Disclaimer: ok, we all know that they're not mine... but it's after dark now and Disneyland is closed...

Author's note:this is my first story in English so please have mercy on me

1- Debauchery

Captain Jack Sparrow sat in one of Tortuga's typical drinking holes, a nameless filthy place like all of them were. Places where rum runs like water and company for one night was cheap. Men swallowing their drinks like there's no tomorrow, swearing their worst curses, chasing the whores, looking for a quarrel. When he came here ten days ago Tortuga seemed like the paradise on earth to him, but nothing lasts forever and glory always faded with time. Today the chicks looked old and worn-out and even the rum tasted somehow stale. Drink up me hearties yo ho- no use wasting it though.

While his crew still seemed to be hooked on all night long excesses of debauchery, he suddenly felt completely bored to death with it. He spotted Cotton making another attempt to charm a heavily decorated slut but failing again due to a missing tongue and a parrot on his shoulder croaking 'wind in yer sails, wind in yer sails'. Not very helpful. A smile flickered up on his face, but only a little and his dark eyes remained untouched. After all it was just the same old game repeated endlessly evening by evening and for all times to come. He needed a change and to start with he changed Cottons fortune by handing his adored lady a couple of shillings, telling her to do what she did best. Her attitude changed immediately. She offered Cotton her arm and off they went. Time to go.

He left the filthy hole of what was supposed to be a tavern and entered the streets of Tortuga. Not much of a change. Just more drunks drowning in bottles and grime, fighting, shooting, chasing the whores, lying in the gutter. With the heat of the day still hanging over the city this place smelled like hell, a mixture of human excrement, booze, vomit, sweat and a swell of dead fish from the harbour. He went to the docks for a lungful of fresh air.

His heart lightened when he saw his ship, his beautiful Black Pearl shimmering dark in the moonlight like covered in silk, tiny silvery waves caressing her hull ...

"Tomorrow, luv..."

It sounded like a promise that he actually didn't intend to speak out lout but he must have done so 'course a couple of drunken scallywags turned to him puzzled as if he'd gone mad. Well, that's what most people thought of Captain Jack Sparrow anyway and he couldn't have cared less.

It was then when he saw something that puzzled him and made him think that there really must've been something odd with the rum tonight even though he didn't feel that drunk. He took a second look and came to the conclusion that he wasn't seeing double, the Pearl didn't have a twin sister. It might have been the colour that troubled his eyes on first look, as the 'twin' was also dark as night and had three masts. But no other dark three-master could match his Pearl and this one certainly lacked her majestic sublimity. This one was of a slimmer shape, slightly different rigging, had a lower afterdeck and a more slender bow with a strange winged-mermaid-chasing-a-star figurehead. Jewel Star. He'd never seen or heard of her before though there was something about her that seemed somehow... familiar to him. A fleeting memory from long ago flew through his head but he couldn't catch it and then it was gone, forgotten again.

The small lane went upwards a little, away from the harbour to the green hills of Tortuga. The noise of debauchery faded in the distance behind him, when he moved on to a maze of alleys full of corners. This was the older part of Tortuga with houses actually build of stone and not of driftwood, more solid ones. The 'better' part of Tortuga- if there's any on an island inhabited by buccaneers and pirates, whores and smugglers and everyone else who sought seek refuge from the law of the English, Spanish or French Crown.

He didn't know why he came here since it had been years since he'd been here but somehow it just felt right. At least the air was fresher, a salty breeze from the sea swept by, jingling with the pearls 'n silver in his tangled hair.

The alley was cobble-stoned .He heard the echo of his own footsteps in this canyon of crooked houses; standing so tightly he could rarely see the sky above. Suddenly he felt uncomfortably as if being watched, followed. There'd been the sound of other footsteps following his. Now come on Jack don't make a fuss 'bout that, you're in a town an' there live people and... He couldn't help, he had to stop and listen.

Clack. Clack. Silence.

So there was obliviously a follower 'cause whoever was behind him has paused as well. He glared over his shoulder, no one in sight. Frowning he continued to walk as did his unseen follower, but then he quickly huddled in the shadows of a doorway, one hand on the hold of his sword. Cautiously he glanced round the corner to see an empty alley, lanterns reflecting some raindrops on the cobblestones.

He waited a couple of minutes without anything happening but the rain getting stronger. Now he felt like a fool in need of more rum to stop him from hearing ghosts. Must have been some long forgotten memories from long ago hunting him, he thought sighing when his eyes fell on an old, battered door-sign of a tavern. The prancing dragon. Without hesitation he entered the small tavern feeling sent back in time. Nothing had changed...

...and that meant forgetting that bloody little step again. He stumbled and crushed into a group of what seemed to be some better-dressed pirates. One of them- their captain probably since he wore a dark coat and a big hat- turned to him angrily.

"Don't ye ever dare 'n spill me drink again, ragged fool."

Jacks eyes widened and he was rendered speechless. Not a common occurrence for Captain Jack Sparrow. But where other pirates show a hairy breast and maybe a tattoo or two under their shirt, he now saw unmistakable female curves in a tight corsage. A green one. Without taking his eyes off that décolleté, he lifted his hat and pretended a bow.

"Hello, luv. Captain Jack Sparrow 'ere to serve ye."

"Well, well, you've kindly realized that I've got breasts, that'll do for service." she said with an ironic smile, eyes like the deepest ocean fixing him to the spot.

"'t was a pleasure, luv." He smiled shamelessly back to her, golden teeth glittering in the candlelight, but she was already about to turn away from him, and he didn't want her to turn away. "Apologies for spilling your drink by the way- may I buy you another one?"

"How charming, Captain Sparrow. I've no objection- if stop calling me luv or other stupid things. My name's Rowan Scarlett, Captain of the Jewel Star and that makes it Captain Scarlett for you, aye." She copied his affected behaviour, took her hat off...

... and was covered in flames down to her shoulders. Jack gasped. For the second time within minutes he went speechless. He'd never seen something like this before. Red. It was red, not this typical red-golden Irish colour, only...RED.

"Wine." he mumbled. She handed him helpfully a mug, totally misunderstanding what he was about, but he couldn't think of any better description. Once he had drunken an expensive red wine from an even more expensive crystal glass and when he'd held it up to the light of a candle it had been exactly the same colour .

"So... Rowan... that's an ol' Gaelic name meaning red one, aye? And the Scarlett 's for nobody ever missing that point?"

She laughed at him, eyes suddenly as green as a calm bay in sunshine. "You're a funny guy, Captain Sparrow. Now, how 'bout that drink you've promised? I'd have another red wine."

"You're sure 'bout that?" he asked with risen eyebrows, then flashing her a cheeky smile. "All that wine's no good for ye, luv. See what 't 's done to yer hair."

Jack lifted a hand to brush a wisp of hair out of her face but she was faster, getting a tight grip on his arm and pushing him right back.

"I allowed you to buy me a drink, not to paw me with yer dirty fingers. You should take a bath from time to time."

"If I would, would ye let me...?"

Her eyes became narrow and of a colour the sea had before a storm broke, strange eyes indeed. It was enough to make him fall silent for a moment, more effective than Anamaria's face slapping had ever been. He raised his hands in a sign of peace, then smiling broadly at her.

"Welcome to the Caribbean, Captain Scarlett."

Jack left her in a state of surprise, went swaying to the bar and came back with two big mugs, handing one to her.

"Now, that is seems we're the same biz you'd better start getting used to rum, as all the pirates 'ere do, supposed yer a pirate as I've never heard neither of you or your ship. Are ye comin' from some strange fairy country, luv? "

She rolled her eyes in despair and couldn't help to start laughing. This guy was completely mad but as long as he'd keep his fingers off her he'd be a funny companion for one night of drinking.

"Well, I've been born in Spain and raised in Tortuga- if you wanna call these fairy countries, do as you please..."

"That hair is Spanish?"

"No, that was a strange little accident when I fell into a barrel of wine here in Tortuga while still a child."

He stared at her in disbelief, needing a moment to realize that she was only spinning a yarn.

"And why have I never heard of you before?"

"'cause I've been to Asia, sailing the Chinese-Seas. Shanghai, Saigon, Singapore..."

"You've been to Singapore! I love Singapore! Let's have a toast on Singapore!"

Jack clinked mugs with her and swallowed the rum like water, before ordering a bottle from the bartender. This night seemed to have improved. The rum tasted better than ever and the company couldn't have been more exiting. He glanced carefully to the Redhead, surveying her from top to toe.

She had Caribbean skin, peacock eyes, red-wine-hair and a fallen angel's smile. She was dressed in man's clothes. Coat 'n Shirt 'n Trousers 'n knee-high boots, all in black but for this corsage she wore under her shirt, which was actually green and surely not a man's clothes- except the man was an eunuch or perverted... that's another story, Jack, and don't stare at 'er bodice too long if ye don't wanna make 'er furious again 'cause there's not that much to stare anyway... She wasn't a common beauty and certainly not the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen, in fact she wasn't even a girl anymore but a grown-up woman who seemed to know exactly what she wants. The pistols and the cutlass in her belt were not for decoration, she looked like she knew how to use them, and yet there was some freshness around her that reminded him of sea spray.

"Are you done with your inspection, Captain Sparrow? Have I passed the test?" she snapped at him.

"No need to worry 'bout, luv, ev'rything's perfect." He gave her a charming smile but didn't get the same from her, only eyes turning a bit stormy again.

"Well, I should be worried as it's you saying that. I'm wondering why you're here anyway, 'cause I've been told I'd find you in the filthiest bar of Tortuga an' in the arms of the cheapest slut around..."

"Who said that?"

"A friend."

"Seems you've strange friends, luv..."

"Don't call me luv! For you it's still Captain Scarlett. Just try an' show me the same respect I show you, Captain Sparrow, aye?" she hissed.

He decided to ignore her rising fury and kept on smiling.

"Forgive me, Captain Scarlett, for that's an ol' manner o' me I just can't change. But anyway, I'm pleased to hear that you've kinda heard of me and that ye respect me- wonder what reason that might be for?"

"Barbossa." Scarlett uttered with a voice that had become ice-cold with hatred. She had to clear her throat before she was able to continue. "Of all the stories 'bout you I prefer that one. Thanks for deliverin' this world from that bloody evil piece o' shit called Barbossa- though I'd have loved to have done it meself."

"Oh." Jack raised his eyebrows. He was still smiling at her, but his eyes had gone blank, watching her a bit cautiously. Then he shrugged his shoulders and was back to 'normal', lips curled up in a suggestive grin. "Well, if thanks are in order, why not give me a little kiss, luv?"

She sighed. "If you really want a whore's kiss you'll get it, but don't expect any emotions."

"No, no, no. Stop. Please." He still wanted to kiss her, but what he wanted was a real kiss with green calm-bay-in-sunshine eyes, and not a storm-clouded one that she would only give to him cause he'd killed someone she'd hated so much that she was now willing to endure... no good, Jack.

Scarlett gave him an astonished look. "What's wrong with you now? A minute ago you've pressed me to kiss you and now you've changed you're mind?"

"That's got nothing to do with not wanting a kiss, only with the pressing. I can wait for the opportune moment."

"And if that never comes?"

"Hey, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"

Scarlett filled her mug with more rum, drank a little and smiled at him.

"Now, infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, I've head rumours 'bout ye sendin' Barbossa into well-deserved hell, but we both know that rumours 're spreading faster than ye can tell 'em, aye. So, will ye tell me the truth behind 'em."

"You want the whole story? Well, it all started when I reached Port Royal in a sinking boat that I've borrowed without permission from Anamaria but with best intents in giving it back and that's why I still owe her a boat..."

What a storyteller. He prated and flirted, boasted and cheated. He was a charmer and a phoney, never telling the truth without ever lying. He was the King of the thieves, Lord of half-truths and Master of big gestures, always a smile on his face. He was Captain Jack Sparrow, legend of the Caribbean- the man who sacked Nassau port without firing a single shot, who vanished from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Trading Company, and who even took Barbossa in with his a tricks. He had scars to prove it all, and many more, but he did never reveal any of them, as well as he never revealed his real face to anybody. The one of Jack Sparrow without the Captain, the man behind the legends. That part of himself he kept well hidden behind dark brown eyes, deep as the ocean. Must have been a heard learned lesson for him.