Changing

ImmortalFlick

Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean is not mine.

Warnings: Slash.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long, I'm really lazy.

A/N2: Things in the pretty italics are the thoughts they used to be in-between asterisks but doesn't agree.

Thanks to:

Kendarath - Here ya go, sorry bout the wait. Thank you. Great, well, I did keep you waiting but better late than never.

RAiNbOwGrL22 - I loved it too, those two were definitely very hot. I did continue it, just took a while.

Than Stillman - Thanks. Yep. Here ya go.

moonlightgodess - Glad you like Fred. Um, yesterday was a long time ago, I know, and I did take a long time I know, personal problems and personal laziness. Here's a new chapter to chew on. clinks back

SunGodess1 - Great! Welcome to the outside world! Good, again, sorry it took so long.

saiFong - It isn't stopped, I'm sorry. Here's the next chapter! I live to be slightly original. Here's more! Here's more! I hope you enjoy it.

Changing - Chapter 3

The captain walked off his ship with a sense of longing. It was past time to be welcomed back to the real world. The crew knew that this stop off was different somehow. Not because the Shadow had said anything in particular, but in the way his eyes crinkled slightly, a hint of sadness and frustration.

Will could hardly recognize the port anymore, it had changed so much in the five years he'd been gone. This was once Will Turner's home. His ownname sounded so foreign, even in his mind. He had to stop and think: was that his real name? Had he mis-remembered it? It confused him.

Was he Will Turner? A naive young blacksmith apprentice with little to his name and no parents. No, that wasn't him. He was a pirate now. A damn good one too. He'd done his share of pillaging, sailing and drinking. A lot of drinking, enough to give the distinct impression he was trying to banish some demons.

He winced as a stair creaked. This building was far too big to be sensible. It would take forever to find the documents he was after and Will didn't want to be around too long as he was sure the place wasn't open to visitors.

What was he doing? It was a ridiculous idea, to come back to where he most certainly wasn't welcome. He was tempted to step back onto Fred and leave. His ship was his home now. Not a sad port town with too many bad memories to count. But the Shadow was no coward and he was there for a reason: there was something of a quandary that needed to be solved.

There had been rumours about the sail of a ship from the port mid-spring. The Shadow was curious as to what parts of these rumors were true. It was said the ship was huge, was of foreign origin and was boarded by pirates three years ago. They were the worst the Caribbean had seen since the pirates of the Black Pearl.

The Shadow did not like the sound of it one bit. He wasn't going to pretend it was because the pirates were hurting anyone, that was fairly standard. No, he didn't like the sound of it because they were threatening his reputation. One of them claimed to know where he was and was ready to deliver his head on a stick to any one of the ports which had him on a high priority alert. If he was caught, he would be able to get away, but it would destroy his well-maintained air of mystery. Some people called him a myth. It worked in his favour and he preferred it to stay that way.

"Oi, you! You're not meant to be here!" Will sighed. No, he wasn't meant to be here one bit.

The man was balding, short and fat. He looked flushed, and no wonder, this building, Will had decided, was most definitely not sensible. "Dear sir, I was wondering if you could help me out of 'here' actually." He might as well be nice, considering he liked his head attached to his shoulders and wanted to keep a low profile. Besides, the man looked nice enough.

"Down that way, second door to the right, four flights of stairs and fourth door on your left." Will blinked. That was terribly easy. "But could I take your name?"

"Will." He decided after a minute. "Will Turner." It would do. No one would remember it.

"Of course. Mr. Turner. I am George Potter. May I enquire as to your business here?" Business? Well he was here to steal some papers that would help him escape the long reach of the Royal British Navy but he was very sure that would not please George.

"I'm here on matters of high importance." The Shadow grinned inwardly. He should have some fun in being anonymous. "I hunt pirates and report their whereabouts to threatened ports and towns."

"Really? How interesting!" People were so easily fooled. Though Will couldn't help but like the small man, he had a hapless charm about him.

"Indeed. In fact, I'm here to warn you about a pirate who plans to visit here. The Shadow. Have you heard of him?"

To his chagrin the man laughed. "A myth, surely! Have you heard what he named his ship?"

He would be outraged, but it wouldn't work for his act. "It sounds as though this captain found it amusing, isn't that a sign of true madness, to name a fearsome ship something that belies its true nature?"

"Yes, dear friend," He let out a raucous, hacking laugh again. "I'm sure it is." Potter was humoring him, Will frowned, he hated it when people did that.

"I hear the Shadow is a strong and formidable foe, cunning and quick-witted." Maybe that was a bit too self-absorbed, Will acknowledged.

"I would say the same of you, Mr. Turner, but you don't look like a pirate." That sentence was enough to lift Will's spirits once more.

"No, I don't, do I?" He laughed with Potter, and suggested they have a drink, the other man forgetting his suspicions at the second pint.

(/)

Will didn't get the papers he was after in Port Royal. He also found no indication of where Jack could be. At first, he wanted to leave it at that. But after further thought, Will knew that Jack would know of any famous pirates running rampant, and that would be most useful. He felt sure Port Royal would be helpful in finding the pirate. Norrington would never stop searching for the Captain, he had far too much pride. And he slept with other people's wives. Coward.

The Shadow decided he would return to Port Royal, he had established an identity of sorts and that would help him in his business. A slow grin crept across his face. Will Turner, Pirate Hunter, at Port Royale on important business: to find himself. It would work well as a cover, provided he didn't run into Norrington.

Will wondered if he was bitter about the affair. It wasn't as if he made Elizabeth happy, in fact he more likely made her miserable. Will would rather be at sea than tied to a wife and the sex was passionless. It was shortly after marriage that Will had realized his pining after Elizabeth wasn't sexual but more of a friendly, sisterly feeling. He also began to realize his pining after Jack Sparrow was much more than friendly. Of course, he'd realized pining after a man was not completely normal, he'd thought that maybe Jack symbolized the adventure and freedom he desired. Until the dreams of a very nude Jack entered his sleep. Will grinned at the thought.

Tomorrow he would enter that building with a professional air about him and he would find those papers. Without finding Norrington on the way.

(/)

End Chapter Three

Short. Took ages. Forced. I know. Very sorry. Very, very sorry. Please forgive me. Drop me some suggestions in your review, and I'll see what I can do. Hope you enjoyed. Please review.