Disclaimer: Disney owns them.
Rating: T

Timeline: Still in flashback.

The Little Bird (3): An Accord

From that day on, Ky Ling started recovering at a faster rate. She was still weak, and tired out rapidly after a few hours of work, but nevertheless, she helped the crew with the everyday tasks onboard the ship. Jack had pointed out that it wasn't necessary for her to work in the scorching heat, especially since she had a considerable amount of recovering to do, but she insisted that the only way she was going to recuperate was by doing chores and mingling with more people. Then pulling on Jack's loose shirt and breeches, she would fix her long brown hair into a bun or braid, and head off to help Edward and the other men with the cooking, cleaning and occasionally, nursing.

The crewmembers had grown to respect her over the two months: most of them treating her as a friend, daughter or sister, while the others were decent enough to make sure the 'captain's whore' whispers remained behind her back. Not that she would have cared: it wasn't a secret. The men often conversed with her, but they were careful never to let slip a question about her past because Jack had forbidden it.

Ironically, she seemed more than eager to bring it up than anyone else.

She was determined to make him forget the treasure. Jack had to acclaim her perseverance. She would snatch every opportunity to tell tales of those who 'angered the ancestors', hoping they would waver his willpower to reach the Isla de Muerta. Sometimes, she would sit in a childish strop when he laughed at her stories, and told her that he will chase the treasure even if the ancestors decided to descend from heaven and come charging at him with their harps and whatever other heavenly weapons they possess. He would then have to convince her to start talking to him again which often took more than oral persuasion. At the end of their session, when he thought he had almost convinced her, she would ask him to abandon the thought of the treasure again, thinking that perhaps in his more satisfied form, Jack Sparrow would be a more cooperative individual. But Jack would just plant a chaste kiss in her hair, and she would lay her head on his chest, falling asleep, knowing that another day had passed without success.

Just under a month's journey from Tortuga, Ky Ling approached Jack with a new tactic. He was at the helm one morning when the girl slipped between his arms and leant back on the wheel, looking at Jack. She smiled a dazzling smile. The scars on her face were still evident but Jack had become accustomed to them, looking past them at the girl beneath the blistered skin.

"It's early." He grinned at her,sure that he'd seen a sparkle of fire in her eyes but she quickly covered it up by looking pointedly at his chin. He continued, "Are you well?"

"Quite well thank you."

"Are you happy?"

"Quite happy yes." She paused, trailing her fingers down from his sternum to middle-section, where she tucked four of them into his sash. His breath caught. She smiled knowingly, and Jack knew she could see the hunger in his eyes. He lowered his head, reaching for her lips but at the final moment, she turned her face to the right so that Jack's lips collided with the side of her lips.

For one disbelieving moment, Jack thought he'd missed but when she continued to tilt her head sideways as he tried to locate her lips, he knew she had diverted the kiss. She laughed softly, pushing him away with her hands that had travelled back to his chest. Feigning a dismayed look, he asked, "Are you sure you're feeling well?"

She playfully hit him with one palm.

"I want to ask you something."

"Ask away, darling." His eyebrows rose expectantly.

"Am I important to you?"

His eyebrows were at the verge of disappearing into his patterned bandanna. He exhaled heavily, smiling slightly. Then looking past her, he removed one hand from the wheel and slipped it into his coat, withdrawing the familiar wooden compass. Ky Ling frowned.

"Jack!"

"Hm?"

"I just asked you a question!"

"I'm asking my compass."

A look of incredulity washed over her face. She obviously thought he was joking because she replied in a low teasing sneer, "And what does your compass say?"

"It says you're a sneaky little wench who's trying to pull my leg." She looked amused as she raised her eyebrows and continued smiling.

"Where did you get it?" she asked, pointing to the compass.

"From an old frien–" He stopped midsentence, a large smile stretching across his lips as his eyes widened to twice their natural size. He opened his mouth slowly then bit down gently on his lower lip, revealing his front teeth. An idea had formed in his mind, taking shape incredibly fast. He wondered why he hadn't thought of it before. Ky Ling was obviously surprised by his sudden change in expressions. Catching her baffled visage, he narrowed his eyes and continued smiling as he spoke again, "I have a proposition to put to you."

"A proposition?" She looked even more surprised.

"Aye. We're still going to the Isla de Muerta," he said. She opened her mouth as though to object; the surprise on her features was replaced by mild exasperation. He continued hurriedly, "but we'll pay Tia Dalma a visit first."

"Who?" The surprise was back.

"An old friend."

"Why?"

"Let's just say she's good at removing people from quicksand," he said, "Even if she tends to beat around the bush quite a bit." He didn't think she fully comprehended the idiom but he didn't stop to elaborate. He was sure Tia Dalma would know of a way to squirm out of this dilemma.

"Where will we find her?"

"Upriver. It's best if we get to Tortuga first though. This ship needs to be resupplied and mended. Meanwhile, we'll recruit a larger crew; I have a friend there who I think will be interested in joining this venture as first mate. But as for now..." He slipped an arm around her waist and purred in her ear, "Do we have an accord?"

She smiled as their lips met.

"Agreed."