Sparrow's Bargain
Summary: A different take on AWE. How would the story differ if there had been a different Pirate King? If Beckett couldn't make a deal with Jack and instead tried to hang him? If Norrington objected when he saw his true face and survived instead of dying on the FD? If more enemies were thrown into the fray? Read to find out! Sparrington
"Havin' fun explorin' the Cove on your own, James?" Jack Sparrow asked without turning around to look at the approaching ex-Commodore, sitting in what used to be a crow's nest of one of the wrecked ships a little further away from the main harbor of the citadel, looking out at the sea just barely visible through the Devil's Throat. "I have to warn ya, it can be quite dangerous if ya don't know where ye're goin'."
"I expected as much when I started, Jack. And it's not as though I can't take care of myself. Even against multiple opponents." The ex officer called out where he was standing at the edge of the railing of the crushed quarterdeck, looking up at the pirate captain. Jack laughed, finally turning around to look at the good (once) Commodore.
"Aye, ain't that the truth." He turned back to look out at the little expense of sea and Norrington took that as his cue to join him. He was careful as he climbed up the wooden post, knowing for sure that the structure was far from its ideal state as it may have once been. He'd rather not find out just how unsteady time and the sea air has made it by falling down to his death and potentially killing Sparrow with him. By now he was convinced the pirate deserved a special, heroic death in a grand battle, where he sacrificed himself for his friends and crew. Or something. All Norrington knew was that he no longer wished to have a part in the man's end. "Hurry up, Jamie! The view is rather lovely from up here."
"Am I to expect a sneak peak under some woman's dress if you consider it a lovely view?"
Jack let out a startled laugh and looked down to his unexpected companion again with a bright, incredulous and happy smile. "Was that a joke I just heard, my dear Commodore?"
His old title always sounded far better and more fitting than his last one, but coming from Sparrow after being called Jamie of all things, it sounded wrong. Like it had never been his. When had he gotten so friendly with Jack Sparrow of all people? "You must be hearing things!" He shouted obnoxiously loud, earning another laugh from the pirate. Somehow, all alone - save James himself - surrounded by sharp rocks and wrecked ships with the sea splashing beneath him, the horizon in sight and the Black Pearl not too far away, Jack seemed more like his old seemingly invincible self than he had in days. It would seem he had indeed been affected by his stay in the infamous Locker and had needed the solitude to gather himself back. Or maybe it was simply being home again?
When he finally reached the crows-nest, Sparrow had made room for him, holding out a rum bottle in offering. There had once been a time when he would have turned his nose up at the drink and there had been a time he would have drowned in it. Now, he just nodded his thanks, took a few smaller swigs and gave it back to the pirate. Although he guessed he, too, was now a pirate.
"What brings you here, Captain Sparrow?"
Said man tsked at him in displeasure. "Don't go calling me that just b'cause no one's 'round. And this 'sed t' be me favorite place as a kid. Had little friends me own age here. None at all, that is. Rare few brought their kids to the Cove. My f'mily, though, is stationed 'ere. S' all me friends were sailors that more oft'n than not didn't 'ave the time to play wiff me so I played by me onsies. 'Tis how I learned every part of a ship."
"I thought you sailed with your father as a boy?" James absently questioned, almost regretting it when his companion stiffened but Sparrow answered anyway, instead of drawing back like James had feared.
"So you talked to someone from the Misty Lady? Who? Ivan? Nah, he's a quiet one. Ian? He don't like talking with Englishmen - unless, of course, they are from the Misty Lady and the Keeper's men. A Russian thing Ivan hadn't picked up, thankfully. Hm, was it Richards? Or Finch? Nah, Finch goes nowhere without his partner John and John don't like outsiders and strangers in the Cove and Richards would've left ye scared for life. He's crazy, that one. Mr Twist? No, wait, I heard he passed away last month from Victor." James must have reacted because Sparrow grinned in victory. "Aha! Aye, it be Victor, ain't it? Met 'im at breakfast, aye?"
"Aye- I mean, yes, we met Victor this morning, Turner, Elizabeth, Theodor and I that is." Norrinton admitted and Jack hummed.
"He told ye the truth. I've learned sailing on the Misty Lady but I've learned other things right 'ere. Practiced here, even."
"Things like what?" James couldn't help but ask, curious. Jack grinned like a madman.
"I'll gladly show you, luv!" And before the ex officer could say something - presumably to stop him from unnecessarily killing himself before the Brethren Court should meet - Jack Sparrow took hold of an old rope James hadn't even noticed was there before and jumped right off the side of the crows-nest. He let out a cheering whoop as he fell, swinging his body so that he was sailing right overhead the entire ship. He was laughing like a delighted boy all the while and James drank up the sight and sound as though he were a thirsty man and it was water. This was an entirely new side to the man for the once Commodore. He had seen Jack as a Captain, as a panicked and desperate man searching for an escape from his death, a patient friend who never left one of his own behind no matter how they betrayed him, hopeless and utterly hopeful, cheerful, optimistic, indifferent, determined and a starved, beaten and dehydrated man about to be hanged but still as defiant as always. But this childish side ... It allowed him to more easily picture the boy Victor had described.
It was difficult to imagine what sort of life or adventure had bread a man like Jack Sparrow. It was now oh so easy to imagine how his story had began.
Jack spent the next five to ten minutes entertaining the ex Commodore with old play stunts he used to practice on these very wrecks, play stunts that became games of sailors and piracy and navy men that later became a reality in his adult and teen life. The very crazy stunts he had practiced for his games became stunts that saved his neck and hide more than once. He had practiced his aim with his first pistol here, too, and the first basic stances for sword fighting. Jack suspected that Hector had partially named his pet monkey after him because Jack was as agile as one on the ropes and masts of ships as a monkey would be. He was the fastest climber to the crows-nest that anyone sailing the Caribbean had ever seen. Only one of Mistress Ching's men and a sailor Jack once knew but was long dead now could beat him.
Jack had made sure that he was the fastest. If his ship was the fastest on the sea, then her captain had to be the fastest on her as well.
Besides, it was fun watching Norrington nearly jumping out of the crows-nest to try and save him when he did a few risky jumps that looked like a sure fall. He always knew he'd warm up to him. It made him feel as though they were mates.
The thought nearly stopped him short. He and James Norrington were far from mates. Just a few days ago, the man used to hate his guts simply for being a pirate, let alone the very pirate who had, in a way, been responsible for his life falling apart. He had not saved him because he was suddenly fond of him. He had saved him because he felt either responsible or guilty for how his own actions had had a hand in the massacres Beckett was no doubt executing at the gallows each day. It was why the son had been sung in the first place. Norrington must have been disgusted by the lack of trial or the deaths of children and women who had unknowingly associated with pirates or were their family.
James Norrington was a good man and that was the only reason Jack still had his life.
The man noticed immediately when his companion returned to his side that Jack's cheer had vanished and he wondered what had caused it. The Captain had been smiling from ear to ear while he was swinging around and yet now he was all gloomy again, like he had been since Norrington had saved him despite the smiles he kept throwing about. The stream of betrayals had taken their toil and Jack was suffering that burden now.
James felt a pang in his chest. It felt an awful lot like guilt and regret. Without thought, he reached for the older man's hand - when he smiled and joked around, Norrington felt like Jack was the younger of the two of them - and squeezed, trying to get his attention. "Jack?"
"Yes?" The startled surprise on the darker man's face was priceless ... And strangely cute, especially when he tilted his head to the side like a curious bird. It made it strangely easier to say what he needed.
"I am sorry for taking the heart of Davy Jones from you, back on that island. Maybe none of this would have happened had I just stayed a loyal part of your pirate crew. Ironic that I am back right where I started, no?" The last was said with only a little bitterness, since the relief of his guilt was so overwhelming. A stone had fallen off of his heart, but it was now laying heavily in his stomach as he waited for an answer. As far as he knew, Jack never received apologies for the betrayals done upon him yet he always seemed to forgive them - except Barbossa, but that man was another story, since he took the ship Jack was willing to sell his soul for. What if he would now just release all his anger and frustration at constantly being betrayed by people he was willing to give his trust and loyalty to despite how undeserving of it they all showed they were? Jack said he had friends here. Would he tell them what they had all done?
A returning squeeze to his hand startled him and he looked up - when had he lowered his gaze - to meet Jack's eyes. His own green ones widened when he saw the gratitude and the happiness shining from the other's orbs, his face split in an infectious grin that made him strangely even more handsome than he usually was. Had there been any maidens around to see it, they would have swooned on sight. Norrington wanted to treasure this grin - it was his now. Jack had not grinned at anyone like this for as long as he had known the man. James Norrington claimed this grin as his. No one was to have this smile but him.
'Maybe I am a bloody pirate, after all.'
After all, not all treasure is in silver and gold.
"C'mon, mate!" Jack suddenly pulled the ex Commodore to his feet, excitement like a child's thrumming through his body. "I'll give you a private tour of the Library of the Cove and show you the secondary cavern where we cultivate our resources!"
James let himself be pulled up by the Black Pearl's Captain, his mind focused on the man's words. "Library? You pirates read?"
"Some of us who live in the Cove, yes. My family is actually one of the best educated groups among pirates." Mischievous onyx orbs turned to him with a teasing grin below a mustache. "You didn't think all those books in my cabin were just for show, did ya?"
Realization dawned on James right then. Those rare strange incidents where he was left feeling a bit off balance when Sparrow got serious ... When he felt like he was speaking with a scholar rather than a pirate ... "Why in hell do you butcher the English tongue if you speak like an aristocratic scholar!?"
Sparrow just laughed as he dragged him off from the wrecks and towards the closest secondary cave. They didn't have much time until they had to meet the others and Jack just knew that Norrington will be stunned by the size of a pirate Library. It was, after all, nearly as big as the one in Alexandria.
Jack's family really liked to read.
00000
"You're late," Theodor, Elizabeth and Will intoned in sync as soon as Jack Sparrow sashed his way over to them with a guilty Norrington behind him.
Theodor looked jealous. "Not fair, James! You went on an adventure with Jack Sparrow without me?"
"You were together this whole time?" The only girl in the group questioned incredulously.
"And you didn't fight?" Her fiancée echoed her surprise with wide eyes.
Jack just grinned at them. "It seems I were right! I did grow on good Jamie here!"
"Yes, like a fungus. Or a barnacle." The ex Commodore agreed and they couldn't help but chuckle when Jack pouted theatrically. The three could see what Norrington had seen earlier. Jack was back to his old self, theatrics, grins, silliness and craziness and they were relieved to see this side of him back. Especially Will and Elizabeth. Especially Elizabeth. She never quite forgave herself for what she had done when she had betrayed his trust and left him for dead. The Jack whose smiles didn't quite reach his eyes had been unnerving. The rarely slurred words in his speech even more so. The accusation of not being a good enough crew had hurt. It was nice to have the old Jack back. Crazy schemes and all.
"No respect, I say. No respect at 'll." Said Captain grumbled but they could see the grin tugging at his lips. They relaxed further as he mock complained before he swept out his arms as though embracing them and started going backwards in the vague direction from where he had appeared with James beforehand. "Well, me hearties, are ye comin' or wot? We 'ave a day at most before the Brethren Court is meetin' so we better get a move 'n."
"Wait, are they all here already?" The until recently Lieutenant asked in surprise. "The Pirate Lords?"
Jack nodded seriously, face no longer sporting a grin. "Aye. The Empress was spotted in the night, making haste from the East and Mistress Ching had docked this mornin'. And Jacord was seen sailin' into the Crossing some few minutes or so ago. We're all practically waitin' fer Sao Feng now. The rest are here."
"Who are the rest?" Elizabeth asked excitedly, the pirate lover she still was somewhere deep down, despite seeing what their true lifestyle was.
"Well, there's Ammand of the Black Sea. He, surprisingly, arrived first. Then we have Chevalle. He rules the Mediterranean. Barbossa has the Caspian Sea and Jacord has the Atlantic. Mistress Ching rules the Pacific while Sumbhajee Angria rules the Indian Ocean. Sao Feng is the Pirate Lord of the South China Sea and Eduardo Villanueva has the Adriatic Sea. And then there's yours truly, Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirate Lord of the Caribbean." The last was said with a bow and a swish of his hat before he straightened out. "I 'ave a slight home field advantage over 'em all, 'specially since the Cove is in the Caribbean, but that don't mean much in these meetings. The only thin' that might stop 'em from tryin' to kill me will be the Code itself." A sardonic smile came to his face then. "An' its Keeper."
"What does the Code say?" Will asked curiously. "I mean, besides 'who falls behind is left behind'?"
"Take what ye can, give nothin' back." Jack replied immediately, already turning away to lead them on their little tour. "The rule of maroonin' a pirate, the whole thing wiff one pistol and one shot. There are lots and lots of rules not ev'ryone knows 'bout. 'S why we 'ave the Keeper of the Code. Someone to make sure it is followed. He and 'is man watch over the seas and ensure everyone is keepin' to the Code. He can enforce it. Not everyone needs to know every single rule."
"And the Code will keep you safe?"
"The Keeper will keep me safe." Jack replied before his mood did a whole 180° and he was cheerful again. "Now, t' yer left ye can see the very first bar opened in the Cove. Th' finest rum, there. An' to yer right, ye can see the Shipwreck Bank-"
"Bank?!"
"Aye, bank. Don't know why ye're all so surprised, mates. We're pirates but not barbarians. The Cove has to 'ave some finances and wot not. If there's a siege, we 'ave secret ways of gettin' supplies so we never run out."
"Doesn't that mean that the defenses of the Cove do have a weak spot?"
"Not at all, Lizzie! Well, 'nless ye're the size of a pelican and can fly. Or climb over two ship heights worth of barren, sharp, pointy rock and a ship height of a muddy slope b'fore enterin' seven ship heights of jungle. Wiff enough weapons or powder to survive the steam in the tunnels up there. If ye can fulfill 'll those requir'ments, then aye, the defenses have a weak spot."
"I guess some of you pirates aren't complete nitwits." James reluctantly stated, earning a laugh out of their guide.
"Aye! Some of us really aren't. Ye just rarely meet that sort since they rarely leave the Cove. The Keeper's men are all at least half decently educated, som'times by the Keeper 'imself. They're needed 'ere more than out there."
"But how do you get the goods in? Surely not by pelicans alone!?" Will protested, the mere absurdity of the idea stunning him. Then again, he had seen many, many absurdities since he met Jack Sparrow. Perhaps a pelican delivery system shouldn't really be all that surprising. Still, even that was a bit too far fetched. Not even those birds could carry everything that the pirates might need in here.
Jack just chuckled and pointed to one small opening across from the harbor. It was just barely visible over the water and three forms were swimming towards them from it, a box, crate or chest tied to each one. "Sea turtles, mate."
"Sea turtles?" The couple echoed in fascination. Theodor was speechlessly staring at the creatures as they obediently swam towards expecting port workers to be freed of their burdens and fed treats for their services while Norrington seemed to be praying for patience and what little remained of his sanity.
"Aye, sea turtles. Been here fer centuries b'fore us. We trained 'em and feed 'em and protect their eggs and they deliver things too heavy fer our pelicans to carry." Jack said as though it were normal, not understanding the strange looks he was getting from his young companions. "Wot? We treat 'em well, if that's wots ye're fearin'. Little treasures, they are."
"Yes, Jack, but ... Sea turtles?" Will asked again and Jack beamed, knowing what was bugging him. Maybe the whelp and his bonny lass will believe his story a little more, now.
"Aye, mate. Sea turtles."