Note: This was written by Marvel and is the same scene, just from the point of view of Diamond. The first part follows the same actions, but in her mind, providing a different insight. If you aren't interested in reading it again, go to the paragraph after the three , that's where we actually advance the plot.
Chapter 2
By a Fair MarginStrong arms wrap themselves around my waist, and I pause. I don't take kindly to being manhandled, and my reputation would tell the men in this tavern that much. There are few enough I would accept this sort of treatment from, and my heart speeds as I suspect just who it may be. Hope it may be, because I haven't been paying attention. If someone truly dangerous had come in the crowd in the tavern would have withdrawn. Curse my distraction! Such things can get you killed in this town.
A long lock of twisted hair brushes my cheek, and I take a deep breath. No danger here. Hal or Jack then. My heart speeds further. I close my eyes. This is an old game with the three of us. Few people in this world can tell Hal from Jack without a close look. It confounds Jack that I can tell the difference with my eyes closed, and thrills Hal. The fact that he isn't gnawing on my neck makes me suspect Hal, as Jack can seldom keep from devouring me, but Jack knows enough about how his brother treats me that this may be a calculated move.
„Hello Diamond."
The voice is deep, rough with lust. Been a while, has it?
Good. It's been far too long since you were here.
Hal then, I know instantly. The voice is deeper, a touch rougher than Jack's, lacking the sing-song quality Jack can't leave off his words however hard he tries. His brother is far more straightforward, thank the heavens. Jack is fun, but there are days when I prefer the ever-truthful, sweet-souled Hal. Lips descend on my neck.
I sigh deeply, bite back a groan. Oh, hang tired, suddenly I can't wait to work.
„Hello Hal."
I feel him smile against my neck as he trails down onto my shoulder. I can't have any more of this. I am a prostitute here, and with no deal yet made I should be the one in control. Not that I'm worried over it. Hal always pays considerably better than he should, and refuses to take back what he doesn't owe. I wonder, sometimes, what sort of penance the man feels he is paying. Does he know about our daughter? Certainly not. He's been doing it far too long. I'm probably happier without the answer. The man is morose by nature, mostly over things he has no fault or control in.
I turn within the circle of his arms. He pulls back to look into my eyes and I grin. Oh, the boy is handsome. A lesser woman would be disarmed by him immediately. Not that he'd notice, humble as he is. And in the end it's that which has been my undoing. The clouds that hang over this man seem to be temporarily lifted. He's in a playful mood tonight. Rare as that is, I grin in appreciation.
I look over his shoulder, expecting to find Jack standing here holding a tankard and grinning, but his equally handsome face eludes me. I turn questioning eyes to Hal.
„Where's your brother? Surely he hasn't gotten his neck into the noose already?"
I smile, knowing I'm safe with the joke. If Jack were dead Hal would be weeping into a bucket of that horrid liquor he drinks, asking where the nearest cliff that could send him to his death was. I don't fear jealousy in him either. Jelousy is for lesser men who don't understand one another well as these two do.
Hal smiles. That smile can light rooms. It chases the last of the clouds as have been hanging around me from my thoughts. It's been far too long since he last visited.
„No, he's not dead just yet. I left him in another tavern. He said he was in a blond mood tonight."
I smile. Bless Hal for knowing he needn't worry about my jealousy. I'm a woman of Tortuga, and Jack's left me Hal for entertainment. I'll see him tomorrow night. If he had only one night here I know he'd have come to me.
„And what mood might the present Mr. Sparrow be in tonight?" I ask, pressing my hips into his, grinning in satisfaction as his breath hitches just slightly.
„Nothing less than the brightest jewel in Tortuga will do for me tonight," he says. „I want nothing but Diamonds."
I grin. Hal has his brother's charm, that's for certain. For a moment I almost forget that I'm selling my wares. I can't think of anything as fine to say to him in return so I wrap my arms around his neck and settle for rising to my toes to plunder his mouth.
He tastes of the lightest touch of salt, as if the brine is so deep in him it even comes through here. It mixes with the spice of Hal's unique taste. The bitter tang of alcohol hits me after a moment.
I pull back at that, hardly pausing a moment before slapping him across the cheek. It's a light slap. I know how to hit a man, and nothing about this says more than me teasing him. Still, I step roughly back out of his arms and turn my back to him, crossing my arms over my bust. He rubs at the injured cheek, eyes sparkling as they regard me, waiting for me to make my move.
„Diamonds indeed," I sniff over my shoulder. „You stopped for a drink before coming for me, Master Sparrow."
I remain there, nose in the air, totally ignoring him. A few men look up hopefully, anxious to catch my attention if my current plans fall through.
I know they'll be disappointed, but Hal is going to have to earn it. He comes around in front of me, grinning. Lord, that mouth should be stricken from this world. Nothing less then angels should have lips like that, much less a man.
He draws close, and I turn my head away from him. „Sincerest apologies, Mistress Diamond. Barbossa owed me a drink. I didn't wish to give him the opportunity to cheat me of it." I sniff in distain. „Here, allow me to make it up to you."
I watch him from the corner of my eye as he untucks one of my hands, caressing it open. He raises it to his lips, kisses the palm.
„I hope you intend to do better than that," I inform him with a toss of my hair and tug lightly on the captured collection of digits. He doesn't let go.
„Indeed I do." He's still grinning. Raising a hand a ring appears in his fingers.
He has my whole attention now. It's beautiful. I've never seen a ruby that big in my life, sparkling with inner fire even in the meager light.
„Will this buy your forgiveness, Diamond?"
Without waiting for my answer he slips it onto my hand, watching me stare at it. He draws close as I examine it, wrapping his arms back around my waist.
-
„You shouldn't have," I breathe.
He's too close like this. I can smell the salt on his skin and the spice of his scent. I look down to admire the ring because I can't look into his chocolate eyes right now without melting.
„I can't keep it, you know. I truly wish I could, it is beautiful, but the coin I could get..."
He silences me with a finger on my lips.
„I know."
He's reclaimed my hand, rubbing the ring and finger in one. The finger on my lips turns, hooking under my chin to tilt my head up.
„But it's worth it, to see in on your finger, even once."
And I meet his eyes, and I do melt, in that moment. His lips descend on mine and when he pulls back I'm breathless in a way I haven't been in years. I feel my face heat. I'm blushing like some bride on her wedding night! The things these men do to me. It's his fault. Pretty words aren't meant for the likes of me.
„You're far more deserving of ‚pretty words' than any blushing bride."
I look up at him, eyes widening. Did I say that aloud? I certainly hope I did. If Hal's learned to read minds I'm doomed for certain.
„You should get something more to drink," I suggest, trying to push out of the prison of his arms.
He holds me, quirking one eyebrow at me. I smile at the look. Usually when he gets me this worked up I drag him into the nearest dark corner quickly as possible.
„I haven't said good night to my children," I explain. „They shall be in soon, and heaven only knows what trouble they will get into tonight if I don't warn them against it."
Hal's eyebrows dip down just slightly, but he shrugs and releases me. Just like that I've returned the gloom that usually hangs over this man. A lesser woman wouldn't notice, but I know him far too well. No matter. I will dispel it soon enough with my not inconsiderable talents. The man has never been much for children. They confound him. But he understands that there's something more to it, and some of us have need of that, so he goes to the bar and orders a drink. I follow him to an empty table and sit in his lap when he takes a chair.
„I'm sorry."
I finger the collar of his shirt, resisting the urge to stroke the tanned expance of chest he's revealed by leaving it open, showing off his tattoos. Resist the urge to trace the ink with my fingers. No point in getting us both worked up when we can't sate that need just yet. Still, he has such beautiful skin, so soft and smooth for a pirate. Even tanned and brine-beaten, I'd take Hal's chest over silk any day. Much warmer and softer. I watch the red light from the ring paint the white cotton and expanse of chest. It looks like blood. I pull quickly back.
„They will be in soon, I promise."
Hal smiles, but there's no light to it. Compared to his previous smile it's positively frigid. I don't worry over it too much. He's an endlessly patient man.
„How are they?" he asks because he feels he should, not because he cares, I know. I promise myself to keep it short.
„Well."
„Both of them?"
„Three," I correct. „I had another. A girl."
„How old?"
„Three now. She's been around when you were here, but I guess the opportunity to meet her just never presented itself. She's a bit of a wild one."
„How is your son?"
„Growing. He wants to be a pirate."
Hal smiles, that half-hearted twist of the lips again. I decide a change of subject is in order.
„So where did my ring come from?"
„Spanish treasure galleon."
My eyebrows rise. „Quite a find."
„That's why we're here."
„Pearl!"
He looks up at the name of his ship screamed in the tavern. Truth be told I didn't give her that name solely because it was my grandmother's. I liked the idea of it catching her father's ear. It would appear I've succeeded, even when it comes from a boy's lips. So what has my daughter done now?
She bounds up to me, hardly pausing before climbing into my lap. Hal shifts uncomfortably, and I know it isn't the weight troubling him. She sits in my lap, regarding Hal for a moment before turning her full attention on me.
She's used to her mother in men's arms. Not ordinarily men this pretty, but Pearl takes such things in stride. She'll break the most handsome of hearts one day.
My other two children approach as Pearl settles herself.
„Is all well?" I ask as Hal studies his drink, completely ignoring the object of his discomfort in my lap.
„Well enough," Ruby answers with a glare at Pearl.
„What did you do?" I ask, lifting the girl's chin so she has to look at me.
„Nothing." She is the picture of innocence.
„It's no large thing, Mother," my son puts in, thrusting out his hip to show off the sword. I let it go, for Hal's sake. Best get rid of them quickly.
„All right. I want you all in bed by dawn."
The children scream, but I ignore it.
„No arguing. I'll be cross if you aren't every one sound asleep come morning. Understood?"
They all nod. „Good. Pearl, do as your sister tells you. Go."
She hops off. Just like that they scamper from the room.
„So what do you think?" I ask Hal, wrapping an arm around his neck as he drains his drink, tracing a twisted tattoo on his shoulder.
„He will make a good pirate. I will tell you when I know a ship for him."
I roll my eyes. Hal can be blind as a bat when he chooses to be. Pearl's age and eyes have completely escaped him.
„And my girls?"
„Will be pretty as their mother when they're grown. I like the small one's name."
„Glad you approve."
I wait for him to take another swig of his alcohol. I lean close to his ear.
„She's your daughter."
He doesn't choke. Doesn't breath at all, in fact. He freezes, stock still, going completely stiff. I pull away to look at him. His eyes are wide and there's something there in their depths I've never seen before. Terror. My heart clenches. I shouldn't have told him. Oh, if only I could take the words back. I never thought ... .
„Hal, it's all right."
No response.
„Hal?"
I take his head in my hands turning his eyes up to me.
„Hal, dear, you need to breathe."
He swallows several times before his chest finally rises and falls.
„Hal? Are you all right?"
He swallows again. „What do you want me to say?"
„Nothing. You don't have to say anything, Hal. I just, I know who her father is. It seemed unfair if he didn't. I'm sorry. Please don't let it trouble you."
„But, are you certain? I mean, Jack..."
I nod. „It's possible, but the dates favor you by a fair margin."
„How fair?"
I shrug. „Fair enough."
He blinks hard. „I don't...Diamond, I don't know anything about children. I don't do well with them."
„How many children have you been around?" I ask.
He blinks again. His breathing picks up, pulling an erratic pace. Oh, I never should have told him. I should have known better.
„It doesn't matter. We don't either of us want anything from you."
„Does she know?"
„She knows that I know who her father is. She doesn't know it's you."
The breathing calms a little.
„Listen, Hal. I didn't want this. I wanted to give you information, not a burden. Just forget if you like. No worries."
„You say that, but ... ."
„I mean it."
I grab his face in a less gentle grip, rubbing my hand over one slightly scruffy cheek to soften the move.
„I know you tell the truth, Hal. You tell the truth and you feel like the rest of the world lies to you. But I'm not, not in this. I want nothing more than for you to know."
He looks at me, then down. His eyes catch on the hand still clenched around the cup.
„I need another drink." And he never, ever, has a second drink. He stands, shifting me out of the way.
I grab at him, wrapping strong hands around his arm.
„No." I say.
He turns curious eyes on me.
„No. Hal Sparrow, you will not run away from me. You will not. You want to forget? That's fine."
I take the glass from his hand, setting it on the table.
„I can help you forget."
I wind my arms around his neck in an iron grip, pressing my hips to his.
„I'm very good at helping people forget."
He hesitates one moment, and that's all I need. I am a prostitute, and I do have a great many talents at my disposal. I swoop forward pressing my lips to his as my hand snakes into his breeches.
He gasps into my mouth, following the exhalation quickly with the slightest groan, a rumble deep in his throat, eyes widening at me. I'm selfish enough with the Sparrow brothers to reserve our more intimate moments for at least marginally more private areas, ordinarily. I've caught him off guard here. I grin as I pull away to watch him, giggling at the look on his face. Any whore will tell you this is power at its finest. Reducing a ruthless, dangerous pirate to a moaning pile of mush. I quirk one eyebrow at him.
„Upstairs?"
He swallows hard and nods and I turn to lead him back toward the narrow wooden stairs. Guilt pricks at me. I'll find a way to make it up to him.
Out to sea it may plague him, but he's here now. And I will find a way, if it takes all of my fairly considerable talent.