Title: The Afterglow
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Jack Sparrow / James Norrington, Jack Sparrow / Will Turner, side pairings (FPS)
Warnings: violence, character death
Summary: Let there be insane soap opera plot twists from hell. And buggery. Lots of it. This story resumes after the ending of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.
Disclaimer: At no point do I claim any form of ownership of any of the characters depicted in this piece. My representations of them are not necessarily indicative of the intentions of their original creators. The plot in which I place these characters holds no relationship to their original context. I make no profit from borrowed characters. Don't sue me.
Word Count: 2,134

X. News

A sharp rapping at the front door brought Will to his senses with a start. He got up from the bed and pulled on pants, quickly and quietly, trying not to wake Jack. As Will left the bedroom, closing the door behind him, Jack stirred lightly. He reached an arm over toward where Will had laid, grasping. Feeling no one, Jack opened his eyes. He breathed deeply the scent of the night before. He thought Will must have gone to work at the smithy. So, Jack stretched leisurely, thinking he'd be left with run of the house for the whole day. Then, Jack heard voices and he realized Will must be in the other room with someone. He strained to hear what was being said. The sheets fell from his body as he sat upright to listen.

"Sir?" Will's voice drifted through the wall.

"I have been sent to warn you that there is a dangerous fugitive on the loose and the governor has good reason to think that he may pay you a visit." The voice was stern – too stern. This was not the sound of a simple jail break. Jack knew immediately that he was about to be blamed for something serious.

"There has been a murder," the stern voice continued. "I'm sorry to say, Will. Surely you were well enough acquainted… But Commodore Norrington is dead."

"Norrington!" Will spat. "Who in the world would want to kill Norrington?"

"Jack Sparrow."

'Captain,' Jack thought. 'Captain Jack Sparrow.'

"And I suppose that's why you've come to se me about it. Well, I'll have you know that I still avoid familiarity with pirates. The company I kept to keep Elizabeth from harm has certainly left no lasting mark on my character." Jack had to admit, the whelp was good under pressure.

"That's the other reason I have come to see you about it."

"What?"

"Elizabeth. I've also come to tell you that she has gone to her father's house. Surely, you noticed her absence," the officer's tone turned slightly reproachful.

"She told me she was attending a party. My wife has all the liberties she could want. I did not expect her home last night."

"Well, it was she who discovered the Commodore's death. Dare I say, she even witnessed the pirate fleeing the room."

"Thank you, officer, but if you will please excuse me, I must ready myself to call on my wife as soon as possible."

"She has given word that she is well enough and at this time prefers only the company of maid servants," the officer paused to add a kinder note. "Women require delicate company for delicate moods."

"Well, do excuse me nonetheless, if you please, sir." Jack could hear Will ushering the man toward the door.

"Is there a message I might send to her from you?"

"Do send her my best, if you are returning to the house. Let her know that she may send for me at any time. I will wait at home for her call. Thank you, officer," Will replied. Again, the feet shuffled toward the door.

"Contact us at once if your pirate friend returns. And be wary, Mr. Turner. He is armed with shot."

"Of course, officer," and Will's voice fell silent. Jack heard the door shut and Will's footsteps approached the bedroom again. Jack laid down and pretended to sleep.

"Get up, you scoundrel!" Will thundered. When Jack opened his eyes, Will stood in the doorway, sword drawn.

"What is this?" Jack asked with alarm.

"You've murdered Norrington! How could you do such a thing? He sprung you from jail when you were imprisoned on false charges and you repay him with his own blood? He was a good man and you've killed him!"

"You think I would kill the very man I laid with? As for whether he was a good man, you forget that the Commodore had a bit of pirate in him." Jack winked.

"You disgust me! Get out of this house!" Will pulled the sheet off Jack cruelly. Jack stood, paying no heed to his own nudity. He stepped in front of Will, unintimidated by the show of sudden force.

"Look at me, Will. I am the same man I was last night. I fled Norrington's house because Elizabeth caught us in bed together. If I killed the men I laid with, my sword would already be drawn for you. I may be a pirate, but I am not a killer of decent men." Jack's palms raised in a gesture of armistice.

"Why didn't you come to find me sooner if you cared so little for him, then? Why flee only on the night of his murder?" Will's resolve was faltering. He knew Jack had no reasonable motive.

"I came to find you and the talk of the town was that you were happily married. I was insane with jealousy if you must know. So, I went to the pub and drowned my sorrow until the Commodore arrived. By that time, any company at all was preferable to my own thoughts. He was thundered up, himself, and I convinced him to take me home. I thought you wouldn't want me. So, when he let me stay, I stayed. You must certainly know that Elizabeth walked in on us for the first time after one of those mornings. Norrington covered our tracks by arresting me. He set me free and I decided to have one last go at it before I had to leave and never return. It was then that Elizabeth found us a second time. I thought she was going to some authority when she left the room and I left through the window to go the other way. And since I thought I could never see Port Royal again, I came to say goodbye to you. Because…" Jack stopped and shook his head in defeat.

"Because…?" Will prompted.

"Damn it, Will. Because not even the Pearl can give me freedom when my heart is chained to someone on the land. No matter how many hours the sun and moon reflect in any of the seven seas, I cannot rest."

Will sighed and lowered his sword. He knew Jack was telling the truth. Although, it was still a mystery to Will who would have killed the Commodore and why Elizabeth would have identified that man as Jack.

"There'll be no clearing your name this time," Will said, "no matter who killed Norrington."

Jack came forward and embraced Will. He held his breath as he remembered his last moments with Norrington. Jack hadn't returned his sentiment, couldn't have in good conscience. He only really loved Will, but he cared for Norrington very much. After a few moments, Jack gathered his resolve.

"Don't worry about this," Jack assured Will. "Norrington was never anything more than a distraction. Let him not continue to be so now that he is gone. We will still leave tonight and everything will be just as we planned."

He touched Will's face with his hand. Will looked sheepish. He didn't know how or whether to comfort Jack. He smiled a bit, hoping Jack would make the best course of action more obvious to him. When nothing happened, Will spoke.

"Really, I'm sorry. It must be terrible for you, Jack."

"Believe me when I say that I'll be alright. In this bedroom, the company is infinitely better," Jack replied.

He draped his arm around Will's waist and pulled him closer. Will leaned in, much more gingerly than the night before, and kissed Jack on the mouth. More calm than the first time they had kissed, Will was able to take the time to experience every sensation. Jack's lips were every bit as soft as a woman's, though distinctly more practiced and bold than Elizabeth's. Jack's moustache, normally so absurd, turned erotic as its coarseness brushed the soft skin of Will's lips and face. Jack's hands raised into Will's hair and he moaned almost pitifully into Will's mouth. When he pulled away, Will was left without breath.

"Lie with me again before we go," Jack said softly. It was never a request. Jack knew Will wanted him. He knew that he never really had to ask.

Will nodded. He knew it might be a long time before they were out of harm's way enough to do so after this. They kissed as Jack pushed Will onto his back. Jack held himself aloft for what seemed like a long time, kissing Will, but nothing more. Jack rubbed his bare skin on the coarse fabric of Will's breeches. He grunted and pulled them off with a series of awkward shifts of weight.

Will sighed when they were finally gone. Intertwining their legs and wrapping his arms tightly around Jack's back, Will relished the feeling of Jack's skin. It was soft in some places, calloused in others, but always brilliantly warm. Will imagined he could feel the warmth running all through him – essence of Jack diffused into his blood. He wasn't sure if it was the unexpected warmth of Jack's caress of the knowledge that he was leaving Port Royal that made him tingle so. It was probably both. Jack sucked hungrily at Will's ear lobe as he ground his hips down. He ran a hand up the back of Will's thigh cautiously.

"Are you too sore to continue?" Jack whispered into the ear he'd just released from his mouth. Will shook his head 'no.'

"I don't think so," he replied, "but if I am, it'll be worth it."

He squirmed under Jack, reaching for the oil on the night table. Jack took the bottle and sat back, preparing to work. He set out slowly, slick hand working methodically. This time, however, his eyes did not leave Will's face. In the light, he wanted to savor every expression. Even as he bent down to lick Will's hardness, his eyes stared back challengingly. Will moaned when Jack touched swollen, tender flesh. Minor pains transformed into stunningly intense pleasure. Jack manipulated him with his hands like an instrument and Will closed his eyes to concentrate on his attentions more fully. Small, grateful moans turned to gasps and growls and finally begging. Jack watched the expressions as he listened, trying to memorize each creasing of brow, each opening and closing of the mouth. This memory, the thought, he could never afford to lose.

"Jack, more," Will's voice strained.

Jack tilted his head quizzically, curling three fingers with excruciating slowness and precision.

"Stop tormenting me," Will hissed.

Only half joking, he grabbed a handful of Jack's hair and pulled Jack toward his face. Will snatched the bottle of oil as Jack, surprised, took advantage of both his hands to hold himself up. Will poured oil into his palms and rubbed them together, testing the feel of it. He shoved the bottle back onto the table. Tentatively at first, and then with more confidence, Will took Jack's length between his hands and slicked it with oil. Jack was already hard and dripping with anticipation and he groaned loudly at Will's touch. Will placed his feet closer toward his body and bent at the knees. He urged Jack's cock lower and Jack complied eagerly. Surprisingly lacking in coyness, Will positioned Jack and used his feet to pull him closer.

"I want you," Will said, eyes fiery with lust.

"I need you," Jack replied and he pushed forward slowly, but this time not pausing to allow Will time to breathe.

When their bodies were flush, Will grunted and wrapped his legs tightly around Jack's back. He pulled Jack as close as he could and Jack shifted within him, trying to hit just the right spot without pulling back. Jack lowered most of his weight onto Will's torso and Will relaxed the grip with his legs. Jack backed up slightly to angle his hips and slid his arms under Will's body. Will arched to allow Jack access and the angle made them both pant heavily. For a few moments, Will held his back aloft while Jack huffed and puffed his efforts.

When Will tired, he lowered his back and braced himself against the headboard with his hands. The tension gave more fierceness to Jack's thrusts, and he slowed to push with more force and accuracy. Will's breath was ragged as Jack freed his hands and wedged one between them. The other held him upright and separated their torsos enough to give Jack's hand room for movement. Ecstasy overwhelmed Will and he brought his hands down onto Jack's back. Dirty fingernails sank into yielding flesh as Will clung frenziedly to Jack's heaving frame. Jack gasped at the pain inflicted by Will's hands and held his breath as he finished so he could better hear Will's shouts.