Brushing off the cobwebs that have gathered on my ability to write denial-fuelled Norrington for this one. Not completely happy with it, but eh.


Flufftober 2022 - Day 5 - "Oh no, you're a morning person!"

[Set in the build-up to the first movie. Y'know, the pine-y, slow burn shit.]


James paused when he heard the footsteps beginning to descend the stairs as he ate breakfast. They'd found themselves in the unfortunate position of being obliged to attend a dinner party the previous night, and one bachelor present had taken it upon himself to ply Theodora with whiskey. Her Irish origins may or may not have been used as an excuse. James had watched the entire exchange with disapproval - and the man had finally taken note of one of the frosty looks being levelled his way before backing off to some corner or another, no longer making a nuisance of himself. But the damage had been done.

Oh, she'd taken it surprisingly well - smirking her pride when Groves commented thus - but no doubt she would be suffering today. Those suspicions were confirmed when she stepped into the dining room, a thick mauve dressing gown covering her nightgown (and saving them from scandalous impropriety), her hair doing battle against the thick plait that lay strewn across one shoulder, and her face pale. It wasn't entirely proper, but nor was it improper enough to bear voicing. Not since they were without an audience. If it were a recurring thing, perhaps, but it was not. And he could even pretend that it was her comfort he was keeping in mind, and that it had nothing to do with how oddly difficult it was to tear his eyes away from her, even in this state.

"Mornin'," she murmured, slipping into the chair opposite his.

The one that he'd somehow begun to view as hers.

"Good morning," he made sure to speak quietly "I had not expected to see you."

"Mmf," she murmured "Yeah. Well. You said you'd be working late tonight, so I thought if I didn't drag myself up for breakfast, I'd probably not see you today."

There was no denying how her words surprised him, James blinking as he comprehended them, and then took a moment to make sure he had not misunderstood that she should see fit to go out of her way to speak with him at least once that day. The only response he could offer was an idiotic smile that rose to his lips, hidden poorly by the bow of his head. He enjoyed having her here, there was no denying that, more than he ever expected. Just as he could not have expected the warmth it brought him to find the sentiment was not only returned, but expressed so casually - like it were obvious.

So he chose not to make a thing of it. If she was going to express it so casually, he would treat it as such too. It only made sense.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Her complexion held a touch of pallor, but that was oddly reassuring to see. When she'd first come here, she'd been burnt so badly that no amount of nausea could have paled her. Now, though, it was faded entirely. A mark of just how long she'd been here, even if it felt like barely any time at all.

"Delicate, but not terrible," she sighed "He really was persistent, wasn't he?"

"If you did not wish to drink, you could have told him so."

"Could I?"

It was asked with genuine curiosity, not scepticism, nor as an accusation.

"Of course you could have. Did…did you not feel as though that were an option?"

Were he not so appalled by the idea, he'd have been more worried about his readiness to find the man from the night before and educate him as to the consequences of press-ganging his charge into doing anything she did not completely wish to do.

"I didn't know if it would go against some sort of weird rule you all have," she paused to sip at the water she'd poured herself as he spoke "Didn't know if it would reflect badly on you, current situation in mind and all."

"Not at all. And even if it would, I would rather you focus on your own wellbeing and allow me to worry about my honour."

She gave a wry half-smile, and murmured "Aye aye, Captain Norrington."

"I mean it," he said, not content to let her joke this away "Should you be made uncomfortable at one of these blasted things and you find yourself unsure as to how to respond, find me."

"What, and you'll sort them out for me?" She breathed a quiet laugh.

"Perhaps not with violence, as I suspect your meaning to be," he replied frankly "Although I suppose that depends on the manner of discomfort they've placed you under."

Blinking, Theodora looked up from the toast she'd been slowly spreading butter over, regarding him with surprise - surprise that, in turn, caught James off guard. How could she not know that? Even were she not his responsibility, they were…well, there was a camaraderie between them. This should not come as a surprise.

"All right," she said quietly "Thank you."

James did not respond to that - it wasn't something to be thanked for, it was what any decent man would do.

"For now, though, I have to do battle with my toast," the likelihood of her winning that battle was betrayed by how she went a shade paler staring down at it.

"Here," he took pity and pushed the plate of fruit in the centre of the table towards her.

"It's too sweet," she shook her head.

"Perhaps, but it has a high water content which will make you feel better."

She hesitated, and then finally took up a bunch of grapes "A man of science, then?"

"Hardly," he scoffed "Call it a lesson hard-won from my long gone youth."

Theodora laughed "I don't know, you seem youthful enough to me."

And yet again, James had no idea what to say. It seemed to be a recurring theme around her.