Night Three: Just This Once

Jack Sparrow was already in her room when Angelica opened the door to enter. She was slightly surprised to see him there before she arrived. He wore an outfit similar to the one she'd met him in, his hair slicked back rather than in dreadlocks. He gave a friendly smile in greeting.

She could tell that he was tired, but not nearly as tired as the previous night. He wasn't just tired, but she could see another darkness in him, one full of emotions. Resentment, mental exhaustion, and even...pain.

She decided to inquire further, curious. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He replied simply, though she didn't miss the strain in his voice.

"Are you sure?" She questioned, slightly suspicious- a feeling she'd never felt and couldn't quite place the name of.

The pirate made an effort to compose himself before he nodded. "Aye- yes, I'm sure." He changed the subject quickly- too quickly- and she took note of it. "What are we planning for tonight then? We staying here or am I showing you somewhere else?"

"Take me to the cliff." Angelica answered. She still couldn't get over the breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea and the horizon at sunrise nor the reflection of everything on the water.

"The cliff it is then." Jack stood up from where he had previously been sitting on her bed. He gave her a half playful, half warning look. "Do the both of us a favor and actually be more careful this time, Angelica."

She nodded. "I will. Don't worry, Jack."

"Worry? Me?" He joked, giving a half-grin. "I never worry!" He gestured towards the window with his head. "C'mon."

He let her climb out first, watching to make sure that she wouldn't fall. Once she was safely on the ledge and climbing into the tree, he climbed onto said ledge himself. He sidestepped along it to the tree, waiting until she safely reached the ground to swing on over into it and make his way to the secure land below. Once both of his boots had touched the ground, gestured down the road to their left.

As they walked, Angelica made a point to take in more of the surroundings around her- to help her learn more about how people of the outside world acted. She saw some men steering horse drawn carriages and others walking alone from place to place. She saw a couple snogging outside a building emitting loud music, laughs, smashing glass, angry yells, and other noises of the sort. Distracted, she didn't even realize that she'd stopped until she felt Jack's hand gently take hold of and pull on her own. She glanced up at him, slightly in a daze.

He gave a small chuckle.

"Sorry." She blushed, not meeting his gaze. "Let's go."

"It's a lot to take in at first, isn't it?" He asked, understandingly, as they continued along the street.

"It is." She agreed quietly. "Is all of the world this way?"

"Not all of it." He shook his head. "There's quiet places like that cliff and loud places like that tavern. And then there's the places in the middle, where the noise level depends on ongoing situations or events."

"Which do you prefer?"

"None of them, really. I adapt to any of the type easily."

By now they had made several turns and reached the same dirt path they had travelled the other night. As they walked along it in silence, she saw how the unmoving body of the brown bear remained where Jack had left it after shooting it two days prior. She suppressed an inward shudder that he didn't think it a sin. But then again, he wasn't raised in a Convent nor with the same beliefs as her.

The moonlight shown through the canopy of the trees, making the shadows seem even darker. Thoughts of what could be lurking in said shadows frightened her; armed men with evil intent, more creatures willing to attack trespassers, and other beings she may not even know of. She unconsciously pressed closer to and tightened her grip on the pirate beside her. He shot her a sidelong glance, his face not displaying any emotion.

"Jack?" Angelica asked after a couple of minutes, more than slightly afraid. Why hadn't she been afraid the previous night? Was it because she'd not thought as broadly nor deeply as she was now?

"Hmm?" He didn't stop nor even turn towards her.

"How do you know it's safe?"

"How do I know what's safe? This trail? Pirating?"

"All of it." She answered, not realizing that he'd probably been thinking about his past adventures on the sea around the world.

"Well, you never really know anything's safe. It's part of the risk, part of the fun, and part of the experience." Jack told her wisely. "But, don't worry, I'm quite sure we'll be alright tonight."

They fell silent again. She paid attention to the sounds of the night; the chirping birds as they prepared to sleep, the rustling leaves, the crickets, and- the uneven footsteps? That's when she realized that her companion was limping. How long he'd been, she didn't know. He could have been the whole time, gone unnoticed by her.

She spotted the dirt wall ahead and decided she'd ask him about it when they reached the cliff in a minute. When they reached the wall, he released his grip on her hand and pulled himself up onto the higher level of land. He got into a crouching position and helped her up. Then they both stood up, walking onto the grassy expanse of the cliff. The pirate sat down almost immediately, though he was careful about it. She sat down beside him.

"Let me look." The words burst from her mouth before she could stop them.

"At what?" He met her gaze, though she knew that he knew what she meant.

"Your leg." She answered. "You've been limping."

"It's nothing." He tried and failed to reassure her.

"If it was nothing, you would not be limping, Jack." Angelica told him.

"Uh…" Jack had no quick response to that remark. He frowned, giving in. "Fine."

She gently lifted up his right pant leg, almost freezing when she saw the long, deep gash engraved into the back of his calf. She could still see blood around the wound. "What happened?"

"Just more problems with the crew." He told her, clearly not wanting to go into too much detail.

"What kind of problems?" She asked.

"They've been disobeying more and more; going against my orders. Told the first mate to keep them in line, but I think he may actually be the cause of the problems." He sighed, running a hand through his black hair, untidying it.

"Can't you make them listen?" She asked.

"It's what I've been doing, but they simply won't anyway." He told her. "I feel a mutiny coming."

"What is a mutiny?" Angelica asked, not sure that she really wanted to know.

"Betrayal of the captain and/or officers of a ship. Usually ends in their death or marooning them on an island with one pistol and one shot for it."

"Oh."

Silence one more lapsed upon them. Then only noises evident where the sounds of the forest and the swaying water beneath the cliff. As time passed, she began to grow tired. She found the need to rest her head on something and she did on the closet thing. Jack. He didn't seem to mind her head on his shoulder, but rather, he seemed to embrace it as he wrapped an arm around her back in return.

She fell asleep long before sunrise came, the lack of sleep in these last couple of nights getting to her body. She woke up hours later in her own bed, confused and surprised all the same. The early light of the sun was filtering into the room already. She looked around for Jack, spotting him sitting on the inner windowsill.

"Sleep well?" He asked with an amused smile.

Angelica nodded, cheeks flushing red for a moment as she remembered having accidentally fallen asleep in his embrace.

"It's alright." He chuckled, as if having read her mind. "I got you back here easily."

She got up from her bed and walked up to him, kissing his cheek lightly. "Thank you."

She could've sworn that she saw his own face gain extra color for a few seconds, before he nodded. "It was nothing. Just thought I should let you sleep instead of wake you up and make you walk all the way back."

"I appreciate it, Jack." She told him.

The pirate smiled playfully. "Anytime."

A knock sounded on the door. The man's grin faded and he slipped out the window, climbing onto the ledge and side stepping out of sight. She watched him go before opening the door.

"Angelica!" The woman exclaimed, excited. "¡Oh Dios mío! Ni siquiera te has vestido todavía. ¡Date prisa, el desayuno es pronto y luego tienes que tomar tus votos!"

"Sí, sor María. Bajaré en un par de minutos." She smiled at her.

The woman gave a nod and left. Angelica closed the door and turned back towards the window to see Jack climb back in. He had a sad smile on his face, and she knew he'd heard everything. He must've understood some of it then.

"So you're taking your vows today?" He asked for confirmation.

"Yes, Jack." She nodded.

"You're sure you don't want to travel the world on the Pearl?"

"I do, but-"

"You're not sure of all the possibilities which to do." He smirked for a moment. "Whatever you do, it's your own choice."

"I've made up my mind." She told him. "But I just want to be able to do it this once before I do take my vows."

She stepped up to Jack and took ahold of his shirt. She pressed her lips to his desperately, all of the feelings she'd felt since they met being released in the kiss. His own lips pressed back against hers passionately. She tasted salt; not rum or beer as she'd expected. His lips were soft compared to what she had imagined. She practically melted into his form and they ended up sitting on the floor, still kissing.

He broke the kiss for air, holding her arms gently. A small smile had slipped onto his face as he gazed down at her, the woman in his arms. She cupped his face in her hand quietly as they panted, catching their breath.

"I love you" was the first thing she said.

"Love you too." He answered, before releasing her and standing up. "Do you want me to come back tonight?"

"Of course!" She told him, shocked at the thought of rejecting him after this kiss.

"Then I'll see you then." He told her. "For now, I must return to my ship and rebellious crew."

"Good luck." She hugged him for a moment as she said,"Don't get hurt again."

"No promises." He replied. Then after she pulled back from the embrace, he added,"Good luck to you today as well. I'll see you tonight."

"See you tonight, Jack." She repeated, smiling.

Jack climbed out of the window and vanished from her sight as he crept along the ledge. Angelica smiled to herself, closing the window and the curtains to change for the day. She didn't understand why the Convent forbade men. Not all were greedy with desire. Jack wasn't.

Or is he?

He's not!

Or so she was thought. Only time would tell her that.