"I'm sorry." Jack smiled genially, sure he had heard incorrectly. "I must have a great glob of wax stuck in me ears. Did you just say you want to sail to the Fountain of Youth?"
Norrington frowned at him. Jack didn't mind—it seemed to be the go-to expression for the former-commodore-former-admiral when he was looking at Jack.
"You heard correctly, Sparrow," he responded, a muscle twitching in his cheek. "That is what I said."
"Thought so," Jack said with a nod. "Lost yer minds, the both of you. Didn't know that was part of the curse of the Dutchman."
"Tia Dalma—Calypso—did say to return Ona to her home," William Turner chimed in unhelpfully. "Whitecap Bay is a reasonable destination for our intentions, and if Ona says it's also where the Fountain of Youth is hidden…" William looked up at Jack, pleading with those big doe eyes that Jack had always found to be unfairly endearing.
Even as a captain, yer still that earnest boy I found at a blacksmith's forge, Jack thought fondly. It's disgustin'.
"So go find the Fountain yerselves," Jack said, raising his hand to examine his fingernails. "Don't see why ye'd drag me into this nonsense."
"I would have thought you would be the first to jump at the opportunity to seize eternal life and glory," Norrington said dryly. Jack sent him a sweet smile.
"I believe the never-ending chase for honor and redemption falls under your purview, former-Admiral."
Norrington looked like he might stroll across the captain's cabin and strike him across his jaw, so Jack held up his hands in placation and added, "I've had me fill of mythical beasts and legendary treasure. Anymore of that balderdash and I'm more than like not to survive it a third time. Fourth time?" He counted on his fingers, realizing he'd lost track of his encounters with the supernaturally ridiculous.
"We need the Pearl, Jack," William stepped between them, not so daft that he couldn't see the tension between the two men. "We need it because Ona cannot stay aboard the Dutchman."
"Ah, right," Jack said, pointing his finger at William. "You've got a new job with a new master to please."
"Exactly," he responded, all seriousness. "We still have souls that need ferrying, especially after we just sunk the Endeavor. But we cannot ignore Calypso's other mandate, either. Our responsibilities must have balance." William glanced at Norrington. The boy wasn't subtle about it, and the former admiral looked away, his jaw muscles tightening hard enough that Jack could see them flexing.
"Ye must be very fond of the girl," Jack said with even less subtlety than William. "I suppose it's good ye've moved on from pining over dear Lizzie. Healthy. I'm proud of you, Jimmie."
Norrington scoffed in disgust and turned away, folding his arms over his chest as he stared out of the rear windows, probably so he wouldn't be tempted to hit Jack. Also a common theme between them, and Jack was almost comforted by the fact some things, at least, never changed.
"Will you agree to it or not?" William interjected. Jack appraised him while raising an eyebrow. He had to admit, the whole dashing-swashbuckler bit, complete with the jagged scar across his heart, was a good look. A great look.
Bugger, he thought in annoyance. He couldn't turn down the kid. Never had been able to, really.
"You do realize the complicated implications of taking a shipful of ne're-do-wells and scoundrels to a fountain of immortality, yeah?" Jack shot back, tone dripping with skepticism.
"Oh no, it gets better," Norrington answered, looked over his shoulder to give Jack a dour look. "The Fountain is not a source of eternal life. It's a sacrificial alter."
"Come again?" Jack asked faintly, blinking rapidly. Norrington flashed him one of his half-grins, the kind that danced on the edge of a blade, and he turned around to face Jack fully.
"To acquire years beyond what nature intended, one most steal said years from another. And not just some years. All the years."
"Ah," Jack responded, swallowing. "I see. Not exactly what I would describe as better, though."
"There's no need to be squeamish now, Sparrow," Norrington said with an arrogant drawl. "With how many times you've tried to sacrifice Turner, I suspect trying to steal his life would be no more exciting than your typical Tuesday."
William looked like he was going to protest, but Jack simply smiled and said, "No need to fret, former-Admiral. Our dear William is immortal, as are you, so you need not worry about me stealin' yer years. Ye may actually have some to spare if you were feelin' generous…"
"Absolutely not—"
"Jack, please—"
Jack raised his hands in surrender and said, "Can't blame a bloke for trying."
Norrington rolled his eyes. William sighed tiredly. And Jack said, "Course I'll help. It's not as if I've got much else to do at the moment, though I do need to make a stop along the way."
The immediate suspicion on their faces was nearly insulting.
"In case you didn't notice, I've got holes blown in me ship," Jack said irritably. "Not to mention stocking up on supplies and offloadin' me new guests. Unless," he speculated with a coy smile, "ye'd like the survivors of the Endeavor to come along with us?"
"That's the last thing this world needs," Norrington muttered angrily, no doubt upset about a particular survivor Jack had in his hold right at that moment. Jack could sympathize with the sentiment, all things considered, but letting naval officers drown was so wasteful when living prisoners could be bartered to the Crown.
"What about Barbossa?" William asked abruptly. Jack frowned. That was a bit of a pickle, and one Jack couldn't really see a way out of. Not yet.
"As much as it pains me to say, I see no other choice but to take him along," Jack offered with a wince. "If he hasn't figured out where we're goin' by now, he will soon, wily bastard. Better to keep him with us than have him run off to hire another crew and try to beat us to the island."
"I think that's ill-advised," Norrington argued, because of course he would. "We can't trust him. And if we did set him loose, no one would believe his tales of the Fountain, anyway. And only a death-bound fool would search for Whitecap Bay."
"Like us, then?" Jack responded with a chipper smile. Norrington sent him a scowl. They were going nowhere, and Jack knew it.
"Look," Jack said, trying to adopt his most diplomatic, 'we're all friends here' tone, "I'm no happier about this than you are, but I'd rather have Barbossa close where we can keep an eye on him than have him sail off to Tortuga, runnin' his mouth for any knob to hear."
William gave a solemn sigh. "I… agree with Jack."
Norrington looked like he wanted to say something very cutting, but instead replied, "You're the captain," in a strained voice.
William looked at him in sympathy and moved forward as if he was going to comfort the man, but Jack popped in between them and smiled gaily.
"I feel rather good about this," he said happily. "You, me, the open ocean. It's like the gang's back together again. Well, all except dear Lizzie." He sniffed. "Where is Her Royal Highness, anyway? I know she would love to go on an adventure to save a mermaid and discover the Fountain of Youth."
Now William looked like he might throw a fist at Jack, but that wasn't new either.
"If we're done here, then Mister Norrington and I need to depart for the Dutchman."
"Go, go," Jack said with a flap of his hand, already approaching his alcohol cabinet across the room. "Ferry yer merry dead. You can find us at Shipwreck Cove by the end of the day."
"Thank you, Jack," said William, which was what Jack expected.
"Yes," Norrington said stiffly. "Thank you."
Now that, Jack hadn't expected. Not from Saint James Norrington. But when he looked over his shoulder, Jack found his cabin completely empty. Not a soul in sight, and his cabin door most definitely had not been touched.
"Hate it when they do that," Jack said with a slight shiver, turning back to pour him something that would warm away the gooseflesh on his arms. "Truly, bloody hate it."
we're approaching the end folks! two more chapters to go and im not sure how i feel about it. i wish this story could just go on forever