#17
"Understanding" (Jack Sparrow, POTC)
Fandom:
POTC
Title:
Understanding
Author/Artist:
Nicole (PineappleIce or sulliedxunusual)
Theme:
#17 Redemption
Characters:
Jack Sparrow, James Norrington
Rating:
Teen
Warnings:
Death, and you may find slash in here if you look for it.
Disclaimer:
I don't own POTC.
Summary:
James Norrington had made his decision. Now he had to carry it out.
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"I'm sorry there's nothing more I can do," James said, hands crossed behind his back as he rocked stiffly on his heels. His face was paler than usual, his eyes fixed firmly on the wall behind Jack.
Jack, shackled to the wall, swallowed. "No, you aren't," he whispered, but it was without bitterness. He blinked, numb, understanding, calm. "I'm your redemption, aye? You get rid of me and you get back your status, your life..."
James looked strange to Jack, standing before him, poker straight in his neat, crisp navy jacket and polished shoes, that ridiculous wig on his head. His face was clean-shaven again. Jack almost scoffed. He had seen this man at his lowest point, and it had suited him so much more. The soon-to-be Commodore licked his pale lips, looked up to the ceiling. For a moment, his grey eyes looked wet. "That's right," he said softly.
Then there was silence. It was the most comfortable silence Jack had ever shared with James, one where they both understood the other perfectly.
Then James was holding a pistol. His hand was shaking but his face was quite calm. He had made his decision.
"I'm glad it ends here, with you," Jack murmured out, closing his eyes.
James almost smiled. "I would have it no other way." A million things rushed to the tip of his tongue, but only one word escaped before the pistol went off. "Jack..."
And it ended there, in a cloud of smoke. James wasn't even aware of crying as he took Jack's still body from the shackles, dropping to the floor and craddling him as he grew cold. But tears splashed down onto Jack's bandana, soaking it through.
It would be a long time before James realised what he had lost.
