Upon A Painted Ocean - Part 14
Author: Daisy Sparrow
Pairing: Jack/Will, Will/Elizabeth
Rating: PG-13 and rising
Summary: When a mysterious plague hits Port Royal Will and Elizabeth go with Captain Jack Sparrow to find a cure. But when Will is captured by the man who unleashed the plague and infected with a strange new disease that feeds on love things start to get complicated. Slashiness!
Archive: As long as you ask me first.
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all its characters are not mine. I am making no money off this. Don't sue the colleage kid who are already broke.
Credit for the title goes to Coleridge's poem and P.Speare who wrote the most wonderful Weiss Kreuz fic. Also special thanks to Darkdancer for the betaing.
Warning: Same as always, first fic ever and English not my first language.
Me: Jack is jealous, it's really out of character for him.
Zeke: Stupid human!
Me: He's pissed that you like the boy.
Zeke: What?! I am not allowed to have friends.
Me: Just don't get in the way.
Zeke: It's my job to get in the way!!!
Anyway, please R&R!!!!
" " speech
// // thought
*** *** memory/flashback
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He could feel the repulsion in the air before he even opened the door. Ever since he became aware of the nearness of that accursed stone, its affect had increased tenfold. Every time he went within ten feet of the ruby, or more precisely, the one who carried the ring, his palm would sweat and his mouth would turn desert dry. A chilliness would spread from the back of his spine all the way to his toes. His body would involuntary freeze and it always took a minute or two for him to feel his limbs again.
Zeke doesn't like the chilliness. Cold he could deal with, coldness usually tranquilized the flesh and blocked out most feelings. Chilliness on the other hand, was like needles, probing deep and always there. It reminded him of the dark and damp tomb that he spent the majority of his life in.
//This is ridiculous. You are only cold because you think you are cold.//
He took a deep breath, balanced the tray in one hand and knocked the door with the other. The heated voices inside stopped abruptly. A few moments later, a tired and deep voice responded.
"What is it?"
Impatience reeked from the captain's tone, he obviously wanted to get ride of whomever it was quickly. //Trouble in paradise?// Zeke thought with amusement.
"It's Zeke, sir. I brought Will something to eat."
The door creaked opened. Jack's wary face appeared, dark cycles under sunken eyes that glowered sullenly.
"Come in."
//He doesn't look so good.// On a second thought, gleefully, //maybe he's finally cracking, dying even.//
He took one step inside first, readied himself against the soft humming of resistance, and walked in. Will was half sitting and half lying on the very far side of the bed. The magic of the ruby left a white mist invisible to human eye, but Zeke could see them clearly. Even with the flow of the force wrapped around his form protectively, Will's face was still white as the sheet.
//My mistake. The boy is the one dying.//
"I brought you some bread, Will, and broth.... to wash them down." Will gave him a slight node in gratitude, even that small movement seemed to take him a great deal of effort. The captain's hot glares were directed at the back of his head.
Its message loud and clear: you are done, now scram.
In response, Zeke put the tray on the night stand and sat down on the edge of the bed. He was still mad about the mess with the dream sequels.
"You all right there, Will? Need a hand with anythin'g?"
The glares were turning venomous and boring holes in his back now. He bit down on his bottom lip to prevent it from curving up.
"Ezekiel..."
//Wow, full name. Human are so easily agitated.//
"...get out of her' an' go work in yer kitchen or som..."
"Zeke, can you stay for a while?"
"What?" Two voices resonated in the small cabin at the same time. Zeke cocked his head to the side in puzzlement while Jack looked almost crestfallen, hurt and disbelieving written all over his face.
"I want to talk to Zeke about something." The sentences came out smooth and fluent despite the pain recoiled inside the trembling form. "Jack, go get some sleep. You look horrible."
Jack's gaze traced back and forth between Zeke and Will, as if expecting some big conspiracy. Questioning eyes finally rested on Will, who stared back evenly. Zeke could taste the electrical sparks flying in the air. He was beginning to regret staying, being caught in the cross fire hadn't been his intention.
//It just figures. I swear, EVERY TIME. That wasn't even evil or anything.//
The staring contest stretched on. Zeke swallowed at the nerve wrecking silence. Finally, Jack gave in.
"Fine. I'll just be in th' room down th' hall. .....if ye need anything, just call me, savvy?"
Zeke felt a slight tug at the back of his neck as the captain lifted his head up rather forcibly, "Don't ye tire him."
It was more of a threat than a order. He nodded his head rapidly, the most innocent smile he could muster, was planted firmly in place.
Apparently satisfied but with great reluctance, the captain let go of his neck and swaggered toward the door. With one last lingering glance, Jack shut the door quietly behind him. The two occupants still left in the room both breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. The pirate captain could be so very stubborn and pigheaded sometimes.
"Eh... if you don't like the food, I can bring you something else." Zeke stated uneasily. He hadn't exchanged a single word with the Blacksmith since their reunion, but Will was unconscious.
Will's eyes were down cast, and his hands were fumbling mindlessly with the bed sheet. Zeke had to lean closer to catch the next sentence.
"Have...have you told Jack about what happened?"
"No.... I haven't got the chance. The captain was with you the whole time." Will's face raised up at that statement, the corner of his mouth softened.
"I see. Then there is a favor I must ask of you.... it's personal."
".....sure, Will. ....as long as it's within my power."
//And I'll probably have to do it for free, it's not like I can hurt you, not with that damned rock still hanging around your neck. Damn...//
His spirit dropped despite the prospect of obtaining possible future blackmailing material. He was not a big fan of voluntary work.
"Can you....not tell Jack about what happened with Cane...and the potion?"
".... he will want to know why you are sick?"
"I am not sick! It's... it's only temporary."
"Which part, the potion or the true love." It wasn't a question, Zeke was curious to see how far human's self-denial can go.
"You heard that?"
He quirked up one eyebrow, for some reason, Will's weary _expression was getting.... strangely nagging to watch. It was weird. He didn't think that dull shade of brown suited those doe eyes too well.
"Of course you heard it. But it was nothing, what Cane said. Really! I am a man... I mean.... I like Jack, he's my best friend. I look up to him and .... I have a fiancé..... and...." Zeke could literally see Will wracking his brain inside and out looking for more plausible excuses, until finally he almost shouted. "I don't love Jack!"
"....I didn't say it was the captain."
"......"
"......"
"...I.... I love Elizabeth." The retort was weak and feeble.
"......"
"......"
"Yeah? ....I don't think you really love Miss. Elizabeth. I think perhaps.... you love what she represented." A loud shriek, a warning sign was emanating from the back of his mind.
//Why am I having this conversation?//
A pair of hand suddenly clapped around his tightly. He almost flinched at the unexpected heat. Will's breath was disheveled, each suction and exhalation of air came with uneven strand; he could see the skin began to smoke and redden at where their hands were joined.
"Jack must NOT know. Promise me that you won't tell anyone, especially him about... any of this!!"
"Will, your hands are burning."
"PROMISE ME!"
"I don't think the captain would be too happy to see you hurt again."
"...... please?"
"Will, I..."
"....please..."
"...fine. I promise."
"Thank you." The injured hands fell down onto the blacksmith's lap lifelessly.
"...they look bad. I am going to get some water and lotion, stay here and... don't do anything else with them." He turned and all but fled from the scene.
The door closed with a soft click, cut him off from Will's soft sniffs of pain and the constant pressure of the ruby. Wind carried a cool breeze through the round windows lined up on the other side of the hallway. The pounding in his chest was subsiding and his head was finally clearing up.
//What did I just do?//
As realization hit him like a two ton elephant, he froze, horrified.
//Was I... genuinely concerned about the boy?! This isn't happening. .....shit, Ursella was right. Stay with those monkeys for too long, and you will be domesticated!//
//No, it was the ruby. It MUST be the ruby. Stupid Rock!!// He balled his hands into fists, stalked toward the open deck, and determined to find something to torture and kill.
~~~*~~~
Jack found Zeke working in the kitchen. The cook was chopping the heads off a basket of fishes with such force, that every down ward thrust of the knife left a clear dent on the wooden board beneath.
He stood just outside of biting range and cleared his throat to get the cook's attention. Grey eyes raised to meet his own, the chopping sound continued.
"Captain, what can I do for you?" *Chop, Chop* Another head rolled onto the floor.
"Ye are gon'na clean that, aren't ye?"
Jack motioned towards the floor, where a small stack of decapitated fish heads was. He was trying to light up the mood, the atmosphere inside the small room reminded him of the night before his neck was about to get intimately acquitted with a certain noose.
The downward motion of the knife seized. Zeke's cheek twitched and he grinned at Jack sheepishly. Jack could have swore the cook's fingers tightened on the handle of the knife, he had the certain urge to duck.
"Of course, sir. Is that all, sir?" The last word was spit out like an insult while the cook maintained a flawless polite face.
//What did I do?//
"Nay, I am here to talk to ye about th' lad." He watched with mild interest at the utter lack of
reaction from the redhead.
"Will? What about him, sir?"
Jealousy had hurled its way into his chest at the, in Jack's opinion, way too familiar way the cook uttered the Blacksmith's given name. An irrational sense of loss and insecurity were manifesting beneath the acidic coating of paranoia. He steeled himself against this childish... whatever it was.
//They ar' just friends.//
"What happened on th' Grey Owl?"
"I don't really remember much, sir. I was knocked out."
Zeke's face was the perfect poster of angelic innocent. Jack was slightly astonished at the fact that he could see through that faultless facade with such clarity.
"Is tha' so?" He moved closer now that the younger man had put away the knife, and he was in no immediate danger of being used as a target pole.
He grabbed the front of the cook's collar, hailed him bodily onto the table. Fish guts spluttered everywhere, Zeke braced both his elbows against the slippery surface of the table. His head tilted back slightly as Jack held his dagger against the cook's throat. Zeke blinked at the sudden attack owlishly, eyebrows climbed almost into his hairline. Jack sneered at the underlining amusement shining in those dusky orbs.
//What th' hell is so funny?!//
"Ezekiel, be a good boy an' tell th' truth. Th' suspense is irratin'g th' pants off of me, an' me hand
might slip."
The cook did not gibber in terror and fear, as he had planned. Instead the piercing gaze was unmoving, he pressed the edge of the dagger closer against the pale skin.
"I promised Will that I wouldn't say anything." He paused at the blunt confession. He had been expecting more lies, not almost brute honesty.
"Ye...promised?! About what?!!"
"About things I can't say." The amusement had darken to an almost devious glitter, then vanished all together to be replaced by passiveness. "I really can't say, sir. You can slip my throat now, but a promise is a promise."
There was an unquestionable and cement finality in the soft voice. He sighed with resignation and let go of the cook. Suspicion had engulfed his heart with dread and dismay.
//How bad was it?//
"Fine. Do ye at least have any idea what's wrong wit' th' lad?"
".... Not a clue, sir. He might be dying though."
"WHAT!?" Jack's voice thundered, he grabbed Zeke's shoulders and shook him hard. "Why? Why did ye say that?"
That mischievous grin was back, Jack wanted to punch that pretty face and wipe it empty of all expressions. He gritted his teeth; he might just do that.
"He doesn't look so good."
"Ye dimwit! Lookin'g unhealthy does NOT equal impending death. STOP saying moronic things like that. Ye will jinx him!" He continued to shake the cook, whose head was rolling back and forth with each motion of his hands like a ragged doll.
"..... just speculating, sir. But the priest might know."
"What priest?" He stopped the shaking and brought the cook's face closer.
"The priest..... Will said his name was Cane. He was the boss onboard the Grey Owl..... really creepy character he was, raving something about freedom and true love."
//Cane. That's the name of the preacher Elizabeth mentioned. Freedom and true love, what does that have to do with Will's condition?//
"...really suspiciously mannered, too. He kept on asking about Will's....eh.... relationships."
//Relationship? ....true love.... Of course, it's Elizabeth. If this is indeed some witchcraft at work, then Will might be cured when he reunite with his bonny lass.//
What about you? His subconsciousness asked. Wasn't your love true enough? Couldn't your affection cure him?
Couldn't Will have loved....you? Does he not perhaps love you...already? What about the kisses, the touches, and that possessive declaration?
*** Mine.***
//They were nothing. They meant nothing. The lad was feverish and delirious, he just launched onto the first familiar face. It was my fault for taking advantage of his vulnerability, his trust....//
"Did th' priest...or Will say anythin'g else?"
//Let's face it, mate. Northin'g this good ever happen to ye, and even if it does, it never last long.//
"Will was confident that you'd come to rescue us.... I did remind him of the code, but he was really optimistic about it."
A pang at his chest, a sharp twist of pain. Elizabeth's furious voice rang in his ears.
*** What do you mean we are not going after them?!***
"....yes, ye should have." He sheathed the dagger, turned to walk toward the exit, and paused at the door. "Oh, an' Zeke, I know that people can form extraordinary bonds when they survived some crisis together. That's still no reason to b' all over th' other one."
At Zeke's blank face, he added, "Keep yer distance from th' lad, he already has a fiance."
The door closed. He stumbled into the salty air of the open sea. The seductive caressing of the wind slide across every pore and helped reassemble his thoughts into a more organized pattern. Now was not the time for useless sentimentally, he took a deep breath. There were rescue plan to be devised and future havoc to be plotted.
~~~*~~~
Zeke gaped at the door. The captain's last statement still fresh in his mind.
//Human stupidity really has no boundaries.//
He sneered indignantly and grindered his foot into the floor on top of several fish heads, imagine them to be a certain pirate captain's face. He grunted internally at the nerve of the man, to even suggest that he might develop any sort of attachment.... to a human no less. It was really plainly obvious which way the Blacksmith's desires lay. Zeke had detected the undercurrent of sexual tension between the youth and the rogue pirate the moment their eyes met.
//All that repressed emotion could be really hazardous to one's health, which does explain why their life span is so short.//
His thoughts turned to Jack's pained _expression when Zeke had told him about Will's faith in him. The comment had been deliberately exaggerated of course, but the storm of torment in those ebony eyes had cooled down his rising temper.
//Is this what love does?//
There was the faint echo of a memory, simmering deep below his subconscious. A pair of amber eyes flashed through his mind, a youthful face that had been burdened with worries beyond his years, an arrogant curve of lips.
***
Love? Love.... makes all four seasons feel like winter.
Does it? ....actually, I meant the physical pleasure, but..... I thought love was what everyone wants.
Blue sapphires sparkled brightly on the golden cobra headdress.
Does that mean you don't want your advisor's beautiful wife to warm your bed? Fine, something else then.
A soft chuckle.
You are truly terrible at this.
You are not the first one to say that and probably won't be the last.
Sandled feet paced against stone floor, the sound echoed through the spacious room.
Come now, there has to be something you want but can't get.
I want.... you to stay.
Ruby eyes rolled exasperately.
I can't stay if you don't make a real wish. That would defy the whole purpose of my presence here. You are the one who summoned me, make up your mind.
A sad sigh.
.....how about.... wonders?
Wonders?
Yes, show me wonders that I have never laid eyes upon.
***
His composure fluttered slightly against the spurring images. Was that what the young king had referred to? Does love mean pain, to hurt and then be hurt in return.
//I had no idea humans have so much masochism tendencies? What is the point in all of this?//
He picked up the knife and stared at it pensively.
//Perhaps... if Jack continues to believe that Will doesn't love him, he will abandon all hope. .....not likely. Damnit, why did I ever take this assignment in the first place.//
He threw the knife viciously hard against the basket. With a whoosh, the tip of the knife embedded into the eyeball of one of the fishes.
//....I want to go home. Granted, it had been fun.....and quitting would be a very hard habit to
break.//
He gripped the hilt of the knife with white knuckles.
//....there's still Cane. I knew I've sense the same brand somewhere else before.//
He sighed and went back to behead the rest of the fishes with newly acquired determination and more savage force than before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please Review!!!! All kinds of feedbacks are welcome, they will make the next chapter come out faster.
^_~
Author: Daisy Sparrow
Pairing: Jack/Will, Will/Elizabeth
Rating: PG-13 and rising
Summary: When a mysterious plague hits Port Royal Will and Elizabeth go with Captain Jack Sparrow to find a cure. But when Will is captured by the man who unleashed the plague and infected with a strange new disease that feeds on love things start to get complicated. Slashiness!
Archive: As long as you ask me first.
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all its characters are not mine. I am making no money off this. Don't sue the colleage kid who are already broke.
Credit for the title goes to Coleridge's poem and P.Speare who wrote the most wonderful Weiss Kreuz fic. Also special thanks to Darkdancer for the betaing.
Warning: Same as always, first fic ever and English not my first language.
Me: Jack is jealous, it's really out of character for him.
Zeke: Stupid human!
Me: He's pissed that you like the boy.
Zeke: What?! I am not allowed to have friends.
Me: Just don't get in the way.
Zeke: It's my job to get in the way!!!
Anyway, please R&R!!!!
" " speech
// // thought
*** *** memory/flashback
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He could feel the repulsion in the air before he even opened the door. Ever since he became aware of the nearness of that accursed stone, its affect had increased tenfold. Every time he went within ten feet of the ruby, or more precisely, the one who carried the ring, his palm would sweat and his mouth would turn desert dry. A chilliness would spread from the back of his spine all the way to his toes. His body would involuntary freeze and it always took a minute or two for him to feel his limbs again.
Zeke doesn't like the chilliness. Cold he could deal with, coldness usually tranquilized the flesh and blocked out most feelings. Chilliness on the other hand, was like needles, probing deep and always there. It reminded him of the dark and damp tomb that he spent the majority of his life in.
//This is ridiculous. You are only cold because you think you are cold.//
He took a deep breath, balanced the tray in one hand and knocked the door with the other. The heated voices inside stopped abruptly. A few moments later, a tired and deep voice responded.
"What is it?"
Impatience reeked from the captain's tone, he obviously wanted to get ride of whomever it was quickly. //Trouble in paradise?// Zeke thought with amusement.
"It's Zeke, sir. I brought Will something to eat."
The door creaked opened. Jack's wary face appeared, dark cycles under sunken eyes that glowered sullenly.
"Come in."
//He doesn't look so good.// On a second thought, gleefully, //maybe he's finally cracking, dying even.//
He took one step inside first, readied himself against the soft humming of resistance, and walked in. Will was half sitting and half lying on the very far side of the bed. The magic of the ruby left a white mist invisible to human eye, but Zeke could see them clearly. Even with the flow of the force wrapped around his form protectively, Will's face was still white as the sheet.
//My mistake. The boy is the one dying.//
"I brought you some bread, Will, and broth.... to wash them down." Will gave him a slight node in gratitude, even that small movement seemed to take him a great deal of effort. The captain's hot glares were directed at the back of his head.
Its message loud and clear: you are done, now scram.
In response, Zeke put the tray on the night stand and sat down on the edge of the bed. He was still mad about the mess with the dream sequels.
"You all right there, Will? Need a hand with anythin'g?"
The glares were turning venomous and boring holes in his back now. He bit down on his bottom lip to prevent it from curving up.
"Ezekiel..."
//Wow, full name. Human are so easily agitated.//
"...get out of her' an' go work in yer kitchen or som..."
"Zeke, can you stay for a while?"
"What?" Two voices resonated in the small cabin at the same time. Zeke cocked his head to the side in puzzlement while Jack looked almost crestfallen, hurt and disbelieving written all over his face.
"I want to talk to Zeke about something." The sentences came out smooth and fluent despite the pain recoiled inside the trembling form. "Jack, go get some sleep. You look horrible."
Jack's gaze traced back and forth between Zeke and Will, as if expecting some big conspiracy. Questioning eyes finally rested on Will, who stared back evenly. Zeke could taste the electrical sparks flying in the air. He was beginning to regret staying, being caught in the cross fire hadn't been his intention.
//It just figures. I swear, EVERY TIME. That wasn't even evil or anything.//
The staring contest stretched on. Zeke swallowed at the nerve wrecking silence. Finally, Jack gave in.
"Fine. I'll just be in th' room down th' hall. .....if ye need anything, just call me, savvy?"
Zeke felt a slight tug at the back of his neck as the captain lifted his head up rather forcibly, "Don't ye tire him."
It was more of a threat than a order. He nodded his head rapidly, the most innocent smile he could muster, was planted firmly in place.
Apparently satisfied but with great reluctance, the captain let go of his neck and swaggered toward the door. With one last lingering glance, Jack shut the door quietly behind him. The two occupants still left in the room both breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. The pirate captain could be so very stubborn and pigheaded sometimes.
"Eh... if you don't like the food, I can bring you something else." Zeke stated uneasily. He hadn't exchanged a single word with the Blacksmith since their reunion, but Will was unconscious.
Will's eyes were down cast, and his hands were fumbling mindlessly with the bed sheet. Zeke had to lean closer to catch the next sentence.
"Have...have you told Jack about what happened?"
"No.... I haven't got the chance. The captain was with you the whole time." Will's face raised up at that statement, the corner of his mouth softened.
"I see. Then there is a favor I must ask of you.... it's personal."
".....sure, Will. ....as long as it's within my power."
//And I'll probably have to do it for free, it's not like I can hurt you, not with that damned rock still hanging around your neck. Damn...//
His spirit dropped despite the prospect of obtaining possible future blackmailing material. He was not a big fan of voluntary work.
"Can you....not tell Jack about what happened with Cane...and the potion?"
".... he will want to know why you are sick?"
"I am not sick! It's... it's only temporary."
"Which part, the potion or the true love." It wasn't a question, Zeke was curious to see how far human's self-denial can go.
"You heard that?"
He quirked up one eyebrow, for some reason, Will's weary _expression was getting.... strangely nagging to watch. It was weird. He didn't think that dull shade of brown suited those doe eyes too well.
"Of course you heard it. But it was nothing, what Cane said. Really! I am a man... I mean.... I like Jack, he's my best friend. I look up to him and .... I have a fiancé..... and...." Zeke could literally see Will wracking his brain inside and out looking for more plausible excuses, until finally he almost shouted. "I don't love Jack!"
"....I didn't say it was the captain."
"......"
"......"
"...I.... I love Elizabeth." The retort was weak and feeble.
"......"
"......"
"Yeah? ....I don't think you really love Miss. Elizabeth. I think perhaps.... you love what she represented." A loud shriek, a warning sign was emanating from the back of his mind.
//Why am I having this conversation?//
A pair of hand suddenly clapped around his tightly. He almost flinched at the unexpected heat. Will's breath was disheveled, each suction and exhalation of air came with uneven strand; he could see the skin began to smoke and redden at where their hands were joined.
"Jack must NOT know. Promise me that you won't tell anyone, especially him about... any of this!!"
"Will, your hands are burning."
"PROMISE ME!"
"I don't think the captain would be too happy to see you hurt again."
"...... please?"
"Will, I..."
"....please..."
"...fine. I promise."
"Thank you." The injured hands fell down onto the blacksmith's lap lifelessly.
"...they look bad. I am going to get some water and lotion, stay here and... don't do anything else with them." He turned and all but fled from the scene.
The door closed with a soft click, cut him off from Will's soft sniffs of pain and the constant pressure of the ruby. Wind carried a cool breeze through the round windows lined up on the other side of the hallway. The pounding in his chest was subsiding and his head was finally clearing up.
//What did I just do?//
As realization hit him like a two ton elephant, he froze, horrified.
//Was I... genuinely concerned about the boy?! This isn't happening. .....shit, Ursella was right. Stay with those monkeys for too long, and you will be domesticated!//
//No, it was the ruby. It MUST be the ruby. Stupid Rock!!// He balled his hands into fists, stalked toward the open deck, and determined to find something to torture and kill.
~~~*~~~
Jack found Zeke working in the kitchen. The cook was chopping the heads off a basket of fishes with such force, that every down ward thrust of the knife left a clear dent on the wooden board beneath.
He stood just outside of biting range and cleared his throat to get the cook's attention. Grey eyes raised to meet his own, the chopping sound continued.
"Captain, what can I do for you?" *Chop, Chop* Another head rolled onto the floor.
"Ye are gon'na clean that, aren't ye?"
Jack motioned towards the floor, where a small stack of decapitated fish heads was. He was trying to light up the mood, the atmosphere inside the small room reminded him of the night before his neck was about to get intimately acquitted with a certain noose.
The downward motion of the knife seized. Zeke's cheek twitched and he grinned at Jack sheepishly. Jack could have swore the cook's fingers tightened on the handle of the knife, he had the certain urge to duck.
"Of course, sir. Is that all, sir?" The last word was spit out like an insult while the cook maintained a flawless polite face.
//What did I do?//
"Nay, I am here to talk to ye about th' lad." He watched with mild interest at the utter lack of
reaction from the redhead.
"Will? What about him, sir?"
Jealousy had hurled its way into his chest at the, in Jack's opinion, way too familiar way the cook uttered the Blacksmith's given name. An irrational sense of loss and insecurity were manifesting beneath the acidic coating of paranoia. He steeled himself against this childish... whatever it was.
//They ar' just friends.//
"What happened on th' Grey Owl?"
"I don't really remember much, sir. I was knocked out."
Zeke's face was the perfect poster of angelic innocent. Jack was slightly astonished at the fact that he could see through that faultless facade with such clarity.
"Is tha' so?" He moved closer now that the younger man had put away the knife, and he was in no immediate danger of being used as a target pole.
He grabbed the front of the cook's collar, hailed him bodily onto the table. Fish guts spluttered everywhere, Zeke braced both his elbows against the slippery surface of the table. His head tilted back slightly as Jack held his dagger against the cook's throat. Zeke blinked at the sudden attack owlishly, eyebrows climbed almost into his hairline. Jack sneered at the underlining amusement shining in those dusky orbs.
//What th' hell is so funny?!//
"Ezekiel, be a good boy an' tell th' truth. Th' suspense is irratin'g th' pants off of me, an' me hand
might slip."
The cook did not gibber in terror and fear, as he had planned. Instead the piercing gaze was unmoving, he pressed the edge of the dagger closer against the pale skin.
"I promised Will that I wouldn't say anything." He paused at the blunt confession. He had been expecting more lies, not almost brute honesty.
"Ye...promised?! About what?!!"
"About things I can't say." The amusement had darken to an almost devious glitter, then vanished all together to be replaced by passiveness. "I really can't say, sir. You can slip my throat now, but a promise is a promise."
There was an unquestionable and cement finality in the soft voice. He sighed with resignation and let go of the cook. Suspicion had engulfed his heart with dread and dismay.
//How bad was it?//
"Fine. Do ye at least have any idea what's wrong wit' th' lad?"
".... Not a clue, sir. He might be dying though."
"WHAT!?" Jack's voice thundered, he grabbed Zeke's shoulders and shook him hard. "Why? Why did ye say that?"
That mischievous grin was back, Jack wanted to punch that pretty face and wipe it empty of all expressions. He gritted his teeth; he might just do that.
"He doesn't look so good."
"Ye dimwit! Lookin'g unhealthy does NOT equal impending death. STOP saying moronic things like that. Ye will jinx him!" He continued to shake the cook, whose head was rolling back and forth with each motion of his hands like a ragged doll.
"..... just speculating, sir. But the priest might know."
"What priest?" He stopped the shaking and brought the cook's face closer.
"The priest..... Will said his name was Cane. He was the boss onboard the Grey Owl..... really creepy character he was, raving something about freedom and true love."
//Cane. That's the name of the preacher Elizabeth mentioned. Freedom and true love, what does that have to do with Will's condition?//
"...really suspiciously mannered, too. He kept on asking about Will's....eh.... relationships."
//Relationship? ....true love.... Of course, it's Elizabeth. If this is indeed some witchcraft at work, then Will might be cured when he reunite with his bonny lass.//
What about you? His subconsciousness asked. Wasn't your love true enough? Couldn't your affection cure him?
Couldn't Will have loved....you? Does he not perhaps love you...already? What about the kisses, the touches, and that possessive declaration?
*** Mine.***
//They were nothing. They meant nothing. The lad was feverish and delirious, he just launched onto the first familiar face. It was my fault for taking advantage of his vulnerability, his trust....//
"Did th' priest...or Will say anythin'g else?"
//Let's face it, mate. Northin'g this good ever happen to ye, and even if it does, it never last long.//
"Will was confident that you'd come to rescue us.... I did remind him of the code, but he was really optimistic about it."
A pang at his chest, a sharp twist of pain. Elizabeth's furious voice rang in his ears.
*** What do you mean we are not going after them?!***
"....yes, ye should have." He sheathed the dagger, turned to walk toward the exit, and paused at the door. "Oh, an' Zeke, I know that people can form extraordinary bonds when they survived some crisis together. That's still no reason to b' all over th' other one."
At Zeke's blank face, he added, "Keep yer distance from th' lad, he already has a fiance."
The door closed. He stumbled into the salty air of the open sea. The seductive caressing of the wind slide across every pore and helped reassemble his thoughts into a more organized pattern. Now was not the time for useless sentimentally, he took a deep breath. There were rescue plan to be devised and future havoc to be plotted.
~~~*~~~
Zeke gaped at the door. The captain's last statement still fresh in his mind.
//Human stupidity really has no boundaries.//
He sneered indignantly and grindered his foot into the floor on top of several fish heads, imagine them to be a certain pirate captain's face. He grunted internally at the nerve of the man, to even suggest that he might develop any sort of attachment.... to a human no less. It was really plainly obvious which way the Blacksmith's desires lay. Zeke had detected the undercurrent of sexual tension between the youth and the rogue pirate the moment their eyes met.
//All that repressed emotion could be really hazardous to one's health, which does explain why their life span is so short.//
His thoughts turned to Jack's pained _expression when Zeke had told him about Will's faith in him. The comment had been deliberately exaggerated of course, but the storm of torment in those ebony eyes had cooled down his rising temper.
//Is this what love does?//
There was the faint echo of a memory, simmering deep below his subconscious. A pair of amber eyes flashed through his mind, a youthful face that had been burdened with worries beyond his years, an arrogant curve of lips.
***
Love? Love.... makes all four seasons feel like winter.
Does it? ....actually, I meant the physical pleasure, but..... I thought love was what everyone wants.
Blue sapphires sparkled brightly on the golden cobra headdress.
Does that mean you don't want your advisor's beautiful wife to warm your bed? Fine, something else then.
A soft chuckle.
You are truly terrible at this.
You are not the first one to say that and probably won't be the last.
Sandled feet paced against stone floor, the sound echoed through the spacious room.
Come now, there has to be something you want but can't get.
I want.... you to stay.
Ruby eyes rolled exasperately.
I can't stay if you don't make a real wish. That would defy the whole purpose of my presence here. You are the one who summoned me, make up your mind.
A sad sigh.
.....how about.... wonders?
Wonders?
Yes, show me wonders that I have never laid eyes upon.
***
His composure fluttered slightly against the spurring images. Was that what the young king had referred to? Does love mean pain, to hurt and then be hurt in return.
//I had no idea humans have so much masochism tendencies? What is the point in all of this?//
He picked up the knife and stared at it pensively.
//Perhaps... if Jack continues to believe that Will doesn't love him, he will abandon all hope. .....not likely. Damnit, why did I ever take this assignment in the first place.//
He threw the knife viciously hard against the basket. With a whoosh, the tip of the knife embedded into the eyeball of one of the fishes.
//....I want to go home. Granted, it had been fun.....and quitting would be a very hard habit to
break.//
He gripped the hilt of the knife with white knuckles.
//....there's still Cane. I knew I've sense the same brand somewhere else before.//
He sighed and went back to behead the rest of the fishes with newly acquired determination and more savage force than before.
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