One More Taste of Freedom

08 a talk

Disclaimer: See the previous chapter.

Author's Note: Writing this chapter made me feel all warm inside! I should have liked Jack to respond with equal passion, but we all know that such a thing wouldn't have been in character for him. Ah well, he will get around to it eventually, in his own black hearted pirate way.

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Walking around, arms folded, head down, Elizabeth had been mumbling to herself. It was only after about ten minutes that she finally looked up and realized she was completely and utterly lost. She tried to remain calm and began looking around for someone to ask for directions. Then, remembering where she was, didn't. Cursing herself for not just staying and ignoring Anamaria, she continued to wander aimlessly.



Jack on the other hand knew exactly where he was going. But he had no idea where Lizzy had gotten off to. Therefore, he was just as lost as she. Feeling somewhat responsible for her, since she was a guest on his ship, and even more than that - the fiancée of his good friend, he was determined to find her. The difference between their situations was that Jack was known on the island, and therefore could ask someone if they'd seen Elizabeth and not get stared or laughed at.



Though at present the only people who weren't engaged in fights were whores, and with his record he didn't think it was the best idea the speak with any of them. Still, he had to find Elizabeth, and if it meant enduring a few slaps then he'd just have to. Walking up behind one of them he hesitated a moment before tapping her on the shoulder. The blonde hair and cockney accent should have been a warning, but it was not, not until she turned around.



"Giselle." he flinched slightly. Knowing he was probably going to be hit.



"Yah, what d'ye wa--" she stopped once she realized who had addressed her. "Jack Sparrow." her name slid off her tongue like poison and she raised a hand to slap him, but he threw his own hands up to dodge her.


"Bloody `ell woman! Why do ye hate me so?!"



The question caused her to lower her hand. Placing both hands on her hips she simply stared at him.



"Well, Jack, I could tell ye, but I've got other customers to be attendin' to, and it'd take quite awhile."



Brows furrowed for a moment and he studied her before finally deciding it was safe to talk.



"Look," he took a few steps backward just incase, "I'm lookin' for a lass that may `ave come this way. About yea tall," he held his hand a little below his own height, fingers fluttering as usual, "blonde hair. She was dressed pirate, but she wouldn't `ave acted like one. Gov'ners daughter and all. You seen `er?"



The whore looked as though she was really thinking about his question before she closed the gap between them and delivered the slap she'd meant to earlier.



"And what do ye plan to do with `er once she's been found, Sparrow? Does she know what's she in for?" she then began to talk to her fellow prostitutes, "promises ya the world, he does! All ta get what `e wants, but then he's gone before sun up, a few shillings left on the pillow."



The other women shook their heads in disgust and came to stand beside Giselle for support. Jack, who still looked slightly scared of what was about to happen, made the mistake of opening his mouth again.



"Giselle, dearest." he paused before stating the obvious. "you're a whore. if I didn't leave a few shillings on the pillow, I'd `ave a very angry mistress on me hands, now wouldn't I?" Putting her arm around the blonde woman, it was time to turn the charm on, "But if you'd be so kind as to tell me where the girl is, I'd be much ... obliged."


Eyes wide, the woman pushed him away and slapped him once again. Harder this time. Having decided that he didn't like being slapped, and didn't wish for it to happen again, Jack began to walk away.


"Right then! I'll be seein' you soon, luv!"


A few random pirates had walked by and seen the whole thing, they were now very amused, Jack caught them looking and smiled sheepishly, shrugging.



"Women, eh? What can ya do?"



Meanwhile, Elizabeth was still very lost, and growing more frightened by the minute. She had already been propositioned by a few men. One of them had offered to show her a game called 'shiver me timbers', she wasn't sure it sounded like very much fun. Turning the next corner she looked up just in time to see a familiar figure staggering away. A wave of relief washed over her and she began to walk fast to catch up. Not wanting to run like an idiot yelling his name. When she was almost right next to him she finally spoke. She tried her best to imitate the accent of the whores she'd run into.


"So, what's a pirate like you doin' in a place like this?"



Jack, who was still mumbling to himself about evil women who slap innocent men, jumped when someone spoke to him.


"What's it to y--" he narrowed his eyes and then his tone become very fatherly, "bloody-- Lizzy, you cannot just go about disappearing. `specially not in this town. You wouldn't last an hour."


Elizabeth, who had been in a joking mood just seconds ago, was now offended.



"Would so." okay, so that wasn't the most adult come back she could think of, lets try that again. "Its not as if you'd even care. You didn't even defend me to that .. that woman." she grimaced at the thought of Anamaria.



"And what, pray tell, would I `ave defended? Not my fight, and you two gettin' along is no matter to me. I've got enough women who want to do violence against me without earning two more."



"Because, Jack." She faltered, trying to think up a suitable defense. Honestly was the best policy, however, so she dove into the truth. "Everything I truly know about piracy I learned from you, the books are all very vague and leave me with nothing but words and definitions. You gave it all a face and a spirit last summer. Up until then pirates were just things to study. I barely even saw them as human, just some fantastic creatures who lived everything I couldn't. And so if I'm wrong then that means you're wrong too."



It had, after all, been Jack who had put into words the freedom of piracy.



Jack sighed, for once in his entire life he was almost at a loss for words. Elizabeth had been the first and only person to truly share her feelings with him. And she wasn't just sharing her feelings, she was making him into someone .. special. Someone that was worth something, someone good. So naturally he had to keep his piratey cool and play it off.



"Is that so? That's .. very nice." he tried to sound uninterested, and turned to walk away, waiting for her to follow.



"Jack Sparrow do not walk away from me." her tone had gotten more demanding that he remembered, he stopped and turned, she continued.


"Do not pretend that you don't care. I know you do."



"And how?" he sounded more serious than she'd ever heard, he was no longer this goofy and loveable character, they were having an actual conversation. This had only happened one other time, though there had been a lot of rum involved. "How do you know so much about me? From what you've read in your books? The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. Tell me what you think you know."



"No," she stopped and her next words came out without any planning, "the books say that you're a heartless ruffian who respects no one and steals from everyone he meets. The books say that you're nothing but a filthy pirate."



He stood and looked at her for a moment, taking that in, she could have sworn he looked hurt. Which again, was something she'd only seen once. When his crew had abandoned him. She stepped forward.



"But do you know what I say, Jack?" he shrugged, "I say that you have saved my life not one, but three times. I say that I spent the night with you on an island you did not once force yourself on me. I say that you risked your life to save Will in that cave even after you'd already made a deal with Barbossa to get the Pearl back. I say that no 'filthy pirate' would ever do that."



"Aye," he whispered, "but you saved me too, luv. You and Will both."



She smiled.



"That's what friends do Jack."



"Am I your friend?"


"One of the best I've ever had. But I've got to know.."



"What is it?"


"Is Anamaria right? Am I fool to think that all pirates are driven by freedom?"



"Come with me."