the small island Barbossa had marooned them on, or had later taken them all back to Port Royal. A seeming floating fortress, the Dauntless had never seemed to sleep, sailors, officers and marines going to and fro in their duties, the decks ringing with their shoes and boots.
Now all was still and quiet, empty of its' once vibrant life, the many cannons, heavy crates and other such items tossed about on the deck as if by a petulant and messy child. Her tall masts toppled, her once proud and snow white sails ripped and tattered, Jack and the others being forced to climb over or find some other way around the various obstacles. The many sea lions watched them or dosed, a few seeming to keep guard like the large older seal by the railing where their long boat was tied, its dark eyes tracking them ever since they had rowed up. Or the two seals growling and gurgling at one another by the busted doors of the main cabin, one particular seal glared down at them from the quarterdeck, as if it found their presence there especially offensive.
"Ahoy! Anyone be here?" Gibbs call, only succeeding in attracting the many seal's attention before they went back to doing whatever it was that seals did when out of the water. Otherwise all was deathly quiet save for the waves, the cry of gulls, the grumbling of the seals and the occasional creak and groan from the great ship.
Finding several unbroken lamps with oil, they did a quick search below decks which revealed the ship to be empty, no bodies to be found, live or dead, abandoned save for the many oddly silent and watching seals they encountered below. Many having apparently taken up residence in the crew quarters, some having even climbed into the still strung hammocks, soon the party returned back to the main deck. William especially found it creepy, everything about this making him feel ill at ease as he stuck close to Jack, a hand on the hilt of his sword as the three waited for Gibbs to join them. The ex-navy man having split off from the rest while they had been below, saying he wanted to check something.
"There's nothing here. We should go," Will was saying when Gibbs reappeared. Dousing his lamp before setting it down with a big sigh, rubbing his sweaty forehead with a grubby forearm.
"This not be in keep'in with what Tic was tell'in, Jack," he said as he crossed the deck to join them. "The Commodore was better then this, he may have dressed like a toff, but he was a capable seamen. One of the best. This... This just don't seem right."
"Your right, somethin' is wrong here," Jack agreed with a nod. "Spanish didn't do this..." he said in a low voice, taking in the destruction around them with knowing seafaring eyes.
Will however couldn't understand what they were talking about, his brow furrowed in befuddlement. "What do you mean?"
Yes, the warship hadn't sunk, but it was clear that the Spanish were responsible for her destruction, he thought. "The damage is clear- look!" He motioned to where a cannon blast had clearly ripped through the railing and splintered the stairs and part of the quarterdeck, the broken masts that lay across the deck and other damage obviously caused by cannon fire, but the others ignored him.
"Aye, this don't be adding up to what the Spanish was tell'in ," Sexton agreed, thoughtfully scratching his chin as he looked around the deck.
"These masts weren't damaged in the fight, these where toppled after they hit the rocks- see where they splintered," Jack said. Pointing to a particular section of the broken mast near the base, William now skeptically looking over his shoulder.
"And the position of her on these here rocks, how did she get past em' when we had ta take a jollyboat just to get through em'?" Gibbs mused aloud, his blue eyes narrowed in thought as he studies the nearby rocks. "To get through, she would ave been ripped ta pieces long before coming ta die 'ere... Yet 'ere she is, almost whole.
"Like someone just picked her up and threw her against the rocks," he finished with a suspicious look around. Making Will shift uneasily, as Jack climbed the undamaged stairs and made his way to the wheel, keeping clear of the now growling seal that had been glaring at them earlier from the quarter deck.
"I've seen plenty of wrecks- been the cause of more then one. But this here, this ain't natural." Sexton muttered with a sharp nod of his head, sucking on his gray teeth.
"Someone broke this great big bitch's back..." Jack said in a low voice as he came stand by the helm. Imagining James standing here, barking orders, standing tall as he made this massive warship do his bidding. "Yet they couldn't brake her... they couldn't break him..." His onyx eyes narrowed. "Not by natural means," he murmured aloud, more to himself then the others. Before hesitantly reaching out to take hold of the wheel, his dark eyes distant, the smooth wood under his calloused fingers cold.
She was dead, the Dauntless was but a cold corpse now and he found that mourned for her, not for the loss of her majesty and power. After all, she could not hold a candle next to his beautiful and swift Pearl, but he mourned her because she was Norrington's ship, this ship had been a part of him and now she lay wrecked and broken upon the rocks. Letting himself get lost in memories, his slender tan fingers tracing the wear marks where Jame's long pale ones had been. The sky above painted orange and pink in the light of the setting sun, chased by dark indigo as the stars began to appear above, quiet save for the sounds of the sea and the flap of the tattered shrouds above.
"Its too quiet," he said aloud with a tilt of his head, finally stepping away from the helm and joining the others on deck again. His dark eyes darting about uneasily before coming to rest on the older seal still sitting patiently by the railing, still silently watching them. Gibbs and Sexton also turned to look at the animal, while poor Will was still utterly lost, not understanding any of his companion's cryptic words, throwing his hands up in annoyance.
"Gibbs?" Jack asked, his dark eyes still staring at the silent seal.
"Aye, Cap'n?" Gibbs answered, both he and Sexton leaning in closer.
"Somethin' be wrong with the Bark-barks."
Will cocked an eyebrow at that, "Bark-barks?"
"The seals," Gibbs explained. As the three watched the lithe pirate look around at all the watching seals, then down at the deck with a frown, the two thin braids of his beard swinging.
"Where's all the shite?" He suddenly declared, tilting around to look at the other three.
"What?" Will asked incredulously, while Sexton and Gibbs looked around in surprise. The poor Blacksmith was officially lost now, not following, the decks where messy, but were thankfully free of animal waste, even when they had gone down below with all the seals he hadn't smelled anything.
"Bark-barks, messy things," Jack explained, making a face before checking the underside of his boots. "They shite on everything!" He muttered, wrinkling his nose.
"Usually smell em' afore you can see em."
"Aye! Jack's right, this ain't be natural!" Gibbs agreed in all seriousness.
"Jack! There's nothing here," Will cried in frustration. Not caring about any supposed missing shit, just wanting to get off the creepy ship and back to Elizabeth who was waiting for them back on the Pearl. No doubt still angry that she had not been allowed to join the boarding party.
It was then that a loud thump caused all of them to whirl around to face the dark entrance to the main cabin where the noise had come from.
"They said their was no survivors," Gibbs hiss, a white-knuckled grip on his cutlass.
"They also said the Dauntless sunk in the straight," Jack countered, with a note of ruefulness beside him. Not taking his eyes from the open cabin door, cutlass in hand, Will and Sexton flanking them at the ready as they slowly moved to investigate the captain's cabin.
They where almost to the doors when something suddenly darted out of the dark interior, causing them all to jump, weapons ready. However, they soon saw that it was only another seal, much to Jack's relief and bitter disappointment.
The small sea lion, still more pup then adult scuttled out of the cabin, pausing to look up at them standing there with big liquid eyes. At the lowering of their weapons, the four watched it give a gargling bark and hurry around them and across the slanted deck before leaping over the side with a splash.
With that Jack moved to investigate the dark cabin, but the two large seals that had been sitting near the steps, barking and growling at one another suddenly stopped and quickly waddled over to the doors, purposefully blocking pirate's path.
"Looks like these creatures have staked Norrington's ship for their own," William noted as he looked around at the silent animals again.
"Perhaps they be keep'in some of their young'ins in there?" Gibbs offered with a shrug.
Jack however was determined to get into the cabin, trying to shoo them away, even going so far as to pick up a bit of broken board and trying to nudge the two animals. The seals seemed quite insulted and voiced the opinion at being poked, the larger of the two giving the pirate a fierce snarl and snapped it's teeth, causing the lithe pirate to drop his bit of board and jump back with a yelp.
Jack was contemplating just taking out his pistol and shooting the animal when a loud bark from the interior of the cabin caused everyone to start again. At the sound the two seals blocking their path seemed to straighten before moving out of the way, both animals taking a position by the stairs again, keeping a watchful eye on the small party.
Jack shared a look with the others, cocking his head back at the odd behavior before cautiously going in, keeping a weary eye out for ambush or bodies. Having snuck into this very cabin before over the years, but never through the actual front door, unless in irons and under escort of two marines, but the large cabin was disappointingly empty. Light coming in through the large windows, several of the poured glass pains cracked or missing, allowing in the sounds of the ocean and the cry of gulls. With the exception of some bits of seaweed, a few shells and some scattered papers the room looked fairly neat, which was surprising considering the time that had past since the Dauntless' wrecking and the many animals that had taken over the ship. A large seal with an oddly dignified baring sat by the heavy map table while a smaller seal watched them from the open doorway to another room off to the side of the main cabin, their dark eyes following them as the four men looked around the room.
Laying on the map table Jack recognized Norrington's pistol and a torn and bloodstained jacket, along with two swords that he recognized as the belonging to Norrington's two top lieutenants, along with some paperwork. Ever practical, Jack took a few of the maps as well as the book of navy charts, but something held him back when he reached for the elegant pistol, even stopping Sexton from taking the two swords, much to the lanky pirate's grumbling. But Jack paid him no mind as nimble tanned fingers delicately tracing the blood stains and rips in the dark familiar uniform, swallowing around the lump that had formed in his throat at the items tossed carelessly onto the map table. There was simply no denying it now.
"Maybe there where survivors," Gibbs said when they finally walked out of the cabin. "Perhaps that's why the Spanish be say'in they sunk her." Jack and the others turned to look at the older man who stopped at the side of the ship.
"What do you mean?" Will asked, crossing his arms in discomfort.
"She'll never sail again," Gibbs said with a sigh, more to himself then the others as he ran a weathered and callused hand along the smooth railing. The ex-navy man remembering when this grand lady used to be home- used to be 'his' lady. But that was the past and he was now a pirate and his lady and home was the dark and elegant Black Pearl to be seen anchored safely away from the rocks and reefs in the near distance. Yet he could not deny the sadness in his breast at seeing the grand Dauntless dead and ravaged, she did not deserve her fate and he knew that most aboard her had not deserved their fate either.
"She's near whole even with the storm and the battle so there should ave' been some survivors. Their still be food and water below," he continued, still rubbing his hand slowly along the polished wood. "Yet there ain't anyone here, she's an empty ghost." His hand finally stopped and he stepped back from the railing, turning to look at the others.
"Navy procedure; if there ad' been any survivors, they'd ave' tried to make it over through the rocks and set up camp most like on the nearest island. They would have taken all the supplies they could have salvage and left two marines on a rotating post ere' to guard the wreck and keep watch for passing ships."
"Yet none of the jollyboats been taken. There still be plenty of powder below and the food an water asin't been touched."
Sexton nodded his dirty red-haired head in agreement to Gibbs unspoken words, Jack and William listening. "The Spanish couldn't ave taken the chance that the Commodore might ave' survived the battle. Probably rowed up ere and rounded up any of the survivors they found on deck and slaughtered em all." he rumbled with a sweep of a thin arm.
"Aye, animals and the waves could ave taken care of the bodies. And any rains since then would ave' washed all the blood and awful from the decks," Gibbs agreed grimly, looking down at the slick and slanted deck under their feet.
"And if the Pirate Hunter was alive they might ave' taken em' for a prize, since they couldn't ave' taken the Dauntless back to a Spanish port," Gibbs added, thinking out loud as he rubbed his bristly chin in thought. Sexton mirroring his movements while looking up at the shredded shrouds above them in the fading light.
"Probably parade him and any other such spoils before the Spanish King em' self. May even hand him over to the Inquisition, mayhaps?" Sexton wondered.
Next to him Will visibly paled at the mention of the 'Inquisition', even he had heard the horrible stories and rumors that came out of Europe and even the northern colonies. How even the mere whisper of a witch could spark off utter madness and zelotus frenzy.
"I've heard things- terrible things!" He said with a deep frown now on his handsome face. "I wouldn't wish any poor soul to fall into their grasp."
"And rightly so, young William." Gibbs said, patting the young man on the back. "No country be quite right when they be let' in the likes of the Inquisition ave full reign. And in war people do dark things no man would do in their right mind, bad business that. But in war... there be a whole 'nother matter..." Gibbs muttered darkly.
Jack turned away from the others as they continued to talk, closing his eyes with a shudder as he slowly walked back over to the quarterdeck, stumbling briefly over some broken boards as he climbed the steps, his boots ringing hollowly against the deck. Church sanction monsters supposedly doing God's will, torturing, terrorizing, mutilating and murdering innocents, any that they deemed evil, a sinner, a heretic, godless or different. Any excuse would do, bloodthirsty monsters that slaughtered and frightening more then even the worst black-heart or pirate could ever even imagine to do. Instead of a sword or pistol, these monsters carried a cross and a bible. If what Jack had heard was true, he wanted nothing to do with the church or its twisted God that would allow such beasts do such horrible things in his name. He would rather see Norrington dead then in the hands of such foul creatures...
"Not a chance!" Gibbs suddenly barked. "I used to serve on this here ship, under the Commodore when he was still but a first Lieutenant. And mark my words! Under all that ice there be waters fierce and as dangerous as the northern sea and just as deadly.
"No, the Spanish would not ave' been able ta take em' alive so long as he drew breath!" He said in all certainty, a tone of genuine admiration and pride in his voice.
Hearing Gibbs words, a sad little smile tugged at the corners of Jack's lips as he stood before the helm, the ex-navy man was right. His James would have gone down fighting, taking as many of them down with him as he could. No doubt the Commodore met his end unflinching, going down in a blaze of glory. Or at least that's what Jack tried to tell himself.
"Either way me, Lov. It is not our fate to go quietly into the night..." He whispered to the evening air before leaning down and gently bestowing a kiss of goodbye to the polished wooden wheel, the smooth spokes in his hands cool. As the last rays of the sun gave way to night, a glittering array of stars to be seen as a fat moon sailed across the sky.
A short time later the four where back on the Pearl, Jack taking one last final look at the sad wreck amongst the rocks before heading for his cabin, however he was intercepted by Anamarie before he could flee.
"Did you find what you was look' in' for, Jack?" She demanded, her yellow headscarf keeping her hair out of her face.
"No," he breathed, taking off his hat with a sigh, the trinkets in his hair chiming. Trying to give the glaring woman a teasing grin, that never quite made it, with a blink she watched it crumble, his mask momentarily faltering. The pain and sorrow revealed for a moment, his dark eyes telling her all as his shoulders slumped and he seemed so small and thin.
"He's gone..." he managed to whisper. And it was then that she knew the truth, the reason why they where out here, it was all laid bare before the first mate.
"You and the Pirate Hunter... I should ave' known!" she growled with a scowl, putting her hands on her hips. "Only you! I swear you could charm a hungry tiger shark in ta lay'in wit you." Watching him duck his head, seeming so terribly young, the two watching Turners behind them forgotten as the rest of the crew went about their duties.
Even though Anamarie was angry, her brown eyes softened and she reached up with a work calloused hand to touch his smooth cheek in a gesture of compassion and comfort, watching him look up and give her a small grateful smile before giving his cheek a gentle stinging smack.
"Jack Sparrow, you such a fool," she sighed, with a shake of her head before a squeak from behind him made her look over his shoulder.
"Jack!?" Elizabeth gasped, having over heard and not believing her ears before recovering. Will however still stood there stunned, seeming rooted to the spot. "You... and James! When- how!?" Her thoughts racing.
"Its a long interestin' story," he smiled, mask firmly back in place while fluttering a ringed hand distractingly. Though clearly not wanting to talk about it right then, but Elizabeth was not ready to let it go just yet, now glaring at the lithe pirate. Most of his exotic features now lost in shadow, the Pearl only lit by a few lamps, the moonlight bathing everything in a pale blue.
"But, Jack- he tried to hang you! And your a pirate- I don't understand!" She said, shaking her head at a loss, William still standing there blinking dumbly behind her
"You know me, lov. I've always liked a challenge and a bit of shine," He said with a shrug and a easy grin that didn't reach his eyes. "I got me Pearl back, killed that traitorous first mate of mine, Barbossa. And what do ya know? I find an emerald, tossed away for another piece of treasure," His dark kohl lined eyes glancing in Will's direction. Elizabeth visibly straightened at that, looking uncomfortable and unable to deny his words.
"But the Commodore is a MAN!!" William suddenly blurted out, his forehead wrinkled. Causing everyone to look at him. Seeing their looks a flush rose to his cheeks, though it was clear he was not sure what to think, bouncing from stunned disbelief to realization, to anger, confusion and a few other feelings he couldn't name just yet.
"Last time I checked," Jack chuckled, a genuine flash of humor in his eyes. Though there was an undercurrent of weariness in his posture now, knowing full well what many felt about sodomy and those who willingly loved other men. Anamarie beside him just rolled her eyes at the naive young man, he might be Bootstrap's boy, but he clearly had much to learn about shipboard life and life in general. Though to be honest, even she was still trying to get her head wrapped around Jack and the Pirate Hunter sharing a bed
Jack however decided to just leave them to their own thoughts, to tired for the moment to care, the need for solitude overshadowing anything else.
"I'll be in me cabin," he told them before walking away, leaving them to watch him saunter away before disappearing into his cabin.
For a moment Jack stood there in the spacious and opulently decorated cabin, his back resting against the closed and locked doors as the many fanciful carvings of nymphs and various mythical sea creatures along the walls and large wooden bed watched him from the shadows around the room, the silver light from the moon and stars pouring through the windows providing the only illumination. None were there to see him push away from the doors and walk across the room to sink to the ground before one of the many large locked chests in his cabin, an intricate key appearing in his hand by seeming magic.
Opening the lid he hurriedly rummaged through the various nick-knacks and items from his various adventures, tossing them haphazardly to the floor in his haste before finding what he was looking for. For a moment he paused as if unsure before taking a shaky breath and reaching in to the chest to pulled out a carefully folded navy uniform, the gold brocade and buttons marked it as the coat of a high ranking officer. A Commodore in fact.
With reverent care the pirate unfolded the coat, his slender fingers touching the empty spot where a gold button had been, that same missing button to be seen amongst the many trinkets in his hair before closing his eyes and holding the dark blue fabric to his face. Taking in a deep breath, the scent of his love still clung to the uniform, the uniform he had stolen the last night they had been together, taking it from the chair it had rested on, slipping away before the first rays of dawn. A sorrowful moan escaped trembling lips as the tears he had been so stubbornly denying finally welled up in his dark eyes before falling like drops of silver down his cheeks, leaving tracks of kohl in their wake as he sat there alone in the dark. Clutching the only thing he had of his lover to himself, his breath coming in hitching gasps as he silently cried, the grief he had denied since hearing of the Dauntless sinking washing over him like a dark wave.