A/N: I recently took another glance at this story and realized how poorly written it was. So I've decided to polish it up one piece at a time. I don't know if anyone is still reading it, but for my sanity, I am going to retool it chapter by chapter. Maybe I will be struck with new inspiration and finish it.
Disclaimer: I own neither Pirates of the Caribbean nor any of it's characters, names or locations. This is a simple exercise in creativity that I will not try to sell or profit from. All credit goes to Disney.
The sun streamed through the filthy window, casting beams of bright light across Hayden's eyes. He woke up blearily, kicking the thin sheet off of his body. The cot he slept on creaked with is weight as he sat up and looked around. The room he shared with five other men was empty, only one pair of dirty boots sitting in the corner.
He had over slept. It was no surprise that no one had woken him. Less workers meant there was more work to go around and that meant more pay per person. Hayden groaned in frustration. No point in even going to work today. He got up and stretched, walking to the window. With his arm he wiped away the dirt with a forearm and peered through. The market was already full of color and activity, beckoning him with the promise of sweets and socialization.
Hayden pulled on his best trousers and shirt, grabbed his bag of coins, tucked into his pocket, shoved his feet in boots and was off. There was something in the air today. He had a good feeling.
Laura woke up feeling the same. Ana was still asleep in the twin bed across the room, so she dressed quietly in a loose blue dress. She rarely had the opportunity to dress in something that didn't disguise her sex. She wanted to flu under the radar today, and for that she could afford to be feminine. A woman in men's clothing might attract too much attention. She relished the feeling of the breeze as it stirred her skirt, playing about her ankles and calves. It was a bit of a walk to the marketplace, but the weather was gorgeous.
Though it was early, the market was in full swing by the time Laura arrived. She enjoyed strolling casually through the maze of makeshift stands, inspecting trinkets. She paused at a jewelry stand, bending down to lift a handsome pearl necklace. It looked identical to one her mother had owned when she and Ana were children. Her sister would love it. She opened her mouth to inquire as to the price when someone grabbed her from behind.
"How ya doin' there missy?" A voice grated on her senses like nails on a chalkboard. An extremely unattractive middle aged man had caught her round the waist. Laura immediately became irritated. Sometimes it really was easier to just pretend to be a man. You at least were free of idiots such as this man.
"I was fine until you showed up," she snapped cattily. He was one of the examples of why she wasn't too fond of men.
"Now that's not very nice…" he grinned, exposing rotting teeth. Putrid breath reached her nose and turned her stomach. The man tightened his grip on her, pulling her in. The stand owner was of no help. He had turned away to help another customer, an upper class woman and her servant. Laura sighed, resigning herself. She was going to have to handle this herself.
Hayden strolled through the square, contentedly chewing on an apple. His eyes followed a rather pretty young woman and her servant as they preened their way toward a jewelry stand. He was reminded on a peacock as the woman fussed over her hair, twirling a parasol in one hand. They immediately attracted the attention of the stand owner, who hurried over to help them. That was when he noticed another customer, a young woman of about 20 years old struggling against a man more than twice her age.
The woman pressed her hands to the man's chest shoving him back. The man stumbled but recovered, trying to pull the girl to him again. It couldn't have been clearer that she needed help, yet no one moved toward her. Hayden quickened his steps, swallowing the last of his breakfast and casting the core into a pile of rubbish.
"Let me go!" the girl was demanding in a hard tone that seemed out of place on her slight frame.
"Or what, missy?" the man leered. Hayden watched, impressed as the girl balled a fist. Determined that is should not come to physical violence, he stepped in.
"I believe she said to let go." His deep voice startled Laura. She flickered her dark eyes over him, mentally cataloging every detail about him. Her eyes were calculating, Hayden noticed, almost as though she were appraising him.
Though Laura appreciated his help, she felt herself grow irritated with his heroic actions. He was attracting the attention of other's around him. She could not afford to be noticed, or worse, followed. She needed to handle the situation quickly and move on. The aristocrat girl was giving her a look of distaste now.
"I can handle myself, thank you," she told the young man curtly. He gave her a shocked look, then stepped back a foot or two.
"Alright," he said pleasantly. "Let's see you do it then." he raised an eyebrow expectantly at her, gesturing to the other man.
Her assailant gave her would be knight in shining armor a surprised look, then redoubled his efforts to pull Laura away. With nary a second thought, Laura's closed fist sailed through the air, landing hard on the cheekbone of her captor. Skin connected with skin in a satisfying crack. He stumbled backwards, freeing her arm. With a bewildered look, the man took off, running dizzily back into the crowd. Laura's knuckled burnt, but she was otherwise fine.
Hayden laughed at the display. It was a rare thing to see a woman tough enough to save herself. She stood in sharp contrast to the other woman near her. Her manner of dress was simple, just a loose fitting gown made of blue cotton. In the wind it clung to a well-proportioned body, free of the corsets and lace of the other woman. Her hair, coffee brown and long, drifted around her face in thick waves. Her skin, brown as the wood of the stand, shone with slight perspiration under the heat of the sun. She turned long-lashed eyes on him.
"Enjoy yourself?" she said sarcastically. She cast the necklace she had been holding back onto the stand and turned to walk away. The proper woman of status scoffed at her retreating back.
"Barbaric," she murmured with distaste, casting scornful eyes over Hayden before summoning her servant and moving on. The owner of the stand looked upset that he had lost so rich a customer. He grumbled under his breath as he went to place the pearl necklace back on it's velvet cushion. Hayden leaned forward to look at it. It was simple, but pretty, a well manufactured piece of jewelry. He was struck with the thought that it would look beautiful against the chocolate skin of it's would-be buyer. On an impulse, he gave the man a few silver coins for it, tucked it into his pocket and hurried after the girl, determined to make amends.
She seemed to have vanished into thin air. Her dark head was nowhere in sight as he scanned the marketplace. He spun slowly, looking for a flash of blue cloth or swish of dark hair. He spotted her on the path to the southern part of the island, hurrying away. He broke into a light jog, trying to catch up. She turned, saw him coming and quickened her pace, peeling off of the path. Hayden broke into a full out run, pursuing her hotly.
She led him out of the town and into the wilderness. He picked his way through lush scenery, everyone in a while startling a monkey or bird out of its hiding spot. He could hear her ahead of him, moving nimbly through the brush. They neared the beach, finally bursting out onto the flat expanse of sand. The woman looked back at him, her features twisted in annoyance.
"Why are you following me?" she demanded the answer.
Hayden was taken aback. He didn't know what he had expected, following a strange woman into the middle of the jungle. He opened his mouth and stuttered out an answer. "I just wanted to congratulate you," he said lamely.
"Congratulate me?" her pretty features contorted in confusion.
"You know for being able to take care of yourself…" he mentally kicked himself for his stupid comment.
She scoffed. "Thanks. You can leave now."
"I've never met a woman who didn't need help like that before," he plowed ahead, coming closer to her. Her eyes narrowed and she took a step back.
"Everyone needs help now and then," she told him. "And you're going to need it in a moment if you don't leave." her tone was threatening, but it carried the unmistakable timbre of a warning.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" he questioned.
"I don't like being followed," she said.
He smiled. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to talk to you."
"We have nothing to talk about," she shot him down, wiping the smile from his face. "And you need to go."
"Come on," he tried again. "I came all the way out here to bring you something," he closed the space between them again, not noticing the way her eyes glanced briefly over his shoulder. His eyes were trained on the middle distance behind her where a ship had drifted into view. "The Black Pearl," he breathed. The girl's eyes widened. "Did you know it was here?" he asked her, shocked.
Hayden never got his answer. Something hard connected with the back of his head, knocking him forward into the sand. Ana became visible behind him, holding a pistol.
"Did he hurt you?" she questioned fiercely.
"No," Laura assured her sister. "He saw me in the market and wanted to talk I suppose." she glanced at his unconscious body, feeling a pang of sympathy for him. A trickle of blood ran from the crown of his head.
Jack Sparrow had joined them now, his drunken gait leaving uneven footprints in the sand behind him. Without speaking he stared down at the boy, his mind clearly calculating.
"He's a strong lad," Jack observed. "He'd make a fine pirate." Ana gave him a look.
"You can't just recruit him, Jack!" she protested.
"No choice, love" he said. "He's seen the ship now. Can't have him scurrying to the authorities now, can we?" Ana had no choice but to nod. She and Laura exchanged glances as members of the crew hoisted their "new recruit" up and into the ship.
"How's this going to end?" Laura remarked.
"No idea." Ana sighed. "And next time, wait for me before you go wandering off!" she chastised.
"Sorry," she actually wasn't sorry at all but she thought it best to apologize.
"You'll be showing him the ropes, lass," Jack shouted back to them. "since you're responsible for leading him here." it was a punishment of sorts. Laura groaned but refrained from protesting.
"Aye, aye captain." she muttered. Ana cast her a reproving look but held her hand out to her sister.
"That's why you should no better than to wear a dress out in public. Pants keep the idiots at bay." she smirked at her sister.
"Jack seems to like you in pants," she teased.
"Well," Ana tucked her hair under her straw hat. "Jack only pretends to be an idiot. And I look gorgeous in anything," she added as an afterthought.
Laughing, Laura followed her up into the Pearl.