Waking up with his face pressed between Scarlett's ample breasts was not the most pleasant experience Jack had ever savored. Funny how much less appealing she looked this morning with her makeup smeared and drool on her lips. Of course, it didn't help that he was so damnably sober now either.
'Ah well. Never too early for rum, I say.'
Jack extricated himself from Scarlett's damp embrace and left the rather pungent stable they had shared the prior evening. Strange how now that another Turner was in Jack's life, the pleasures of last evening left him feeling hollow and unsatisfied.
'The love that dare not speak its name.'
Jack bought himself a bottle of rum and sucked at it greedily as he made his way back to the inn where he had left young Will the previous evening.
'You know, the way I'm gulping on this bottle could almost be symbolic... No, lad. No. Mustn't think that way.'
Still, there was no denying that thinking of the admittedly lovely Will Turner was causing Jack to feel things he hadn't felt since he kissed Bootstrap those many sleepless nights ago. However, things were different now, and no matter how much Jack wanted to recapture those moments, he wasn't on a ship full of drunken men without feminine companionship for months at a time. And though he'd love to cast young William in the role, young William was not Bootstrap. Bootstrap was one of the best men Jack knew and a good pirate as well. Young William, on the other hand, was merely on his way to being a good man, and, at least for now, he was no pirate.
'Well on his way to becoming one, I'd wager.'
Having been on a ship full of drunken men with no womanly company available for months, Jack knew there had been indiscretions, though surely none of the men involved would admit it. He would have bet money that Pintel and Ragetti's relationship extended beyond merely looking after Ragetti's wooden eye. Jack supposed The Good Book probably spoke against such acts, but then again, he was a pirate. Certainly he had committed far greater crimes than daring to relish either Turner's obvious charms? And really, what did he care what God said anyway? When was the last time God did Jack Sparrow a favor?
'So there you have it then. No need to worry over your feelings for poor Bill...But what of young William?'
Whether or not Jack wanted to admit it, he knew his connection with Bootstrap had been more than physical. Hell, it had barely even been physical at all-compared to his many meetings with women of questionable reputations, that one night with Bill had been almost...innocent. Jack cared for Bill, cared for him as he cared for no other person walking this cursed earth. Thinking of Bill's death still cut Jack to the core, a wound that would never fully heal despite the brevity of their silent dalliance.
William looked just like his father. But that was where the relationship ended.
'The father is not the son. The father is gone. Lost to me forever in the depths of the sea.'
Which brought up the whole reason they were in Tortuga in the first place-revenge on Barbossa and recovery of the Pearl. He might not ever be able to gaze upon his Bootstrap again, but he would not allow the traitor to disgrace the one place they loved. Barbossa would get what was coming to him, not just for leaving Jack on that gods forsaken island and stealing his ship and crew, but also for murdering the one person in the world who truly mattered.
'Right. Time to wake young William.'
Jack quickly mounted the stairs of the inn and entered the room he and Will were to have shared last night, had Jack not otherwise occupied himself. Will Turner was still sleeping, and despite the pallid tone of the boy's skin, Jack found himself overtaken once more by the lad's splendor. Surely, no angel in heaven could compare to the loveliness of William Turner. Or rather, no angel, save the one Jack had already lost.
It was enough to make Jack want to forget all the rationalizing he had done since waking up choking on Scarlett's bosom that morning. 'Really...what Bill doesn't know won't hurt him, will it?'
Will shifted in his sleep, a soft moan escaping his lips. Jack leaned closer to the boy as Will whispered in his sleep.
"Elizabeth..." Will said, clearly still lost in pleasant dreams.
Jack kicked Will in the ribs and the younger man jolted into wakefulness. "Time to get up lad."
Will glared at Jack balefully, rubbing his side. "What did you do that for?" he demanded.
"Come now, lad. I didn't kick you that hard." Jack turned his back on the boy. "Or don't you want to save your pretty strumpet?"
"Don't ever speak of Miss Elizabeth that way," Will began, but Jack cut him off before he could finish.
"Well, then. I'm going down to the Common Room. Mr. Gibbs will be here shortly. Don't keep us waiting, lad. Every moment you wait, the Pearl slips further away."
And with those words, Jack walked out of the room, leaving a startled and deeply confused Will staring after him.
:Author's Notes:
I again apologize for taking so long to update, and I am well aware that this is not the best chapter I've ever written. I sort of felt stuck in a rut and this was the best way I could think to get Jack and Will off the island so we can have them meet Bootstrap next chapter. As always, Cliia has been a godsend. The best beta ever!
And to plug myself-I also made a POTC music video that you can download on my website at www.geocities.com/heraldtalia2002 Please check it out!
Now to respond to my oh so wonderful reviewers!
Wyall Jared: *blush* Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
nocturnium13: I get what you're saying about Bill's "death"-I mean, they showed the pirates raiding Norrington's ship by walking along the ocean floor for god's sake! Thanks for the compliment. ^_^
Elizabeth: Thanks! You guys are really making my head swell.
Emeraldwolf: You've been supporting me since the first chapter and I really appreciate that. Thanks for understanding about the wait. My stupid job keeps interfering with my fun!
Lyowyn: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hey-it took a while but I did manage to update. I will hopefully have another chapter soon.
Jacklover: Thanks for the compliment! I guess this update wasn't as soon as you had hoped.
Leann: Well, I guess you can see that I'm trying to take the angle that Jack really loved Bill and is using Will to fill the void Bill left behind. If your brother is anything like Will Turner, he must be adorable. ^_~
'Ah well. Never too early for rum, I say.'
Jack extricated himself from Scarlett's damp embrace and left the rather pungent stable they had shared the prior evening. Strange how now that another Turner was in Jack's life, the pleasures of last evening left him feeling hollow and unsatisfied.
'The love that dare not speak its name.'
Jack bought himself a bottle of rum and sucked at it greedily as he made his way back to the inn where he had left young Will the previous evening.
'You know, the way I'm gulping on this bottle could almost be symbolic... No, lad. No. Mustn't think that way.'
Still, there was no denying that thinking of the admittedly lovely Will Turner was causing Jack to feel things he hadn't felt since he kissed Bootstrap those many sleepless nights ago. However, things were different now, and no matter how much Jack wanted to recapture those moments, he wasn't on a ship full of drunken men without feminine companionship for months at a time. And though he'd love to cast young William in the role, young William was not Bootstrap. Bootstrap was one of the best men Jack knew and a good pirate as well. Young William, on the other hand, was merely on his way to being a good man, and, at least for now, he was no pirate.
'Well on his way to becoming one, I'd wager.'
Having been on a ship full of drunken men with no womanly company available for months, Jack knew there had been indiscretions, though surely none of the men involved would admit it. He would have bet money that Pintel and Ragetti's relationship extended beyond merely looking after Ragetti's wooden eye. Jack supposed The Good Book probably spoke against such acts, but then again, he was a pirate. Certainly he had committed far greater crimes than daring to relish either Turner's obvious charms? And really, what did he care what God said anyway? When was the last time God did Jack Sparrow a favor?
'So there you have it then. No need to worry over your feelings for poor Bill...But what of young William?'
Whether or not Jack wanted to admit it, he knew his connection with Bootstrap had been more than physical. Hell, it had barely even been physical at all-compared to his many meetings with women of questionable reputations, that one night with Bill had been almost...innocent. Jack cared for Bill, cared for him as he cared for no other person walking this cursed earth. Thinking of Bill's death still cut Jack to the core, a wound that would never fully heal despite the brevity of their silent dalliance.
William looked just like his father. But that was where the relationship ended.
'The father is not the son. The father is gone. Lost to me forever in the depths of the sea.'
Which brought up the whole reason they were in Tortuga in the first place-revenge on Barbossa and recovery of the Pearl. He might not ever be able to gaze upon his Bootstrap again, but he would not allow the traitor to disgrace the one place they loved. Barbossa would get what was coming to him, not just for leaving Jack on that gods forsaken island and stealing his ship and crew, but also for murdering the one person in the world who truly mattered.
'Right. Time to wake young William.'
Jack quickly mounted the stairs of the inn and entered the room he and Will were to have shared last night, had Jack not otherwise occupied himself. Will Turner was still sleeping, and despite the pallid tone of the boy's skin, Jack found himself overtaken once more by the lad's splendor. Surely, no angel in heaven could compare to the loveliness of William Turner. Or rather, no angel, save the one Jack had already lost.
It was enough to make Jack want to forget all the rationalizing he had done since waking up choking on Scarlett's bosom that morning. 'Really...what Bill doesn't know won't hurt him, will it?'
Will shifted in his sleep, a soft moan escaping his lips. Jack leaned closer to the boy as Will whispered in his sleep.
"Elizabeth..." Will said, clearly still lost in pleasant dreams.
Jack kicked Will in the ribs and the younger man jolted into wakefulness. "Time to get up lad."
Will glared at Jack balefully, rubbing his side. "What did you do that for?" he demanded.
"Come now, lad. I didn't kick you that hard." Jack turned his back on the boy. "Or don't you want to save your pretty strumpet?"
"Don't ever speak of Miss Elizabeth that way," Will began, but Jack cut him off before he could finish.
"Well, then. I'm going down to the Common Room. Mr. Gibbs will be here shortly. Don't keep us waiting, lad. Every moment you wait, the Pearl slips further away."
And with those words, Jack walked out of the room, leaving a startled and deeply confused Will staring after him.
:Author's Notes:
I again apologize for taking so long to update, and I am well aware that this is not the best chapter I've ever written. I sort of felt stuck in a rut and this was the best way I could think to get Jack and Will off the island so we can have them meet Bootstrap next chapter. As always, Cliia has been a godsend. The best beta ever!
And to plug myself-I also made a POTC music video that you can download on my website at www.geocities.com/heraldtalia2002 Please check it out!
Now to respond to my oh so wonderful reviewers!
Wyall Jared: *blush* Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
nocturnium13: I get what you're saying about Bill's "death"-I mean, they showed the pirates raiding Norrington's ship by walking along the ocean floor for god's sake! Thanks for the compliment. ^_^
Elizabeth: Thanks! You guys are really making my head swell.
Emeraldwolf: You've been supporting me since the first chapter and I really appreciate that. Thanks for understanding about the wait. My stupid job keeps interfering with my fun!
Lyowyn: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hey-it took a while but I did manage to update. I will hopefully have another chapter soon.
Jacklover: Thanks for the compliment! I guess this update wasn't as soon as you had hoped.
Leann: Well, I guess you can see that I'm trying to take the angle that Jack really loved Bill and is using Will to fill the void Bill left behind. If your brother is anything like Will Turner, he must be adorable. ^_~