An Irrefutable Reputation

"Can you explain to me the nature of Senor Sparrow and Senorita Elizabeth's… relationship?" questionned Villanueva to Mr. Gibbs as the plump pirate walked leisurely beside him.

"They seem like quite the troubled couple…" the spaniard continued rather thoughtfully.

"If they were such a couple sir, ther'd be a' callin' fer trouble."

"Aaah…" grinned Villanueva, realizing that they were "that sort of trouble."

A relationship of trials and tribulations no doubt.

Jack sped behind them, attempting unsteadily (and rather strainfully) to match the pace of Villanueva's grand strides. Mr. Gibbs walked respectfully away, allowing the captains to speak in peace.

"Not to be a bit o' dry stick in the mud mate… or sand.. really..." Jack began in a slurred tone whilst flicking his hand before him unnecesarilly, "..but might I so politely inquire as to the whereabouts of my effects?"

He suddenly jerked back, as the presence of the rodent perched so comfortably above the spaniard's arm grasped his attention.

Again with the bloody rat?

Jack cleared his throat with a look of distaste at the thing, "…and my rat... er.. hat!… and map?"

The spaniard grinned all too knowingly with a highly perceptive expression that Jack had already become well acquainted with.

"I am quite curious as to how you of all people came across that map." Villanueva stated.

"Strangely, you seem very true to your… reputation." He then grinned rather thoughtfully, causing Sparrow to frown in observance.

"Is' those lacking reputation you should find strange mate… as the lacking knowledge of their said reputations is so commonly… lacking." Jack then eyed Elizabeth strutting ahead of them. Villanueva followed his gaze and wondered if the fox had been discreetly referring to Captain Swann as one "lacking reputation." Indeed, it seemed the sparrow to the spaniard's opinion was more comparable to a whitty fox and the swan a devious and ever-changing beauty. Truly, the two combined would prove exceptionally unpredictable.

"Are you then Senor Sparrow a man of reputation?" Villanueva questionned, grasping his quoy from his shoulder and caressing it with care. Jack impulsively sneered slightly in disgust.

"Course mate…" Jack stated, his eyes narrowing in interest, a mischievous grin crossing his lips. He attempted to pass his sudden disgusted twitch with a sense of fleeting interest, the spaniard of course finding it conveniently so.

"Hmmm…" Villanueva began quite curiously, massaging his chin, "…I should hope so Captain Sparrow, as it seems we may be able to come to an accord? As you say."

"More meaningful business ey?" Jack questionned.

"Indeed… However, Senor Sparrow… Please excuse me as I must now retrieve something of meaningful value." The spaniard captain then bowed slightly, his rodent "squeeing" as if to bid Jack a saucy farewell as well. Jack grinned uncomfortably at the man, but more so at the rodent before the two vanished in a shadow of the bridge leading to some hidden passage of the city. Jack stuck his tongue out as his own personal farewell to the rodent when he suddenly flinched at hearing an echoing "quoooyyy!" in reply. He fled to Elizabeth's side, who then shot him a reproachful sideways glance. Jack puckered his lips with an immature expression, causing Elizabeth to look away and ignore the fact that she found it regrettingly adorable.

Adorable? Did she actually find his childish expressions… adorable? Dear God what had become of her?

"I irrefutably refuse to speak to you Jack!"

"Well tha's irrefutably mean spirited of you luv…" he frowned.

"I'm serious, do I make myself clear?"

"…irrefutably" grinned Jack, a playful grin now crossing his lips.

A mixture of agitation and curiosity took hold of her, had he not been agitated at her as well? How could he so easily become so playful and carefree? He had dare she say it the heart of a child but the strange wisdom that only matched that of Captain Jack Sparrow.

"I'm being serious Jack!"

"I understand Elizabeth."

"No you don't Jack!"

"I don't understand then?"

"No, I mean yes…"

"Yes, meaning you won't be "refusing to speak to me" then?"

"…It seems… I already am." Elizabeth sighed, glancing at the pirate in defeat. He grinned victoriously, gleaming gold as he did.

"…Knew you'd come around darling."

She drew another heavy sigh, as he had once again referred to her in an utterly endearing if not alluring way. It seemed, she was doomed to endure him as he her.

"You still owe me an explanation" Elizabeth pointed out, her anger from the situation had now calmed.

"All in good timing deary" he said rather smugly, regaining his ever confident brazen unsteady strut. He gently placed an arm around her waist, and she oddly did not push him away. She found to her surprise that she had grown quite comfortable with his "happy manners" so to speak. Jack also found this puzzling and grasped her even closer to take full advantage of the moment. He had not forgotten of course that she had done so quite repeatedely in the past.

As the two made their way into the grand room of the Bretheren Court Mr. Gibbs slowly strut behind them, commenting with a slight chuckle to himself, "Ther'd indeed be a' callin' fer trouble."

Author's Comment: Seems I'm on a bit of a roll, I'm quite proud of myself getting two chapters down already :D Well, what is the seemingly delightful Villanueva planning? It aslo seems that although Jack and Elizabeth are becoming quite comfortable with each other "Ther'd indeed bea' callin' fer trouble." Hrmmhrmm.