Deck Swabber
A/n: Boat terminology might be wrong but no one can be perfect, so please cut me some slack.
The clean water sloshed over the deck fighting with the grime for hygiene. As Jack watched from the Caption's lodge Jhune fell to his knees- scrub in hand- and viciously wiped the wooden floorboards. It was the lad's first real work day and Jack had started him off by shucking the mussels off the stern then sent him scrubbing all the tubs and pans, emptying the chamber pots, and sweeping out the prison. Now he was hard at work on the deck.
Jack had to admit the boy was determined; he had been working hard all day and never once complained. Sighing Jack decided that Jhune had suffered enough.
"Yo, lad, it has been a long day, you've been working hard. Maybe a little too hard; the boat has never been cleaner. You're making my maintenance skills look bad." The small boy below him looked up with relieved eyes. Jack realized the boy, although tightly sculpted, had barely any muscles needed for the jobs he had assumed. Meaning Jhune would be aching tomorrow and maybe the day after; Jack reminded himself to give the kid a brake.
"Right Capt'n." Jhune dragged himself to his feet and stumbled across the deck to the Caption's loft.
Jack clapped the boy on the shoulder reassuringly, the boy almost collapsed beneath it. "Wow boy!" Quickly he steadied Jhoun and brought out a container of whisky, "Here drink this."
As soon as the fire liquid poured into Jhoun's throat he sputtered and coughed it back up.
"I can't drink that." The boy surged back in bewilderment.
Taking a swig Jack laughed, "I never knew a man who couldn't swallow his liquor."
"Well I-I," The boy was frantic and it held his voice at a higher pitch. Jack watched the boy's chest heave as his breathe quickened, it might have just been the whisky but he could swear he saw cleavage just peaking from Jhune's low-buttoned shirt. "I was just surprised that's all."
Before Jack could say anything, the boy- to prove himself- snatched the canteen out of his had. Thrusting back his head he gulped down a shot or two.
"Easy boy, it's to ease the pain not destroy it. You need enough pain to let you know you're still alive."
Laughter rippled from the boy and as he handed back the jug Jack noticed his hands were covered in sores. Jack took one of the hands and was surprised at how smooth it was despite the blisters. The boy rattled him thoroughly in ways he couldn't explain, as the scourge of the seas Jack had never met a man quite like him. Splashing the whiskey over the cuts sent a scream tearing through the boy, but it was for the best.
"Infection this far from port wouldn't be good." Taking from his pocket a swathe of clan rags, Jack wrapped the boy's hand then preceded with dousing and wrapping the other hand. "Get down to your cabin and rest. I want you up bright and early tomorrow."
As Jack watched Jhune limp off, there was no doubt that the boy could sleep as long as he wished without being disturbed tomorrow.