Part Fifteen
"Ow. God," Will whispered, still somewhat asleep. Another powerful kick struck his shin. "God! Stop it, Jack!"
He opened his eyes to find Sparrow convulsing violently in his sleep. Low, vague grunts filtered out between Jack's parted lips; tears streamed from under his eyelids. Will was utterly alarmed and had no idea what to do. He sat up and patted the man's shoulder firmly.
"Jack, wake up." He repeated the action and said louder, "Jack, wake up."
Sparrow continued to shake uncontrollably. Will pushed him to lie on his back and slapped his face powerfully. A sigh of relief came from the young man as Jack quickly went still. He scrutinized the pirate's countenance, waiting to see if he would wake or not. When five minutes had gone by and Jack had not moved at all – save for the rise and fall of his chest – Will rested down beside him.
Though the younger male closed his eyes, he did not go to sleep for another thirty minutes.
When Will woke again, the sunlight scarcely illuminated the room. Gloomy clouds adorned the sky, soon covering the sun completely, and the gentle sound of rain falling on the windows was almost enough to lull him to sleep again. The only thing that prevented him from doing so was the absence of Jack at his side.
The pirate was huddled on the floor, asleep, in the corner he had retreated to before. Will went to him and picked him up gingerly. Jack emitted an indistinct murmur as he was taken to lie on the bed. Will eased the older man's legs beneath the sheets, making Sparrow's eyes open exhaustedly.
"What are you doin'?" he asked faintly.
"Just getting you comfortable. Go back to sleep."
As if suddenly realizing where he was, Sparrow bolted upright. "No. I can't. I have to go."
He moved off the bed and grabbed his abandoned shirt that was crumpled on the floor. Hastily, he put it on, and the abundant pain that the simple task caused was written on his face. As he fled to the door, he said in a quivering voice, "I have to be out there. Five minutes. I have to go."
Will grasped his arm before he could exit. "No you don't. You need to rest."
"Let go of me. I have to be out there. The longer they have to wait, the rougher they are."
"Rougher? Jack, you're not there anymore. You need to lie down."
Sparrow ripped his arm away from Will and shoved the young man backward with surprising strength. He darted out of the room and burst through the cabin entrance in seconds. Rain immediately started to shower him; his clothes hurriedly became soaked and clung to his bony frame. With crazed eyes he looked from one crewman to another, and they in turn gazed at him confoundedly.
"Jack, what are you doing out here?"
Sparrow turned his head sharply to find James walking toward him. He heard Will call his name from within the quarters. The anxiety that increased within him from both men made him run.
Will emerged from the cabin and bolted after the hysterical pirate. He was not sure how he would stop Jack since most of the man's body was wounded. The right arm, he decided, would be the thing to grab. Despite the immense fatigue from starvation, Sparrow dashed toward the bow with incredible speed. He almost made it to the railing near the bowsprit before he suddenly stumbled backward. Will caught him and tackled him to the deck before he could attempt to flee again.
"No!" he shouted madly. "Let go of me!"
"Jack, calm down," Will stated evenly. "Take a deep breath."
"No! Don't do this to me," he sobbed.
"What would I do to you, Jack?"
"Please don't. Please be merciful."
"Don't do what, Jack?"
"Don't take me below."
Jack lowered his head and hugged himself as he cried miserably. Will took him in his arms and headed for the captain's quarters with the distraught man. The crew stared at the two as Will strode past them. It unsettled Sparrow drastically to be watched by so many, making him bury his face against Will's chest. He did not pull away until they were in the bedroom once more.
The young man put Jack down to stand and quickly began to shed his own drenched clothing. Sparrow observed him as if he were daft.
"Come on. You too," Will voiced tremulously.
They were both shivering radically, and Jack hesitantly obeyed in removing his attire. Will was in front of him with two blankets held together the instant he was naked. The young male pressed his body against Jack's and cocooned them within the linens. Sparrow placed his arms under Will's and held the nude frame tightly.
"What are we doing?" the pirate questioned shakily.
"Getting warm. You all right?"
"I'm fine."
"Good, good. Why did you do that? On deck, why did you?"
"It's what I always had to do."
"Why did you have to be out there?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"All right then. Let's go lie down, shall we? I can feel your legs – they're about to give out, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are."
"Small steps now."
They shuffled to the bed while continuing to embrace one another. Will collided with the edge of the piece of furniture and toppled back onto it with a startled yelp. Jack grimaced at the pressure on his singed abdomen from lying atop the younger man's body. He raised his head to stare at Will's rich brown orbs and appeared mortified. Will gave him a consoling smile in hopes of alleviating the pirate's concerns.
"It's all right," he whispered.
"I….I….Don't you think this a tad inappropriate?"
"If you're uncomfortable, we can separate. But maybe this is a good way to start getting over your fear of being touched."
"Will, I….I don't even deserve to touch you."
"You have to stop talking like that. You must stop degrading yourself, Jack. It only makes you believe it more and more, and that is something you don't deserve."
"But you don't know-"
"How can I know if you won't tell me?"
"I don't tell you because I'm ashamed of it-"
"But it wasn't your fault."
"But if it was-"
"And it's not-"
"It's too vulgar for me to tell anyone. Especially you," he added quietly.
"Why me?"
Jack went silent, and Will waited uncomplainingly for him to find words. "You're too good. I don't want to do anything to….I respect you too much to subject you to such abominable recollections."
"And you're too much of a friend for me to not keep prodding. Open up to me, Jack. Let me help you. Get it out of your system."
Jack laid his head on Will's chest and said nothing.
"Since this closeness with someone else seems to be a bit much for you right now, perhaps you should begin with touching yourself. Let your own hands re-teach you that it doesn't have to be something to be afraid of."
The thirteen men who had defiled him during the day fueled Jack's belief that touch was not meant to be pleasurable. In order to try and reverse such a thought, he decided to experiment with himself.
Jack glanced at the captain on the bed from his designated corner and ascertained that the man was asleep. His fingers were shaking as he unbuttoned his breeches to take his limp member into his hand. An excited grin was formed by his lips as he stroked himself, occasionally giving a gentle squeeze. He lightly hit the wall with his head as pleasing tingles coursed throughout him, causing him to close his eyes. It took an unbelievable amount of self-control to refrain from voicing his rapture aloud.
After only a couple of minutes of servicing himself, he ejaculated onto his hand. Having been wholly immersed in his ecstasy, he had not heard the footsteps of the captain.
"What do ye think you're doin', Jack?"
Sparrow's eyes shot open to see Barbossa sitting right beside him. His heart pounded in fear of what the older man would do.
Barbossa firmly grasped Jack's left wrist and put the hand to Jack's mouth. "Clean it off," he said sternly.
Jack was hesitant, resulting in a powerful slap to his face. The warning was enough for him. He began licking his hand, tasting his own milky product with remarkable humiliation. When he was finished, Barbossa forced him to do the same with his right hand. A low chuckle came from the captain at the sight of the first tear that escaped Sparrow's eye.
"All done?" Barbossa mocked once Jack swallowed the last of his semen. He threw the younger man's wrist at the floor and stated harshly, "Your body no longer belongs to you, Jack. I believe I told ya that before I fucked ya the first time. You do not have the freedom to treat yourself or do anythin' for that matter without permission. If I find ya doin' somethin' to yourself on your own accord again, the consequences will be dire. Am I understood?"
Sparrow nodded. "Y-Yes."
Jack expelled a disgraced whimper as Barbossa started to massage his spent organ. The older man worked him into a full erection once again; he panted as unwanted pleasure swept through him. Tears slid down his flushed cheeks as the strong hand rubbed him, bringing him to orgasm minutes later. He climaxed onto Barbossa's hands and was required to wash them with his tongue as he had been made to do with his own.
"Jack?"
Jack shook his head to shove the memory aside. "I can't, Will," he said, ashamed. "I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"My body isn't mine. It doesn't belong to me. I'm not allowed."
"Not allowed? Jack, your body is yours. It belongs to you. Forget what he told you. You can do whatever you want to do with your body. No one else has that right unless you feel comfortable to permit them to."
"How do I know that I won't be punished for doing so?"
"Do something and find out, but I promise that you will not be punished."
Sparrow did the first thing that came to his mind. He put his lips to the younger man's and kissed him. Will's eyes widened in astonishment. He hurriedly regained control of his surprise and responded to Jack's dry and swollen lips. The kiss was nothing like the ones he had shared with Elizabeth; it was special in ways he did not understand. Sensual, innocent, scared, loving: they all made up the drawn out, demanding kisses the two of them shared.
After a lengthy period, Jack pulled back and opened his eyes shyly. He gazed at Will apprehensively, but his expression soon became terribly frightened.
"I'm sorry," he whispered frantically. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I had no right. Please, don't hurt me."
Will was breathless. "No, no. It's-It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you. You did it, Jack. You made contact with someone and allowed them to return the action. There's nothing to apologize for or to be afraid of."
"You felt….You felt good. You weren't trying to…."
Sparrow burst into tears. Will cradled the pirate's head under his chin and ran his fingers through the short black mane of the man.
It was proven that progress had been made, and Will knew the only way to keep on making headway was to take small steps. He was determined to see Jack through it all.
Jack did not know when he had fallen asleep, but when he awoke, Will was not snuggling him. The blankets, however, were still wrapped around his thin frame.
He sat up and called softly, "William?" No one was in the room to answer. "Shit," he muttered angrily at himself. "You drove him away. Fucking bugger. You drove away the one that was tryin' to help you. Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have. Always a punishment."
He ceased cursing himself when the door abruptly opened. Will treaded into the room, and Jack gave a sigh of thankfulness.
"I thought you might like something to eat," the young man said with a generous smile and took a seat on the bed in front of Sparrow. He set the tray to the side of them and stated, "We've got to get you eating well again, Jack. You're nothing but skin and bones."
"Tell me about it," Sparrow mumbled as he reached for the glass of water. He chugged the liquid rapidly, returning the drained goblet to the tray just seconds after having picked it up. "It's not a good feeling, believe me."
"How often did you get a meal?"
Jack was in the middle of chewing a large bite of banana as he answered, "Not that often. Once or twice every four days. Sometimes longer. Never anythin' much." He swallowed and dove in for another piece of the soft food. "Whenever he gave me a really bad punishment, he'd give me a small lil' feast. Regain the energy back." His throat downed the mush before continuing. "Couldn't have me losin' all me strength. The brutes liked a good struggle every now and then."
"Struggle from what?"
Sparrow quit munching on the piece of cooked fish in his mouth and looked as if he had revealed a forbidden secret. "Struggle. Yes," he verbally stumbled. "Well, um, let's not get into that, ay?"
Will nodded in agreement, though he was disappointed that Jack would not elaborate when he had been candid mere seconds before.
"God, Will, this is fantastic," the pirate said delightedly once he had finished the portion in his mouth and greedily snatched another serving of fish. "Do ya want some?"
"No, it's for you," Will replied amusedly from the pirate's exhilaration.
"Nothin's ever tasted so good in me life. And it's finally washin' that taste out of me mouth."
"What taste?"
"Their see-" Jack stopped himself and averted his gaze from the young man. "Just a taste I had every day."
"Oh." Will did not prod him to disclose anymore information on the subject.
Jack nibbled on a slice of bread and shifted his eyes again to stare unblinkingly past the male before him. He appeared to be dreaming or thinking on something important; Will was not sure which it was.
As he tore another part of the bread he questioned wistfully, "What do I do now, Will? Where do I go? I can't stay here. I can't go back to the Pearl either. I can't go back to the thing I love most, and yet I hate her at the same time. Everywhere I'd go on that ship, I'd see everything that happened every day. I'm too weak and too scared to be a captain again. Even if I could take back my title, I wouldn't have a crew that would respect me. Not after all that's been done….What do I do, Will?"
The younger man had listened to the distant voice with pity welling inside of him. The only answer he had was one that he knew the pirate would not like. "I think you're going to have to live on land for a while."
"Land? I'll be more suffocated there than I was on the Pearl. I can't just give up the ocean. It's….everything. It's what I know."
"You just….You just need a break from it. I think it'll be healthy for you."
"All right. Say I was to take your advice, where would I go once there? I don't have anything or anyone on shore to go to."
"You can come live with me."
Jack snickered. "I'm a burden to you enough as it is."
"No you're not. And I hope that you'll truly consider the offer."
Sparrow sighed and nodded. "I'll consider it."
"Thank you. Now, I'll return this to the cook. I'll be back shortly to treat your wounds."
Will took up the tray and exited the room. An aggravated groan came from Sparrow as he sprawled out on the mattress. The medicine, he had concluded, came from the depths of Hell. It had the ability to make him feel as if he were being burned by Barbossa's men all over again. There had been a few improvements because of it, though. The constant pain he used to have had decreased to a tolerable level, and he even noticed that his skin was not as red and blistered anymore. Nevertheless, he still debated about whether or not the agonizing experience he had to endure to see such results was worth it.
Will entered the area and fetched the bottle and cloth as Jack unwrapped the protecting blankets from his body. He turned to lie with his back to the young man who sat beside him.
"Are you ready?" Will inquired gently.
"Yeah. I'm ready."
Jack bit his lower lip and closed his eyes as he prepared himself for the necessary torture.
It was not until the medicinal liquid cascaded onto his scorched side that Sparrow shrieked and began to sob.
Part Sixteen
There was light movement behind him, prompting Will to open his tired eyes. He rolled onto his side to observe Jack shuffling to the corner of the room.
"Jack," he spoke softly.
The pirate stopped and turned around gradually. His dark orbs were overcast with vulnerability and weariness as he stared at the younger man.
"Where are you going?"
"Just go back to sleep," Sparrow whispered.
"You don't have to move to the floor."
"Waste such as myself has to."
"No. No you don't. Come here, Jack."
Jack glanced helplessly at the corner behind him before he returned to the bed. Will placed his arm across the man's shoulders and brought him to lie down beside him. Jack was stiff against him and slightly quivering. The raven haired male rested his head on Will's chest and exhaled a warm breath, making the younger man tremble imperceptibly from feeling it on his cool skin.
"You are not waste," Will said quietly. "Don't believe what he told you."
"Then what do I believe?"
"Well, what did you use to believe?"
Sparrow pondered the question for a moment before he answered, "I don't know." His voice was fraught with sadness. "I don't know, Will."
Silence settled on them as they lay in one another's embrace. Jack's eyelids fluttered shut several times as he tried to stay awake. He cuddled against Will's lean frame, and it made him somewhat nervous because he was not frightened at all, nor was he afraid when he began ghosting his fingertips over Will's torso. A small sigh came from the younger man as his skin flinched from the delicate touch.
"Jack?"
"What?"
"Don't stop."
"Are you sure it's all right?"
"Yes. Can I?"
There was a brief pause before Sparrow replied timidly, "Yes."
A tiny hiss came from him as Will's fingers started to caress his sore back. They brushed against the torn flesh in a circular motion, and Jack leisurely found that the contact was enjoyable. Such a reaction unnerved him; it was not supposed to be enjoyable.
"Will, um, maybe we should stop," he stammered awkwardly.
"Is it because it's pleasant?"
"It shouldn't be. I shouldn't be liking it like I am."
"That's Barbossa talking again. What do you want? What do you think it should be like?"
"I don't know," Sparrow said in a choked voice.
"Whatever your body is feeling, let it."
"Will you….Can you touch me again like this tomorrow? Can I touch you?"
"Yes. Of course."
Jack closed his eyes and whispered, "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The pirate fell asleep minutes later; the fingers that still stroked his back caused him to begin dreaming with a smile.
The next morning Sparrow woke to an empty room. Will was nowhere, and he hated the fact that it made him feel forgotten. There was a certain attachment he had come to have for the younger man, and now that he was alone, he felt somehow lost.
He got up from the bed and wrapped a blanket around his nude body. Though he was utterly petrified to leave the bedroom, he opened the door and stepped out into the extremely short, narrow hallway. Low voices could be heard coming from the main room; Will's was one of them. With extraordinary caution, he started to walk slowly toward the area. He swallowed to relieve his tightening throat, and his heart throbbed unbearably in his chest. A light sheen of perspiration formed on his warm skin as he neared the conversing men. He peered into the room curiously even though he was completely terrified that he would get caught snooping. There were two men with their backs to him; he discerned that they were Will and Groves. The third man he did not recognize, yet he knew he had seen him before. He strained to hear what was being said.
"….it won't be a problem if you escort them to prison, Theodore, but if you two were planning on taking Jack ashore also, what's to say you won't be forced to take him to prison as well?" James questioned worriedly. "He is still a pirate and because I doubt that you'll be able to get a pardon for him, he'll have to go if someone sees him."
"Would anyone see him?" Theodore asked. "He's hardly identifiable now that his hair is cut, and he doesn't have his normal attire."
"Do you know what happened to his clothes?" Will interjected.
"No, I don't. He was never wearing anything other than a shirt and a pair of breeches."
"How were you two planning on getting him on land?" James inquired. "He hasn't even been able to leave these quarters; I doubt he'd be willing to in order to go ashore where he'd be surrounded by a number of people. Is he improving at all, Will?"
"Not much. And I can't get him to speak about what happened to know why he's so afraid of everything."
"I can tell you one of the reasons why he's afraid of touch," Theodore said faintly. "He spent the night down in the brig once next to our cell. He had just acquired the burns two or three days prior."
Jack's legs were shaking from fatigue and from the overwhelming embarrassment he had as Groves continued.
"I woke up in the middle of the night and could hear noises coming from him and someone else. I looked to his cell to find him being raped by one of the crewman."
Sparrow wept as his mind threw him back to that one night. Knowing that Groves had seen it and because Will was now aware of it, Jack wished he could murder himself right at that moment; the two men he had hoped would never learn of such a vile event made him feel entirely appalling because they had. There would be no more comforting embraces because he knew neither would want to touch him.
Just when he was about to saunter back to the bedroom, James spotted him.
"Jack?"
He withdrew his head from the room and pressed himself against the hallway wall to hide.
"Jack, come out here," Will voiced soothingly. "There's nothing to be frightened of."
With his head lowered as if defeated, Sparrow emerged into the area, his skinny frame quaking as he stood several feet away from them.
"You can come closer. It's all right."
He almost collapsed to the floor as he took a few steps toward them. His hands clutched the blanket around him incredibly tightly.
Will strode to him and lifted his head by placing his fingers under the pirate's chin. Sparrow's eyes were closed, causing Will to command gently, "Look at me, Jack."
The older man sniffed as his eyelids parted to reveal his reddened, damp eyes. "I'm sorry I was eavesdroppin'. It won't happen again, I promise."
"Hush, it's all right. Why are you crying?"
"Because you know."
"About….About what happened to you that night?"
Jack nodded and gazed at the floor. "You wouldn't have touched me if you knew; you wouldn't have wanted to, nor would you now."
"That's not true, Jack." He enveloped the pirate and whispered, "That's not true."
Sparrow's cheeks were being bathed in tears, prodding Will to only murmur more tender words.
"Let's go to the bedroom," the younger man spoke softly after a minute.
He placed his arm across Sparrow's shoulders and escorted him to the area where Jack was most comfortable. He closed the door, led Jack to the bed, and they sat down beside one another.
"Would it be easier for you to talk to me now?" Will questioned quietly.
"I don't know. I guess," Jack answered with a shrug.
"Tell me why you had to be on deck."
Sparrow forced himself to look at Will and began in a quivering voice, "Barbossa would kick me to wake me up in the mornings. Sometimes I followed behind him after he got dressed. Sometimes he gave me five minutes to be alone before I had to be out there. And then I'd wait. His men would give up a part of their swag in exchange to do whatever they wanted with me. But he stopped collectin' after a week and just let them have at me for free." Jack paused to regain a bit of composure. His eyes scanned the room, unable to gaze at Will any longer. "I'd be led below and they….They'd take off my clothes and….and rape me. They liked to bruise me up a bit before they fucked me, and some took me below just to beat me. Soon, they didn't even care to have a bit of privacy; they'd simply have me right on deck….behind a canon or bent over it. On occasion they'd all gather round near the middle of the deck and watch, encouragin' one another as they each took a turn; some more than once. I stopped countin' after about a week, but the average was around twenty men a day that would force themselves on me. At night, Barbossa would have a go with me in his bed. There were a few times when he didn't care to have me. I wasn't allowed to sleep next to him. I had to sleep on the floor. There was an exception every now and then, but not that often.
One night when he was asleep, two crewmen came and took me below. They passed me around from one to another….Hands everywhere on me. Insults and cruel laughter. I was handed off to a man sitting in a chair….I didn't think it was possible, Will. He and another man took me at the same time. Both of them inside me. And it hurt so much, Will. Two others did it again that night and it happened again a few times on deck after that. But after that one night, I didn't have to go out the next day; Barbossa let me stay in the room. I wasn't granted such a luxury after they tied me up and burned me; he made me go out to the deck the followin' morning. It was excruciating. Some touched me where I was burned just to hear me scream….Oh god, Will..."
He bent down, buried his face in Will's lap, and let his sobs consume him. Will had attempted to keep his expression subdued while listening, but his vision had become blurred and his lips trembled as he cried, making him unable to conceal his emotions. He yearned to hide his visage like Jack to weep incessantly. Instead, he began to pet Sparrow's hair lovingly.
"Every….day, Will," the pirate gasped between his uneven breaths. "I didn't want….to be rescued. I wanted….to die."
"Shhh….It'll be all right," Will said consolingly as tears poured from his eyes. "You have me now, and I will protect you, Jack. You don't have to be afraid anymore."
"When they….held the fire to me….I begged them for help, Will. Begged….them. But they laughed at me. They just laughed as I….screamed and begged them to stop."
"Shhhh….I've got you. You will never have to endure such maltreatment again."
Ten minutes ticked by before Jack was able to breathe normally. He sat up from Will's lap and rubbed his eyes. When he opened them, they were bloodshot, swollen, and engulfed with unimaginable pain.
"Now you know why I don't deserve to touch you," he spoke tiredly. "And I'm sure you don't want to touch me either."
The words made Will act without thinking; all he knew was that he had to prove the man wrong. He cupped Sparrow's face in his hands and kissed him heatedly. The pirate responded ravenously. He snaked his arms about Will's neck as they devoured each other's mouths. It was more than merely a comforting gesture, Jack felt. Whether it was of love or lust, he could not tell.
Whenever one dared to pull away for a breath, the other was quick to capture their lips once more. Will's head spun from the inconceivable passion Sparrow's kiss provided him. He could not deny that it aroused him, but he refused to come undone. Though Jack was permitting him to have intimate contact, he knew the older man was not ready for anything more than entangling their lips together; he was not even sure that he was ready for more.
At last, they broke away completely. Each was panting and shaking. The expression of anxiety in Jack's brown orbs caused Will to take his hand and massage it.
"It's all right," he said kindly. "There are no consequences or punishments for enjoying something like that."
"I trust you," Sparrow whispered.
"Thank you for letting me."
A ghost of a smile formed on the pirate's countenance. "Thank you for doin' it."
They rested down on their sides facing each other. Jack curled up against the younger man and placed affectionate caresses with his lips onto Will's fingers, while the blacksmith's free hand very gently rubbed the pirate's back.
It was Will who fell asleep first with a contented grin gracing his visage.
"I love you, Will," Jack whispered sincerely once he knew the young male was dreaming.
When he finally went to sleep, it was not nightmares that met him this time.
With a weighty sigh, Sparrow opened his eyes and turned onto his side. There was someone sitting next to him, and it was not Will. The initial trepidation he had from seeing the person faded instantly, for he knew who it was.
"Theodore," he whispered weakly.
The Lieutenant met his gaze and smiled. "Hello, Jack."
"Where's William?" His voice sounded fretful.
"I believe he's spending some time with Elizabeth at the moment."
Sparrow sat up, kept his head lowered, and muttered almost inaudibly, "Oh."
"How are you feeling?"
The pirate shrugged. "You tell me."
"You're looking better," Groves said kindly.
"Thanks, but I don't see it. You don't have to lie about it for me, mate."
"I would never lie to you-"
"Why are you here? Talking to me?"
The questions caught Groves off guard. "Why would you ask such things?"
Jack sniffed and started to quake. "You….You saw me. That night, down in the brig. On my back like the fucking whore I am."
"You're not a-"
"How can you even stand to be near me? I can't even stand it. You and Will….I don't get why the two of you keep wastin' your time with me. Why not just dump me off somewhere and be done with it? It would do everyone a great favor."
"Please don't talk like that, Jack," Theodore spoke sadly. "It hurts me to witness you like this. After all you've done for me and my men – you're truly a wonder. A beautiful wonder. And I hope that in time you'll be able to see that too."
"No," Sparrow choked and raised his head to stare at the younger man. "The only thing I'll ever see is a torn up body that has but one purpose for being in existence. And that purpose is to be used in every way possible by men. So if you need me to do anythin' for you-" He let the sheet fall to reveal his battered frame from the waist up and leaned forward to whisper into Theodore's ear. "-I won't object. It's time I fulfilled your needs just as I did for everyone else who was on that ship."
Groves clasped his hands on Jack's shoulders and pushed him away gently. The look of frightened bewilderment and dejection on the pirate's countenance was heartbreaking.
"You don't need to do anything," Groves stated compassionately. "And you are not alive simply to satisfy men's urges. It's a horrible crime that you had to be subjected to such atrocities. But you are still beautiful, Jack. You are still worth something."
Sparrow scrutinized the man's visage, paying close attention to the subtle changes in Theodore's eyes. He swallowed and blinked to release a crystal droplet. As if being forced, he undid the blanket from around his waist and placed it aside to allow the younger male to gaze upon his naked body. He lied down on his back and spread his legs. Groves was completely dumbfounded as he gaped unabashedly at the pirate's tanned form.
"Wh-What are you doing?" he stammered.
"You want to fuck me. Please just take it easy. I promise I won't ask for anythin' else."
"Why would you say that?"
"I can see it in your eyes, Theodore," Jack whispered shamefully. "I know you do."
Groves could not deny that he had imagined himself making love to Sparrow on a number of occasions; his attraction to the older man had become great. But he was not about to admit it to the broken man. "Even if that were true, Jack, I would never take advantage of you when you're in such a vulnerable state. I never want to hurt you."
The Lieutenant got up to cover Jack with the bed sheets and sat next to him once more. He stroked the pirate's forehead and erased any tears that came from the brown orbs with his thumb.
"Please let Will and I in," he whispered.
Jack put his hand on the back of Groves' neck and lowered him down. Before Theodore had a chance to react, the older man was kissing him ardently. The lips were impeccable against his own, moving with excellent precision to heighten the intensity. Determined not to break contact, Theodore shifted from where he was in order to stretch out directly above the pirate. The being under him quivered; he could feel it when Jack's hands traveled up and down his back. Soft moans were lost in one another's mouths as they indulged in the tingling sensations produced from the passionate kiss.
Sparrow's mind never lost the thought of what Groves truly wanted, and so after a period, he clumsily began to work on the buttons of the Lieutenant's trousers. He was terrified of disappointing the younger man by not giving himself to him.
Theodore broke away and closed his fingers around Jack's fumbling ones. The pirate stared at him with panic-filled eyes.
"Please don't hurt me," Sparrow pleaded. "I'm sorry I did somethin' wrong. Please don't lock me away. I-"
"Jack, shhh…..Shhh…..You didn't do anything wrong. And you're not going to be locked away. I told you there's no need for this – to make yourself do this. It's all right if you're not ready; don't rush it. No one here is looking for you to commit such….physical acts with them."
"I don't want you to be upset."
Groves smiled affectionately. "I'm not upset. Not at all." He placed a tender kiss onto Jack's lips before whispering, "Get some rest. Will should be coming back shortly, alright?"
Jack gave a small nod and said, "Alright. Thank you, Theodore."
"You're welcome, Jack."
Groves stood and left the room as Sparrow moved to sit against the wall. The pirate held his head in his hands and gazed vacantly at the sheets in front of him. He thought of Will with Elizabeth and detested the twinge of jealousy that coursed through him. It morphed into guilt for feeling such a thing.
"You're awake."
Jack looked up hurriedly and matched the grin on Will's face with his own. Will crept onto the bed to be next to the older man and laced his fingers with Sparrow's. Jack giggled as flutters soared in his stomach; he had never felt so childish in his life.
"I just passed Theodore," Will spoke calmly. "Were you well enough to see him?"
"Yes. We, um….shared a few…."
"You kissed him?"
"Yeah, I did."
"That's good, Jack. You really are getting better. I'm glad."
"I just couldn't….I couldn't bring myself to let him have me, though," Sparrow said regretfully.
"That's fine. There's nothing wrong with waiting until you feel comfortable enough to."
"But I think….I think I am. Maybe. But the only person I would trust to….to take me is you," he ended in a whisper.
Will's mouth fell open in surprise.
"I would never ask you to do such a thing," he quickly added from witnessing the younger man's reaction. "It would be selfish of me. After all, you're engaged. It wouldn't be fair to either of you, and I wouldn't want to-"
"Jack."
The pirate stopped babbling immediately.
Will gazed at him with utter seriousness. "Whenever you're ready, absolutely ready to do it, I will be there for you."
Jack was completely taken aback at the words.
"I want you to be able to overcome the fear. I want you to be happy, Jack."
There was a brief period of silence between them before Sparrow suddenly hugged Will gratefully. He started to shake, but it was not because he was weeping. It was due to cheerful laughter. Will's heart leapt in his chest from the pleasant sound he thought he would never hear again.
"Thank you, William," Jack breathed.
"You're welcome….Listen, I had an idea. I think it may help you."
"What is it?"
As Will told him of his suggestion, they kept their arms securely around one another. Jack had never felt more protected than he did then, and whether he liked whatever Will was saying or not, he would agree to it no matter what.