A/N: This is a long chapter, past my usual goal of 3000 words, but it is finally here. Um, I have to warn you, it is not as detailed as I would have liked, but it is there. Thanks for all the reviews everyone, I really enjoy them. And by the way . . . I am planning this to be at least twenty chapters so there is a lot to come. Until then! Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Chapter 7: Tavern Talk and RUM!!!
The rest of the night Kat only got another two hours of sleep before she woke up again, with the sky still dark, but the traces of pinks and purples could be seen out of the larger pothole window. She took the covers and skins off of her and slung her body to the side to get her feet on the ground. She let out a small gasp and clasped her side as she felt the pain of the hit she had sustained during the storm. The wood in the large Captain's cabin wasn't as cold the wooden floor in her small cabin. Even though the wood was pretty warm for being so early in the morning, she would still have to wear them to work on the mast this morning. She found them at the corner of the bed placed neatly next to one another.
She placed her feet in them and felt that they were still wet from the day before and immediately felt the cold that was missing from the floor. She put the boots on anyway and pushed her pants into the top of them. The clothes were still a little wet, but not as bad as the boots were inside. The blankets and skins had soaked up much of the moister, from the material and she tried to squeeze out the extra water, but only succeeded in wrinkling her clothes even more.
She thought back to the argument the night before, and asked herself if it was really her fault she had fallen in the water without a lifeline. Did she cause Jack to risk his life for her? She shook her head vigorously and tried to get the thoughts out of her head to focus more on the things at hand. She snuck out of the huge cabin and onto the main deck where she found the ropes hanging from the mast ready to be worked with. She began to climb the rope up to the middle of the mast, making sure that she had a good grip around the thick poles with her legs to make sure she didn't fall and began her work. The pain in her side still lingered, but soon after she began to focus on other things and didn't even notice the pain.
She sang through as she worked with the pirate song that she has been hearing for the past month or two. She swung her head from side to side and tied the knots in rhythm as the melody repeated in her mind.
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me," she sang the last part of the song out loud as she finished the last part of the mast on the first side securing the knot tight with a final tug.
"Really? I though' ye said ye'd never become a pirate like me," Jack stood at the bottom on the mast, looking up at her with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed over his chest.
"Ha, ha Captain Sparrow," she said amusingly as she slipped from one side of the mast to the other to continue her task, "But I must think of something to push me through the day . . . and it so happens that this song is all that came to mind."
"Is it now?" he called up to her and leaned on the mast with one hand, "And what do ye think ye are doin' up there?"
"Earning my meals and keep," she continued to work, not even looking back down at Jack, "I thought that I would get a head start at my duties this morning."
"Well, those are no longer yer duties," he called up.
"What do you mean?" she finally looked down.
"I though' ye might wan' a break," he looked at the ground, "We are reachin' a port soon. Ye wan' to get yer land legs back?"
"You mean I get to go on land?" she looked down with a smile on her face, then it changed to a suspicious one, "Why?"
"I've been getting' complaints o' no work bein' done by some of the crew, 'cause ye reach it first."
"Now really, Captain . . . you expect me to believe that the crew would be complaining about that?" she looked at the ropes above her head with a great grin on her face.
"All righ' then, ye caugh' me. I though' ye may need a break. Some o' the crew needs to 'ave some work to do as well."
"How long do I get to have on land?"
"As long as a meal can take, and then some. I'm givin' the crew the nigh' off."
"Captain Jack Sparrow, are you asking to take me out to a meal? Formally?" she smirked and placed her hands on her hips, arching an eyebrow.
"And wha's so wrong 'bout a gentleman takin' a nice lady out to a meal?" he asked calling out to her.
"Nothing at all," she tied the last knot and swung her leg over the side to join the other one as she tilted her head from one side to the other, ". . . but for a pirate to do the same . . . I don't know."
"Let me ask ye a question."
"And what would that be?"
"'Ave I ever given ye a reason not to trust me?"
"No."
"Then why not ye come down and join me for breakfast?"
"For one, were not in port yet and for another, I'm quite comfortable up her by myself," she hung on to the main mast as she stood up, balancing on the horizontal, thick pole beneath her feet. The sun's rays lighting up the sky and the dark wood beneath her feet with reds and oranges.
"Now, ye sure ye want to be doin' tha', luv?" Jack asked in a concerned voice.
"And now showing concern?" she smiled and leaned even more on the mast as she started to tip from side to side, "Captain, am I getting to you?"
"Not at all," he said crossing his arms.
Kat smiles and slides down the mast, quite ungracefully and lands right in front of Jack on her delicate posterior. She checked her pants and made sure there were no rips and looked at the captain with a type of cocky attitude. Another smirk covered her face and then over came his as she stood back up.
"I accept your offer, Captain. Just as long as you pay," she turned on her heel and flapped her hair in his face. She began to walk back to her cabin, "But not until we get to port and I finish as many duties as I can in that time."
"Yer a hard one to crack, ye are," he called after her.
"I make it as hard as possible for you, Captain," she stuck her head into her room and closed the door after it.
***
Soon after she finished her morning chores Kat went back into her room, looking out the window at the last of the sunrise. The bandana fell from her head and fell onto the side of her small bed. She fell back on the bed and closed her eyes. Her breath just flowed in and out of her lungs in a great rhythm. Kat rolled to her side and tried to get comfortable to take a small nap before they reached port.
Before too long she heard someone tapping on the cabin door. She waved her hand around in the air, just as Jack would have done if he were in one of his drunken moods. The tapping continued as he mumbling words of anger started to make sense once again. Finally her eyes halfway opened and looked at the door.
"Who is it?" she cried weakly at the person on the other side of the door.
"Ye all righ' Kat, luv?" Jack called from the other side.
"Yes, I'm just fine. I just need more sleep," she dragged herself from the bed and went to open the door for Jack.
"Would tha' be beauty sleep?"
"I wish," she opened the door to see Jack standing in front of her . . . with something in his hands, "What is that?"
He stepped into the room and unfolded the material for her to see. Hanging from his hands was a beautiful burgundy dress. It had lacing of black running around the hemline and the neck. He handed the dress over to her and she looked at it with huge eyes.
"Captain . . ."
"I though' tha' ye may wan' to go to shore as a lady an' not a deck han'," he gave her a smile showing his few gold teeth, "An' since I stole it months ago, I 'ave had no use o' it."
"You mean I can wear it to shore, today?"
"Aye, why else would I bring it up 'ere?" he walked out of the cabin and down the hall whistling.
Kat looked at the dress and pulled it up to her body. It seemed like it was her size, even though she couldn't be sure with out seeing dresses for so long. She followed the laced neckline with her fingertips and bit her lower lip with the anticipation to wear it.
"Oh-" Jack popped his head back though the doorway making Kat jump, "We're comin' into port now, so I think ye should put it on soon."
"Thanks for the warning, Captain," Kat said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. He smiled and went back out on the deck to tell the crew about their night off. Kat closed the door to her cabin and started to change into the lovely dress.
After a few dozen minutes Jack heard the door to Kat's room open and turned to see her step out. Instead of the dingy looking young woman in dirty and baggy clothes, he saw something quite the opposite. The woman before him had her hair up in a small bun with a few pieces of white lace that made a great contrast to the dark colors of her dress and hair, but it looked better than the bandana that she had left in the room. Her face was washed of and all the dirt and grime was no where in sight. The dress had fit her just as Jack had hoped; fitting all the right places, but still kept her modest and away from the low neck line that was popular to wrenches.
Jack smiled and extended his arm for her to take, "M' lady."
"Well thank you Captain," Kat smiled back with a still shocked and questioning expression on her face, "I never knew you could be this kind to a lady."
"There are a lot o' things tha' could surprise ye about me, concerning ladies."
Kat and Jack un-boarded the Black Pearl and walked down the dock. Kat stumbled a few times trying to re-teach herself to pull up her long, elaborate dress when walking. She blushed a few times when Jack kept her steady on her feet.
"Can' find yer land legs again?" he flashed another smart smile.
"I can find my legs just fine. It's getting my stance back in my dress with these boots that's the problem, Captain," Kat lifted her skirt to show Jack her work boots under her skirt. Her other boots were too warn and were white in color which wouldn't set well with the new dress to begin with.
"Aye, always blame the boots," Jack chuckled and held her hands together on his arm so she wouldn't hit him.
"It is the boots," Kat complained holding tight again to his arm as she swayed from side to side.
Jack just kept laughing and watched patiently until Kat began to stable herself in the dress. After a few more moments she stabled and began to walk once again with her full dignity. She kept her head held high and her step small to keep Jack back by her side.
For the first time after she got out from the ship she began to shift her attention from her dress to the other men and people around her. Men watched her as she walked down the street ever increasing her grip on Jack's arm. She looked up at him as he cleared his throat and saw his disapproving stare at the other pirates. He finally noticed her looking at him and gave a smirk.
"Don' worry, luv. I'll show ye the night o' yer life."
"The night of my life, huh? And what have I told you about calling me luv? My name is Kat."
"No problem, luv," he turned away and started to stare down at other pirate men looking, whistling and cat calling toward Kat, "Come on, I know where a good tavern is."
Jack began pulling her along the streets and through the alley ways to try and avoid the other pirates around them. Kat couldn't help but notice the conditions of the port city. It was cleaner than what she remembered Tortuga being, but it still couldn't measure up to the clean and spotless Port Royal. There were much less wrenches on these streets. Although after Kat thought for a moment, more than likely the women were with the men inside some if not most of the buildings since it was near sun down. After another turn Jack and Kat reached the tavern at the end of the street.
As they walked inside nearly all the men were staring each other down and some were even to the point of rumbling with each other. The whole tavern was lit dimly with the low candle light at each table and the wood tables looked nearly as dark as the wood on the Black Pearl. Jack led Kat to a far table and sat her securely at the farthest possible away from the other men in the tavern who were all too aware of her presence already.
Kat in a way was touched by his kindness and protectiveness of her, but then there was always the voice in the back of her mind that always reminds her of his occupation. Lately she surprised herself by doubting the voice completely.
Both of their heads turned as a table flipped over in the middle of the room. Jack began to laugh lightly, shook his head and mumbled something about amateurs as he saw not one, but both men that were fighting were passed out from the alcohol. Kat saw a middle age lady kick through the rubble from the fight and made her way toward Jack and Kat's table. The woman carried a tray of three rums above her head with one hand and held her skirt with the other. She wore a white and brown dress that many waitresses wear. She served the table beside Kat and Jack's table, giving out the three rums and then turned her attention to them.
"An' wha' will ya have?" she asked yelling over some of the tavern noise. She looked more closely at Jack and a smile grew on her face, "Aye Jack . . . is tha' ye?"
"'Ello Darla! And how ye doin'?" he slumped back in his chair and looked up at the woman.
"Jus' fine," she smiled and put her hands on her hips, "Ye 'aven't been found around here for a while, Jack. Where ye been? Tula has been askin' for ye."
"I 'ave been busy," he motioned his head toward Kat, "An' I remember tellin' Tula I ain't interested."
"I know ye did, but ye try tellin' her tha'. She don' give up easily, Jack."
"Well, she'll 'ave to," Jack sighed and took off his hat.
"Not bloody likely," Darla murmured then continued, "Get ye the usual then?"
"Aye, two please, luv," he gave her a smile and she struggled through the crowd toward what Kat believe to be a kitchen.
Without much guessing Kat was absolutely sure of what the usual was for Jack. He has been sober all day so far and must be having temptation for his rum.
"Who is Tula?" Kat questioned from beside him, "She sounds colorful."
"Ye 'ave no clue," Jack rolled his eyes and grimaced at the thought of Tula. Although his smile came back once he saw Darla coming with the rum and meat.
"'Ere ye go, Jack," she set down the mugs in front of Jack and Kat and set the meat in the middle of the table.
Kat looked into her mug disapprovingly already aware of the contents. Jack began drinking- no, more like gulping- his own down. Darla gave Kat a smiled and nodded her head with a wink. She came out a little later with some water for her to drink. Before Jack could finish his last gulp on his fist cup of the evening he felt a slender hand of his shoulder. His cheeks full of rum he didn't dare turn to see the hand's owner.
"Why hello Jack," Tula's voice carried over Jack's ears like a broken record and Kat noticed it. Although after taking a look at Tula, she didn't blame him. She wore way too much eye shadow and lipstick and with her thin figure she looked like a small stick. Her dirty blond hair was up in a messy style and to Kat . . . it looked like she didn't care at all for her appearance. And Jack was right to say Kat had no idea how colorful the woman was. Her dress was the brightest color of red she had ever seen.
Jack swallowed his rum like he was taking his last mouthful of rum. He turned slowly around, "'Ello Tula."
"I was wondering when ye'd come back."
"Small world, eh?" he laughed nervously as Tula was trying to carry him away. He looked at Kat hoping for some kind of help. It was strange to Kat to see the captain of the Black Pearl worried and scared. Kat couldn't help but take pity on him, took a deep sigh and walked over to the two figures.
Kat got up from her chair and walked over to where Tula now had Jack cornered against a wall trying to pry a kiss from him. Kat tapped Tula on the shoulder and crossed her arms over her chest. Tula turned around and almost seemed to spit in her face.
"What do you want, girl? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Well so was I," Kat took Tula's hands off of Jack and stood between them, ". . . until you decided to take away my business."
"Your business?" Tula seemed to screech at Kat.
"Or should I say my Captain Sparrow?" she turned to Jack and draped her arms around his neck. She winked at him and shook her head to let the loose hair fly free, "Isn't that right?"
Jack sat her down on his knee and leaned his forehead on hers getting the basic idea of the plan, "Tha's righ'. I made a promise to Kat here. Givin' her the nigh' o' her life."
They both smiled at each other and Kat began to play with some of the trinkets in his dreadlocks. They looked at Tula who was about to say something, but thought better of it and walked away. They looked back at each other and startled to laugh loudly.
"Thank ye, Kat," Jack said barely above a whisper trying to regain his breath.
"Don't get used to it Captain," Kat got out of his lap still laughing and walked back to the table. They both began to eat the meat and Kat let Jack have her rum as she saw that she wasn't going to have any of it. He gladly accepted the offer and drank hers down right after his.
After a few hours of eating Kat leaned back in her chair and stared out the small window. The sun was setting and she could see more ships sailing in as well as more men coming in from the harbor. The women of the night were now out of their buildings and in the streets catching pirates as they walked by. One by one more men came into the tavern ready to brawl and stir up even more trouble. Every moment after the sun went down, the more the port looked like Tortuga.
"So Kat," Jack began with a little slur in his speech, "Wha's on yer mind?"
Kat thought for a moment and did notice that there was still something on her mind from earlier. She bowed her head and turned away from Jack's face.
"Kat, luv?" Jack tried again.
"Was it really my fault?" Kat asked turning back to him holding her cup of ice between her hands.
"Wha'?"
"Falling into the water during the storm. Was it my fault that I fell?" she looked back at him and into his eyes, "Should I have tied my knot tighter? Should I have been more careful? Should I have just stayed in my cabin?"
Jack grabbed her hands and looked at her eyes. Even if he was completely drunk she couldn't tell with all the concern he was showing, "Kat, it wasn't yer fault. Ye weren't taught righ'. Tha's why I will be teachin' ye now."
"Teaching me?"
"Tha's righ'," he took his hands from hers and put it on his hips, "Anythin' tha' ye may be needin to learn, I'll be teachin ye."
"Really?"
"Tha's righ!" he repeated emptying another cup of rum down his gullet.
Kat was happy in one way that Jack will now be teaching her and not Anamaria, but the thought that he was nearly killed trying to save her still burned in her mind. She put her elbows on the table and cupped her face in her hands.
After a few moments two hands grabbed her up from the table and turned her toward another pirate, "Why so sad puppet? I'll make ye happy."
"Jack!" Kat let a scared syllable out of her mouth and toward Jack.
Before even another terrifying second could go by Jack was at the man's side tapping him on the shoulder.
"Wha' ye want Sparrow?" the other pirate snarled.
Jack simply took Kat out of the other pirate's arms and held her protectively in his, "I believe that lady and I 'ave some business to attend to."
"Oh," the pirate looked at them both, "Wha' would tha' be?"
"What do you think?" Kat grabbed Jack's arm and started toward the door, "Good night."
Jack smiled and gave the others a look that seemed to laugh at them for not having their own lady. Before they got too far jack threw a shilling or two on the table and exited with Kat on his arm. As soon as they left the tavern and got outside Kat was about to let go of his arm, but he kept his hand on hers.
"Don' let go jus yet, luv."
"I told you not to get too used to this Captain."
"Don' flatter yer self," Jack smirked, "Yer admirers are followin' us."
"Now what?" she looked up at him.
"Just follow me lead," he turned them both into a building and waved to the woman at the front desk.
"'Ey Jack," the woman greeted him and threw him a key.
"Thanks Ella," he caught the keys and gave her a small salute when climbing the stairs.
"Why do I have a feeling you have been here before?" Kat asked with a sarcastic tone.
"Ye could say many know of me," he reached the end of the hall and opened the door.
He pushed Kat into the room and closed the door behind him. He put his head close to the door and tried to listen for the other pirates that were following them. It proved to be quite difficult with Kat behind him asking every question she could. He waved his hand behind him to try and quiet her, but it took a few times to actually do so. After a few more minutes by the door Jack came over to Kat and sat down on the huge bed set to the side of the room.
"Ok . . ." Kat paced off a couple of steps then sat back down next to Jack, "Are they outside our door or down the street picking up the next lady?"
"Outside the door," Jack said from his laying position on the bed, "And hopefully it will stay tha' way."
"Why?"
"Other wise they would be in here," he looked up at her then over at the door where his eyes grew huge.
"Wha-?" before Kat could even finish her one syllable Jack grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a kiss.
From behind her she heard the other pirates burst though the door. Both of them still have their eyes open and Kat saw Jack wink at her to get her to follow along. She rolled her eyes, but then closed them. She leaned into the kiss and began to kiss back. The other pirates must have understood and walked back outside as Kat heard the door close behind her.
She began to lean back from the kiss, but noticed that Jack's arms were still around her. She opened her eyes and pulled her head back. Jack's eyes were still closed and his lips still puckered.
"Excuse me, Captain, but I think they're gone now," Kat whispered to him.
"Righ'," Jack popped his eyes open, but nothing else moved, "But wha' if they ain't?"
"If they aren't? . . . Captain, have I gotten to you?" Kat back out from his grasp and looked at him still on the bed looking straight at her.
"Got to me?" Jack asked, tossing off his ha and heavy dark, jacket, "Wha's tha' suppose to mean?"
"You want to kiss me again," Kat said in a smart tone, "If you call what you gave me a kiss."
Jack jumped off the bed and walked right up to her, "Ye think ye could do better?"
"Yes, I know I can do better," Kat leaned toward Jack and pushed him back onto the bed. She pushed her face right in front of his, but before she reached his lips she stopped, "But I will not demonstrate on the likes of you, Jack Sparrow"
"Aye, nice cover story, luv," he got off the bed once again, "But the kiss I jus gave ye was jus for show. I'm not going to waste a true kiss on ye."
"Who said I would be a waste?" Kat asked offended.
"Tha' would be me," Jack said raising his hand.
"I would show you one, two Jack Sparrow-"
"Ah, ah," Jack raised his finger, "Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Captain," Kat bowed and went toward the door, "I would like to go back to the ship."
"All righ'," he reluctantly pulled back on his coat and hat and opened the door to find the other pirates still there.
"Now what?" Kat asked above a whisper.
"Now we run for the ship," Jack grabbed her wrist and ran through the group, "I told ye, ye would 'ave the nigh' o' yer life."