For Day 10 of the Kingdom Hearts 3 Countdown Challenge - Love. Contains spoilers for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Some slight SoKai shiptease.

Love. Davy Jones had no place for it on his ship… or in his heart. Which was why he wanted to get rid of this blasted fool as soon as he could.

Oh, and William Turner, too.

"Tia Dalma said you took out your own heart," the boy said, face young and youthful, like Davy Jones's had been before love had waged its costly war.

"That's what's in the chest, right?" he added. "Not whatever it is Luxord's looking for."

Davy Jones gave the foolish boy a glare. He truly had no idea of danger, mentioning her name in the presence of Davy Jones.

"Do you fear death, boy?" Davy Jones snarled, tentacles flaring.

The boy was remarkably calm, his gaze steady. "No."

Davy Jones jerked his head back. The boy wasn't lying, that much he could tell. And there was something else, something—

Hmmmm. "I offer you a choice, then. Join my crew. "

Even if the boy did not fear death, he could always use new crew members, especially after how all the battles lately had reduced their numbers.

The boy held his hands out in front of him. "I like being a pirate, don't get me wrong, but I think I'll pass." He flashed him an easy gold-toothed smile. "I have someone waiting for me back home."

As Davy Jones suspected. He turned around to hide his disgust.

"You're better off without her, whoever she may be," he spat. "A heart will bring you nothing but pain."

"Speaking from experience?"

Davy Jones whirled around and grabbed the boy by the collar so they were standing face to face. To his credit he didn't flinch, just stared right back.

"I'll take that as a yes," he said, his nose wrinkling.

Davy Jones' eyes narrowed. "You'd do well to keep your nose out of my business, boy."

But he couldn't take a hint. "She's why you took out your heart, isn't she?"

Davy Jones flung the boy against the wall, and he hit it with a painful-sounding thud, his face scrunching up and his eyes shutting. But after a few moments he peeled himself off it, and his blue eyes opened, brilliant against the murky depths of the Flying Dutchman's bowels.

"I know something of what that feels like." His hand went to his heart. "You see… I took out my heart, too."

Davy Jones stared at him. "Your heart beats in your chest.. I can hear it."

"I got it back."

Was that even possible?

"You… forgave her?" Davy Jones asked, taking a step closer to the boy.

"She found me, alone in the darkness, wandering around without a heart." The boy actually smiled as he continued. "There was nothing to forgive, because I chose to do it. I took it out to save her. And then she saved me in return."

Davy Jones stopped. "She didn't betray you, then."

He shook his head. "No. But if I can get my heart back, why can't you?"

Davy Jones should've known. It was too good to be true. The betrayal he had suffered could never be forgiven, should never be forgiven. His heart was better off where it was, under lock and key.

"Foolish boy, you think there's hope for me and for her. But I…" He stabbed himself in the chest with his claw, and the boy's eyes went wide, "…am a heartless wretch," he said, yanking it back out. "I do not love her and she does not love me. Now, get off of my ship before I tear your blasted heart out a second time."

The boy gave him one last look, his eyes filled with pity. "She's not the one who failed you. You failed her."

Davy Jones moved to make good on his promise, but the boy was faster than he looked. He warped out of the way and was gone within moments, leaving Davy Jones alone once more.

He lifted the small locket that always hung from one of his tentacles and listened as its familiar haunting melody played.

"Calypso…"

Yes, his heart was better off where it was. Love had brought him nothing but pain. If the boy hadn't learned that yet, it was only a matter of time before it taught him life's cruel lesson.

A heart just wasn't worth the cost.

A/N: Quick story time: I grew up watching the Pirates movies and am really glad the franchise is making a return to Kingdom Hearts. Davy Jones is a great villain and I really felt for him in At World's End when he and Tia Dalma/Calypso talk about what happened to their love for each other.

Anyway, Davy Jones's heartless (literally) condition as a result got me thinking about a certain character who also lost his heart as a result of love, but for a very different reason and with a very different outcome. I've been wanting to write this conversation since E3 of last year, and I finally got around to it. I'm curious to see if canon will make the connection, but if not, this was a lot of fun to write :)

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed!