Author's Note: I know I should be updating Journey Home right now instead of posting something new, but I found this tiny little one-shot in my computer, collecting dust because it had been so long since I'd opened it, and I decided to post it just for a change of pace. I have a couple other ideas for one-shots involving Jack and Barbossa, but I'll let you all decide if you want to read them or not. Just know that I won't be likely to update this as often until Journey is finished (which won't be long, now).
Disclaimer: I don't own Will, Jack, Elizabeth, Barbossa, Mr. Brown, the marines, or any of the events depicted in this story.
Aim
I was aiming for his head.
In the smithy, when Jack was almost out the door and I had to do something to stop him, the only thing I could think to do is throw my sword and hope it impaled itself somewhere useful. Preferably through his thick pirate skull. Or at least through his heart, assuming he had one.
Of course, I hadn't exactly thrown my sword before. Daggers, sure, I threw those all the time. But a sword is a bit heavier. Harder to handle. My aim was a bit off. Okay, more than a bit. The sword lodged itself into the door instead of Jack. Served my purpose; he wasn't able to escape. Guess it would've been a bit distracting trying to go back to work with his dead body rotting in the doorway until the marines came about to pick it up, anyway. So maybe it was for the best. After all, if I'd killed him then I wouldn't ever have found Elizabeth, and Barbossa would've killed her out of spite long before I managed to rescue her. Yes, I'd say it was a good thing.
Then, the second time, at Jack's hanging, I had to throw a sword again. I though my aim would be better this time, since I'd had a go at it once before already and I knew how the weight would change things. Probably would have hit the rope like I was aiming for if it had been the same sword. Or even one that I made. But old Brown weights his swords differently, so the balance is more towards the tip than mine are, and I had the dumb luck to swipe what was probably the only sword made by Brown in the crowd. So I was aiming for the rope, and I hit the trapdoor. It worked okay; Jack lived, after all, and that was what I was going for. So maybe it was for the best.
But I sure as hell wish I could throw a sword and hit what I was aiming at.