Little Sparrow

Summary: "Now up is down," was the last thing any of them heard before the rush of water drowned everything else out. Later, waking up on a random, deserted island, they almost immediately notice that something was not right with their Captain. Sparrington, Salazak, Willabeth, maybe others mentioned.

There were guitars playing a cheery, fast paced melody in the back ground, laughter and cheers and the clapping of hands giving it the desired rhythm as he tried to follow it with his hands and feet. For all his savviness and his incredible fast learning that had kept him alive for this long, he was struggling with the right steps. In his humble opinion, remembering the right steps was harder than fencing footwork and if he got that wrong, he'd be dead. He missed another step and scowled as his 'mentor' laughed delightedly.

"I don't see why this is necessary," he grumbled under his breath, still glaring at the laughing older man. He was quite handsome, even though he had lost his right eye some time in the past, due to his chosen occupation. And he was nice enough but it wasn't because of him that he was making a fool of himself as he tried to learn the complicated, fast paced dance.

"Because, while you may speak like a Spaniard, if you cannot dance like a Spaniard, no one of Spanish blood will take you seriously, birdie." His 'teacher' said with a teasing smirk as he took hold of his hand and twirled him around before drawing him close to his chest and dipping him like a girl. The teen scowled up at him petulantly but he only laughed while the crew cheered and wolf whistled at them. They so enjoyed teasing their youngest companion, even though he more often than not join in on it. And, besides, this was perhaps the first time they'd seen him off balance. Usually he had them so off balance they feared their world was spinning due to his words, his hands and his hips. Dear Domini, those hips could move. With every roll of the waves, the hips rolled with them, too, enticing and distracting and ... Well. The Capitán was more simplemindedly focused than ever. It was good to see the teen a bit out of his element, as he usually caught on so fast to the rare few things that he didn't know or confused him they almost thought he was something other than human.

The teen frowned in thought as his dance partner brought him up straight again, allowing him to adjust his stance into the correct position. That would explain why Spanish pirates were so hard to negotiate with. Not even Captain Morgan could make a deal with them and he had never allowed his cabin boy anywhere near them, wary of what they might do to someone as pretty as him. Jack hated being called pretty, but he knew he was more pretty than he was handsome. At least for now. Maybe he'll grow into it. Grow a beard and a mustache, perhaps?

He was snapped out of his thoughts when his 'teacher' pinched his side. "Ow! That bloody hurts!"

"Then pay attention," the Spaniard clucked his tongue at him in disapproval, stomping his feet to signal the music to start again. The sensual melody began and Jack groaned. "Come now, birdie. You must learn."

"Lesaro, come on, mate. I'm tired and I'm obviously not built for this." Jack complained even as he followed Lesaro's instructions and steps with critical eyes, taking in the details and doing his best to mimic him correctly. "Let's just stop."

"Nonsense!" The Lieutenant almost boomed, picking up the pace with the music, watching as Jack repeated his movements and silently marveling how in only a couple of hours, the teen was already half way there to being a decent dancer. Five weeks ago, they have found this boy in the middle of the ocean, half dead from dehydration but still clinging on to life with a determination that was bordering on desperate. He had recovered relatively quickly, even though he had been unconscious for a while, and once he was up and about, he had proven himself to be a competent, skilled young sailor. And he had thus started worming his way into their hearts, altogether stealing the Capitán's within two weeks. At least he no longer took offense to being called 'birdie', 'Sparrow' or 'little Sparrow' as he used to. "You are most definitely built for the fandango and you will look amazing doing the zambra and the flamenco. But you must first learn this, as it is easier."

"Why are you doing this to me? I thought you liked me!"

Lesaro ignored him and continued speaking even as they danced, watching in fascination how the lad's legs got every step right. So he was right. All he needed to do was distract the boy. The rest of the crew was ecstatic, cheering and whooping. He hoped they won't break Jack out of his little spell and that they'd have to start over. "Of course, we will have to pay extra close attention to the paso doble. You must learn to dance like a Spaniard, Gorrion."

"Why?!"

"So you can dance for the Capitán!" A man called from the watching crowd, the lot of them laughing delightedly when Jack turned an interesting shade of red yet didn't miss a beat in the dance that was slowly coming to a close.

"You must dance for Capitán!"

"His birthday is coming along! It will be a pretty present!"

"I'm going to kick you in the groin the next time we duel, Magda! Mark my words!" The teen growled, looking at him with a fierce glare even as he sidestepped Lesaro when it was required.

"You've lost the element of surprise!"

"Oh, I'll surprise you alright!"

The crew laughed in delight at their banter, cheering, chatting and making bets on whether or not Jack will actually do it and whether he'll succeed as the song slowly came to an end. Then an almost deafening applause had Jack's head snapping back to the dance and his partner, eyes going wide as he realized he hadn't stumbled once. He laughed, twirling around excitedly, delighted at having finally gotten the hang of it. Lesaro just smiled at him.

''You just needed to stop thinking about it and do it as you go. Don't you go through your life like that, Gorrion?''

''You're a crazy bastard, Lesaro.'' He responded but his words were fond and not malicious. He was as fond of the crew of the Silent Mary as they were of him. Just five weeks, barely more than a month. That's how long it had taken a pirate boy to befriend a galleon of Navy men. Although they didn't know that Jack was a pirate. He'll do all he can to make sure it stays like that.

''Perhaps, but I am the crazy bastard that will teach you to dance paso doble now. Music!''

''What?! No! I can't dance anymore! I'm too tired!'' The teen protested, wide eyed in alarm and fear that the process will have to start all over again. ''I won't be able to concentrate!'' He started backing away, but Frederico and Moss caught him by the shoulders and held him in place. He immediately started struggling, demanding to be let go or he would make them all pay later in ways that will give them nightmares for life.

His yelling seemed fruitless as the crew joked and laughed at his expense until it finally had the most desired result.

''What is going on? What is this infernal ruckus?''

The sailors all froze, looking fearfully over their shoulders in the direction that the voice had come from, the entrance to the great cabin. There stood a tall, well dressed, authoritative man with an arched eyebrow and hands behind his back. They all bulked.

Jack beamed.

The Capitán was on the deck.

''Armando! My savior! Just in time! They were torturing me!'' The crew winced at this. If there was one thing Capitán Armando Salazar was truly vulnerable and weak to, it had turned out to be to this very boy and the 'puppy dog eyes' he makes when he wants something. And Salazar always gives in, although sometimes a kiss is needed to ... persuade him to allow it.

The black haired Spaniard looked at his young new lover with an arched brow of interest before turning to his second in command. "Lieutenant Lesaro, what id the meaning of this?"

Being old friends by now, even though they were first and foremost Captain and Lieutenant, Lesaro had no fear to talk casually to his superior officer. "We were teaching young señor Gorrion to dance our national dances, starting with the fandango, which he mastered beautifully, might I add-"

"Flattery will get you nowhere, hijo de puta!"

Lesaro ignored the screeched insult and continued as though Jack had not spoken. He also pretended to ignore the snickers from some of the men. If those same men were later assigned to tar the bilge deck, it was their very own fault. "So we were discussing teaching him our other dances as well, namely the zambra and the flamenco. We thought it would be a nice present from the crew to you for your birthday, Capitán."

Jack gulped as those dark brown eyes settled on him in peeked interest and he knew he was doomed when he saw them grow darker as they traced his body. He squirmed, wondering if he should have just went with little Lucia instead of landing himself in the lap of a predator. Quite literally, at times. Mostly times like these. Armando had not touched him beyond a few kisses after that night, two weeks ago, but Jack knew, he just knew that he would be devoured if Salazar was tempted so with such a provocative dance. Jack may not have tried them yet himself but he had seen all three dances the crew of the Silent Mary insisted he learn and he was just glad Lesaro was merciful enough to not mention-

"We, of course, have agreed that he must master the paso doble at the earliest convenience, but we wondered how to go about it. I am not the best dance in that dance, amigo."

On second thought, he should have just let those Englishmen shoot him in the water. It would have been a much more merciful fate. And he was going to make that son of a bitch pay. Oh, yes. Jack swore on the Wicked Wench that he was going to make him pay dearly. "Te destriparé como un credo. Pésimo bastardo. Canalla. Sinvergüenza. Bueno para nada hijo de puta. El traidor."

Salazar arched an amused eyebrow at his first Lieutenant. "It sounds like you have upset my little Sparrow." Jack colored beautifully at the possessive 'my'. That had added itself to his silly nickname just a couple of days ago. He was still not used to it. "I do not think he will baila with you anymore on this fine day, mi amigo. Nevertheless," he nodded at Frederico and Moss to release Jack and the young pirate immediately ran up to Salazar to hug him and give him a kiss on the cheek as thanks for the save. He yelped when an arm brought him almost impossibly closer to the older man. He stared up at him with wide eyes as Armando smirked at him. "I fully agree. Our little bird's dancing lessons must go on. Music," he commanded, his eyes never straying from Jack's. "I will teach my little Sparrow how to paso doble."

The pirates mouth opened and out streamed the most foul of the Spanish language ever heard even as he let himself be led through the steps of the dance.

00000

Jack was rubbing his eyes tiredly as he exited out onto the main deck from his cabin, bathed in the moonlight of the half moon that now accompanied them on their journey when he realized he was not alone. Norrington was sitting on the stairs leading to the quarterdeck and he looked as surprised to see the Captain as Sparrow was to see him. After a long, awkward moment of just staring at each other, they both snorted and James made space for Jack on the step he was sitting on and the teen gladly took the invitation. The night air was particularly chilly this night and he rather liked leaning on James. Sharing body heat was possibly the best excuse he could have.

"You got some serious issues if you can't sleep this often, James."

"Says the man whose dreams draw him to the deck almost every single night." The ex Commodore retorted immediately and the Pirate Lord chuckled.

"Aye, that be true enough. But, just remember, I have - in my own mind, at least - recently been the cause of a dear person's death and it still haunts me. Not to mention that I am currently surrounded by what are essentially utter strangers in the middle of a nasty situation. What's your excuse?"

James smiled sardonically and it was directed at himself. "I have relatively recently endangered the lives of some of the people on board, this very ship and her Captain, several times. I have essentially broken every vow and oath I have sworn and I have sailed to and fallen off of the World's End, sailed through the land of the dead, saved the man for whose death I am partially to be blamed for, seen that man reverted back to an almost innocent age and I have come to the realization that I have done very few things in my life that could be called purely good and right. That on top of realizing that the woman who I thought I loved had turned out to not be the person I had thought her to be and that the pirate I thought I knew, I actually knew nothing about. On top of realizing that I have spent an entire year delivering relatively innocent men to the noose for Lord Beckett only for them to be hanged without trail or an investigation. That, Captain, is my excuse."

Sparrow regarded the older - at least currently - man as Norrington went back to just ... staring at the black wooden planks of the deck. His Missy was nice enough to provide that James seemed to be staring at a spot he used to clean while he was a part of the Black Pearl's crew during Jack's apparently mad dash for Davy Jones' heart. If Will's story is to be trusted, that is. But the Pearl had nor whispered corrections in Jack's ears other than technical things about ropes and weaponry and time and supplies. Things that Will, for all that he'd become an accomplished sailor, had still not fully grasped, it would seem. Or had not reanalyzed the situation after he had the time to do it.

"That be as good an excuse as I've ever heard." He replied at length, watching Norrington's reaction to his words. Just a lite twitch at the 'excuse' part. Proud man, this one.

"Likewise," came the dry retort and they fell into a moment of silence before James broke it again. "How do you live with it? With ... this?" He waved vaguely at the ship and the open sea and Jack paused to think. There had to be a good wording of such an answer somewhere on his tongue, he was sure. He knew James meant piracy, especially if Tia Dalma or Gibbs told them anything about his past. William's actions spoke louder than words: once upon a time, a friend had had a hidden agenda and had betrayed him. Will had done the same but he had apologized where Fitzwiliam had never even considered it. So James was asking how a lad who hates piracy still condones it.

"I choose how to. I choose what to do, how to do it and why to do it. Not a very exciting or eye opening answer, I know, but you can find it if you just ask yourself: What rules do I follow? Whose rules? For there are only two rules out here, luv. What a man can do and what he cannot." He patted the blue clad shoulder lightly. "For example," he offered. "Can you live with it or can you not? It's up to you and when it all boils down to choices, you realize you have the power to control your own fate, to an extent. Can you do it?" Or can you not echoed around them even without being said. Can James L. Norrington, former Commodore and Admiral, condone to the very piracy he had hated so now that he was already here? Or can he not and will that lead to his destruction.

"For a teenager, you have an interesting view of the world."

"I can read, mate." He said as if that explained it all. Which it, in some ways, did. For those who can read often have a wider perspective to consider when they ponder life. And they tended to be a bit more opinionated than your average person who had never seen a letter in their life.

"I am not surprised. You are Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Aye, that I am."

"What sorts of books do pirates even read? Old diaries of rich, greedy, paranoid noblemen who had hidden their wealth instead of leaving it to their children and relatives? Journals of fellow pirates with hidden treasure in deserted islands?"

James found himself on the receiving end of a very reproachful and insulted look before Sparrow animatedly broke into one of his rants, this one the strangest of them all so far since it was about books. The hours flew them by as though they were seconds and they soon found themselves snoozing against each other as the sun playfully peeked over the horizon.

Neither man was aware of a pair of eyes observing them throughout the night.