Summary: "She was no ordinary woman of society at all. She was perfect pirate material, whether she knew it or not." Jack reflects on how Elizabeth is a thorn bush. One-shot. Follows COTBP and DMC. Sparrabeth.
Prompt: You can complain because rose bushes have thorns or, rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
A Powerful Disguise
When he'd first seen the girl fall into the water below the fort, he assumed she was one of those common high-strung women of society. Then he met the Commodore, who's actions caused the young woman, who's name he soon learned to be Elizabeth Swann, to prove him wrong.
"Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?"
She was no ordinary woman of society at all. She was full of thorns.
He'd brightened at her fiery spirit, knowing he could make an ally of her yet.
Though when they were eventually cast out and thrown to the tide, he learned that she was a thorn in not just Barbossa's or Norrington's side, but his own as well.
"Ye burned all the food, the shade, the rum!" He exclaimed unhappily, a fire blazing behind him on the island.
She was perfect pirate material, whether she knew it or not. She was a thorn bush in the disguise of a rosebush, and he was certain most people didn't even know it. He silently made an oath to bring her out of the world society demanded of her and into one of a lifetime of freedom upon the seas.
He was proud when she rebelled against the Commodore, coming to stand beside Will and himself as they were surrounded by several cocked guns. He knew then that one day, she would most definitely return to his life.
When Will had shown up on the cannibal island of the Pelegostos, he had known she would appear soon after. He was glad when she stumbled upon him and the crew in Tortuga, in search of the lad, as stubborn as ever.
"All I want is to find Will."
As they sailed for Isla Cruces, their banter both humored him and took him by surprise. She had gotten so much better at manipulation, though that's not hard if one's a woman who knows the ways of men. He found himself more drawn to her than ever. Like a moth to a flame. Like a sailor to the sea.
And then, just like Norrington had, he fell victim to her spell. She signed his death warrant with a kiss as she shackled him to the Pearl's mast. Her eyes were cold briefly, before they begged for forgiveness. Then, she left.
"This is the only way, don't you see? I'm not sorry."
"Pirate."
As he stared at the spot where she had been, he felt the thorn she had left stabbing into his heart. He wondered how he could have forgotten that she was a thorn bush with roses, not a rosebush with thorns.
Bloody thorn in my side indeed, eh, love?