Chapter Eight

Jack woke up with a hangover. Then again, he usually woke up with a hangover... or still drunk. Jack preferred being drunk, himself; a lot more fun. The captain shook his head, his beaded dreadlocks clinking together as he walked over to his dresser. One of the drawers had been left open and Jack hunted around until he found a semi-clean shirt. It was dark blue instead of his usual white, with flared arms, and Jack shrugged it on before finding a scarf to wrap around his waist. Stockings and boots went on next, and then Jack drained the bottle of rum that was sitting on the floor by his bed before wandering outside.

It was already daylight out- around ten or eleven, if Jack could trust the sun (which he didn't; nasty bastard)- and the crew were hard at work. Mr Gibbs was sailing Pearl, humming under his breath as he let the ship guide him. Mr Gibbs had always had a fondness for Pearl, and she for him; it was the only reason the ship let Gibbs steer her when Jack was otherwise occupied. Oh, and Anamaria; Pearl like her. A woman thing, Jack assumed.

Anamaria was up one of the masts cutting free a frayed rope, Moon below her handing up what she needed. Gosh was throwing fish guts and whatever else he couldn't force into the crew overboard, and Nutter was helping; probably wanted extra rum, the drunk bastard.

Jack surveyed all of them and then realised that he couldn't see young William. It'd been about a week since the lad had come aboard, and he'd proven to be a hard worker. He'd already fixed up five of the cannons; small jobs, he'd said, but one of them had taken him a good day and a half to mend. He'd also sanded back the tables in the galley for Mr Gosh, fixed a broken chair in Jack's quarters, and cleaned over a dozen swords. Jack had much preferred having Will bent over in his cabin working hard then helping out the crew; the view was better.

Jack shook his head and sauntered across the deck. Mr Gibbs heard him coming and called over his shoulder, 'Mornin', Captain.'

'Mr Gibbs,' Jack half-saluted. 'How goes the day?'

'Moon almost fell overboard when he pissed off Miss Anamaria, again,' Gibbs said. Jack shook his head; some of the men would never learn. 'One o' the sails nearly broke, but Anamaria, Gabe and Misty got up there and fixed it up. Misty and Rent then cleaned the deck before goin' below teh do the same, and Mr Gosh said we'll be havin' chicken and pork fer the next few days 'cause the food's about to start smellin'. But we got some nice produce from the St Sebastian's, so we're pretty set fer food fer a while.'

Jack nodded along as Gibbs spoke, taking all the information in and filing it away. He was only listening because he was the captain and he liked to make sure that Pearl was well-cared for while he was asleep. But really, Gibbs knew what Jack really wanted to hear about.

The first mate chuckled and gestured with his flask over the helm. 'And young Mr Turner is at the bow teachin' some of the gents how teh fight with two swords.'

'Hmm,' Jack hummed before patting Gibbs on the shoulder. 'Good job, Mr Gibbs, I knew I made yeh first mate for a reason.'

'Aye,' Mr Gibbs just smirked.

Jack had already started backing towards the stairs, and waved absently as he went. 'I'm just gonna go and... yeh know, look at things... make sure the lads are workin' hard... that sorta thing.'

He almost tripped down the stairs because Mr Gibbs was laughing at him, and huffed as he stomped down them.

The crew called various good mornings as Jack passed, or avoided his eyes and hurried back to work. Jack kept his chuckles in and scowled at any pirate who looked like they were slacking off. A lot of work went into keeping a ship sailing, and if someone didn't pull their weight Jack'd toss them overboard, no questions asked.

He heard clanking and grunting as he walked towards the bow, but didn't have time to see anything before someone was bumping into him. Jack let out a lungful of air as he caught that someone around the middle. The two stumbled back, and as Jack found his feet the familiar scent of his favourite blacksmith reached his nose.

Jack grinned and made sure to rub and squeeze Will's middle as he helped the boy to his feet. Will, of course, had a blush staining his now-tanned cheeks as he whirled to face Jack.

'Jack- uh, Captain,' the younger man quickly corrected himself. 'Sorry, I didn't see you there.'

'Yeh should always be aware of yer surroundings, Willie,' Jack tisked. He saw a flicker of annoyance in Will's eyes at the nickname, but the lad didn't say anything. 'What are yeh doin'?' Jack asked, eyeing the cutlass Will was holding in his left hand.

'Oh, um... I'm working!' Will defended himself. He stepped aside and gestured at the two pirates standing behind him; Gabe and Jellicoe. 'I'm teaching them how to fight with two swords, or with their left hand,' Will explained. 'Or, uh... right hand, in Mr Jellicoe's case.'

Jellicoe was a short man, older than Jack, with a head of grey-black hair and a bushy beard. He waved at Jack as Gabe did the same.

'Is that right?' Jack mused. 'Well don't let me keep yeh.' He wandered over to one of the strapped-down cannons and took a seat. 'Go on!' he waved his hand when Will didn't move. Putting his feet up on the rope and sails folded beside the canon, Jack got comfortable. 'Wait!' he suddenly shouted when Will turned back to the other two.

'What?' Will near-squeaked.

'I need rum!' Jack ordered. He waved at the three. 'Someone hurry and fetch me a bottle!'

Will, Gabe and Mr Jellicoe all eyed each other before Will sighed. 'I'll be right back,' he muttered and hurried off.

Gabe and Jellicoe chuckled.

'Now yeh wouldn't be using my boy, would yeh, Mr Doyle?' Jack asked. 'Mr Jellicoe?'

''Course not, Captain,' Gabe shook his head.

'Bu' the lad's new,' Jellicoe added. ''e needs to ge' all the shitty jobs before 'e works his way up.'

'Mr Turner ain't a deckhand, Jelli,' Jack scowled. 'He's got actual work to do.'

'We know,' Jellicoe nodded.

'And we haven't kept him from any of it,' Gabe said. 'But you know how it is, Captain; gotta break the new ones in.'

Jack shook his head, but he did understand. All new pirates had to pass the tests the other crew set.

'Besides, the kid's good a' almost everythin',' Jellicoe continued. ''ard workin' lad, 'e is. And the crew respects 'im real good, Cap'n.'

Jack raised his eyebrows, and it was Gabe who explained. 'Mr Turner beat me fair and square, Captain, even when the crew cheated,' the blonde said. 'Then he saved your life twice in five minutes. He's a good fighter, smart lad, and easy to get along with. He'll fit right in, once he calms down somewhat.'

''e likes jumpin' when the Cap's 'round, dun' 'e?' Jellicoe laughed. 'See 'is face when Cap lifted 'im up?'

Gabe nodded even as he laughed and Jack smirked silently. 'Still reckon Mr Turner only likes the fairer sex, Mr Jellicoe?'

'Oh, I dunno,' Jellicoe shrugged. He swung his sword, clasped in his left hand, around a few times. 'The way 'e's been blushin' the pas' week? Might 'ave teh change me bet.'

'Good luck with that,' Gabe snickered. 'Anamaria's not likely to change it.'

'She 'as an unfair advan'age,' the older pirate grumbled. 'Knew Turner 'fore we did, didn' she?'

'What?' Will had reappeared and he handed a full bottle of rum to Jack. Jack grabbed it with eager hands and ripped the cork free with his teeth, spitting it across the deck. Will shook his head but didn't say anything as Jack guzzled down a few mouthfuls.

'I was jus' sayin' tha' Miss Ana knew yeh before we did,' Jellicoe explained. 'She 'as an unfair advan'age.'

'An unfair advantage in regards to what?' Will asked.

'Well,' Jellicoe said and Jack looked up, while Gabe held back a laugh, 'in regards teh wha' flesh yeh like, laddie.'

Will blinked. 'Flesh?'

'Aye,' Jellicoe nodded.

'I don't understand,' the blacksmith admitted.

Gabe took pity on the younger man and clapped him on the shoulder. 'He means sex, Mr Turner, as in; do you like sex with men or women.'

Will spluttered on nothing and almost dropped his sword as his eyes swivelled from Gabe, to Jellicoe, and then to Jack. Jack grinned at him and Will quickly looked away, a blush staining his cheeks.

'Most o' the crew's bettin' on it,' Jellicoe told the blacksmith. 'We wan' teh know if yer a eunuch, fancy the lasses, or fancy the lads.'

'Maybe he likes both,' Gabe suggested.

'Huh,' Jellicoe frowned. 'Didn' think o' tha'. Reckon Ana will le' me change me bet teh tha'?'

'Probably not,' Jack piped in.

'Y-You're betting on who... who I'm attracted to?' Will stuttered before scowling. 'Why does everyone think I'm a eunuch?' He rounded on Jack. 'This is your fault!'

The captain raised his hands- and bottle- in defence. 'My fault?' he echoed.

'Yes!' Will snapped. 'Nobody ever called me a eunuch before you did!'

'I didn't say nothing to them, mate,' Jack denied. 'Honest!'

Will rounded on Gabe and Jellicoe, who suddenly found their swords extremely interesting. 'Oh, like they'd tell me anyway,' Will threw his hands up. 'You're the captain!'

'Aye, that I am,' Jack grinned cheekily. 'Crew's on my side, young Master Turner.'

Will sniffed. 'Maybe I'll get them to mutiny.'

Jack shivered at the thought and turned his eyes away from Will. 'Yeh wouldn't do that, would yeh, William?' he asked. His voice came out more hurt than he'd intended, and Jack had to swallow some rum to clear his throat. Despite it having happened a fair few years back, the old hurt of his crew turning against him was still there. Jack knew that this crew would never do that, especially not Will... but...

Will's eyes widened when he saw the hurt on Jack's face and hurried forward. 'Of course I wouldn't, Jack!' he quickly said, rubbing Jack's arm. 'I was just kidding, you know I was.' Jack looked up at him. 'Besides, the crew likes you more than me,' Will continued with a smile.

Jack blinked a few times before suddenly hauling Will forward. Will yelped as he found himself straddling Jack's lap, and blushed furiously when Jack's arms wound around his waist.

'I know yeh wouldn't, Willie,' Jack grinned. 'Cabin boy's don't mutiny.'

'I'm not your cabin boy!' Will hissed while behind him Gabe and Jellicoe laughed.

'Not yet,' Jack winked. He leaned forward to press a kiss to Will's cheek, and Will went completely still. 'Thank you, William,' Jack breathed honestly. All Will could do was nod.

'So...' Gabe cleared his throat after a few minutes, 'gonna keep teaching us, Master Turner?'

'Don' think so,' Jellicoe joined in, ''e looks mighty happy on the Cap'n's lap.'

Will squeaked again and scrambled off of Jack's lap. Jack groaned and then glared at Jellicoe and Gabe, who just smiled innocently. An innocent pirate? Jack snorted at the very thought.

'Okay,' Will coughed. 'So, as I was saying before Jack interrupted-'

'I didn't interrupt!' Jack cut in. 'You fell into me, how was that my fault?'

Will scowled at him but turned his back without saying a word. 'What you have to do is practice as much as you would with your right,' Will told the other two pirates. 'Or left, in your case,' he added, gesturing at Mr Jellicoe. 'At first it will feel weird, because you're used to using your dominant hand and arm. But the more you practice, the better you get, and eventually you'll be able to use both hands to wield your sword. Then you can practice using two at the same time.'

'How long did it take you?' Gabe asked as he experimentally swung his sword in his left hand.

'Weeks,' Will said. 'After about three or so months, practising each day, I was able to use both. And then you have to keep practising so that you don't lose the skill.'

'You can do it, can't yeh, Cap'n?' Jellicoe asked Jack, who'd been watching in silence.

Jack lowered his bottle and nodded. 'It was more a necessity then a want to do it,' he said. 'Broke me right hand when I was a lad, needed to use me left to fight.'

'How'd you break your hand?' Will asked, turning to face him.

'Navy boy stomped it after I was arrested back in England,' Jack explained. 'Thought he was real tough, beating me while I was in chains. Got him back, though.'

'How?' Will asked, a strange glint in his eyes.

'Ran him through when I escaped,' Jack said, staring Will in the eye.

They looked at each other for a good minute before Will nodded. 'Good,' he grunted, much to Jack's surprise. 'There's absolutely no honour in beating a chained man.'

'Not even we do that,' Gabe scowled. 'Sometimes I reckon we pirates have more honour then the Royal Navy.'

'Oh, I know that you do,' Will commented, but said nothing more when the other three looked at him.

'Hey, Captain,' Gabe broke the silence, looking back at Jack. 'You and Mr Turner fought before, right?' Jack nodded. 'And he says he won, but you said you won.'

'Jack cheated!' Will complained.

'And I keep tellin' yeh,' Jack gestured at himself, 'pirate!'

'And I keep telling you,' Will pointed a finger at him, 'if I was fighting under your rules, I would have won.'

'So why don't you have a rematch?' Gabe suggested. 'You're both pirates now, eh? Let's see who's the better fighter.'

Jack's eyebrows climbed and Will looked from Gabe to Jack and back again. 'Uh...' the blacksmith hummed.

'I'm game if Mr Turner is,' Jack piped in, drawing the younger man's gaze. 'What do yeh say, William?' Jack asked, taking another swig of rum.

Will tilted his head before nodding. 'Fine.'

Jack grinned and jumped to his feet. He thrust his rum into Jellicoe's hands and got into Will's face. 'If I win, lad, yeh gotta let me braid yeh hair, dress yeh up, and put Kohl on yeh,' Jack said. Will's eyes widened. 'Fer a whole week, alright?'

'Y-You're serious,' Will stuttered.

'Aye,' was all Jack said.

'Uh...' Will bit his lip, and Jack's eyes were drawn straight down. 'Okay,' Will finally breathed. 'But when I win, I, um... get your cabin!' he stated. 'For an entire week. And you sleep with the crew.'

Jack's eyebrows climbed before a grin spread over his face. 'Sneaky little blighter,' he laughed. 'Alright, deal.' He and Will shook on it, and Jack made sure that the gesture went on much, much longer than it needed to, and that his fingers stroked Will's knuckles before they broke apart. 'Don't go anywhere, now, young Willie,' Jack waggled a finger at him.

He crossed Pearl to return to his quarters, where his own cutlass was waiting. Mr Gibbs was still at the helm and looked at Jack as he passed. 'Anythin' the matter, Captain?' he queried.

'Fighting Mr Turner,' Jack said as he disappeared into his cabin. 'Got a lot riding on it, Mr Gibbs.'

Gibbs' eyebrows were halfway to his hairline when Jack re-appeared. 'Yeh fightin'?' he asked.

'Aye,' Jack nodded. 'Lad thinks he can best me, but I'll show him a thing or two.' He unsheathed his cutlass and inspected the blade before nodding. 'Gonna come watch?' Jack asked.

Gibbs thought about it before shouting, 'Anamaria!'

The woman was down on the deck with Moon and looked up. 'What?'

'Get teh the bow, woman, and watch the Captain fight Mr Turner. I want a detailed account of it when it's over.'

Anamaria's eyes lit up and she looked to Jack for confirmation. Jack nodded and Anamaria spun on her heels. 'Oi, yeh bastards!' she hollered. 'Anyone not workin' get teh the bow! Captain's fightin' O' Bucket!'

Jack chuckled and made his way back to Will, half of the crew popping up to follow. Soon a good crowd had gathered, at least half of the pirates aboard, but neither Jack or Will paid them any attention as they warmed up.

'Ar'right, who wants teh bet me?' Anamaria hollered.

'Captain'll win!' Gabe immediately responded.

'Aye, I'll go in fer the Cap'n!' Rent said.

Men crowded around Anamaria as she pulled a piece of parchment and the stub of a pencil from her shirt, quickly scribbling down names and how many coins each pirate was betting. Jack chuckled as Will wondered just how often she bet on things to carry pencil and paper around at all times.

Soon enough the jeers and hoots of the crowd couldn't be ignored, and Jack was itching to fight the blacksmith again. There was no doubt in his mind that Will was a formidable foe, and he'd probably gotten better since they'd last crossed swords.

Will started circling Jack as soon as their eyes met, and Jack grinned as they stepped around each other.

'Yeh gonna look mighty pretty with some beads and braids in yeh hair, lad,' Jack told him.

'I might just wear some when I'm sleeping in your cabin for a good long week,' Will retorted. He lunged forward but Jack easily met his blow, and the two parried each other's thrusts as they danced around, before Jack slid his sword under Will's and pushed it away. 'Might even enjoy some rum while I'm at it,' Will quipped.

Jack's eyes narrowed and his movements stopped. 'Yeh leave me rum alone, William Turner.'

Will grinned cheekily. 'I suppose you'll just have to win to make sure you keep a hold of it, won't you?' He moved forward again and Jack stepped back with each parry, the sounds of their swords clashing together echoing over the deck.

Jack suddenly found himself against the bulwark and ducked as Will swung. Will's cutlass embedded itself into Pearl's railing, and the ship heaved in the sea before throwing Will clean off his feet. Half of the crew went with him, but Jack had been sailing aboard the black ship longer than any of them, and easily kept his footing.

Before Will could right himself Jack was upon him, and the lad had nothing to defend himself with as he ducked and weaved around the captain.

'Where's a shield when O' Bucket needs one?' Moon shouted, much to the amusement of the crew.

Instead of a bucket, though, Will grabbed a coil of rope that one of the crew had abandoned, and whipped it skilfully around his head. Jack was forced back, but his cutlass sang as the blade easily cut the rope in two. That didn't stop Will, who quickly looped the rope around Jack's arm. He twisted and pulled until suddenly, with a clang, Jack's cutlass was out of his hands, across the deck, and into Will's.

'Yeh've gotten better, lad,' Jack said as he backed away slowly, Will now advancing with Jack's cutlass.

'Elizabeth was busy with wedding preparations,' Will admitted, 'and business was low after I returned. I had more hours to practise.'

Jack backed into the bulwark and Will swung, but Jack wasn't an idiot, despite popular thought; he knew when to keep his eyes and ears open. He picked up the bottle of rum Jellicoe had abandoned and swung it at Will. Will brought his sword up and the bottle exploded, showering both men in rum and glass. Will turned away but Jack used the distraction to turn and rip Will's cutlass from Pearl's railing, and when Will next swung he was easily able to deflect the blow.

They danced around each other, their swords clinking or thumping when blade met blade, or guard met Will's arm. Jack's cutlass didn't have a guard, and Will kept grunting and hissing in pain whenever Jack got a quick blow in with the guard. When Jack got a particularly hard hit in, Will actually dropped the cutlass, and Jack swung, aiming to hit the flat of his blade against Will's head. But the boy was too quick; he dived aside and rolled across the deck, coming to his feet between Mr Jellicoe and Gabe.

Will turned and grabbed Gabe's sword, the pirate stuttering but not stopping him. When Will and Jack started stepping around each other and parrying blows once more, Will had an advantage; the deck was mostly clear, and Gabe's sword was longer than Will's cutlass; Jack had to step closer to try and hit the blacksmith.

Jack jumped over a swipe aimed at his legs, and when he looked up he realised that Will had played him; each of the younger man's slashes and steps had been made to make Jack step to the right. Now Will used his foot and one hand to kick Jack's abandoned cutlass into his left hand. He grinned as he and Jack faced each other once more.

'You stole that trick from me!' Jack complained.

'Pirate, love!' Will said, using Jack's favourite retort.

Jack shivered at the word love coming from Will's lips, but didn't let it distract him. He'd fought Will the first time under similar circumstances; Will with two swords, Jack with one.

The two pirates leapt over equipment and cannons, pirates and discarded weapons, as they fought up and down the deck of Pearl. The ship wasn't helping Jack again, and he grumbled and cursed under his breath as Will swiped. The edge of his stolen sword cut through Jack's shirt, but the cutlass Jack was wielding sliced right back, ripping open Will's tunic.

Both looked down at the line of flesh suddenly visible, and Jack hummed. 'Not bad, love,' he quipped.

Will blushed as he scowled, and the grunted as he swung at Jack with both swords.

They were fairly evenly matched as Jack stepped forward, Will stepped back; but Will was younger, for one, and he'd practised a hell of a lot more than Jack had. Jack was better at fighting under unusual conditions, and Will was better at a standard fight. Which was why Jack had to use his imagination to win.

So he let Will flip his own cutlass from Jack's hands, but before Will could aim his swords Jack had tackled him to the deck. Will struggled but Jack had one of his arms trapped under his knee, the other held tightly in his own hand. Before Will knew it, Jack had the cutlass Will was holding pressed against his throat. Jack was stronger, had just that bit more muscle, and one more push would end Will's life.

Will stopped struggling and looked up, his brown eyes meeting Jack's slightly darker ones. Jack was straddling Will's lap, and the blacksmith felt a moment of mortification when he realised that the fight had left him slightly... er, swollen, in certain areas.

Jack shifted on Will's lap and asked, 'Do yeh surrender, Mr Turner?'

Will swallowed thickly and nodded. 'Yes, Jack.'

Jack smirked in triumph as the crew let out a cheer at the words. Jack shifted again, ready to let Will go, when he felt the stirring in the lad's trousers. He froze completely and the cheers from the crew were suddenly drowned out. Will was blushing now, and he'd let go of Jack's cutlass. Jack slowly moved it away from Will's throat, but kept a tight grip on it.

Jack leaned closer and Will's breath caught in his throat, the captain's own suddenly blowing against his lips. 'J-Jack,' he stuttered.

'William,' Jack murmured. He moved closer-

'Captain!'

Jack jerked back with a vicious curse and looked up. 'What?! What the fuck could be so fuckin' important?!'

The barrelman shrunk back into the masthead and Jack looked back down at Will. The blacksmith had turned away. The moment was completely ruined.

'Uh...' the barrelman whimpered slightly. 'I was just gonna say, "Land ahoy", sir.'

Jack swore again and leapt to his feet, kicking at the deck as he went, while Gabe scurried forward to help Will up. 'By the fuckin' gods, I am sick of fuckin' interruptions!' Jack ranted. He threw his cutlass down and it stuck fast in the planks of the deck.

With a mighty groan, Pearl lifted her bow out of the water and crashed back down. Almost the entire crew were thrown off their feet, and Jack went straight into the main mast. His head hit the wood with a thump and the captain groaned as he stumbled to the side and onto his arse.

'Jack!'

Jack blinked through the pain to find Will hurrying towards him. The younger man crouched down and wrapped his hand around Jack's wrist. He hauled the captain to his feet and asked, 'Are you okay?'

'Eh...' Jack blinked and shook his head. 'M'fine,' he muttered and waved off Will's concern. 'It'd take more than a bitchy ship to hurt me, love.'

Pearl groaned again and rocked violently, making Jack curse. The pirate turned to the mast and wrapped an arm around the wood.

'M'sorry, love,' he said, stroking the mast like a lover. 'Didn' mean it like that, yeh know I didn't. I was just upset.' Pearl creaked beneath them. 'That's right, love, I know yeh hate it too. But soon, love, soon.'

'Uh, Jack?' Will interrupted. The captain looked up to see Will giving him a bemused look. 'Are you sure you're okay?'

'He always talks teh the Pearl, lad,' Anamaria told him. 'Leave him be. Besides, yeh just lost me a whole heap of doubloons.'

There were cheers from the pirates who had won, but Will ignored them all in favour of keeping an eye on Jack.

'Captain, we're getting' closer teh land!' the barrelman called once more.

Jack sighed and let go of the mast, hurrying to the helm. Will and Anamaria followed.

'What is it, Jack?' Will asked.

Mr Gibbs had his spyglass out, and he passed it to Jack when the captain reached him. Jack grinned. 'Port Twelves, my lad,' he answered.

'Port Twelves?' Will questioned.

'Aye,' Gibbs nodded. 'We're attacking a merchant ship leaving port tomorrow afternoon. She'll be carrying gold and weapons.'

'Crew need new weapons, Mr Turner,' Jack said. 'And Pearl needs some new cannons.'

'So grab the cannons,' Will grinned. 'I can do that.'

Jack chuckled before turning to Mr Gibbs. 'We'll drop anchor near the mountains surrounding the port. Send Anamaria, Gabe and Mr Cotton ashore in a lifeboat, they can watch the docks.'

'We spendin' the night in port, Captain?' Anamaria asked. Jack nodded, and the woman said, 'Aye, aye, Captain, in port it is.'

'Jack, I wouldn't mind going ashore,' Will said before Anamaria could move. All eyes turned to him. 'I still need a lot of tools, and an anvil, if I'm going to make weapons aboard and properly fix some of the cannons.'

Jack stared at him, eyebrows furrowed.

'Uh... please?' Will tried.

Jack's face fell and he sighed. 'Curse you, Will Turner. Alright, lad, off with yeh.'

Will grinned. 'Thank you, Jack,' he said before running off to get what he needed.

'Ana,' Jack grabbed the woman's arm and she turned to him. 'Look after the lad. If anything happens, I'm holding you personally responsible, savvy?'

Anamaria nodded. 'I know, Captain,' she said seriously. 'Don' worry, the lad's in safe hands.'

Jack nodded and let her go.